HSLF 19

“Lexa’s boyfriend!”
“…?”
“…?”

Even under the intense, questioning stares coming from both sides, Dorothy stubbornly denied it.

What are you going to do if you look?

Dorothy boldly pointed at Lyle’s black mask and firmly declared to Countess Rolo:

“This is Lexa’s boyfriend.”

Thinking of Lexa, probably having a good time with some unknown man by now, Dorothy felt not even a trace of guilt.

On the contrary, she recalled all the times Lexa had “sold her out” whenever she was struggling.

Isn’t friendship about helping each other out, even if it means betraying each other sometimes?

“You know Lexa Barbarin, right? She’s my closest friend.”

Dorothy smiled as she explained, but for some reason, Countess Rolo didn’t seem convinced. Following the Countess’s gaze, Dorothy realized why.

Dorothy’s arm and Lyle’s arm were linked together in a friendly embrace.

Oops… did it just look like I was cheating with my best friend’s boyfriend?

Dorothy quickly yanked her arm out of Lyle’s. Hard.

So hard that if Lyle hadn’t been strong, he might have been thrown over, and he looked at Dorothy in astonishment.

But thanks to the black mask, only Dorothy could see his stunned expression clearly.

“Stay still for a moment.” Dorothy telepathically sent a message to Lyle through the mask, then chuckled and added to Countess Rolo:

“Well… it seems Lexa wanted to see her boyfriend, so I was secretly bringing him as a surprise.”

She hurriedly greeted the reluctant Countess and prepared to leave—but an unexpected obstacle appeared.

“If she’s Miss Barbarin’s boyfriend… I know him too.”

It was a masked servant beside Countess Rolo.

“He had blonde hair, I think.”

…Notice? Where did your sense go?! Well, to be fair, Lyle’s hair was more dark brown than black, but still—maybe the servant’s eyes deceived him into seeing blond?

More importantly, Lyle, quiet as ever, had no reason to understand why the servant would interject in Dorothy’s conversation with Countess Rolo.

Yet, it seemed the Countess trusted her servant more. Dorothy almost sighed at the suspicious look.

Fifteen years of Lexa’s official friendship, doubted just because of what some cheating guy says?

Of course, she hadn’t even known that Lexa once had a blonde ex.

Shouldn’t she trust me more? I’m officially her best friend! Dorothy’s head ached a little, but she couldn’t ruin this little performance. No choice.

“He’s her ex-boyfriend.”

So it was decided, Lexa.

“Ex… boyfriend?!” Countess Rolo exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes. Lexa’s ex-boyfriend. As you can see, he’s tall and handsome, and Lexa liked him a lot.”

Dorothy forced a smile as she gestured toward Lyle.

“That’s right. Her ex-boyfriend?”

It seemed Lyle was also equally surprised—he had no response, as if he had lost his words.

“…I wouldn’t have guessed. Miss Barbarin, you’re very open-minded.”

And she herself was a married woman with a lover—very “open-minded.” At that moment, the servant spoke again:

“The ex-boyfriend was also blonde…”

“Do you think you know Lexa better than me, who’s known her for fifteen years?”

Once bitten, twice shy. Dorothy’s response finally silenced the servant. Well done, Dorothy!

“Well then, I’m busy, so I’ll be going first. I hope you enjoy your time, Countess.”

As Dorothy smiled and turned to leave, Countess Rolo called her back.

“Miss Dorothy.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll lend you my carriage.”

The Countess’s tone was kind, but Dorothy refused.

“If I take the carriage I came in…”
“Take mine.”

Nope, she had intended to refuse. The Countess’s voice was still gentle but slightly coercive.

‘You must take it. If you don’t, something bad might happen to you.’ The subtle threat was clear.

In the capital, being a gangster, it wouldn’t do to defy a higher-ranking noble. Countess Rolo wasn’t as influential as Marchioness Moven, but she was still high in the social hierarchy. It wouldn’t be wise to make her angry.

Even if Dorothy knew about the Countess’s affair, it wouldn’t mean she could use it against her. Unless Dorothy had somehow entered the Countess’s “active surveillance” list.

“Alright. If you lend it to me, I’ll gratefully take it.”

Dorothy slightly bowed as she said this. She lightly pressed and released Lyle’s foot beside her, who was standing stiffly. Luckily, Countess Rolo seemed unconcerned about Lyle but was not generous toward Dorothy.

“I’ll invite you over next time, Miss Dorothy. Until then, take care.”

No matter how she looked at it, it meant, “Shut your mouth until then.”

Why does it feel like I’m the one getting exhausted when she’s the one having the affair? Life is unfair.

Anyway, Dorothy grabbed the motionless Lyle and walked to the door. As she opened it, a quiet corridor appeared.

Once outside and the Countess out of sight, the reality hit her. She had escaped the party safely.

Finally got out.

What a terrible party. Dorothy took a deep breath, finally feeling a bit of relief. But it was fleeting.

“Well then, will you tell me why I became Miss Lexa Barbarin’s ex-boyfriend?”

Ah, right.
There was still one more issue.

Lyle was a gentleman.

Which made it… uncomfortable.

He asked only once if he had to become Lexa’s ex-boyfriend. As Dorothy hesitated, he began to guide her through the passageway. Not because he wasn’t curious, but because he seemed considerate of her discomfort.

Shouldn’t he be interrogating her, or demanding more reactions? Annoying.

Lyle calmly led her through the complicated corridors. He even accepted Dorothy’s suggestion to ride in the carriage the Countess had offered. Clearly curious about everything, he didn’t press any questions. Now that they were in the carriage, wasn’t it okay to speak?

Maybe he was lost in deep thought. But earlier, she had tried to refuse going with him.

Is this how he tests people? Dorothy wanted to know what he was thinking, but that mask completely hid it.

In the silence of the carriage, Dorothy finally made a decision. Time to talk.

“Lyle, isn’t that mask frustrating?”

She said this while removing her own mask. Taking it off felt like shedding a layer of her heart, leaving her relieved.

“I see.”

Lyle slowly removed his own mask, lightly shaking his hair as it settled. She had forgotten, but he was quite handsome.

“You’d have preferred a maskless party, wouldn’t you, Lyle?”

Dorothy said sincerely, regretfully.

“I don’t like parties much.”

“Really? Don’t you enjoy dancing?”

He shook his head.

“It didn’t suit me, so I didn’t find it enjoyable.”

Poor guy—he’s missing half the fun in life. But maybe the medicine was more fun for him.

“That’s fine. Then do you like food? Since you’re being brought to our mansion, let us properly treat you. Our chef’s crème brûlée is excellent.”

“Miss Dorothy.”
“Yes?”
“You said you’ve been friends with Lexa for a long time. Are you very close?”

Here it comes.

“Yes, you could say that.”

“Then wouldn’t Lexa get angry? You lied, saying I was her ex-boyfriend.”

“Lexa wouldn’t get angry.”

Dorothy truly believed that.

“I’ll distract her by talking about Countess Rolo.”

By diverting attention to the Countess, the story of the ex-boyfriend Lexa never knew would slip by unnoticed.

“Was that woman just now Countess Rolo?”

Lyle looked surprised. Didn’t know? Ah, right, he’s not from the capital.

“Yes. It was Countess Rolo. You’ve probably heard of her—famous for her cosmetics business. But I never imagined she’d have a young lover.”

Dorothy shivered. Countess Rolo looked respectable, not like someone who would cheat. People are unpredictable.

“That man is probably not her lover.”

“Excuse me? Then who is he? Do you know him?”

Lyle asked a question instead of answering.

“Miss Dorothy, you knew what kind of party this was today… from whom did you hear about it?”

“Just… somehow?”

Dorothy rolled her eyes to dodge the question. Lyle again stated firmly:

“Did Lexa tell you?”

“Uh, how did you know?”

She was genuinely shocked. How did he know Lexa told her?

“Lexa doesn’t seem like someone who should just be your friend.”

Whoa, that’s crossing the line. Is he criticizing my friend right in front of me? Really? Dorothy widened her eyes at him.

“Lyle, that’s a bit harsh. Lexa is fine…”

Dorothy frowned. Lexa was a little odd, after all—extremely thrill-seeking.

“So Lexa’s personality is…”

Not even polite enough to say “unique” politely.

“…unusual, but still a really good friend.”

Lyle didn’t seem convinced. He hoped any misunderstandings would be resolved. Dorothy wanted to help them, but unfortunately, the carriage stopped.

“I think we’ve arrived!”
“Seems so.”
“No matter how it happened, I’m very glad to invite you to my mansion, Lyle.”

Dorothy said this as she hurriedly prepared to get out. Lyle, still quiet, seemed ready to leave as well. As if worried he’d forget his mask, he put it back on and opened the carriage door, kindly helping Dorothy out.

She gratefully accepted his kindness and stepped out. Then she realized:

“…?”

This isn’t my house.