CH 19

That’s when I heard a terrifying sound coming from Lumi. She was gritting her teeth.

“Oh, I didn’t think Lady Schuteiner not only had terrible eyesight, but she’s also very rude. My wardrobe is filled with only the highest quality dresses, so there’s no concern about any taint. I suppose your wardrobe is full of cheap dresses? That you had to worry about other people’s clothes?”

Elise’s face turned rigid at Lumi’s words, but she was still glaring at me, not her. I didn’t back down at her unexplainable conduct and glared back now. I always thought highly of her, but now I realized she was just an ordinary girl who couldn’t resist her anger. Maybe it was thanks to Lumi for today’s blow, or me returning a blow on that day, I was able to see her true self.

“Alright, I suppose I cared too much. You and I aren’t close enough for such friendly talk anyway,” said Elise.

“Good that you know that. I was worried that you didn’t understand,” replied Lumi.

Lumi was still fighting head-on with Elise, befitting the only daughter of the Central Knight Captain. Looking at her not backing down reminded me of the Reclain family’s motto, “an eye for an eye.”

“By the way, Lady Schuteiner,” said Lumi.

Even when Lumi called her, Elise still glared at me. It was even humiliating how she was eyeing me while pretending to ignore me. It almost felt like she regarded me as someone significant.

“What is it?” asked Elise.

Lumi then made a lovely smile in response to Elise’s irritable question and answered, “You have been looking somewhere else while you’re talking to me. Why don’t you get eyeglasses and not worry about someone else’s wardrobe? Do you want me to refer you to a good glasses maker?”

“That’s unnecessary. You are the nosy type as well, Lady Reclan.”

Lumi laughed, “Oh, I’m nowhere close to you. If we’re done here, shall we be on our way now?”

“Of course. Farewell.”

The two of them then turned their backs against each other and walked away. As far as I’m concerned, it was clearly Lumi’s victory today.

“Marina!”

After such a fight against Elise, my lovely cousin came to me and put her arm around mine. Irritated, Lumi said, “I’m so sorry. I was annoyed by some dog barking on the way.”

I had to laugh. Lumi was speaking intentionally so that Elise, who was not yet far away, would hear. I couldn’t help but laugh at Lumi. My young cousin was grown enough to become a predator in the food hierarchy of the beau monde. Come to think of it. She was always a predator when she was young, even if she was cute. She was a predator who grew to be one.

***

“Welcome, ladies.”

Lumi arrogantly walked past the employee’s kind greeting, pointed to a dress and heels, and ordered, “Show me that and that.”

“Right away.”

When Lumi’s eyes met with mine, her arrogant and proud expression changed into an innocent smile. I trained my cousin well. I could see that the vicious state from a while ago and the arrogant look on her face right now was her usual state. But to me, she was an innocent sheep. She sure had lots of faces. Whatever the case was, I considered the personality she showed me to be her true self. Lumi was always kind and innocent on the inside while on the outside was covered in thorns.

Lumi then began praising the dress full of laces that the employee brought over and then entered the fitting room to try it on. While I was waiting for her, a familiar voice called me.

“Aren’t you, Lady Harrant?”

I turned around and saw a woman around my age. It was one of Elise’s followers from a while ago. It seemed some of them had separated from her, as their numbers were smaller. But that woman who called me… She looks familiar. Who is she?

“It’s been three years since we last met in private like this,” she said.

Oh! It was Lady Reveline von Eisolet, daughter of Count Eisolet. She was the woman who arrogantly looked down on me and tried to bully me at the Northern Academy before a professor, who liked me, suspended her. After that, she decided to side with Elise.

Her family owned the third largest estate in the northern region while she was at the academy. Because of that, she acted proudly. But in truth, she only tried to earn Elise’s favor and was weak against my friends. I hope they’re doing okay. It’s been some time since I got any letters from them.

It was while I was thinking about my friends when I heard an unpleasant voice again, “You’re as pitiful as always. That’s why you got… dumped… Heh.”

She was cackling with the other women who tagged along with her to look at me. What is wrong with them? Do they want to talk to me? Why are they whispering to each other if they called my name?

“What do you want? You called me first, and I’m waiting.”

At that, her lips covered in red makeup formed a big smirk. “I heard you took the government exam. Oh, I already can see what the results were, so don’t tell me. Hah!”

“Heh, she knew that she wouldn’t even pass the maids test, so she went for the official exam knowing she wouldn’t make it through! Well, we’re talking about a woman who got dumped by her fiancé anyway.”