Chapter 91
The vision of the future vanished in an instant.
Right now, the Duke and the Chief Chamberlain were in the middle of an elegant verbal duel.
Nine seconds from now.
Beyond them, I could see Lady Pine talking with Seraphina.
Eight seconds.
Elber started to say something but was stopped by the two of them…
Seven seconds.
“Sol? What are you looking at with that expression—”
“Father, I’m going to go check on that friend!”
I wasn’t worried about the Duke. He bows to no one. Honestly, neither does Seraphina. That girl’s mental fortitude is world-class.
But I can’t just sit here and watch my friend get slapped after coming here to support her!
How do I stop it? Should I take the slap instead? No—then I’ll look like the protagonist. It’s always the heroine who gets slapped by the villainess. But I can’t just let it—
“Lady, where are you rushing off to alone?”
Someone blocked my way. A well-dressed young man was looking down at me.
“A dazzling lady like yourself surely wouldn’t be without a partner, but if by chance you are, would you grant me your ti—”
“Even if I wanted to die eating something, I wouldn’t pick you!”
I tried to ignore this oblivious idiot and walk past.
But the crowd was thick, making it hard to avoid him, and he easily blocked my path with just a half-step.
“Lady—”
“Not buying it!”
“…Pardon?”
How can someone be this bad at picking up cues?!
To hell with elegant walking. I kicked off my shoes on the spot and darted to the side.
Shit, what’s happening now? Has she already slapped her? Come to think of it, I did hear a slapping sound while that idiot was spouting nonsense—
“…Huh?”
The scene before me completely betrayed my expectations. Or maybe, in a way, it played out exactly as expected.
Seraphina was tightly hugging Lady Pine. Her left cheek was already red—so she had taken the slap.
The people around had formed a circle like they were watching an open-air theater performance. The distant music only made the sight feel more surreal.
Seraphina spoke.
“What made you this impatient?”
“What?”
“Lifting your hand the moment things don’t go your way. That’s not a habit one develops alone. Who provoked you?”
“T-That’s…! Let me go!”
“I haven’t finished speaking yet. Lady… What was your name?”
Lady Pine struggled.
Someone in the crowd spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“Oh my, isn’t that Lady Freya of the Pine General’s House?”
“I knew something like this would happen eventually.”
The two gossips snickered. Freya glared at them, and they quickly hid in the safety of the crowd.
But Freya couldn’t chase after them. Seraphina was hugging her even tighter.
“Freya. A beautiful name. Named after the god of flames, isn’t it?”
“What does that have to do with you?! It wasn’t enough to flirt with my knight, now you’re trying to lecture me?”
“I’m not trying to teach you. I want to understand your anger.”
“…What?”
“Judging by your reaction, I suppose no one has ever tried to understand your anger. They’ve probably just given you what you wanted, then fled. And that only made you lonelier, didn’t it?”
“W-What nonsense are you spouting! What are you, a teacher?”
“Simply a devout servant of God.”
Seraphina’s eyes were endlessly clear.
The expressions of the bystanders also began to change. They had come expecting a scandalous love triangle. But before their eyes was… a holy maiden conducting mental therapy.
Elber tried to intervene a few times.
“Um, Lady Tillen—”
“Could you give me just a moment more, Sir Elber? I’d like to continue speaking with her.”
“…”
She spoke with the clarity of a pediatric therapist, leaving Elber no room to interject.
The forced mental therapy continued. A few bored spectators wandered away.
Freya kept struggling, shaking her head to reject Seraphina’s words…
But I knew. A few kind words like that had to reach her.
Already, the fury was fading from her expression, replaced by embarrassment and shame.
I felt my own strength drain out too.
…As expected, Seraphina’s the true heroine. Even after being slapped, she turns the situation in her favor.
And she does it sincerely, not for show.
…Haha. Who was I ever worried about?
This is perfect.
Now Elber will apologize to Seraphina for dragging her into unnecessary trouble. Even without me forcing an encounter, the two of them now have their own connection. Good. Very good.
…It’s good.
The live background music is nice too. So why do my steps feel so heavy…
Logically, they should feel heavy. But why do they feel so light?
…Ah. I kicked off my shoes earlier!
“Am I seriously an idiot?”
I glanced at the floor but was met only with swirling floral carpet patterns, and the hems of countless ladies’ dresses sweeping by. It wouldn’t be surprising if I got dragged away by one.
What do I do? The Duke went to great trouble to get me those shoes…
As I debated laying flat on the floor, someone tapped my shoulder.
“Cute little mermaid lady. Seeing you barefoot, did you just recently lose your legs?”
His smooth pickup line sent chills down my spine. What is this guy?
I turned, and—of course—it was the same bastard from earlier.
Ah. No wonder he realized I was barefoot despite my long dress. He was holding my shoes.
“Thank you for finding them!”
“Oh, words aren’t enough.”
He raised his arm high. My shoes dangled like persimmons on a branch.
This little—?!
The man smiled slickly.
“The branch holding your shoes has grown far too tall. What must one do to make the tree bow before you?”
“…”
“Lady, I’m sure you know the answer.”
Correct answer: Kick his shins.
…Patience. I’m barefoot right now; I won’t kick hard enough to make him bow anyway.
So I played innocent.
“I really don’t know. How will you return them to me?”
“It’s simple. Spend time with the tree. Shall we take a walk in the garden?”
Can I just bring an axe and chop this tree down?
