Chapter #7
Girls’ Chatter Time
Sophia, having built up the suspense, finally spilled everything at once.
“Rather than ‘flirting,’ it’s said that Miss Elina has liked Sir Lawrence since they were children. The other two knew about it too. But Miss Trinity used her rank as a marquess to send a marriage proposal to Sir Lawrence, asking him to break off his engagement with Adel and get engaged to her instead. Even more shocking, Miss Marion followed Sir Lawrence wherever he went, trying to catch his attention.”
Lorienne scrunched up her cute face.
“They really don’t deserve to be called ladies!”
“Then, the three of them bumped into each other at a party,” Sophia continued, laughing heartily as she gracefully lifted her teacup to her lips, “and they acted so unladylike, shouting loudly from the balcony! And I happened to hear it. Haha.”
“My goodness! Which party was that? I can’t believe I missed it! But what did Sir Lawrence say?”
“They say the ‘Ice Prince’ asked who Lady Trinity was. Even though he obviously knew. He even rebuked them, saying, ‘Is there anyone among the kingdom’s nobles who doesn’t know I’m engaged to Adel?’ Eventually, Count Ridenhart stepped in, saying he already considered Adel family and was acting as her guardian, and smoothed everything over.”
“Oh, so the rumor that he didn’t like Adel was just nonsense?”
“It’s not like he ignored her at the debutante ball. He was watching only Adel the whole time! That rumor doesn’t even make sense.”
My face burned red. I felt both intrigued and inexplicably embarrassed by the story of Sir Lawrence—the ‘Ice Prince’—whom I barely knew.
Why has Lawrence changed like this?
I couldn’t figure it out, no matter how hard I tried.
Is it his face? He looks just like me. His personality? …I’m not really that agreeable.
“They say he liked absolutely everything about her.”
I was startled, as if Sophia had read my thoughts. While I had been briefly lost in my own musings, Sophia’s chatter had shifted into society gossip.
“Really?”
“It’s the hottest gossip right now. Truly, she’s worthy of being called the ‘queen of the social scene.’”
“What story is it?”
“It’s about the Baroness Rue. She received a proposal from a foreign noble, ten years her junior. She just said she liked everything about him and wanted him by her side.”
“Good heavens. That’s amazing. Did she accept? But Sophia, how do you know all this social news? You don’t even like going to parties.”
“Well, every time I go to a party, everyone talks about it right in front of me. Do I look like an invisible person? Honestly, I’m a black invisible person, aren’t I?”
I broke a cookie in half and handed it to Lorienne.
“No, Sophia, you just don’t realize your presence and your strengths. Somehow, you make people want to open up to you. You always seem like you’ll give good advice…and keep a secret.”
Sophia smiled and put down her teacup.
“Hm, that sounds nice. But now that I’ve told everything, it’s not really true that I keep secrets.”
Lorienne popped the cookie into her mouth.
“It’s fine between us. Time passed without me noticing. And I agree with Adel. I want your advice on my birthday party dress too. Come a day early and stay over. We’ll pick accessories together. Okay? Right?”
Lorienne clasped her hands near her chin, glancing at Sophia and me alternately, her expression full of earnestness.
The sight was so adorable that Sophia and I pinched her cheeks in delight.
“Alright. We’ll definitely go with you.”
The three of us explored the mansion before heading to my room. Lorienne admired a portrait of me hanging on the wall.
“Kyaa, so cute! Your cheeks were so chubby back then! How old was this? So adorable!”
“…Probably when I was fourteen? Three years ago, already.”
Sophia glanced between me and the portrait. A cold sweat ran down my back. Sophia’s remarkable memory could never forget a name once she saw it.
“Three years have passed, and you’ve really grown into a lady. You’re so much more mature and beautiful now.”
Lorienne rested a finger on her chin, thought for a moment, then looked at me.
“How about painting a new portrait? We could hang them side by side. I do it every year! I’ll introduce you to the artist—they’re fast and precise.”
Fortunately, neither of them seemed to notice anything odd.
“Shall we go shopping for Lorienne’s accessories now that we’ve toured the mansion?”
“Lorienne is totally in favor!”
From what I learned studying accounting, the House of the Duke of Andrian is the only family wealthier than the royal family.
The current queen came from the Andrian household, so the royal family has received significant financial support from them.
True to her wealthy upbringing, Lady Lorienne shopped without hesitation.
She bought an outrageously expensive diamond necklace without even trying it on, gave Sophia a ruby necklace, and me an emerald necklace.
“Why are you giving us gifts on your birthday?”
“Because I’m so grateful you came shopping with me. It’s my first time shopping with friends. Don’t refuse! If you do, I’ll cry immediately.”
Lorienne picked a pink diamond bracelet and ordered three identical ones.
“Why three?”
Shyly, she looked down and replied,
“I want us three to have matching ones, to celebrate our friendship.”
In the end, Sophia and I surrendered to Lorienne’s charm.
Outside, we handed our purchases to Arthur and got into the carriage. Arthur carried the luggage and sat on the driver’s seat. Sophia leaned toward me and whispered,
“The luggage boy is so handsome. His body is solid too. Probably good at hunting. I want him! Where did you find such an employee?”
I felt proud, as if the compliment were meant for me. Arthur had been popular with the neighborhood girls since childhood. I had been the target of jealousy more than once.
“He’s always been famous for being good-looking…”
“Huh?”
I bit my tongue. Excited by the praise, I had slipped up. Arthur probably hadn’t heard it from the driver’s seat. I tried to cover it up casually.
“I mean, he’s probably been famous since childhood. Haha.”
“He looks so gentle that girls must have adored him back then. But guys like him usually have a childhood sweetheart they’re devoted to. I wonder if he already has a fiancée. Should I ask him later?”
Sophia was sharp as ever, but I didn’t want to put Arthur in an awkward position. I replied flatly,
“I heard he’s the childhood friend of a maid who died in the previous accident.”
Lorienne gasped, covering her mouth.
“Oh my! So he loved someone with all his heart, and she died? But he’s working in that mansion? He can’t forget her? I think I’ll cry…”
“Well, not exactly like that…”
I had just wanted to preempt Sophia from asking directly, but the situation had become surprisingly dramatic.
The carriage dropped me off first at Drayton Mansion. Arthur, stepping down from the driver’s seat with the luggage, caught the watchful gazes of the two inside.
Lorienne leaned out the window and called to Arthur before leaving:
“Cheer up!”
Arthur looked bewildered at me. I forced a smile and said anything that came to mind,
“The luggage… must be heavy… it seems…”
The only thing in Arthur’s hand was a small paper bag from the jewelry shop.
The next day, Lawrence arrived without warning.
“I’ve been too busy with the knights’ work to come earlier. I sent a letter to announce my visit, but I arrived before the letter did.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Why nonsense? My heart has always been with you, Adel.”
Lawrence perched on my desk, staring at me as I reviewed documents. He wore a linen shirt and tight riding pants.
Previously, Lawrence had the icy ‘Ice Prince’ image: cold eyes, sharp jawline, slender body, and a distant attitude toward me.
Now, he looked like a cat—cold and aloof but constantly seeking the owner’s attention. His sapphire-blue eyes sparkled with mischief, and his sleek, toned body carried off any outfit effortlessly.
Physically, Arthur was bigger and more muscular, but Lawrence had the refined elegance of a gemstone.
I avoided his gaze and focused on the documents. Lawrence followed my line of sight, then tilted his head in puzzlement.
“Adel, do you enjoy this? You never liked studying before. Your handwriting has matured too. We still have your old letters at home. Want to compare how your writing has changed?”
Startled, I dropped my fountain pen. I had rehearsed lines for this situation, but words wouldn’t come out. Lawrence was too close.
“Uh… handwriting naturally changes… Wha… what are you talking about?”
Lawrence picked up the pen, twirled it, and capped it.
“Why stammer? Studying boring you? Come on, let’s go. I want to show you the new pond. Okay?”
Reluctantly, I followed him to a bench by the pond. Yet Lawrence didn’t look at the pond—he stared at the side of my face.
I’m never making eye contact.
Determined, I focused on the lotus flowers. Just then, Arthur approached, crossing the garden.
I hadn’t anticipated putting these two people I didn’t want to meet together in one place, so I frantically tried to think of a way to escape quickly.
