chapter 16
Well, isn’t this combination of people such a coincidence.
And though she pretends to act naturally, she doesn’t bother to hide the fact that she’s here to pick a fight with me.
“Oh my, I didn’t expect to meet Lady Clotilde while out with Mother today.”
Lady Ingda looked at me with a triumphant smile.
Then she even drew her linked arm with Madam Milla a little closer.
“You broke up with Polius, and now I’m on good terms with his mother — see?”
Does she really think she’s going to be the next daughter-in-law? I couldn’t help but chuckle.
After that little fiasco with Lady Martis at the last birthday party, I’d figured she’d try to get back at me somehow.
But since I haven’t been attending any social gatherings lately, I was curious how she’d manage it.
And this—this childish ambush? It’s almost cute.
I guess people have been gossiping since I’ve been skipping social events and hanging around this area preparing my new project.
Madam Milla, standing beside her, also wore a self-satisfied grin.
“How have you been, Melanie—oh, no, I suppose it’s Lady Clotilde now. How have you been lately?”
Unlike before, Madam Milla used formal speech with me this time.
But only her words were polite—her expression was anything but friendly.
Clearly, she still held a grudge from the last time I rejected her.
Starting in informal speech and then switching to formal like that—she’s mocking me for what I said before.
And after asking about me, she didn’t even wait for a reply before talking about herself.
“Oh-ho-ho. I’ve been doing quite well, thanks to dear Josephine here.”
“Oh, my lady, don’t say that. I only did what anyone would.”
I hadn’t even said a word, but the two of them kept chattering away like I wasn’t there.
“But I heard you’ve been meeting with Archmage Damian lately… is that true? Since things didn’t work out with our Polius, are you aiming for his brother instead? That man is really—”
So much for maintaining polite speech.
Their tone screamed ‘You’re replaceable. He’s better off without you. I’m happier with his family now.’
Their eyes looked down on me, smug and mocking—but feigning innocence all the while.
“Well, since we used to be close, I’m just worried about you, Lady Clotilde… but really, why his brother of all people? Oh-ho-ho.”
“Yes, why him of all people…”
“You know, Lady Clotilde, I happen to know the Archmage quite well—”
And right at that moment, the very man I was supposed to meet appeared.
“I’m not sure we know each other well enough for you to say that, Madam.”
The subject of their gossip himself—Damian, the Archmage.
“Kyaaa!”
Madam Milla shrieked, startled by his sudden appearance.
“D-Damian?”
Well, who wouldn’t be shocked? It’s not every day the man you were just badmouthing shows up behind you.
“Please don’t call my name so carelessly.”
Yes, the reason I’d let them talk all this time was because this café was where I was supposed to meet him.
Technically, we were to meet inside, but—
“I… I…”
For all her big talk earlier, Madam Milla was trembling like a leaf now that Damian stood before her.
He wasn’t even threatening her; he merely spoke in his usual cold, even tone.
A minute ago she was acting all high and mighty—and now? Just like that, the mistress cowers before the legitimate son.
“Excuse me.”
Supporting the now-faint Madam Milla, Lady Ingda bit her lip hard.
“Appearing out of nowhere and saying—”
But whatever she tried to say was swiftly ignored.
“Apologies for being late. You didn’t strain yourself waiting, did you?”
Damian, addressing me, smoothly cut her off.
Oh—he noticed right away that I wasn’t feeling well.
It’s true, my legs have been shaky. Lucky he noticed.
My dress reached my ankles, so it wasn’t easy to tell.
I’d been out all day on important errands—too important to postpone.
It’s more efficient to push through everything at once and rest after.
“You should have sat down instead of waiting on your feet like this.”
“Oh no, I didn’t even wait five minutes. I just finished early, that’s all.”
My earlier meeting ended twenty minutes ahead of schedule, so I arrived early.
Damian came five minutes after me—perfectly on time.
Still, he frowned slightly at my words.
“I see. Then these people must have kept you from going inside.”
His cold gaze turned toward Madam Milla and Lady Ingda.
“To block someone frail and keep her standing—seems you’ve never been taught proper manners toward a noblewoman.”
“W-what?”
“Then again, it takes intelligence to learn manners—and mistresses aren’t exactly known for that.”
His words were merciless. I had to stop my jaw from dropping.
Wow. Brutal.
And I wasn’t the only one stunned—Lady Ingda’s confident expression had completely vanished.
“H-how dare you speak that way—!”
“The son’s shamelessness must run in the family. Like mother, like son—ignorant of their place and making a spectacle of themselves.”
The insults kept coming, one after another.
I couldn’t even find words—just stood there, dumbstruck.
Come to think of it, there have been plenty who tried to cozy up to Archmage Damian.
Yet not one person has ever claimed to be close with him.
Meaning—he never gave anyone the chance.
Right, I did hear he’s notoriously unapproachable.
And yet… he’s been nothing but courteous and kind to me.
I remembered the time I called Polius “an airheaded fool” in front of him, and Damian just let it slide.
Compared to this barrage of venom, my words back then were practically cute.
I’d never have the nerve to insult Polius this harshly in front of his mother.
“You must be tired from work today. What a waste of time, having to endure this.”
“It’s fine, really…”
“Let’s move somewhere else, then. Somewhere free of pests.”
Wow, he even wrapped it up perfectly.
And despite being called “pests,” neither of them dared to protest.
Between his low voice, tall frame, and commanding presence, Lady Ingda was visibly cowed.
Yeah, best to retreat now that you’ve been thoroughly crushed.
But Damian wasn’t finished.
“Unlike some people, I don’t live off women’s money.”
“!”
“And I don’t have a mother who sells out her son for greed, either.”
Oh, so it wasn’t over yet.
I clapped for him silently in my head.
Lady Ingda’s jaw tightened, but Damian went on calmly.
“Personally, I find men who leech off women in their mother’s stead to be the worst sort. Best not to associate with that kind of filth—you’ll only lower your standards.”
Both Madam Milla and Lady Ingda turned red and pale by turns, but neither dared to speak.
See? This is exactly why I chose to meet the Archmage.
The two of them had schemed together—only to trip over their own arrogance.
I hadn’t even done anything; they’d dug their own graves.
I didn’t bother hiding my amused smile as I turned to Lady Ingda.
“Do you still have something to say? I have an appointment with the Archmage.”
“……”
“No? Funny, you seemed to have so much to say just a moment ago.”
Now this—this smile on my face—was the real picture of victory.
Enjoy your life with that fool Polius, the both of you.
Then again, having a handsome man beside me like this… I think I’ve already won.
Damian looked particularly stunning today.
He always dressed neatly, but this time he’d clearly made an effort—and the effect was dazzling. I hadn’t known he could pull off a more glamorous look so well.
Walking beside a man like him… my shoulders straightened naturally.
It was a confidence I’d never felt while with Polius.
“Shall we go, then?”
Smiling faintly, I followed Damian’s lead, step for step.
