Chapter 70
Now I could finally live a life completely unrelated to Polius!
“Thank you for all your hard work.”
As if he understood my mood, Damian responded naturally without any sign of surprise.
“Haah, Lady of the Magic Tower, you’ve worked hard too.”
Our brief moment of joy passed quickly, as we immediately immersed ourselves in business matters.
Since Harimines Week, public interest in air conditioners and fans had been steadily increasing.
The nobles of the empire were particularly intrigued by the fact that the Empress used both a home theater and an air conditioner at Duke Clotilde’s residence.
“I wish I could turn on the air conditioner in my home theater like Her Majesty the Empress! Even though the Empire’s summers are relatively cool, there are still hot days, so this is perfect!”
Like the home theater, people were drawn to things that weren’t easily obtainable.
Before long, nobles who had installed home theaters began purchasing air conditioners as a set, treating it like a luxury item to flaunt their status.
‘I’ve actually achieved what Josephine Ingda wanted—a premium line.’
It seemed that the air conditioner could even be adapted for heating when the weather got cold.
As Damian and I pondered ways to complement the magical artifacts, an employee from Black Moon approached us.
“They say if you subscribe to the video service for 24 months, you get a fan as a gift. Lately, there’s been a noticeable increase in new subscribers!”
It was a report that the fans were helping attract new customers to the video section.
“And you made sure to include that canceling before 24 months incurs a hefty penalty, right?”
“Yes, it’s clearly stated.”
Unexpectedly, my changed status was most evident not at the Magic Tower, but elsewhere.
“Oh my, Lady Clotilde is here?”
At a banquet I had attended for the first time in a while, people were looking at me in a noticeably different way.
“Lady Clotilde. I am from the Barony of Nezeve—”
“No. Didn’t I say I would introduce myself first?”
The people approaching me ranged from curious and admiring to those eager to do business with me.
But I could confidently say that all were positive signals.
Now that I had broken free from Polius and established connections with Her Majesty the Empress, my image in high society had changed.
From being “the foolish villainess clinging to Polius” to “the unfortunate lady whose fiancé cheated,” my abilities were now more highlighted.
The image of being pitiful might have drawn sympathy, but in the long run, it didn’t match my competent persona, so this was a good change.
“About the air conditioner, I didn’t hear it. Could you tell me again?”
Now, I only missed events due to being busy or tired—not out of fear of being tied to Polius.
Attending banquets more often, more people began approaching me for various reasons.
“When Lady Ingda ruled the social scene, no one dared approach her. Now they’re finally trying to get close—it’s pretty funny.”
“Hmph. It must be because Harimines is thriving and her business is booming.”
…This was how my childhood friends, Scarlet and Lady Clara Martis, analyzed the situation.
‘When did you two come over?’
Scarlet stood with her arms crossed, chin up, while Lady Martis clung beside me, glaring at the approaching ladies.
In fact, their attitudes weren’t new.
“Phew… you must remember that I’ve been your friend from the beginning, got it?”
Scarlet kept a watchful eye on the many people approaching me.
“Lady Clotilde, you’re the one who eliminated Polius from my life. You’re responsible!”
Even after I broke up with Polius, Lady Martis kept sticking around.
It had been fine that we bonded over revenge against Polius, but I couldn’t understand why she continued showing interest in me.
‘Why should I take responsibility…?’
It seemed a sense of camaraderie had developed from escaping Polius together.
Oddly, she would often ask when I was free or say she’d come to the Duke’s residence if I wasn’t feeling well.
Since I had received some help from her regarding Polius, and I had no particular reason to refuse, we had met a few times.
Scarlet, however, clearly didn’t like it.
“Isn’t Lady Martis trying to get close late too?”
“That’s completely different. I’ve known Lady Clotilde since before she succeeded in business, and we shared things with each other that we could never tell anyone else!”
Lady Martis proudly put her hands on her hips.
“And from that day, my life changed!”
“Ah, no… your life changed… Melanie, is that really true?”
Scarlet asked, flustered by Lady Martis’ confident words.
“Hmm…”
I thought carefully about what Lady Martis said.
‘We did share things that we couldn’t tell anyone else.’
After all, she had come to confront me about meeting Polius’ half-brother.
‘And my life did change.’
Originally, she would have been someone chasing after Polius, but after meeting me, she ended up benefiting from him instead.
‘It’s true, but…’
Since I didn’t deny it, Lady Martis’ smile widened further.
Scarlet, on the other hand, looked thoroughly unsettled.
“Even so, it’s nothing compared to the years I spent with Melanie. Suddenly claiming to be close to her is nothing. You’re like the other young ladies!”
“Ugh, but—”
“Does Lady Martis have any other friends? Go play with them instead?”
“……”
Lady Martis was outspoken, so I expected her to retort immediately, but instead, she muttered sadly.
“I think I had friends like that… but I don’t meet them now. I would get upset even if they said one bad thing about Polius.”
How unfortunate…
Glancing to the side, Scarlet also looked as stunned as I was.
“Seriously, why someone like that…”
But that didn’t last long. Scarlet soon snapped at Clara again.
“I don’t like Lady Martis! If you’re close with Melanie, you should be close to me too, but I don’t want to be friends with her!”
Scarlet, isn’t that a little childish?
I stared at Scarlet in disbelief, and she seemed to realize it and coughed awkwardly.
“Anyway, last time I sided with Melanie because the other young ladies were talking badly about her. I have no intention of being friends with Lady Martis.”
Later, I heard that when Scarlet became Harimines’ wing and was counterattacked, Lady Martis had intervened and helped protect me.
The two of them had done the most to improve public opinion of me…
“I have no intention of being friends either!”
Lady Martis clenched her eyes firmly.
“I have a bond of camaraderie with Lady Clotilde! Scarlet Euphorna is just ordinary friendship since you got along easily! It’s boring! Our story is full of twists and drama!”
“Then go live your dramatic life! Pretending to be close while you can’t even call me by name!”
“Ugh!”
Lady Martis was actually being pushed back…
She had boldly confronted Ingda and never backed down in front of commoners, yet now she looked defeated and glanced at me.
I could almost see a hallucination of drooping ears behind her head.
“Lady Clotilde… can we not even call each other by name?”
“No, it doesn’t really matter.”
“Right? Melanie, can I call you Clara now?”
Having received my permission to use my name, Lady Martis—no, Clara—suddenly rushed in.
“Let’s be close from now on! Even more than with Lady Euphorna!”
Clara cuddled against me. Seeing this, Scarlet gasped and raised her voice.
“Do you know why I dislike Lady Martis? It’s because she seems to want to take the seat right next to Melanie!”
“What’s wrong with wanting the best spot? You seem boring, just following along without trying to challenge things!”
It’s total chaos… I felt the need to mediate between the two of them.
“Um… you two look like you’re getting along…”
“What did you say?”
“Not at all!”
