TCBCVF 108

~Chapter 108~

[To my dear Lady Ansie,

It has already been two weeks since we last met.
The weather has grown quite cold—are you keeping well?

The reason I write is that I will attend the charity party hosted at the Grand Temple.
If it would not trouble you, I wish to ask you to be my partner at this event.

I shall await your reply.

— Dietrich von Claudius]

‘Good heavens!’

I rubbed my eyes and looked at the card again, hardly able to believe it.
But the words were the same.

‘So… the Duke just asked me to be his partner?!’

Of course, I had attended events before at his side, but always because of some scheme by Lady Eva.

This was the first time the Duke himself had asked.

My heart pounded wildly.

‘Please, calm down, heart…’

I took a short breath, trying to settle it.

At that moment—

“Laritte, what does the card sayyy?”

Lady Eva sang out the question.

“W-well.”

My face burned red, and I lowered my head.

“His Grace… asked me to be his partner at the charity party.”

“What? Really?!”

Lady Eva jumped up from her seat.

“Wow, my slow friend finally got a proper partner request!”

“Eva? Slow, you say?”

“Of course! You’re always so slow and hesitant!”

She slapped her chest in exasperation.

“But at least now… so, Laritte.”

Her smile turned sly.

“How do you feel, getting a partner request? Hm?”

“M-my feelings?”

“Of course! Isn’t that practically the same as a date request~?”

“That’s… too much of an interpretation, isn’t it?”

“Wow, my brother will cry. He finally gathered courage to ask for a date, and you’re calling it over-interpretation.”

“Eva!”

I raised my voice, then glanced again at the card, embarrassed.

‘…Still.’

I rubbed the stiff corner of the card with my fingers.

‘Since it’s Eva, just this once… maybe I can let a little of my feelings show.’

“I’m really happy.”

I whispered shyly.

Lady Eva’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“So that means—you like my brother too, right?”

She struck straight to my heart. Ouch!

After a pause, I admitted carefully,

“What woman wouldn’t feel her heart flutter with someone like the Duke?”

“Ugh. With my brother?”

Eva grimaced briefly, then her eyes curved prettily.

“Remember what I told you? I’ll always support you and my brother.”

“…Yes.”

Choked with emotion, I nodded softly.

She slipped her hand into mine.

“But I knew you first, and I’m your friend first. Got it?”

She warned me seriously.

“Even if you and my brother get along, don’t forget to spend time with me too. Okay?”

“Of course.”

Eva looked relieved at that, though not entirely satisfied.

“…But between my brother and me, who do you like more?”

The answer was obvious.

“Of course, I like you more, Lady Eva.”

“Right?”

Her shoulders lifted high with pride.

That evening.

In the Claudius townhouse carriage, Dietrich was deep in thought.

‘Did the card… arrive safely?’

Even while busy with council meetings, nobles, officials, and paperwork, his mind stayed fixed on the card he had sent—asking Laritte to be his partner.

‘When will her reply come?’

He clenched his fist, strangely anxious.

‘What if Lady Ansie refuses…?’

He gave a wry smile.

‘How ridiculous. I’ve never felt like this before.’

And yet—it wasn’t unpleasant.

Rather, it was exciting.

Moments later.

“Where’s the butler?”

Entering the townhouse, Dietrich meant to ask about a reply.

But instead—

“Oraa brother~”

Evangeline ran up, wearing a sly smile.

‘What now?’

Dietrich frowned. Every time his sister wore that face, she said something annoying.

And sure enough—

“So, I hear you sent Laritte a partner request?”

“Ah… it’s this.”

She was grinning like a mischievous imp.

Suppressing a sigh, Dietrich asked,

“How do you know that?”

“I saw the card arrive, of course.”

“Why did you look at it?!”

He raised his voice, both embarrassed and irritated.

“You’ve been spending too much time at the Ansie townhouse! People will think it’s your house!”

“Ugh, scolding just because you have no comeback…”

Evangeline covered her ears.

She wasn’t wrong, and that made Dietrich stiffen.

“Really, stop bothering Lady Ansie. Understood?”

“What? She’s my friend!”

She pouted, then added smugly,

“No matter what you say, it won’t work.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because Laritte told me—she likes me more than you.”

Dietrich froze.

“…Really?”

“Of course. There’s a true bond between women that men can’t interfere with.”

Proudly, she nodded.

“So you’d better treat me well, if you don’t want to lose points with Laritte.”

Dietrich was speechless.

And what was worse—he couldn’t even deny it.

“Here, look at this.”

Evangeline held up an envelope between her fingers.

‘No way?’

Dietrich’s head throbbed.

“Laritte’s reply.”

Her victorious smile stabbed him further.

“Aren’t you curious?”

“….”

“See how much Laritte trusts me? She even entrusted me with her precious reply.”

“….”

“So? Doesn’t that make you want to treat me better?”

Dietrich clenched his teeth, tormented by a very basic sibling urge—

An urge he hadn’t felt since the age of ten.

‘If only I could smack her just once…’