TRL 41

Chapter 41

It was the kind of identity that would normally scream, “Do you even know who I am?” Rita let out a small sigh and greeted her according to proper etiquette.

“May you be blessed with the freshness of spring. I am Lillietta del Nisa Raskail, Lady Deweyreborg.”

“…What? Ra-Raskail?”

Lavinia, who had been glaring at Annemarie, slowly turned her head. Annemarie, who had been staggering to her feet, stared at Lillietta with wide eyes.

“…Lili?”

“It’s been a while, villa sister.”

When Rita replied with a gentle smile, Annemarie covered her mouth with both hands, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Oh my goodness, Lili!”

Practically screaming with joy, she shoved Lavinia aside and rushed over to Rita. Grabbing her trembling hands, her eyes welled up with tears.

“I heard the news that you returned home… like a miracle… my little Lili has become an adult. You’ve grown up so beautifully… I cried so much when I heard you were missing… I’m just so glad you returned safely. Can I give you a hug?”

“Of course.”

Rita opened her arms to the tearful Annemarie, who hugged her tightly and began to sob.

Suppressing her body’s instinct to push away out of reflex, Rita looked over Annemarie’s shoulder at Lavinia.

The pink-haired girl stood frozen, staring at Annemarie’s back like a child whose mother had been taken away. Then her face twisted in a scowl and she stomped her foot.

“Annie!”

“I missed you so much, Lili. I thought I’d only see you again at the debutante ball, but to meet like this… Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m healthy now. I don’t even get short of breath like I used to.”

“Really? You used to worry me so much when you were little… but your complexion looks much better now. That’s a relief.”

“Annemarie!”

Too absorbed in the reunion after ten years, Annemarie didn’t hear Lavinia calling her. Lavinia’s face turned bright red, and her lime-green eyes flashed as she glared at Rita.

‘She’s glaring, but her eyes are glistening. She’s going to cry soon.’

Rita gently pushed Annemarie back and motioned with her chin.

“Sis, behind you.”

“Oh my, look at me. Lili, this is Lavinia—”

“No need for introductions!”

“Eh?”

Lavinia cut off Annemarie mid-sentence, yelling as she shoved her aside and stomped forward.

“I’m going home!”

“L-Lavinia?”

The pink hair vanished like a storm. Her maids and guards followed in a flurry, leaving the fitting room abruptly empty except for Rita’s party and Annemarie.

Annemarie blinked, then gave an awkward smile.

“Sorry, Lili. That must’ve surprised you. Lavinia’s my cousin… she’s still young…”

“The Lady of Deweyreborg and my mistress are only a year apart,” Lindsay interjected blandly.

“Oh,” Annemarie gasped, covering her mouth.

“That’s right… Lavinia’s nineteen, and Lili, you must be twenty now.”

“A one-year difference?”

Rita was slightly surprised. With her shorter height, youthful face, and childish behavior, Lavinia seemed far younger.

Annemarie fanned herself, flustered.

“Haha, Lavinia’s just a late bloomer… You’ve grown up so maturely, Lili. Well, you were always calm and smart even as a child. So, what brings you here today?”

“I was told the dress I ordered was ready, so I came for the fitting. It won’t take long—do you mind waiting a bit? I’d love to talk more afterward.”

“Of course! I’ll wait at the café right out front!”

Annemarie beamed brightly and left the fitting room. Rita thought about Leonhardt’s broken engagement.

‘I wonder if Annemarie still has feelings for my brother.’

Leonhardt still had feelings. He tried to hide it, but ever since that moment during the hunt, she could tell when she talked to him.

“Rita, it wasn’t because of your disappearance. It was my fault. I let go of Annemarie’s hand because I was weak. I… I…”

He trailed off, lowering his head, his lingering feelings pouring out. After struggling to continue, he added in a hoarse voice that it was absolutely not Rita’s fault.

‘Sure, it wasn’t my fault. But it was because I disappeared.’

So, she wanted to at least try to fix things.

Rita quickly proceeded with the fitting while listening to Lindsay explain more about Annemarie and Lavinia.

“The Duke of Deweyreborg’s younger sister married the Grand Duke of Adicle, and his younger brother married the Count of Everett’s daughter. So, the Duke’s only daughter and the Everett heiress are cousins. From what I know, they’re quite close.”

“The Deweyreborg lady seems immature for her age.”

“Well… it’s a common tale. Being the Duke’s only precious child, she was spoiled rotten, which left her like that, and due to her status, people just tiptoe around her and her temper only got worse. Anyway, it’s well-known in society that the Everett heiress follows her around cleaning up her messes. She even has a nickname—Deweyreborg’s maid.”

“That’s a bit much.”

“That’s how gossip works in high society. I’ll tone it down if it bothers you.”

“No, it’s fine. I want to hear things as they are.”

Compared to the nonsense and slander she had heard on the battlefield’s final defense lines, the gossip in society was downright graceful.

Rita paid no mind to the luxurious dress being put on her, lost in her thoughts.

‘If only I could naturally create an opportunity for Leon and Annemarie to meet. Then they could figure out how they feel… Ah, that’s right. There is a way.’

Coincidentally, she had an urgent problem: getting used to dancing with strangers in five days.

‘Annemarie has a younger brother. Was he younger than me? Or the same age? Either way, I could ask her for help with practice and invite him as a partner… That would get her to come to the Cream Dome.’

Originally, her dance partner had been Leonhardt. So if she invited Annemarie under the pretense of dance practice, it would naturally give them a chance to meet again.

Rita put her plan into action immediately.

As soon as the fitting ended, she went to the café and chatted with Annemarie. She vaguely explained the years of her disappearance as hazy, just as she had previously agreed with her family. Then she asked for help with her dance practice.

“It’s hard to practice with my brothers because they’re family. I think I need to try dancing with someone else, but I don’t really have anyone to ask. I don’t want a total stranger either…”

“Of course I’ll help! You need a male partner, right? Lili, do you remember Anton? My younger brother—he’s one year younger than you. You met him a few times when you were little, so he won’t be a complete stranger. I’ll talk to him!”

And so the plan went smoothly. Given the tight timeline, they agreed to meet two days later.

The only hiccup was the bonus that came with the Everett siblings.

April 14, Cream Dome.

“I’m really sorry, Lili. She insisted so much…”

Annemarie apologized in a flustered voice. Behind her was a pink-haired head tied in twin tails—Lavinia of Deweyreborg.

She clung to Annemarie’s back, poking her face out just enough to glare at Lillietta.

‘Like a bristling kitten.’

Lavinia tried to look fierce, but her cute, youthful face made it ineffective. To Rita, who had rolled on real battlefields, she looked as harmless as a baby cat.

“It’s fine, sister. Nice to see you again, Lady Deweyreborg. Welcome to Cream Dome. I hope you enjoy your visit.”

“…I already feel awful.”

“Lavinia! What kind of thing is that to say!”

Appalled that Lavinia would nitpick at a polite greeting between nobles, Annemarie raised her voice. Lavinia pouted.

“But it’s true! Didn’t you always say not to lie!”

“It’s not a lie—it’s courtesy! You promised to behave if I let you come! Why did you even come if you were going to act like this?”

“Because of you! If you weren’t coming, I wouldn’t be in this stupid place!”

“What do you mean stupid place? That’s so rude! Apologize right now!”

“Hmph.”

“Lavi!”

Chaos erupted immediately.

“Seeing it myself, the Everett heiress is more like a nanny than a maid,” Lindsay whispered in Rita’s ear, voicing the thought Rita had kept to herself. Rita couldn’t bring herself to agree aloud and simply let out a deep sigh.