Chapter 9 - Why On Earth Would You Want To Be With Someone Like Cornohen? (1/2)
Chapter 9 – Why On Earth Would You Want To Be With Someone Like Cornohen?
I was astonished and answered quickly. “No, Lady Odeletta. My sister hasn’t arrived here yet.”
“Are you sure?” Odeletta asked.
“Why are you asking?” Dorothea grumbled, and Odeletta replied in confusion.
“I still don’t understand.”
“What’s there to not understand—!”
“Well, Lady Maristella is not your younger sister, so why do you decide whether she should talk to me? Why should I seek permission from you, when you’re not part of Lady Maristella’s family?”
“That’s obvious,” Dorothea said haughtily. “It’s because Marie is my friend.”
“But even if she were your younger sister, you can’t freely limit the behavior of Lady Maristella, who is an adult. Even less so with friends,” Odeletta pointed out.
Dorothea’s expression turned sour. “Lady Odeletta, aren’t you speaking too harshly?”
“I don’t know which parts are too harsh, Lady Dorothea. Even a friend has boundaries they want to protect. And I asked Lady Maristella, not you. I think you were mistaken.”
“I beg your pardon?” Dorothea sputtered.
“I don’t think you heard me, so I’ll say it again. You are mistaken, Lady Dorothea. You do not own Lady Maristella,” Lady Odeletta firmly concluded, then she turned towards me. The gentle look that she directed at me was surprisingly different from when she looked at Dorothea. I was flustered at the sudden change in her eyes, but I didn’t dislike it and I smiled lightly.
“Lady Maristella, it’s up to you to decide. If you don’t like me, you can reject me.”
Of course I liked Odeletta better than Dorothea. Unlike Dorothea, who made my stomach boil once she opened her mouth, Odeletta’s words pierced my heart. What’s more, I also wanted to talk to Odeletta; however, I needed to carry out my plan I set up earlier. What if I was unlucky and the Crown Prince and Dorothea fell in love while I was talking to Odeletta?
However, I did not worry long. If I remembered the story correctly, the pair fell in love when the sun was about to set. Presently, it was still daylight when it was very bright. Even if I wasn’t next to Dorothea, I wouldn’t have to worry for now.
After I made my decision, I smiled and nodded.
“That’s right, Lady Odeletta. I agree with you.”
Odeletta’s face brightened at my positive response. “Thank you for saying that, Lady Maristella,” she said cheerfully. “Would you like to go over there and talk? It’s a little noisy there.”
“I don’t mind. We can do whatever you like.”
“Wait a minute, Marie! Are you leaving me?” Dorothea grabbed my arm, and I turned around and smiled casually as her.
“It would be rude for me to refuse her, Roth. I also want to talk to Lady Odeletta,” I said.
“But you said you’d stay with me. You promised me earlier!”
“I’ll be right back. I promise.”
“That’s different from what you said earlier!”
“I didn’t know the situation would turn out like this. Can’t you be understanding?” Finally, I said the phrase that Dorothea loved the most. “I thought I was your best friend.”
“…”
Dorothea was rendered speechless when I used her words on her. I smiled.
“Well, I’ll be back.” I deliberately turned to Odeletta with a friendly look. “Let’s go, Lady Odeletta?”
***
I was a little worried because this situation was unplanned. What if it didn’t go the way that I wanted to? However, I didn’t want to reveal my anxieties to Odeletta, so I wore the most nonchalant expression I could.
“Thank you for telling me that you wanted to talk first, Lady Odeletta. I didn’t expect this to happen.” I added a smile at the end, and Odeletta responded with a similar warm expression that was completely different from when she was interacting with Dorothea.
“I’m glad you think so, Lady Maristella. Actually, I had something to return to you.”
Something to return? I tilted my head in puzzlement, and Odeletta pulled out something and held it out to me. It was a white handkerchief, a plain white thing save for black embroidery on the edge. Looking closely, I saw that it was initialed “M.J.B.”