Chapter 35 - Should I Make a Move On The Duke? (1/2)

Chapter 35 – Should I Make a Move On The Duke?

1. Fake Friend

I looked at Dorothea running towards me with dismay. Why was she here?

“…Dorothea?”

“Marie!”

She seemed to have forgotten that I was a patient and she dashed towards me at full speed.

“Long time no see! How long has it been?” she squealed.

Three months by my count, but that didn’t matter. I stared at her and tried to adjust to seeing her once again. Was she this brazen, confident, thoughtless, or amnesiac? She seemed to have completely forgotten how we parted last time.

“Three months,” I answered.

“It’s been so long! That’s a quarter of a year, isn’t it? Do you know how much I missed you?” she said.

I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of annoyance. “…Why didn’t you come to visit me if you wanted to see me so badly?”

“I’ve been too busy! I’ve been going to tea parties and boutiques. Plus, I heard you were unwell. Patients need unconditional rest, isn’t that right?”

“….”

Even after all this time, Dorothea was her usual insensitive and annoying self, but I still found myself speechless. Even as a self-proclaimed “best friend”, she was too caught up attending every tea party and boutique in the world. Of course, sarcasm aside, I didn’t want to see her anyway. Unfortunately, she was already here.

“So what is it?” I asked in an astringent tone, and Dorothea replied as if what happened between us last time didn’t happen at all.

“My best friend is here,” she said in a tone as if it were obvious.

“…”

Dorothea’s eyes slid away from me. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Martina?” Dorothea said. Now it seemed that her interest shifted to Martina, who didn’t like Dorothea.

Martina made a face like she was forced to follow shit, but then decided that she should at least act with some etiquette.

“It’s been a while, Lady Dorothea,” Martina said in a mechanical tone.

Open disappointment crossed Dorothea’s face at Martina’s intentionally distant greeting. “Oh, you don’t have to do that kind of greeting between us, Martina. I’m your sister’s best friend.”

“…”

Martina’s expression seemed to say ‘Sure you are’, which made my chest shiver for some reason. Father would be angry again if he saw it. Worried, I hurriedly intervened between the two.

“Anyway, I’m fine now, Dorothea,” I cut in, and Dorothea’s attention was averted again.

“I’m so glad! You said you were in a carriage accident, right?” she said in awe.

“Yes.”

“I heard that Duke Escliffe was in the accident as well.”

“Technically it’s not his fault. The horse that pulled the carriage ate hallucinogenic grass and caused the accident,” I explained.

“Good thing nothing worse happened, Marie. I was so worried,” she said, relieved.

“Yeah,” I answered dryly, nodding as I listened to Dorothea. Then, yet another voice called to me.

“Marie!”

It was the Countess Bellafleur, Maristella’s mother. I raised my hand to respond to her, but hesitated when I saw a strange woman next to her. She had sunny blonde hair and blue eyes that resembled a coral sea. I tried to guess who she was, but no one came to mind.

“Ah, Mother!”

I was startled at the voice that came from my right. Mother?

“Countess Cornohen?” Martina’s voice said from the left.

I couldn’t believe it. That woman was Dorothea’s mother and the wife of Count Cornohen, Countess Cornohen.

Taken aback, I looked alternately between Countess Cornohen and Countess Bellafleur. A few moments later, the two women reached us.

“It’s been a while, Lady Maristella,” Countess Cornohen, the gorgeous blonde woman, said in greeting. “You’ve become even more beautiful since the last time we met. I heard that you were in an accident. Are you alright?”

I went for a customary answer. “Thank you for worrying. I am well now.” Then I added, “Thank you for your concern.”

Countess Cornohen smiled sympathetically at me. “Lady Maristella is like a real daughter to me. Of course I was worried.”

“…”

How could that be? Just like Dorothea, that woman didn’t even show her face while I was in bed. I inwardly burst into crude laughter, but feigned a smile on my face.

Countess Bellafleur spoke this time. “I’m so happy to see you again. It’s been so long since you stopped by.”

“Ah, yes,” Countess Cornohen said with a nod. “Actually, I came to answer the travel question you mentioned last time. I also have something to say to Lady Maristella.”