Chapter 63 - Would You Act The Same? (1/2)
Chapter 63 – Would You Act The Same?
On the contrary, Dorothea looked like she was sulking, but I didn’t know why. And, to be honest, I didn’t want to bother finding out. Her presence was enough unpleasantness.
“Yes, I am offended,” I replied, but there wasn’t much change in Dorothea’s expression. I turned to Florinda tiredly. “Please take Dorothea to the parlor room, Florinda.”
“I’ll stay here,” Dorothea insisted.
“But…Dorothea.”
“I’ll stay here,” she repeated stubbornly. I could feel my sanity fraying as I stared at her.
“Are you crazy, Dorothea?” I burst out.
“What?”
“I’m getting ready right now. I’m not saying I won’t go to Escliffe Mansion with you, but why are you acting like a child?”
“Is my presence that much of a disturbance?”
“I feel more comfortable getting ready quickly without someone else here.”
“Oh really?” Dorothea said. She looked at me with her lips curled, and I felt like she wasn’t acting like the usual Dorothea. Before I could ask what was going on, she interjected first.
“Would you act the same with Odeletta?” she questioned.
“…What?” I uttered, dumbfounded.
“If it were Odeletta in front of you, not me, would you act the same? Would you tell her to go down to the parlor room?”
“Of course,” I said without any hesitation. “No matter how close people are, there are still boundaries. If I’m offended by a particular behavior of yours, it’s only right to fix it.” I looked straight into Dorothea’s eyes as I spoke. “And Odeletta doesn’t act like this. There’s no way she visits without notice like you, and there’s no way she barges into my bedroom without waiting in the parlor room.”
“…”
“So there’s no reason for me to say anything to her. Do you understand?”
“You’ve really become Odeletta’s friend, haven’t you?” she scowled.
“What?”
What kind of question was that? I stared at Dorothea, speechless with shock, while Dorothea vented her anger.
“You don’t even spend time with me these days. You’re always with Odeletta, aren’t you?” she said in an accusatory tone.
“…So?” I retorted.
“Has our friendship deteriorated?”
…Was there even any friendship left between us? I stood there in amazement before managing to find the words to speak.
“Is that what you think?”
Dorothea frowned at my question. “I’m the one asking you. Don’t pass the question to me.”
In the end, I decided to answer honestly. “I don’t think it’s like it used to be.”
She lifted an eyebrow at my response. “Then why do you still choose to hang out with me?”
“…”
I couldn’t say ‘to write off the interest’, so I asked the opposite question. “You don’t want me to hang out with you?”
“How can you do this to me?” Dorothea retorted.
“…”
This was a total mess.
“Our relationship was so special. You really shouldn’t act like this to me,” she continued.
“You can’t do this to me either, Dorothea,” I answered in a level voice. “If you want to be friends with me for a long time, then please treat me politely.”
Dorothea threw her hands in the air as if she had given up. “Ha, fine. Fine!” she shouted. “I’ll be in the parlor room. Got it? Got it? Got it!”
“…”
Was she protesting?
Dorothea’s expression crumpled. “You’re so mean…and I’m really hurt. I’ll go now!” she spat, then turned her heel and stormed out of the room.
Bang!
The door slammed shut, and I stood rooted on the spot with an empty expression on my face.
That…that was it?
‘Your selfish personality hasn’t changed.’
No wonder she couldn’t get married. No, even if she were successful in snagging a husband, the problem would be what happened after that. What kind of person could put up with that kind of personality for the rest of his life?
“Haah.” A deep sigh involuntarily left my mouth. Florinda, who was watching from the side, looked at me anxiously.
“Are you alright, My Lady?” she asked in a careful voice.
“No,” I muttered.
I touched my forehead with a frustrated expression. Should I at least try to be polite to Dorothea as her forced maid? Somehow I felt like I had fallen even further than a maid.
“Shall I guide Lady Dorothea to the parlor room?” Florinda asked.
“Dorothea doesn’t know anyone in the mansion, so perhaps she hasn’t arrived there by now. Go. I’ll probably do fine on my own.” My voice was thin with exhaustion. “I’d better get ready and go out soon. It’s starting to get late.”
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