Chapter 65 - Don’t Make Assumptions (1/2)

Chapter 65 – Don’t Make Assumptions

I worried that the situation was starting to heat up dangerously, but then I heard Dorothea’s voice.

“You pitiful man. You don’t know reality,” she said.

“Delusion is also an illness, Lady Dorothea,” Claude retaliated, then gave a sly grin. “Are you jealous?”

“…What?” Dorothea blurted.

“Are you jealous of Lady Maristella because she is close to both me and the Crown Prince? As you know, the Crown Prince and I are the most distinguished men in the Yonas Empire, and I know you have feelings for His Highness.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Dorothea huffed, scowling as if to show how terrible Claude’s words were. “How could I be jealous of someone who acts so dishonestly?”

“I’ll tell you again, but she is not unvirtuous. Lady Maristella has never done anything wrong between me and the Crown Prince. If you keep spreading false information like this, I will consider consulting with the Crown Prince in order to punish you.”

Dorothea blinked in surprise. “What? Why?”

“Because your careless words are disgracing me and the Crown Prince. Do you really have to ask?”

Now it seemed like Claude’s patience was starting to stretch thin. It was tiring to have to put up this much against Dorothea.

“I don’t want to talk any longer. I think we should part here,” Claude said finally.

“You’re taking Marie?” Dorothea said accusingly.

“It was you who spoke against Lady Maristella’s integrity. You’re shameless. You insulted her, and now you want Lady Maristella to stay with you?”

Claude looked down at Dorothea with pitiful eyes and drove in the stake.

“You need to grow a conscience,” he declared.

“Wh-what?”

“I’m sorry if no one taught you before. If you would like, I can recommend you a teacher. They are teaching my cousin now. As reference, my cousin is going to attend the Academy next year.”

In short, he was comparing Dorothea to a nine-year-old.

Claude flashed a clean smile and made the final shot.

“And my dance partner today is Lady Maristella. So today she is with me.” He turned to me and smiled brightly. “Will you come with me, Lady Maristella?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I will do that,” I said with a light smile in return. “I shouldn’t be next to Lady Dorothea in order to protect her dignity.”

***

“Are you alright?”

I looked up from the cocktail I was sipping and saw Claude watching me with a worried expression. I smiled and shook my head. He didn’t have to do that for me, but somehow I was so grateful and I gave a quiet smile.

“In truth, I’m kind of bummed out. It’s not nice,” I said honestly.

“That makes sense. I shouldn’t have asked you that question. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong to me. I should be the grateful one. Thank you for your help.”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry too much, Lady Maristella. It’s not worth listening to someone with an inferiority complex.”

“…”

An inferiority complex. The words burrowed deep into my brain.

“She feels inferior to me? Her?” I asked wondrously.

“It’s possible.” Claude gave a dazzling smile that did not suit the mood. “First, Lady Maristella is very beautiful…”

“…”

I remained silent, but he looked at me insistently. “It’s true. I thought I was blinded when I first saw you.”

“I’m honored that you say that, but it’s not to that extent,” I said.

“You are very humble,” he replied.

I simply chuckled at Claude’s words, and he fixed me with his gaze before speaking again a moment later.

“And you captured the hearts of the two finest men in the Empire.”

“That’s quite a leap in logic,” I remarked. I smiled and shook my head. “It’s not difficult to make acquaintances.”

“Ah, but it is, Lady Maristella. You don’t know it, but the Crown Prince and I are not very giving men.”

“Haha.” I gave a low chuckle. That certainly seemed true. Claude asked me to be his dance partner because he didn’t have one. Then, I remembered a question that had been bugging me last time.

‘Does he like you, sister?’

Well…

“In any case, there is no reason for you to worry,” Claude said reassuringly. “False rumors tend to spread in high society, but if such gossip goes around, the Crown Prince and I will work together to root them out.”

“How?” I asked.

“Do you think a charge of profanity against the Imperial Family is enough?” Claude said with a knowing wink.