Chapter 70 - Just Can’t Be Friends! (2/2)

“If you’ve spoken carelessly, you must take responsibility for it, Lady Dorothea.” Claude’s voice echoed loudly in the air, and I gave an involuntary swallow. “I don’t care if you apologize to me, but you’d best apologize to the two ladies right now.”

“What did I do wrong!”

“You cannot stay like this,” he continued in an almost tired voice. “If you don’t want to be kicked out of this party, you’d better apologize. Unless you want to go to Vale Tower right now.”

“…”

Dorothea’s eyes trembled, but Claude showed no interest in giving her mercy.

“Apologize, Lady Dorothea,” he commanded again.

“Agh…!”

Dorothea looked furious. I had never seen her face so red since I arrived in the novel. But my own face remained as expressionless as a statue. I only felt numb. I had wondered if there could be something friendly between us, even if I did have some bad feelings towards her. But there wasn’t even that left now. I didn’t have the strength to hate her.

Dorothea came close to me and Lady Odeletta, then hesitated. I stood there waiting for Dorothea to speak. After a long moment, her lips finally parted.

“I…”

“…”

“I’m sorry.”

I lifted my head and looked at Dorothea. At that moment, I knew.

‘No, you aren’t sorry.’

I gave a silent cynical laugh, but I did not let it leave my mouth. Instead, I pressed my lips together then slowly opened them.

“Really?” I asked. I was genuinely curious. “Are you really sorry?”

Did she really feel remorse over what she said to me and Odeletta? Did she understand that what she did was wrong?

“What?” she said.

But I thought, well, what’s the use of it all now? I no longer had any emotions towards her. What’s the use of talking about it?

“This is enough,” I said with a slight upward turn at the corners of my mouth. “Let’s…just not see each other again.”

This was the real limit for the deal. It wasn’t possible for me to just stand there and be degraded. I had already grown so tired that I didn’t even want to talk to her for long.

In hindsight, I should have cut off this relationship at the tea party before the carriage accident. I dragged this situation on for too long because of external reasons.

I turned around. It really was over now. There was nothing left to say, and I did not regret my decision. As soon as I was about to tell Claude that we should leave, he spoke first.

“Lady Maristella.”

“…”

“Shall we go?”

All I could do was nod my head. With my mouth closed, I began to walk forward with Claude.