Chapter 71 - My Heart Only Wants Him (1/2)

Chapter 71 – My Heart Only Wants Him

***

We moved to a different terrace this time.

“Thank you for your help,” were the first words I spoke. Giving thanks was only proper, after all.

Claude shook his head. “It was nothing special.” He offered a tender smile. “It is my duty to help my partner. I felt bad too.”

“…”

“After that warning, Lady Dorothea shouldn’t bother you anymore.”

“Yes,” I replied in a soulless voice. “I guess so. We’ve been in an unnecessary relationship for so long.” I shook my head. “In the beginning, I was just trying to fulfill my filial duty, but this has pushed me to the edge. As soon as the party is over, I’m going to send a letter to Countess Cornohen to nullify the deal.”

“I’ll support your choice either way.” Claude smiled faintly at me as he looked into my eyes. I was flustered by the sudden eye contact, and I smiled clumsily and changed the subject.

“I’m more worried about Odeletta. I think Dorothea spoke a lot of insulting words towards her…” I murmured in concern.

“Lady Odeletta is a strong woman. You don’t have to worry too much.”

“Is that so…”

“Yes. And don’t pay too much attention to Lady Dorothea’s nonsense,” he said reassuringly.

“I won’t,” I replied. Because it was just Dorothea’s words, not anyone else’s. “Again, thank you very much for today. I owe you.”

“Let’s say it’s a favor for being my partner today.”

Claude had quite the gift for consoling another person, and his words brought a smile to my face.

“Should we head back to the banquet hall? If we’re away for too long, people might talk again,” I said.

Claude smiled at my joke.

***

“Odeletta.”

Odeletta, who was now alone, turned around at the call of her name. Maristella came into view.

“Maristella,” Odeletta said in a flat tone. Her voice reflected her current mood—in short, not good. If someone asked her if the reason was because of Dorothea’s misbehavior earlier, then they would be half-right.

Dorothea’s words were meant to be cutting, and Odeletta couldn’t help but feel worse about herself. She had the same unrequited love as the person she hated most in the world. And that unrequited love liked the person she liked most in the world. Even if her unrequited love wouldn’t entertain a relationship with her, she was still trying to defend her friend. For Odeletta, it was a painful and confusing situation one way or another.

“There you are,” Maristella said.

And the friend at the center of it all was talking to her casually, oblivious to the turmoil inside of her.

However, ignorance was not a sin. Odeletta grew up learning that. Therefore, she could not hate Maristella. But what if Maristella had something she wanted?

“Where’s the Duke?” Odeletta asked, trying to conceal her raw feelings as much as possible.

“He agreed to stay away for the moment. Maybe because of what happened earlier,” Maristella explained.

“Ah.”

Well, how considerate of him, Odeletta muttered cynically beneath her breath.

“Thank you for earlier, Odeletta.”

“…Earlier?” Odeletta replied confusedly. “What do you mean, ‘earlier’?”

“For standing up to Dorothea when I wasn’t there.”

“…That thing?”

Maristella looked at her worriedly. “You’re not upset by her, are you? I know her personality, but I don’t know if—”

“Marie,” Odeletta interrupted with a soft voice, and Maristella clamped her mouth shut as if her words had been cut off with a knife. Odeletta looked at Maristella, who had a naive expression on her face as if she had no idea what was going on.

‘Keep calm,’ Odeletta repeated to herself.

“I—I think I’ll go now,” she said softly.

“Already? But it’s not that late yet—” Maristella protested.

“Actually, I’ve had a cold since yesterday.”

She wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. Otherwise, her feelings towards her friend would turn uglier than before. She had to stay far away from those innocent eyes in order to protect their relationship.

“I’ll see you again, Marie. Have a good time. Have a safe journey back.”

“Ah, yes… You too, Odel.”

“…”

Odeletta gave a silent smile instead of a reply, and slowly turned around. She felt Maristella’s gaze on her, but she walked forward without looking back.

“Odeletta.”

Sometime later, her name was called again. Her footsteps stopped.

“Odeletta,” the familiar voice said again.