I sat up in bed with a tousled head of hair and replied indifferently.
"A visitor? I thought I told everyone to turn guests away."
"Y-Yes, you did, Miss... but they insisted on coming in."
Amy hesitated before continuing.
The moment she spoke, I already knew who had come.
After all, there were only a few people who would march into the Ansi family's townhouse as if it were their own home.
And there were only two people to whom I had foolishly granted that privilege.
"...Seraphina and Gregory?"
At my cold question, Amy answered nervously from outside the door.
"Yes, Miss."
Honestly, I wanted nothing more than to throw them out immediately.
But—
That wouldn't be wise.
The Lopes Barony was little more than a noble title in name.
The Gusto County, however, was genuinely higher in rank than the Ansi Viscounty.
Picking a needless fight with them would only create trouble.
In that case...
"I'm feeling unwell. I don't have the strength to come down to the drawing room."
After a brief moment of thought, I answered flatly,
"So if they absolutely have something to say, tell them to come up to my bedroom."
Incidentally, meeting someone while still in your nightclothes was a privilege reserved for the higher-ranking party.
It essentially meant:
You're so insignificant that I don't even need to dress properly to receive you.
Something along those lines.
In other words, it was exactly the sort of treatment their pride should never tolerate.
"Very well. I'll relay the message."
Amy's footsteps gradually faded down the hallway.
Listening quietly, I smiled to myself.
So... will they actually come all the way up here?
Honestly, I expected their pride to stop them long before they reached my room.
Yet—
"Laritte! What is the meaning of this rudeness?!"
Gregory stormed into my bedroom, glaring furiously.
"You didn't even bother changing clothes! You're greeting us while lying in bed!"
That's right.
I hadn't even gotten up.
Leaning comfortably against a soft pillow, I gazed up at the two of them with a pitiful expression.
Seraphina, you're not the only one who knows how to act.
I can play this game too.
"But... I told you I was sick."
"What?!"
"I thought you came because you were worried about me."
The words worried about me made Gregory and Seraphina's expressions twist immediately.
I nearly laughed.
Why did they think I claimed to be sick?
Obviously so I could use it like this.
"You even showed up without making an appointment. I assumed it was because you cared so much."
"W-Well, that's not..."
"So I felt bad about making you leave empty-handed and invited you to my room—"
Cough.
I deliberately let out a weak cough.
For the record, I was perfectly healthy.
I'd spent the last several days resting comfortably in the townhouse, eating proper meals, snacking whenever I felt bored, and getting plenty of sleep.
Perhaps because of that, my complexion was positively glowing.
Like a freshly peeled egg.
"Anyway."
Ahem.
Gregory cleared his throat and raised his voice.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble we were in after you abandoned the picnic like that?!"
...
And what exactly was I supposed to do about that?
I gave him a look that clearly conveyed my thoughts.
Gregory puffed out his chest.
"I'm deeply disappointed in you. I think I need to reconsider our engagement."
"..."
Apparently taking my silence as fear, he grew even more confident.
"I can't stay engaged to a woman as lacking in grace as you!"
Ah.
Is that so?
"I'm going to tell Father as well! Do you understand?!"
After his grand declaration, Gregory cautiously watched my face.
I was simply dumbfounded.
What exactly is going on inside his head?
Did he really think that if he acted tough enough, I would burst into tears and beg him—
"Please forgive me! I'll do better!"
...
Then again.
Perhaps the old me would have.
The thought left me strangely solemn.
Only briefly.
Lowering my shoulders, I spoke quietly.
"I've actually done a lot of thinking since that day."
"What do you mean?"
"When Seraphina fell, I noticed how attentive you were toward her."
Immediately, Seraphina shot me a murderous glare.
Apparently she'd remembered the humiliating position she'd been in.
Not my problem.
"Personally, if my fiancé were kneeling in front of another woman, I would've helped him up immediately."
"T-That's because Sera is my childhood friend!"
"Mm-hm. I understand. Childhood friends naturally care deeply for one another."
I nodded sadly.
"It's just... I realized how narrow-minded I am."
"...What?"
Gregory stared suspiciously at me.
I met his gaze with mournful eyes.
"Gregory. You said you wanted to reconsider our engagement, didn't you?"
"I-I mean..."
"As it happens, I've already sent a letter of annulment to the Gusto family."
Gregory froze.
Generously, I added,
"Of course, I understand if you haven't seen it yet. You've been busy taking care of Seraphina."
"W-Wait. What are you talking about...?"
"Then again, Seraphina did seem a little strange that day."
I shrugged casually.
"I mean, how tired must her legs have been for her to imagine that perfectly tied shoelaces had somehow come undone?"
Seraphina's face immediately stiffened.
At the same time, Gregory exploded.
"Laritte! What on earth are you talking about?!"
"I'm saying I won't continue intruding between the two of you."
I smiled sweetly.
"You've both said it countless times, haven't you? That true friends should wish for each other's happiness."
"Laritte!"
"So that's exactly what I'm doing."
My smile widened.
"Seraphina, I hope you and my fiancé will be very happy together."
Then I paused thoughtfully.
"Oh, right."
My smile grew even brighter.
"I suppose he's my former fiancé now."
"Stop joking around and—"
Just as Gregory was about to shout again—
"M-Miss Laritte!"
Amy came running into the room in a panic.
I blinked.
"Amy? What's wrong?"
"A letter!"
She held an envelope high in the air.
The thick, luxurious paper was sealed with crimson wax.
Stamped into the seal was a crest.
A rose and a sword.
There was only one family in the Empire that bore those symbols.
"The Claudius Ducal House sent a letter!"
"...What?!"
My eyes widened.
I stared blankly at the envelope.
Written elegantly across the front was a familiar signature.
[Evangeline von Claudius]
That's right.
The sender was none other than Evangeline herself—
The sole daughter of the mighty House Claudius.
"..."
"..."
Even Seraphina and Gregory could only stare in stunned silence.
After all, House Claudius stood so high above the rest of the nobility that they might as well have been stars in the sky.
"...Lady Claudius?"
After a long pause, Seraphina finally spoke.
For the first time, her composure cracked.
"Why would Lady Claudius send you a letter?"
Oh?
That was unexpected.
As befitted the heroine adored by everyone, Seraphina was usually meticulous about maintaining her delicate and innocent image.
Anything that might tarnish her reputation—particularly unpleasant confrontations—she always pushed onto someone else.
That was why Gregory was always the one raising his voice while she stood behind him looking fragile and pitiful.
Yet now she was demanding answers herself.
She really must be dying to know what was written in that letter.
Well.
That didn't mean I had any obligation to tell her.
"Who knows?"
I gave an infuriating little shrug.
"I have no idea either."