Chapter 67. My Childhood Friend

The noble social circles are small. The social circles in the capital are even smaller. Every year, the provincial nobles who come to the capital for the social season are limited.

In such a small social circle, it’s inevitable to encounter people you find uncomfortable.

So even if you find yourself in an awkward situation, you must handle it gracefully. Even if it’s only for a year, I have to live as the Grand Duchess…….

“……It’s been a while, Miss Lopez.”

“Yes, it’s been a while, Miss Philoan.”

Iris, whom I met at the Haywood family’s garden party, surprisingly seemed calm. I thought she would glare at me as if wanting to kill me, but her gaze wasn’t particularly hostile, and her voice wasn’t sharp. It made me wonder if I had worried for nothing.

However, Iris is not someone to be underestimated. Even if she appears nonchalant on the outside, she’s likely harboring resentment towards me. In any case, I responded to her with apparent kindness, as though nothing was wrong. Oh, and also to Cedric Vantes, who attended with her as her escort.

“Miss Lopez, I heard your engagement ceremony went smoothly. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Your Grace, Count Vantes.”

He was a young count who had inherited his title not long ago and was one of the few who did not attend my engagement ceremony with Enoch.

I could easily surmise that he had been by Iris’s side that day. Iris and Cedric were childhood friends and had once been considered for marriage. It’s hard to know what they think of each other, but they were certainly close.

“……Miss Lopez, if you don’t mind, would you like to take a walk with me? Just the two of us.”

Iris suddenly suggested as I was about to move to another spot. It was unexpected and surprising, but I didn’t think she would harm me at a social event, so I hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Iris gave a slight smile, signaled to Count Vantes, and approached me. We soon left the garden party venue and started walking side by side. The well-maintained garden of the Haywood family was beautiful, and many people besides us were enjoying a walk nearby.

The Haywood family’s garden uniquely featured a wide artificial waterway like a river. Iris and I approached it and quietly watched the flowing water. The water was so clear and clean that it seemed drinkable, and the scenery was lovely with red roses blooming around the waterway.

“……Since we’re alone.”

Iris began quietly. Her eyes, staring at the waterway, seemed emotionless but gave the impression that a fierce storm was brewing inside.

“You were so shameless.”

“…….”

Her words, stripped of formalities, were filled with sharp thorns. It wasn’t surprising, as I had expected this. Iris’s voice, as if she was struggling to contain her anger, continued.

“You first met His Highness the Grand Duke at the spring ball, right? Have you been personally acquainted with him since then? ……What did you think when you saw me, who was said to be in talks of marriage with him? How much did you laugh at me inside when I, knowing nothing, gave you a lapis lazuli bracelet as a gift! If you had at least hinted to me, I wouldn’t have felt so miserable!”

……Iris’s anger might be justified. If I think from her perspective. But I also have my position and secrets I can’t tell others. The problem is that there’s no way to clear up the misunderstanding because I can’t tell anyone about those secrets.

However, regarding the marriage talks…… I could argue that the Marquisate of Philoan was pushing it unilaterally. Although King Henry actively promoted it, it had nothing to do with Enoch’s will.

I spoke calmly.

“At the time I received the lapis lazuli bracelet, I wasn’t in a definite relationship with His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Even so……!”

“I’ll return the bracelet. I had no reason to accept it in the first place…… and I have no reason to keep it anymore.”

I took out a small box from my handbag and handed it to Iris. It contained the lapis lazuli bracelet. Iris stared at the box silently, then suddenly struck it away fiercely.

“……!”

She hit it so hard that I staggered momentarily. I had already let go of the box. But that wasn’t the problem.

“Ah……!”

Trying to catch the box was the problem. Unfortunately, my foot got caught on a nearby stone, and my body tilted― falling straight into the deep waterway.

Splash!

With a loud sound hitting the water surface, I sank into the cold water. My clothes, soaked with water, clung heavily to my body.

I struggled to get out, flailing my limbs, but since I couldn’t swim, all my movements were pointless.

When I reached the limit of holding my breath, someone’s face appeared below the water’s surface. My vision was blurry, so I couldn’t see clearly, but it felt like someone familiar.

That person grabbed me and pulled me out of the water. Knowing that struggling would do no good, I quietly let them guide me.

Once I was safely on land, I took a deep breath. Someone immediately draped a coat over my shoulders. As they buttoned it up tightly, I finally saw their face clearly.

“……Felix?”

At my small call, he, Felix, flinched. His delicate golden eyelashes, wet with tears, trembled. I blinked blankly and then leaned in closer to scrutinize his face. He seemed flustered but didn’t mind.

……It was indeed Felix.

Felix Werner. My childhood friend.

My ‘one and only’ best friend.

“Felix! It’s really you!”

I shouted joyfully. I was so surprised to meet Felix in such a place, but more than that, I was overwhelmingly happy.

Felix, who seemed momentarily stunned, soon smiled awkwardly and helped me stand. Felix Werner was just as he used to be. Although his face had changed a bit as he grew, it wasn’t to the point where his friend couldn’t recognize him.

I wondered if Felix was still good at playing the violin. Just as I was about to speak again, feeling excited, I realized the surroundings were chaotic and hesitated.

……Ah, I had fallen into the water.

I was so happy to see Felix that I forgot about it…… It was surprising and amusing, making me chuckle.

“What happened?”

“Miss Lopez fell into the water…….”

“Really? How did that happen…….”

“I saw it. Miss Philoan pushed her.”

“What? No way…….”

Quite a few people had gathered nearby, and I had become an interesting spectacle, looking like a drowned rat.

It was evident that the gossip-loving socialites wouldn’t miss such a juicy story. Imagining my name in bold letters on the headlines of the tabloids again gave me a headache.

I checked on Iris. She was…… trembling with a pale face. Surprisingly, she wasn’t as strong-hearted as I thought.

“I think we should move to another place. Are you okay, Miss Philoan?”

“I, I…… Well…… I didn’t push her…….”

Iris was in a much more panicked state than I had expected. Feeling a bit annoyed, I spoke to her as if soothing a child.

“I’m a bit cold right now. Let’s ask Countess Haywood to move inside. We can continue our conversation there. Oh, Felix. You come too.”

I lightly grabbed Felix’s sleeve and smiled brightly. The joy of meeting an old friend seemed to grow with time.

I wanted to shake off Iris quickly and have a long talk with Felix. I thought he was still living abroad. When did he return to Freuden? What had he been doing? I had so many questions.

“Oh my! What happened!”

Countess Haywood, who seemed to have heard the news, rushed over, and we soon headed to the guest annex’s drawing room.

All the way to the drawing room, Countess Haywood looked after me with a worried expression, not knowing what to do.

I expressed my regret and apologies for the mishap at her ambitious garden party, and Countess Haywood waved her hand, saying it was enough that I was safe.

Once we arrived at the drawing room, I first went into the attached powder room and changed into the clothes Countess Haywood lent me.

Her clothes were slightly big for my frame, but they were wearable. After changing, I returned to the drawing room to find Felix and Iris sitting awkwardly across a low table, sipping tea.

Iris almost dropped her teacup in shock when she saw me.

Sighing, I slowly approached them. I had already asked Countess Haywood for understanding, saying I had something important to discuss with Iris, so only Iris, Felix, and I were in the room.

Cedric Vantes seemed to want to defend her, but…… unexpectedly, Iris refused. I couldn’t understand her psychology. Did she not want to show a disgraceful side to her childhood friend?

“Well then, Miss Philoan.”

Iris flinched slightly at my call. Her face was still pale. She seemed worried that I might accuse her of attempted m*rder.

I continued speaking with a sigh.

“Factually speaking, the marriage talks with His Highness the Grand Duke were pushed unilaterally by the Philoan family. Even though His Majesty the King supported it, it wasn’t His Highness the Grand Duke’s will. Am I wrong?”