Chapter 82. Dream of Me

In the shocking atmosphere, a heavy silence followed, and soon after,

A noble lady, supporting the dazed Angela, spoke in a bewildered tone.

“Lady Ashwood, what do you mean by that…….”

“What do you think it means? I was simply advising that Lady Besnard should hurry to the hospital since she doesn’t look well.”

Penelope replied nonchalantly. Her brazen attitude left people somewhat confused.

It was understandable, as Penelope’s initial comment, “You should go to a hospital,” implied that Angela had a mental issue……

“If I didn’t hear wrong, Lady Ashwood, you referred to this situation as a ‘show’……”

When a noble lady, who seemed to be one of Angela’s acquaintances, pointed this out, Penelope tilted her head and blinked innocently.

“Did I……? I’m sorry, I don’t quite remember. But more importantly, shouldn’t you take Lady Besnard to the hospital? She really doesn’t look well.”

Penelope urged with a concerned tone while examining Angela’s complexion. Her face showed pity, but her eyes were cold.

Angela, with a complex expression that was hard to describe, just stared at Penelope without saying anything.

Since Angela herself didn’t take issue with Penelope’s attitude, no one else stepped forward, and the situation became unclear.

Eventually, Angela staggered to her feet like a sick person. Whether it was genuine or an act, I couldn’t tell.

“Oh dear, I hope you recover soon, Lady Besnard. It’s such a pity to be so ill.”

Penelope theatrically expressed her sympathy toward Angela, who was being supported by her acquaintances. Angela’s face, as she glanced back at us, was ghostly pale.

After Angela left, the onlookers dispersed, taking cues from Penelope, leaving me and my party alone with her.

Penelope met my gaze and smiled, then extended her hand politely, like a gentleman rather than a lady.

“It’s fate that we met like this. Would you spare a bit of your precious time for me, Your Highness?”

……What should I say? It sounded like she was hitting on me. Given the person, it wasn’t unpleasant at all.

I smiled to hide my awkwardness and gently took her hand. I answered calmly.

“Yes, of course.”

The tearoom on the southwest side of the department store’s fourth floor was a perfect place to enjoy afternoon tea by the window or on the balcony.

I briefly imagined how it would be if I had come here with Enoch.

Sitting at the white table and chairs of the tearoom filled with flowers and lace, sipping tea with a bored and decadent look on his face…… It would look ridiculous, like a clown in ill-fitting clothes.

Maybe because the image in my mind was so vivid, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“……Were you just thinking about Enoch?”

“Huh? No.”

I avoided the question, pretending otherwise, and took a bite of a scone. The combination of clotted cream and fig jam was perfect.

“Your Highness, the way you chew is just like a squirrel.”

“……”

“No, do you know what a silk mouse is? It’s a popular pet recently…… Looking at you, Your Highness, it reminds me of one.”

Enoch said something similar before…… I didn’t expect to hear it from Penelope too. Are they saying I look like a rodent……? Why a rodent of all things…… Rodents are small and weak.

“Ah, was that a bit rude? Actually, the more I see you, Your Highness, the more I feel a sense of familiarity. My thoughts just slipped out.”

“……No, it’s okay.”

I was quite taken aback that the Lady of Ashwood felt a sense of familiarity with me, but I hid it and took a sip of my tea.

Penelope smiled contentedly as she watched me. ……Her gaze was just like the maids’ when they looked at Lucy.

“Hmm, just in case you’re worried, Your Highness, don’t mind Lady Besnard. She does that all the time. Everyone hushes it up, but those who know, know. Lady Besnard has a bit of a problem.”

I placed my teacup down on the saucer and hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“I’m not particularly worried. But…… I am curious. I don’t know much about Lady Besnard.”

“Ah……”

Penelope nodded as if she understood. She smiled wryly, took a sip of her tea, and began to speak.

“Lady Besnard is an expert at playing the victim. If someone makes a mistake or has a minor conflict with her, she paints them as a very bad person.”

“……”

“She exaggerates, inflates the story, spreads rumors, and isolates the person who knows nothing about it.”

“……”

“Lady Besnard is a problem, but those who believe her and label someone as a villain without knowing the full story are also at fault. Don’t you think so?”

Penelope shrugged and shook her head. Her story made me realize something, like being struck by lightning. It wasn’t a pleasant realization.

So, Angela Besnard…….

She wants to make me out to be a villain.

The spoon I was stirring the tea with came to a halt. I let go of the spoon and continued the conversation calmly, hiding my rising sarcasm.

“It’s never good for someone to spread bad rumors about me without my knowledge and for people to be swayed by those rumors.”

“……Exactly.”

A calm gaze met mine. Penelope was now looking at me with a different kind of interest. I took a deep breath and carefully made a request.

“Could you give me some advice? On how I should deal with Lady Besnard.”

“……”

There’s a saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Even if Angela wasn’t Penelope’s enemy, they clearly weren’t on good terms.

Moreover, when Penelope appeared, Angela’s reaction was……

“She seemed to be afraid.”

Of the person in front of me.

Maybe Penelope knows Angela’s weaknesses……?

“Well, alright. I despise the hypocritical and bothersome relationships in social circles, but I wouldn’t mind having you as a friend, Your Highness.”

Penelope smiled brightly. Her response was so unexpected that I blinked in surprise.

A friend? ……With me?

I just wanted information about Angela……

“And I don’t want to see you, Enoch’s wife, struggling in Lady Besnard’s web. Enoch, well, he’s my comrade after all.”

I suddenly realized that her tone had become much more comfortable. And her gaze too. It wasn’t probing anymore, but natural and calm.

“Once I consider someone my friend, I never betray them. So, what do you say? Will you be my friend, Ellen?”

……For some reason, my heart raced at her proposal.

A friend.

I have Felix, but I’ve never had a friend of the same gender. The environment didn’t allow it.

So if I accepted this proposal, Penelope would be my first female friend.

But……

Can I have a friend?

A one-year time limit. That shackle holds me back again.

But……

‘I can’t refuse.’

Penelope looked at me so earnestly that I couldn’t bring myself to say no.

How can a person have such a pitiful puppy look in their eyes……?

I averted my gaze and slightly opened my mouth. The silent pressure to accept her proposal was overwhelming.

I fidgeted anxiously with my hands on my lap. I felt like I would hurt her deeply if I refused carelessly……

……In the end, I……

“See you then, Ellen!”

“Yes, Penny. I had a great time today. Take care on your way back.”

Penny, Penelope laughed as if my words were a funny joke. ……Is it strange to say take care on your way back? Well, Penelope could probably take down any attackers by herself……

‘I thought she only used healing magic as the Saintess of Healing, but she fought at the forefront of the battlefield.’

No wonder her clothes fit differently. Her firm body was barely visible beneath the fabric……

“Dream of me tonight, cute Ellen.”

Penelope blew a kiss and winked before turning away.

I stood there, frozen. ……Did I just hallucinate? No, it was definitely real.

“……I should mention, Your Highness.”

Jasmine quietly approached and whispered in a very low voice.

“Lady Ashwood is quite, very, peculiar……”

“……”

It seems so.

* * *

“……You became friends with Penelope?”

“Uh, yes.”

Late at night.

Enoch frowned deeply at my story, which I cautiously brought up.