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Well, with that personality, who could have been friends with her anyway?

Those who approached Delis were all likely there just to pick up any scraps that fell from her high status.

“Oh my, Duchess, you look fantastic in your riding outfit.”

“It’s really nice to see you again.”

Although Delis had no friends, there were plenty of people who flattered her. As I received their greetings, I started preparing in earnest for horseback riding.

“Where did you get your riding outfit made, young lady?”

A young countess, who I remembered having tea with at the same table last time, spoke to Lady Berkeley. Despite being a countess herself, she seemed to look down on Lady Berkeley.

“I… I had it made at our estate’s tailor.”

“Oh, I see. I had mine made at ‘Coco’.”

Though no one seemed to care, the countess revealed the name of the tailor she used.

‘Coco’ is currently one of the most popular tailors in the capital. She probably knew that Lady Berkeley couldn’t afford it and wanted to boast.

“I heard the price of riding outfits varies greatly depending on the quality, so you should be careful not to tear your clothes.”

She was mocking Lady Berkeley, implying that her riding outfit was cheap and of poor quality.

Seeing the former lackeys of Delis gathering around this young countess made me realize she was part of Delis’s group.

It seemed the original Delis had a knack for gathering people similar to herself.

At that moment, the red-haired noblewoman beside the countess – also part of Delis’s group – spoke up.

“If your riding outfit tears, that would be such a disgrace. It might be better not to come at all, don’t you think? Hoho.”

“Indeed, Marchioness.”

With me, the original leader, out of the picture, it seemed they had reformed around the next highest-ranking redhead. At that moment, Lady Berkeley, who had been standing pale-faced, opened her mouth.

“T-this outfit is also made of sturdy material. It was made by someone with excellent tailoring skills. Our estate uses very high-quality fabrics.”

Despite her timid appearance, she seemed determined to speak clearly to them. Indeed, her riding outfit, while not fancy or decorative, didn’t look like it would tear easily.

“Huh, how good can the fabric be from a poor estate….”

The redhead made a disdainful expression. Her face was so vicious that even I, who wasn’t directly involved, felt like hitting her.

I couldn’t just stand by and watch their behavior anymore. I suddenly felt like a mother bird protecting her chick. Part of their behavior was my responsibility, as the original Delis had indeed led the mischief.

Even though I didn’t do it myself, it was almost as if I had, so I had an obligation to deal with this.

“What do you know to speak so confidently, Countess and Marchioness?”

As I spoke, the atmosphere in the group instantly cooled.

Was it my imagination, or did it suddenly feel quieter? Well, that wasn’t my concern.

“D-duchess?”

The countess, the Marchioness, and their group looked flustered. Lady Berkeley, who had been bowing her head, raised it.

I wasn’t sure if I had ever directly done such things to her, but their faces showed that they didn’t expect me to speak like this. Some looked like they were wondering why I was suddenly so capricious after having bullied her with them before.

“Judging everything by where an outfit was purchased is not right. Also, ganging up on a young lady like this is really unpleasant to see. Your actions were clearly disrespectful to Lady Berkeley. It would be wise to apologize.”

“B-but.”

The countess started to argue, but the Marchioness quietly stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“There may have been some rudeness… I’m sorry, young lady.”

She apologized more readily than I expected. The countess hesitated but then mumbled a single word under the cold stares.

“…Sorry.”

Though it felt like a reluctant apology, it was significant that she received one at all.

With such a direct warning, there shouldn’t be any more outright bullying of her.

“…Yes.”

Lady Berkeley responded softly, seeming a bit stunned by their words.

The atmosphere had already turned icy.

I felt the social aspect of the gathering was beyond saving. Today’s riding gathering was supposed to be a social event, after all.

Since it had come to this, I resolved to focus on learning to ride. I moved away from the group and walked toward the horses.

“Duchess….”

I heard Lady Berkeley’s tearful voice. When I turned around, her face was filled with tears.

“Y-young lady?”

P-please don’t cry. I wasn’t really good at comforting people who were crying. I’d cried alone before, but… her tears were falling in large drops.

“Young lady…. Are you okay?”

She nodded while tears still flowed. It wasn’t a very convincing nod. I gently patted her shoulder.

She started to cry more, as if my patting had triggered her tears.

I understood her feelings; when someone comforts you, it often makes you cry more.

Feeling her distress, I continued to gently pat her shoulder. After quite some time, her sobbing began to subside.

“Do you feel a bit better now?”

“Sniff, yes.”

She answered with a red nose like Rudolph’s. For some reason, she looked cute like that. Maybe my tastes are strange.

“What’s your name, young lady?”

Come to think of it, I had only called her Lady Berkeley and didn’t even know her name. It was natural since I hadn’t asked.

“Alicia.”

Alicia, huh? It seemed to suit her well.

“My name is Delis. By the way, how old are you?”

“I’m 19.”

I was a bit surprised at her answer.

She looked like she was on the borderline between middle school and high school where I came from.

She was also quite short. But she was almost fully grown.

“We’re only a year apart. I’m 20. So, can I call you by your name?”

In my world, a one-year difference wasn’t significant enough to avoid using first names.

“Y-yes.”

She answered with a slightly dazed expression.

“Alright then, Alicia. You can call me by my name too.”

“Me?”

Alicia asked with wide, tear-filled eyes.

“Yes. After all, I’m calling you by your name.”

“But still…”

“Of course, you can!”

I replied, echoing her words. In this world, there weren’t many people who actually called me by my first name. Maybe my father, Marquis Caesar, though he did call me by my nickname.

“Then… okay.”

“Say my name!”

I looked at Alicia with expectant eyes. She licked her dry lips and opened her mouth softly.

“D-Delis.”

“Yes, Alicia.”

Just being able to call each other by name made me feel strangely closer to her.

“Are you also going to choose a horse?”

“Yes, I was just about to.”

“Have you decided which horse to ride?”

“Yes. What about you, Delis?”

She still seemed a bit hesitant to call my name.

Well, I was a duchess and she was a countess, so the difference in our status might have made it harder for her.

“I haven’t chosen yet. Which horse did you pick?”

“That one.”

Alicia pointed to a brown horse with white spots on its legs.

“Why did you choose that one?”

“It’s my favorite horse.”

There was a fondness in her eyes as she looked at the horse.

“Have you ridden before?”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories