“So I was wondering, Lady Ferial. Would you like to visit an orphanage with me?”

Huh? What’s this all of a sudden?

“I personally go to an orphanage every weekend. Since you seem to like children too, I thought it would be nice if we went together.”

I blinked blankly.

Violet smiled kindly and asked again.

“You’ll come with me, won’t you?”

I answered.

“No.”

There was a moment of silence after my response.

“Why not? If it’s because of your schedule, I can adjust to your time…”

“That’s not the reason.”

I cut off Violet’s words and spoke firmly.

Violet responded with a surprised face.

“Then why…”

“I’m just not interested in that kind of thing.”

After my statement, the atmosphere sank even further, and Violet covered her mouth as if shocked, but…

I can see you smiling behind your hand, child.

“Lady Ferial. Don’t you know that charity is one of the basic virtues of nobility? To refuse such a duty that one should volunteer for without being asked, and for such a reason…”

At Violet’s words, some of the young ladies exchanged glances and began nodding in agreement. But I, who was the target of those gazes, remained indifferent.

Well, what can I do if I’m not interested?

“You’re right. Even I think I’m a bit messed up. But it’s fine, isn’t it? Kind-hearted Lady Berto will do her best for my share, too.”

So, fighting!

When I clenched my fist and cheered her on, Violet looked flustered. But soon she began to get angry as if she couldn’t hold back anymore.

“It seems you don’t even intend to make excuses.”

“Excuses… Should I make some?”

When I asked with feigned ignorance, Violet laughed in disbelief and then became serious.

“I’m ashamed of myself for thinking you were a good person. Does Brother Lucian even know that you’re such a selfish person?”

“Who knows?”

As if I care whether that man knows about me or not.

I was answering indifferently when suddenly…

Violet’s mouth corners smoothly rose and then fell again.

While I was wondering why she was acting like that, Violet’s gaze shifted behind me.

“That’s what she says, Brother.”

Like Violet, the young ladies who looked behind me were startled.

“Oh my…!”

Brother? Could it be…

When I turned around, sure enough, there was Lucian wearing his mask of affection.

I looked back and forth between Lucian and Violet.

Ah, I see.

Finally understanding the situation, I couldn’t help but laugh mockingly.

Seriously, how childish.

“I rushed here as soon as I heard my lady had arrived. But it seems my timing wasn’t good.”

Lucian asked me in a creepily gentle voice.

“Do you need any help, my lady?”

“Brother!”

At that, Violet jumped up and shouted.

The look in Violet’s eyes as she stared at Lucian was like someone looking at a person possessed by a ghost.

“How can you say that? Brother, you must have heard what kind of person Lady Ferial is!”

But Lucian responded with feigned innocence.

“What was I supposed to have heard?”

“What?”

Violet’s mouth fell open in shock.

“Stop pretending! You couldn’t have failed to hear from that distance!”

“I’m sorry, Violet. But I didn’t hear a single thing from my lady’s mouth.”

“What…?”

Violet collapsed back into her chair as if all her strength had left her. In contrast, Lucian still had that inscrutable smile on his face.

“Brother, why… Why have you changed like this? You weren’t like this before. You used to believe everything I said, even lies, so why…!”

Violet now began to look at Lucian with resentment.

Seriously, how spoiled must she have been to be this shocked over something so trivial?

It was a scene I couldn’t comprehend.

Well. Anyway, let’s wrap this up.

After watching them for a moment, I lowered my eyes pitifully.

“I’m sorry, Lady Berto. I seem to have ruined the mood with my unnecessary comments.”

Well, it was basically my “I’m the villain here” strategy.

Violet whipped her head around and glared at me with venomous eyes.

“If you’re truly sorry, why don’t you say it again with your own mouth? Brother Lucian should now know what kind of person you are.”

“Sister Violet, please stop now…”

At that moment, the one who stopped the excited Violet was none other than Echo, who had been fidgeting with her fingers.

“What…?”

Violet looked down at Echo with an expression of disbelief.

“Echo, did you just say that? Did you just… to me…?”

“Forcing your thoughts on others isn’t good, Sister.”

My eyes widened involuntarily.

It was the first time I had seen Echo expressing her own voice so confidently.

“You… whose side are you taking right now?”

While I was looking at Echo with surprised eyes, Violet’s trembling voice was heard.

“I’m your sister. Not Lady Ferial, but me…!”

It was then.

“Lady Berto.”

Liriel, who had been observing the entire situation, sighed quietly, clearly bored by it all.

“You’re too excited right now.”

At her tone, which suggested Violet was making a fuss over nothing, other young ladies began to chime in as well.

“I agree with the Lady. This was supposed to be a pleasant gathering, but the conversation has become too sharp, which makes my heart heavy.”

“Why don’t we end today’s meeting here? It seems Lady Berto needs some rest.”

The fatigue was evident on the young ladies’ faces after a day of tense exchanges.

“Let’s continue our conversation next time, Lady Berto.”

The flustered Violet tried to stop them, but starting with Liriel, everyone began to rise from their chairs one by one with polite farewells.

Well, I should get up too.

There was no reason for me to stay longer since I couldn’t get any information about Deus.

“Tea… Lady Ferial…”

As I was trying to discreetly lift myself from the chair amid the chaotic atmosphere, Echo’s voice reached me.

“Did you call me?”

“Um… Can I visit your home later, teach… Lady?”

Echo’s habit of trying to call me “teacher” was so cute that I almost reached out to pat her head without thinking.

I clenched my hand and smiled quietly.

“I’ll send you an invitation soon.”

Echo’s face, which had been staring at me frozen, brightened up.

After exchanging greetings with Echo, I tried to head toward where the carriage was waiting, following the servant’s guidance.

“Don’t you really have anything to say to me?”

If only there wasn’t this strange man persistently following me after I finally shook off Violet, who was trying to hold me back.

“I told you, I have nothing to say.”

How many times do I have to say it, huh?

Then Lucian came closer and whispered in a low voice.

“My dear is more stubborn than I thought. You just need to say one word asking for help.”

I responded with cold eyes.

“What kind of help am I supposed to ask from you, Marquis?”

“My lovely sister, Violet, slandered you.”

“Slander?”

At my bewildered question, Lucian tilted his head.

“Are you saying it wasn’t slander?”

“Yes. It wasn’t.”

I continued firmly.

“I am that kind of person. I only care about myself and have absolutely no interest in looking after others.”

At my words, Lucian blinked quietly.

Why are you losing interest now?

“……”

Ah, come to think of it, I shouldn’t be losing his interest yet.

It was the moment I belatedly realized that I still needed Lucian.

“Ahaha!”

Lucian suddenly burst into laughter.

“You always defy my expectations.”

Right. He was a crazy person. I was thinking too much within the bounds of common sense.