Chapter 7.3

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Chapter 7 – Part 3

Henrietta’s words were quite sweet.

Marchioness Philistines’ visit was certainly sudden and rude. Besides, Leon might be offended by this news.

Seeing Olivia’s troubled expression on her face, Henrietta smiled kindly. She had a face that didn’t doubt that Olivia would follow her.

If she chased Marchioness Philistines as Henrietta told her, she would be more kind to her. Maybe she would even recognize her as a member of the nobility.

Then, Olivia’s mouth opened.

“No, I don’t want to.”

“Did I hear it wrong? Say it again.”

Olivia hesitated a little and said adamantly with a tolerant look as if Henrietta was showing her one last chance.

“I don’t want to do that, Princess.”

At that, a cool aura appeared on Henrietta’s face.

“Why?”

“In any way, she’s my guest.”

“Hah, don’t you know now? Even as a guest, Marchioness Philistines has been rude, and this might affect the Duchy’s honor. If you have any thoughts…”

“The Duke has left for the Palace, and we are the only two left in the mansion. Marchioness Philistines said she came to see me. If there’s anything, won’t it be in my little honor? Will the honor of a noble person like the Princess be tarnished?”

“I don’t think you understand, but Miss Claudel. This, Miss Claudel should be angry…”

“I am surprised, though I am not angry.”

“Even if you are not angry, His Excellency will be angry! This is for the Duchy and you—”

“If His Excellency is angry with me, I will take it sweetly. So, you don’t have to worry about it.”

At that, Henrietta frowned. She smiled as if she was dumbfounded.

“So, you’re bringing the Emperor’s lover into your house now? A person who isn’t even a real noble?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think I will see it that way? I…”

“I’ll meet her in my room so that we don’t run into the Princess separately.”

Even though Princess Grande was treated as the mistress, she was not yet an official mistress so she had no right to stop Olivia.

Henrietta let out a cold sneer.

Olivia was bewildered by the ridicule and hostility beneath the eyes, but she thought this was better.

The candid and outright hostility made Henrietta look like one of those maids, who was not so noble and elegant, that she couldn’t even stand face to face with her and was ignoring Olivia. She was the one who had been accustomed to that hostility.

Then, suddenly she was not afraid of Henrietta anymore.

“Yes. Well, I understand. Do whatever you want. I didn’t think that there would be a lot of places where you could relate to each other.”

As Henrietta laughed with sarcasm, Olivia opened her mouth.

“If you say that, I feel bad, Princess.”

“Yes?”

“Birds of a feather, what does it mean? The Princess knows it well, and so do I.”

“Oh, I…”

“Don’t even think about denying it because that’s how it sounded to me. I didn’t get the Deorc surname, but I belong to this family. You seem to be speaking with the intention of insulting me, and I am sometimes hurt by the words of the Princess.”

“Miss Claudel.”

“I wanted to tell you earlier, but I never told you where me and my mother came from. Where, or from whom did you hear it?”

“You’re very sensitive, and you’re not sophisticated in how you get angry.”

“At first, I was never sophisticated. I’m sensitive. If you’re actually thinking about living here in the future, I’d like you to know. Otherwise, we will have a lot of bumps.”

Olivia spoke bluntly, clenched her fists, and stood up from her seat.

“Then, I will go to meet the guests. Jesse, Rose, come with me.”

As she walked to the porch, she sighed.

Olivia felt a strange sense of liberation. It was not only because of her sudden courage, though because of Leon’s words.

‘If you are angry, you can be angry.’

Those words gave her a strange sense of reassurance. If she had been the usual, she would follow Henrietta and would not have been offended by what she said. So, her tongue would harden, and her heart would turn to stone.

Didn’t she actually know that Henrietta was ignoring her?

If Leon had known that she had been rude to his fiancée and had brought Marchioness Philistines in with her own judgement, he might have been very angry, although right now, she didn’t want to care about it.

She said her own feelings for the first time.

The exhilaration made her toes tingle.

Upon reaching the porch, Olivia opened the door herself and welcomed Marchioness Philistines.

“Welcome, Marchioness.”

Olivia smiled as she gazed at Marchioness Philistines. The sun was warm, and the wind from the porch tickled her hair.

Marchioness Philistines opened her eyes, and soon gave her a sweet smile.

“Nice to meet you again, Miss Claudel. You are beautiful today.”

“Sorry for the sudden visit.”

“It’s not.”

The Marchioness smiled. She looked at Olivia’s room and smiled a little more.

“I came here to tell my personal story. Could you please send everyone back?”

When Olivia nodded her head and stared at the maids, they walked out of her room with displeasure.

At the same time, the Marchioness smirked.

“You look better than I thought. It’s such a relief.”

“Yes?”

At Olivia’s puzzled expression, Marchioness Philistines said with a mischievous expression.

“What do you mean? I came to rescue you, and I’m glad you look okay.”

“…You’re here to save me?”

“Isn’t Duke Grande’s daughter here? I have to be worried about how bearable that arrogant girl will be to Miss Claudel.”

“….”

“When I think the good Miss Claudel is in trouble, my feet are already pointing here.”

“Ah…”

“This is my personal story. Those maids, I told them to step back because obviously, they were going to pass our conversation on to her.”

Marchioness Philistines laughed at Olivia’s embarrassment, not knowing what to say.

“Honestly, I thought I might not be able to get in for a visit that was too hasty. Besides, Princess Grande hates people like me very much.”

“….”

“You can tell just by looking into her eyes. She always hated me. She must have cursed at my place of origin, right?”

As Olivia avoided her gaze, Marchioness Philistines burst into laughter.

“How can you not hide your face like this? Miss Claudel! If it’s the acting that makes you fight Princess Grande, it’s top-notch.”

“No… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry, for what? You can’t just apologize and go away. Nothing to apologize for, I was already guessing.”

“….”

“Looking at the faces of the maids earlier, did you two even have a fight over bringing me in?”

‘How does she know everything at one glance like this?’

When Olivia was startled, Marchioness Philistines smiled at her.

“Oh, my goodness. How rejoiceful. So, Miss Claudel fought for me? Seeing that I was invited like this, I think you won, right?”

“How on earth do you know so well?”

“How could I have come this far if I didn’t have a clue?”

Olivia was genuinely envious of her eyes. Marchioness Philistines continued with a shining face.

“Good job.”

“Yes?”

“Have you never had a fight, never been angry? Miss Claudel, do you know that your hand is shaking?”

It was only then Olivia realized that she had been trembling earlier. She trembled like this, and she rebelled against Henrietta. Maybe Henrietta didn’t see this? No, if she had noticed that, she would have laughed at her…

Olivia sighed in relief.

“I can’t get angry because I’m, in fact, a bit stupid…”

Hearing that, Marchioness Philistines’ face was colored with tenderness.

“It’s a situation where you can’t be angry, so it’s natural for you to be this way. So, don’t say you’re stupid.”

Olivia smiled at her kind words because they felt more sincere than Henrietta’s soft words.

“Is His Excellency good?”

“Yes.”

Olivia added shyly as she bowed her head.

“…Too much.”

Marchioness Philistines, who saw it, said.

“If it’s too much, or if he treats you well enough, isn’t that because Miss Claudel is a good person?”

“Still, I am a nobleman from a fallen country. I’m not that kind of person. There is nothing.”

“There’s one left, right?”

“What?”

“It is you.”

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