Chapter 6
“…But you have a fiancé?”
And not just any fiancé—her fiancé’s younger sister was Shirley herself. Was it even okay to have this kind of conversation? Just as Shirley was pondering this, Melissa’s urgent voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Oh no, it’s time. I have to go to my piano lesson.”
“Huh?”
Shirley, who had been spacing out, snapped back to reality and looked at Melissa.
“Ah, no way. You promised to help me with my homework.”
Shirley sighed as she glanced at the papers, pens, and the foreign language textbook she had dropped earlier, all scattered on the tea table.
“Well, who told you to ask for advice during study time?”
“I don’t know…”
Shirley was in the process of learning the language of the Reichen Empire, where Melissa had grown up. She had somewhat mastered reading, listening, and writing, but the unique pronunciation made speaking incredibly difficult.
“I need to practice speaking. The teacher said there’s going to be a test,” Shirley said anxiously.
“Why is the pronunciation in this language so hard? It makes my voice sound so stuffy.” Shirley flipped open a random page and stumbled through the words.
[“I have never met that person before.”]
A completely different, husky voice flowed out, unlike her usual tone.
“Wrong.”
Melissa shook her head side to side, then cleared her throat.
“Listen carefully.”
Shirley focused intently on Melissa’s lips.
[“I have never met that person before.”]
Melissa’s voice also came out huskier, as if she were a different person. Unlike Shirley, however, her pronunciation was smooth and fluent.
“I don’t know, I’m doomed. I can’t even mimic it.”
Shirley let out a despairing sigh. She had called Melissa over to study together, but they ended up wasting time on unnecessary worries instead.
“I’m behind on my piano lessons. I was supposed to practice twenty times, but I haven’t even done it five times. It’ll be obvious during the test. The teacher will be here soon.”
Melissa hurriedly gathered her sheet music.
“This isn’t working, I have to go.”
“What about me?”
“My homework is more urgent! Just wing it! It’s just Reichen language!”
“Just? How can I be on the same level as you, who lived there for 15 years?”
“Anyway, good luck, Shirley.”
With that, Melissa stabbed the last remaining strawberry with her fork and popped it into her mouth.
“But why did you suddenly start thinking about that?”
“…Huh?”
Melissa, noticing Shirley’s dazed expression, asked with sharp eyes.
“Me? What about me?”
Startled, Shirley gripped the cushion in her hands tightly, as if she might tear it apart. Melissa’s gaze followed Shirley’s hands.
“You’ve been spacing out since earlier. You keep getting lost in thought… Wait, you’ve been acting strange ever since the Count Fer ball.”
“……”
Shirley flinched at Melissa’s accurate observation and avoided her gaze.
“Did something happen? Did you fight with Damian or something?”
“Fighting.”
“But why won’t you even meet me? You turned me down again today.”
“Turned you down…? I was just really sleepy earlier.”
“Why is your face all red?”
Unconsciously trying to cool down the rising heat, I stopped fanning myself abruptly.
It’s just… it’s hot. Summer is coming soon.
“Hmm, is that so?”
“Really, it’s nothing.”
“Alright then.”
Melissa, seeming to lose interest, shrugged her shoulders and got up from her seat.
“I should get going now.”
“Melissa?”
I hurriedly called out to my friend. There were still so many things I wanted to ask.
There was so much I wanted to ask my always more mature and knowledgeable friend, and she’s leaving already?
“Wait, there’s still…”
“Later. I have to go meet my fiancé too. You know, your brother.” At those words, I couldn’t hold Melissa back any longer.
And so, Melissa left in a hurry, leaving behind a trail of confusing words, pretending not to hear my calls.
***
Plop, plop.
Without much thought, I picked up a pebble within reach and threw it into the pond. The pebble floated on the water’s surface.
The pebble landed on a lily pad, creating ripples of varying sizes on the water’s surface.
Just like the ripples Melissa had made earlier with her finger.
…What am I even thinking?
Shirley suddenly shook her head like a chicken, as if to shake off the thought.
I’m crazy, I’m crazy.
She couldn’t understand why such a thought had crossed her mind at this moment.
*Ribbit.*
The frogs, annoyed by the pebbles Shirley kept tossing, let out disgruntled croaks and scattered in all directions.
And the pebble Melissa had thrown caused gentle ripples in Shirley’s lake.
“Would I understand if I tried it once?”
It was said that a frog could die if hit by a pebble thrown for fun, but Melissa had perfectly sniped Shirley with her throw.
No, the ripples in Shirley’s heart had started a long time ago.
Ever since the scene she witnessed in the lounge during Count Fer’s ball not long ago.
After dropping one of her earrings, she returned to the lounge and saw it.
The eldest son of Count Fer and the second daughter of Baron Ford, with their lower garments hastily pulled up, entangled in a frantic embrace.
Truthfully, the promiscuous behavior of noble heirs at social events wasn’t particularly shocking. What shocked Shirley was something else.
Both of them had fiancés.
Fiancés they had been betrothed to since birth.
In other words, just like Damian and herself.
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