Chapter 31
When Sylaria opened the door, she saw Grizelle, her expression gloomy.
Arendtert, and now Grizelle. It felt like today was the day to see all the people she disliked. Sylaria suppressed the urge to slam the door shut and instead looked at her.
“How did you know I was here?”
“When I went to the guest palace, the ladies-in-waiting told me you had moved your things to the First Prince’s Palace.”
“I see.”
Sylaria stood quietly by the door, her hand still on the doorknob.
By proper etiquette, she should invite Grizelle in, but she had no desire to do so.
“My legs hurt, Syllie.”
As Sylaria remained silent, Grizelle spoke in a whining tone. It was the way she always spoke when she wanted something from Sylaria.
Whenever Grizelle looked at her like this and spoke that way, Sylaria would end up smiling as if she couldn’t win and grant her request.
Perhaps because of her frail sister Elenia’s influence, Sylaria was always inclined to give in to Grizelle, who was like a younger sister to her.
Though the two were friends, their relationship was more like that of a responsible older sister and a thoughtless younger sister.
And Grizelle shrewdly took advantage of that.
Taking advantage of others, well. This was how Grizelle lived in the world.
All she had to do was flaunt her pretty face, twist her body a little as she spoke, and she’d get whatever she wanted. What could be easier than that?
Here, too, Grizelle didn’t hesitate to use her specialty. She lightly touched Sylaria’s fingertips, letting her eyebrows droop.
“Syllie, are you really going to leave me standing out here?”
“…Come in.”
After gazing steadily at the cutesy Grizelle, Sylaria finally opened the door for her. If she thought about her past life, she’d have liked to slap her right then and there, but she summoned her patience.
For Grizelle, everything was happening for the first time.
So, just as in her previous life, Grizelle would shamelessly try to cling to Sylaria. Before that happened, Sylaria needed to cut it off at the root.
“I almost died, you know. I guess you weren’t even worried about me, Syllie. You didn’t even come to see me.”
Without so much as asking for permission, Grizelle plopped herself down on the sofa. She then began to recount her encounter with the monster as if it were some grand heroic tale.
Sylaria listened with one ear while sipping her black tea. In the past, she would have listened intently, but not anymore.
She cut the conversation short when Grizelle started to praise Arendtert.
“I see. That must have been frightening. But is that what you came here to tell me?”
“Syllie, why are you being so cold?”
“I’m just tired. You know I’ve had a lot going on lately.”
Sylaria replied indifferently to Grizelle, who puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.
“But at least everything’s settled now. I’ll have a carriage ready for you tomorrow, so you should return to Gideon.”
“Tomorrow? So soon?”
“Of course you should go. How long do you plan to stay in the Imperial Palace?”
At Sylaria’s calm reproach, Grizelle blinked. Her innocent, flustered expression was almost sickening.
“I was planning to go back with you…”
“I’m staying in the Imperial Palace.”
“Why are you staying here? Weren’t you going to break off your engagement with the Second Prince?”
Grizelle’s voice sharpened at Sylaria’s explanation, but Sylaria answered nonchalantly.
“I broke things off with Aren. But my fiancé is still living in the Imperial Palace.”
“And who is that?”
“The First Prince.”
“WHAT?!”
Grizelle shot to her feet, eyes blazing. Sylaria sat gracefully, observing Grizelle’s reaction.
Judging by her clenched fists and huffing breaths, she clearly wasn’t happy for her friend’s new engagement.
“The First Prince? Are you saying you’re switching from the Second Prince to the First Prince now? You?”
“Switching? Don’t be ridiculous. The engagement was always based on the match rate. My match rate with His Highness Euclid turned out to be much higher than with Aren, so the decision was changed.”
“But what about the Second Prince? What will happen to him?”
“Who knows. I suppose Her Majesty the Empress will find him a suitable match.”
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.