Duke, Please Stop Because it Hurts

“Welcome, Molitia.”

“Marchioness Nibeia.”

Molitia, who discovered that Nibeia was already smiling broadly towards herself, struggled to smile properly. Whatever she had gone through outside, it was clear that she had to forget all about it right now.

“Thank you for inviting me again.”

“It was just supposed to be a tea party which I regularly organize, but that doesn’t sound much like a greeting. I’d like you to call me a bit more intimately.”

“I’m honored to.”

As Molitia’s cheeks bloomed red like a radiant flower, Nibeia let out a pleasant laughter.

During the last tea party, they had exchanged various stories among each other under the pretext of succour.

This should be enough to boast to others that they had become rather close, but Molitia didn’t do that at all. She was aware to a certain degree and she knew how to keep good relations with people.

She was a person who wasn’t only pure, but also well-mannered. Nibeia held her hand in hers all the while feeling that her heart had gradually leaned more towards her.

“A delicious set of tea had just come in this time. Do make yourself at home.”

Nibeia, who had guided Molitia to the particular spot, eventually stepped towards the other participants. Not too far from Molitia’s seat, Arjan could be seen. Her eyes were giving some sort of look as if to say she was conscious of her appearance there.

‘What else are you even trying to say?’

The suspicious look of hers soon broke away. And that was due to the fact that Arjan’s gaze had turned elsewhere. She had even turned around as if to show that she wasn’t conscious of Molitia at all.

A perfect disregard. Molitia actually felt relieved through that complete neglect.

‘Phew.’

Molitia then swept her hand down to her chest. She was, indeed, worried about making another fuss again this time, but fortunate enough, everything which she had said during her party from before seemed to work quite well.

She didn’t want to cause a strife during a party that was prepared by others. As she was thoroughly satisfied with the tranquility that might be somewhat temporary, Molitia lifted the cup slowly.

———————-

Arjan gritted hard on her teeth as she watched Molitia was sipping her tea quietly. She could have never known how much effort she had to put in to get here.

She had to completely convince her father, who initially told her not to take a step into society for a while. In the end, she managed to make her way here only by attracting others who were willing to become her own underdogs.

‘I’ll definitely drown you in a swamp—slowly but surely.’

Arjan then clenched onto her skirt with a bit of a loud noise. A small patch of blood seeped into her hand, which she didn’t even have before.

“I’d like to share some good news with all of you.”

Arjan’s words immediately stopped the movement of those hands, which were sipping their tea.

“What’s the news?”

“Maybe…”

The novel news had brought out an enticing expression for everyone there. Arjan, who appeared to be ashamed, started to cross her arms before touching her lips.

“That’s… …yes, the marriage between the heir of Marquis Werner and I has been confirmed. They say that they’re going to go down the road and set a date eventually.”

“Congratulations!”

“Congratulations, Young Lady Clemence. Will you invite me to your wedding?”

“Of course.”

Arjan flashed a smile and glanced at Molitia. Molitia’s eyes were already on her. As she felt a bit more excited, Arjan continued to part her lips.

“Especially to those who have attended this tea party—you are just as precious to me.”

A gesture of respect soon followed with another sigh. There was no need to be disliked by a future Marquis.

When she saw that Arjan was smiling brightly while being surrounded by people, Molitia felt a bit complicated. The Werner family heir was the man whom she had met at the door just earlier.

He was a man who had been worse than what she had heard before. He rudely looked down at her as if she was merely in the same position as himself while smiling ever so unpleasantly. It was just a rather short encounter, but it didn’t even need to be long. For such a man was too hard to be forgotten just from his adverse first impression.