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『Are you stupid? 』
A sharp voice fell in the room. Connie shrank into herself from fright. At the end of Scarlet’s cold gaze was a poorly worded reply to Madame Gordwin’s invitation which Connie had thrown together just a moment ago.\n
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◇◇◇
『It’s almost the time to see the last of the Camellias in bloom――― what is this?』
“Umm…it’s a seasonal greeting…?”
Rather, it can’t be anything but that. As Connie replied with a confused look, an expression faded from Scarlet’s face. As it happened, only her beauty, that was so perfect it looked artificial, was left and made her look like a delicate doll. While Connie was nonchalantly thinking of such things, a thunder struck.
『―――Which fool talks about wilting flowers when engaging in a simple exchange of empty compliments?! 』
“Ah…!”
『Besides, the end of the camellias comes after their head falls! In classical literature literature they are synonymous with decapitation!! It would be one thing if it was the season when they are in full bloom but you just had to choose their ominous ending as the topic. Are you picking a fight with the organizer by wishing for her family to fall in ruin?! 』
Constance had no words to argue back with.
『Also, your handwriting is horrible! Redo it! 』
“Eh, isn’t it fine as long as it readable?…”
『What did you say?! 』
“No, nothing at all!”
Connie hurriedly took out a brand new parchment from the drawer of the bureau and dipped quill into the ink. From her side, she was being guided by spartan demon with words like『Hey, there! There’s a puddle of ink forming!』『Why are your words so lacking in flair?! 』『The balance of the lettering is bad! redo it!』Just as Connie was writing away half-crying, a knocking sound came from outside the room.
It was Martha who made the inquire.
“Lady Kate from the house of Baron Lorraine has come to visit. What would you like to do?”
“Kate is here? Oh, then I’ll be there in a second.”
Kate Lorraine was one of Connie’s few friends. As she stood up enthusiastically, she noticed the pitiful mountain of crumpled up paper. Turning around surprised, she found the devil with her exquisite face being her best feature, smiling cheerfully.
She was only worried for a second. When she came to herself, Connie was already shouting towards the door.
“Actually, my hands are a bit tied right now, so can you lead her to my room?!”
◇◇◇
“Connie!”
The moment the door was opened, Kate Lorraine rushed in to hug her.
“I heard that you were asleep for long so I was really worried!”
Kate’s fluffy, chestnut-colored hair tickled her. Connie smiled at her friend, who had her eyes open so wide they looked like they could fall out any moment in demonstration of her deep affection.
“I’m fine now. I even ate the whole pot of milk porridge.”\n
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“Yeah, you probably shouldn’t have eaten that much. I think this everytime, but just what’s up with your stomach?…I’m envious…”
Kate, who pouted her lips as if sulking, was indeed plump, but her soft body and her well-endowed chest were far more enviable for the permanent washboard Connie. Even today, though she might have only worn a plain-colored dress with a humble collar, her chest was accentuated so much that it looked like it could burst out any moment.
“And? Are you okay?”
Kate, who sat down on the bench, looked at her with a concerned expression. Just what is she talking about?  Tilting her head in question―――Connie suddenly realized.
“Has it already turned into a rumor?!”
She was, of course, talking about what had happened at Grand Meryl-Anne.
“Yes, it came as sudden as an off-season hurricane.”
It’s sweeping over the capital at a frightening speed. Hearing Kate mutter softly, Connie’s face stiffened. Even Kate, who like Connie, nay, even more than her was withdrawn from the social life had heard it. It would be safe to assume that the scandal of Grail family was known to all of the high society.
“You might not know because you were asleep, but Pamela returned to her land yesterday. On the surface she left to recuperate, but I’m sure she just sensed that the situation was against her and ran away with her tail betwee her legs. I’ve always thought that everything that thieving vixen ever did was underhanded.”
So that’s what happened. Even after hearing this, Connie’s heart was strangely calm. Surely, it must have been thanks to Scarlet. What she was interested in more than that was ―――
“What about Neil?”
Kate lowered her eyebrows, as if troubled.
“He doesn’t seem to be in a favorable position either. I’ve heard that some of the important business deals that had been concluded due to Bronson Company’s connection with a Viscount’s family were broken off.  As for Neil Bronson himself, even if he wasn’t punished for adultery, he still received punishment by house arrest from the church for disrupting public morale. Right now Sir Damian seems to be running around and apologizing to everybody.”
Connie felt her heart ache for a little bit. It was just a little bit. She shook her head to shake off the sympathy she felt and asked about the main topic.
“Um, er, what about me…?”
Just what kind of treatment would the main cause of the hurricane receive? As she asked timidly, Kate Lorraine nodded with a very mysterious expression on her face.
“Pitiful Constance Grail proved that even sheep can turn into hounds when angered ―――This was the title of editorial in the aristocratic printing of today’s Mayflower. Congratulations, Constance Grail. You have become the woman of the hour overnight.”
She had unexpectedly made her tabloid debut. Connie spontaneously put her had over her forehead and looked up. While she was dissociating, perhaps Kate had noticed the disastrous situation on the table and shouted in surprise.
“Oh my, how rare.”
“Huh?”
“Sorry, I saw it. This is an invitation to Madame Gordwin’s ball, right? So you’re going to participate? Until now you would always refuse invitations, so what changed now?”
“No, well, this is….”
How should she answer the question? She cast a glance at Scarlet, who kept carefully observing them like a figurehead. As expected, Kate wasn’t able to see her. In that case, it would be impossible to tell her the truth. ‘Hey, just listen to this Kate, I’ve suddenly started to see the ghost of the infamous Scarlet Castiel and after hearing her story, I found out that she’d been supposedly framed by somebody and from now on we’re going on a quest to find the true culprit. That’s exactly why I’m going to Madame Gordwin’s ball but I’m all fine so you don’t have to worry about me’―――
Yup, that wasn’t going to work. No matter how she thought about, saying something like this would definitely make Kate worry―――about the state of her mind, that is. She didn’t want to get estranged from one of her few, precious friends.
As she was thinking in cold sweat about a reason that wouldn’t make Kate worry, the latter suddenly let out a startled “Ah!” and put both of her hands over her mouth. After that, she let her gaze wander around as if in state of turmoil
“S-sometimes you just get in that kind of mood, right? Y-yeah, I think it’s quite fine. Go and Enjoy yourself! I’ve also heard that many handsome gentlemen attend Madame Gordwin’s balls! M-maybe you could find an unmarried, gentle and handsome Prince Charming there?!
“Huh? No, that wasn’t what I…”
“It’s alright, Connie! My cousin Stacy said that now it’s fine for ladies to take initiative in courtship too! Besides, the novel I read the other day also said that a broken heart could only be healed by new love…!”
Wasn’t she ――― misunderstanding something?
However, being unable to think of a better excuse, Connie only ended up nodding half-heartedly with a ‘yeah..I’ll do my best…’.
—\n
Notes:\n
If you’re reading this after Amarre’s manga version…I’m sorry…….That kind of prose is beyond my capacity…
You found any kind of type, awkward grammar or mistranslation? it’s not a problem anymore! Just tell me what to fix and where and I’ll do it afap
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