The story I heard from Nocton came up.

He said he took away the brainwash on her. Yeah, Sheryl Bornaine’s love was created by magic. By magic, you could even control a person’s mind. I could see why they punished people who learned black magic in the past.

“Now you don’t have a heart for him anymore.”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Did you have a heart when you approached His Grace?”

“Hey, Lady Roa.”

“His face is pretty, but he looks lonely without a person approaching him, so if you act nice a little, you would be able to play him. That’s what you said.”

“When did that happen—! Who said that? Katie? Everance? Don’t tell me, is it Roziks?”

“You’re the one who said it, Lady Sheryl. I was just resting on the balcony and I picked up an unexpectedly scary words.”

“Balcony … yes. I didn’t look around when I was a kid. His Grace—did you tell him?”

He knew it even if I didn’t tell him.

I didn’t have to add the story, so I shook my head. Her face was already turned pale.

“Is that so. Well done. It was a childhood thing. It was an immature nonsense. That’s what everyone does. Speak immoral words and bluff … I didn’t really think of putting it into practice….”

As she uttered gibberish, Sheryl’s voice grew higher and louder. It was difficult because I was whispering so that people at the same table could not hear our conversation.

I quietly glanced at the other two at the table, the Viscount’s daughter and Lord Elford,  to evoke Sheryl Bornaine of her surroundings.

Oops, she breathed in for a moment.

“So, was that why you got close to him?”

“I didn’t mean to approach him! On my way back from the party, my mother went to the Duchess for work and I had no choice but to follow her. It’s been weird since then that I started liking him….”

To say that Sheryl Bornaine liked her Nocton was nothing new, but she bit her lips as if admitting her feelings irritated her.

“Yes, I like him, I liked him, to be precise. That’s possible. His appearance and conditions are not bad. I’m not saying I like him now, but I used to.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“I know I’ll look ridiculous to you, but I really don’t like him anymore. Something that was once so good about him on my mind was gone like a lie…..”

Sheryl bit her lips. Fear was flashed on her whitened face. I felt familiar with her expression of fear. This is the face I saw from Alice.

Fear, dread, and anxiety spread by Nocton Edgar.

Looking at her face, I felt a sense of unity and, oddly enough, I felt guilty.

What he did had nothing to do with me, I didn’t even know, but it caused a subtle guilt that I had been close to him at that time and I had him in mind as a friend until recently.

It may be because of the long time I spent with Nocton. Just as the rumorc against Nocton became my fear, I may be mistaken that his sins have my share.

Even though I thought so rationally, I opened my mouth, unable to suppress the bloated guilt.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“….for questioning Lady Sheryl, I’m trying to pry into your heart.”

“Lady Roa, you have a knack for making people weird. I’ve also pressed and accused you, but I don’t think I did anything wrong. Don’t try to make me feel guilty.”

“I didn’t think about that.”

“If it’s not that, don’t speak in that way. Do as you always do. Be sarcastic, don’t act like you’ve become so weak.”

Sheryl Bornaine stared at me with an uncomfortable face. I didn’t intend to bother her, so I purposely raised the tone of my voice a little.

“I’m not trying to be weak, I’m asking for reconciliation. The reason we don’t get along is because of one person.”

Then I took out the box I brought and handed it over to her.

“You don’t like him anymore, and I’m thinking of getting rid of him. What,  I don’t mean to be friends, you don’t have to be so appalled.”

The object I brought as a gift was a famous cookie made by Robolt. Due to the lack of quantity to make and the strict storage method, it was a snack that was hard to taste unless you go directly to Robolt. I didn’t really like it because it was salty.

Seeing the box I brought out, Sheryl Bornaine raised her eyebrows and smiled.

“I go to Robolt every year at the end of the year. I ate this cookie so often that I had enough. It’s a gift, so I’ll take it.”

“Yes, it’s an honor to accept it. But the end of every year? The party that we recalled earlier was in early January.”

“What are you talking about? It’s Count Alfei’s birthday party. It was mid-December.”

“….I remember it as a party to celebrate the Viscount’s remarriage.”

“Your memory must be wrong. You think a Duke’s heir will go to a Viscount’s remarriage party?”

“Did you say His Grace was there?”

“Certainly, I can’t believe I mocked someone who wasn’t even there. What nonsense are you talking about, you have been attached to His Grace since that party.”

The party when I first spoke to Nocton was held in December, and the party when I heard of Sheryl Bornaine’s gossip was held in January. I drank the Memoria’s Seal recently, so I have a clear memory.

However, according to Bornaine, the day I spoke to Nocton was the same day she spoke ill of him.

And right after I approached Nocton, I heard Sheryl Bornaine’s words, ‘How can she insulted my friend’, I got angry and thought ‘But my way of thinking is the same.’. In the end, I felt guilty.

That’s how much affection I’ve built up in just a few hours?

“Nonetheless, I need to go around the table. As the tea party organizer, it’s a very undignified thing to have a chat only with you.”

While I was in confusion, Sheryl Bornaine stood up.

This person must have mistaken something.

I went on a trip a little late that year….

Something was unclear, but it wasn’t a big deal, so I just nodded.

As soon as she left, someone immediately knocked on the table.

It was Roziks Elford, a skinny tall man with blue hair, an eternal loyal dog to Sheryl Bornaine. Since before, he had been glancing over here in a fit of impatience to interfere, so I expected this to happen.

“What did you say to Bornaine’s young lady?”

“You don’t call her Sheryl anymore.”

“Don’t play with words.”

Pretending to be calm, he cut off my words, but a fiery heat rose on his face. I have no idea whether he is shy or angry.

Both.

I gazed at his face with the intention of teasing Roziks Elford.

Because of Nocton, Aaron, and Alroy—it’s strange to say Alroy too, but Alroy was better known for being handsome than pretty. I was so used to the handsome faces that I was not impressed by it anymore, but he looked fine. Fine enough to go along with Sheryl Bornaine, who is quite a beauty.

I thought he was close to Bornaine because their dirty personality matched well. I haven’t really thought about it seriously. However, judging by the way he acted when she collapsed, and now, it seems that acting like a puppy with upright hair is not just based on a pure friendship.

“I don’t think what I said to the Bornaine’s young lady is something I’d have to tell the young lord of Elford about.”

“What is it.”

“You, you like her. The Bornaine’s young lady—”

Roziks Elford flapped like a carp that had just been picked up.

Though he did not side the cup, but the water in the teacup spattered everywhere.

His reaction, it’s really fun.

The Viscount’s esteemed daughter, who sat next to him and didn’t open her mouth once before, got up from her seat, shouting to call her maid. She seems to have wanted to get out of this position quite a bit.

“—the tea you prepared. I’m so surprised.”

“Eek—”

“Wow, you must have helped the Bornaine’s young lady over the matters of Nocton with jealousy. Like a pushover, you have to be a saint.”

“Valrose’s young lady!”

“I’m talking to myself, talking to myself.”

“I’m really not, really—! Listen when a person speaks!”

Listen when you speak, is that what you’re going to say?

When he said he didn’t like Nocton, Roziks Elford needs to reflect on what he said.

Near my mouth I mumbled to myself, not holding back my laughter.

“You are.”

“Valrose’s young lady!”

***

Attending Sheryl Bornaine’s tea party was due to complex emotions.

She had suffered frombrainwashing for a long time, so can she have any serious aftereffects? It bothered me so I wanted to make sure it was really what Nocton Edgar said.

As a result, what he said was true, and she seemed safe. She doesn’t seem to have lost her mind and she seems a little afraid of Nocturne, so she won’t even try to approach him further.

That’s why I don’t have to worry about Bornaine’s safety.

I don’t know why I’m worried about this. I’m not close to Sheryl Bornaine, I didn’t encourage him to brainwash her, and I’m thinking of cutting my ties with Nocton Edgar now.

I shook my head a couple of times, shaking off my thoughts, and I could feel a glance at me.

It was Alroy.

“Are you listening, Ruru?”

“Ah, I’m listening, Alroy. So you decided to burn Terrops Andante?”

“I’d love to, mentally, but the only thing that was legally succeeded was the breakup. Regrettably, you couldn’t hear what I said by mouth, and only listening to what I said with my heart.”

“All I have to do is listen to something. Now, should we look for a new fiancé candidate?”

“To my surprise, I mentioned that a little while ago. The second son of Count Elford, Roziks Elford.”

“Ah, Roziks Elford.”

In any manner, the Count is extremely fond of his second son. I nodded my head insincerely and I popped the soup with a breath.

Wait a minute, what?

“Roziks Elford?”

“Yes, I don’t like it that much this time, but he’s better than Tertops. At least in terms of appearance, he’s pretty good. I don’t know what my appearance will be like as a partner.”

“Hold on, seriously? You’re engaged to Roziks Elford? I have to be a family with a dog?”

“Has there ever been a turbulence between you and him? Have a relationship or something—”

“Do not joke!”

As I screamed at a terrible joke, I choked, and I hurriedly grabbed the glass next to me.

However, it was champagne. My throat was sore and it got worse.

Aside from the pain, it’s disgraceful to drink champagne while talking about Roziks Elford.

Clicked her tongue, Alroy gave me a glass.

I inadvertently tried to drink it again, and when I found out that what was inside was the same as I had drank a little while ago—champagne—I crushed Alroy’s feet.