***
Teaching Dorothea a lesson left me exhausted, so I decided to go home. Moreover, I did not want to stay here longer. Even if I talked to other young ladies, I felt uncomfortable because they seemed to be stuck only on topics related to the Crown Prince.
After calling the carriage earlier, I was about to take a step out of the backyard of Kirkler mansion when someone called out to me.
"Are you going now?"
I turned around with a faint smile at the now-familiar voice. Odeletta was walking towards me with an elegant smile. I did not get a chance to look at her properly earlier because it was hectic, but she really was beautiful.
I smiled and nodded sincerely. "Yes, Lady Odeletta."
"Are you not feeling well?" Odeletta asked me anxiously, and I shook my head.
"No way! No. I'm really healthy!" I put on a big smile as proof, and Odeletta smiled back at me in relief.
"I'm glad you're not sick. I was worried."
Odeletta…has beautiful teeth–huh? Her teeth are really neat. I admired her for a moment, then soon asked her a question.
"Did something happen?"
"Pardon? Ah… No! I didn't call you up for anything. I was just wondering why you were leaving early."
"I'm not sick, but I'm a little tired. I thought maybe I should go home early and get some rest."
"I see. You shouldn't get sick. That's a good choice." She nodded and gave another stunning smile, and then her expression turned cautious. "Hmm, I…"
"Yes, Lady Odeletta," I prompted.
"I don't know if it's rude to ask you this…"
It was not like her to be so hesitant, and I looked at her curiously. Why was she like this? "It's alright, Lady Odeletta. I don't know what this is about, but you can ask me about it."
"Ah…"
But even after hearing my answer, Odeletta was still quite hesitant, and I seriously wondered about what she was trying to ask me. At last, Odeletta spoke in a cautious voice.
"Did you fight with Lady Dorothea?"
"…"
Ah, what? Was that all she was going to ask me?
It was such a bland question that I almost burst into laughter, but I refrained from doing so in order not to look weird.
"Yes, I did," I said concisely.
"As expected… I see." Odeletta carefully continued to select her words. "Actually, your voices were so loud… I tried not to listen to you. I'm sorry."
"Ah, it's alright."
Dorothea's voice was a little loud, so I thought someone would notice us, but I didn't expect that it would be Odeletta. In that case, it was likely that other people besides her noticed the heated exchange between me and Dorothea.
"It's alright. Well, I don't really care," I answered with almost self-despair.
"Is it too nosy of me to ask why you fought?"
"As you may expect, it was about what happened earlier. You and other people probably feel the same, but I also don't like someone talking senselessly about me."
Odeletta gave a nod of sympathy. "Lady Dorothea's behavior was rude. Besides, I didn't know she would say that in front of you."
I concluded the conversation with a smile as a sign that I was fine. "Anyway, it happened. I feel better."
"I don't really know what happened, but I am glad you look happy."
"Thank you, Lady Odeletta. I am going to leave now…"
"Ah, Lady Maristella." Odeletta grabbed me when I was about to turn back, and I turned around with a puzzled expression.
"What is going on, Lady Odeletta?" I asked.
"Hmm…" This time, she looked shy rather than cautious. "If it is alright with you, I would like to invite you to my house someday."
"Pardon?"
"I am saying I want to meet with you alone."
Was that…was that such a delicate question that she had to ask it with a blush in her cheeks?
I was confused, but I thought she was just being bashful. I gave a nod in reply. "Of course, Lady Odeletta." I smiled widely. "We are friends now. It is common for friends to visit each other's houses."
"Thank you for saying that," Odeletta said with a visibly delighted look. "I will send someone to Bellafleur mansion someday, Lady Maristella."
"I will be waiting." I added with a grin, "Enjoy the rest of the tea party today."
"Have a good rest," she replied back.
Odeletta saw me off with a smile on her face while I gave a slight bow, then completely exited the backyard. My carriage was waiting outside the mansion and I settled in there with a rather tired look on my face.
"Are you not feeling well, Lady? You're unusually early," the carriage driver noted with an odd expression.
"I'm a little tired. I think I'd rather take a rest at home today."
"Ah, I see. Yes, Lady."
After that, the driver started the carriage forward. I slowly felt myself getting drowsy and I yawned out loud.
Actually, it was already 5 p.m. when I said I was going home early. It was not really that early considering that most tea parties ended at 7 p.m.
'Should I sleep?'
Bellafleur mansion was not very far from Kirkler mansion, but it was a good time to catch some rest.
I leaned back in my chair and slowly fell asleep.
***
"Is he crazy?!"
After some time had passed, my eyes snapped open at the sound of the carriage driver's sharp voice.
"No, is that horse…really crazy?"
"What's going on?" I asked.
"The other carriage is running towards us, My Lady. Just in case, please hold the carriage. No, that carriage is seriously after us!"
What the hell is going on? Alarmed by the unexpected situation, I used my instinct for survival and held on to the carriage window hard.
There won't be any road accidents, right? I inadvertently bit my lip in fear.
I wondered what the hell was going on here. It's not going to be a big deal, right…?
"My Lady! Hold on tight!"
…I was mistaken.
Even before I could hear the carriage driver's urgent voice, the opposite carriage rammed us hard from the side. I had no seatbelt, and I flew in the air.
In that instant, I completely panicked at the thought that I might die like this.
I even thought that because things did not go the way they were supposed to in the novel as a result of me having my say and leaving Dorothea, my value as a character had gone down and I had to die.
It wasn't total nonsense if that was what disturbed the order of this universe.
'That's not fair…'
Apart from everything else, I just did what I wanted.
If that's really the case, it's really not fair.
At one point, I felt as if I was falling to the bottom of an endless floor, and I squeezed my eyes shut before the strong impact.