Brigitte and Yuri, however, seemed to have eyes only for each other. Clifford was on the verge of laughing again at their complete obliviousness, but Sienna’s expression remained prim and proper.
“We both have the hard job of serving eccentrics, I see,” he whispered to her.
After a few moments of silence, the cool and collected maid relaxed her mouth so slightly, Clifford thought he might have imagined it.
“…Indeed. And I enjoy it thoroughly,” she answered. A laugh escaped Clifford’s throat.
But he had underestimated her. The instant Yuri and Brigitte stopped arguing, Sienna interrupted, as if she had been waiting for her chance.
“Pardon me, Sir Aurealis.”
“Miss Sienna, was it? Did you want to ask me something?”
“Yes. Would you mind sharing your thoughts on my mistress’s appearance today?”
“Sienna?!” Brigitte screeched.
She had probably never dreamed her maid would say such a thing. But Clifford was surprised, too. Not many maids would have the nerve to talk like that to the Frozen Blade; given most people found him so intimidating, they shunned him altogether.
This is no ordinary woman…!
As far as he could tell, Brigitte seemed like quite an interesting girl, and he decided the same went for Sienna. Although he didn’t realize it, she was older than him.
As for Yuri, he seemed embarrassed by the maid’s sudden request, but since he was essentially an earnest person, he did not snap at her.
“Wh-what…?” Brigitte asked, her voice cracking and her cheeks flushed. She began pawing through her purse but then stopped as if she’d remembered something.
…? Did she forget her fan…?
His guess was correct. Now that her most crucial accessory had been confiscated by Sienna, Brigitte was in a panic at not being able to hide her face. Even to Clifford, her pure beauty and dainty bashfulness were extremely attractive. But of course, Yuri would never say something so sweet.
“…It’s not bad.”
Ah, well. I suppose that’s the best he can do.
Really, extracting any comment whatsoever from a person so uninterested in girls—in other human beings—was an impressive feat.
Clifford nodded, satisfied with this response, but Sienna kept prodding. “Can you please be a bit more specific?”
“…”
Yuri was silent. He probably hadn’t expected to try again. Clifford wondered if he should rescue him. At the same time, he was curious to see how Yuri would extract himself from this bed of thorns.
It was the only time Clifford had ever regretted being an attendant guarding his master’s back—because it meant he couldn’t see Yuri’s face.
“I think she’s pretty…today and every day,” he managed to mutter after a heroic mental struggle.
“Eegya!”
Brigitte leaped backward with a kind of strangled yelp.
“Is that so?” Sienna asked with cool pride.
✦ ✦ ✦
I suspect that was meant to be praise for what he said…
Maybe he was imagining it, though.
Sienna walked over to the utterly flustered Brigitte and whispered loud enough for him to hear, “Miss, would you like to chat with the gentleman after this?”
“Wh-why would you think that?! I came here today to spend time with you. I don’t have even the slightest, tiniest intention of spending time with Sir Yuri!”
“Oh, I see. I assumed you arranged to meet him here.”
“Of course I didn’t! Of c-c-course not!”
Miss Brigitte’s voice is so loud, I can hear every word…
She was by now so worked up, he thought she might develop a fever. This was a bit concerning. Evidently having reached her limit of humiliation, she dragged Sienna over to Yuri and glared defiantly up at him through teary eyes. The image reminded him of a small animal threatening a bigger one.
She probably had no idea how adorable this was.
“Sir Yuri, I will see you the day after tomorrow. Have a nice day!”
“Right… Don’t trip over the stoop.”
“…I am not a child!”
Sienna nodded at them as Brigitte dragged her away and huffed out of the shop. Clifford watched them go…then turned to see how Yuri was taking this.
The face of his young master, who had spoken more words today than ever before, was completely empty of emotion.
“You should have told me you were close with the Meidell girl.”
“Do we look close to you?”
“Yes, very.”
Yuri sighed tiredly. But Clifford noticed that in all the confusion—Yuri had succeeded in giving her the present.
As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of class, Lisa jumped up from her seat. If she didn’t hurry, the girls would leave before she had a chance to talk to them. But when they saw her walking up, their faces clouded over. Lisa pretended she didn’t notice.
“Would you like to join me for tea today?” she asked brightly.
The three girls exchanged glances.
“Um, no, thank you.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to do something.”
“So do I…”
Smiling apologetically, the three of them stood up and hurried out of the classroom. Lisa watched them in a daze.
“…What is going on?” she mumbled.
They had always relied on her for everything. Without her, Prince Joseph’s favorite, they would never have so much as exchanged a word with him. Her influence was the reason they got to enter the private cafeteria booth that normally only high nobles used. And now they were biting the hand that fed them! Lisa’s fists quivered with incredulous anger.
…But she knew why it was happening.
They were distancing themselves from her because of the incident last week.
Lisa had angered Yuri Aurealis, the much-feared Frozen Blade. People were still whispering about it, embellishing the story with each retelling. She’d overheard people criticizing her for her recklessness in challenging the Water Clan. Furious, she had lashed out at anyone she caught talking behind her back, but that did nothing to ease her irritation.
What was even more unbelievable was how Yuri had acted that day. People kept their distance because he was so exceedingly good at everything. At the same time, just about every girl in school had an eye on him thanks to his good looks and good family. No matter how much he pushed them away, plenty of girls were still plotting their way into his heart.
And yet this very same Yuri had protected Brigitte. It was incomprehensible.
Why in the world would he care about that worthless Red Fairy?
She couldn’t imagine a less suitable partner for him. Brigitte’s own father had called her a changeling. The Third Prince had dumped her. The whole school made fun of her…so why had the gifted duke’s son chosen her?
She hasn’t made half the effort I have to be lovable!
Unlike Brigitte, Lisa had put her all into this. She had contracted with a spirit who had a name. She had befriended the rather lonely Prince Joseph and healed his wounded heart. She was the one who had rescued him after Brigitte wore him out. Brigitte ought to get down on her knees and apologize to Lisa for all the trouble she’d caused the prince when she was his fiancée. She truly felt that way. But Brigitte’s words kept echoing in Lisa’s head.
“Prince Joseph told me he likes stupid girls. I’m relieved to see his taste hasn’t changed.”
She bit her lip so hard, she drew blood.
I will not stand for it! I’ll make her pay!
Stealing pens was child’s play. This girl required a much harsher punishment. Otherwise, she would probably never understand what a worthless, classless human she was.
The more Lisa thought about it, the more excited she became. Just the idea of the wounds she could inflict sent a thrill down her spine.
She looked so hopeless when I mentioned her scars…!
Her father had burned her hand, damaging her forever. What hideous wounds must be hidden beneath those unladylike gloves of hers?
It’d be so fun to expose them in front of everyone.
Now in excellent spirits, Lisa noticed that her dear prince was about to leave the classroom.
“Your Highness! Where are you going?” she called playfully.
He turned and smiled slightly. “I have something I need to do today.”
“Oh…”
Joseph was a member of the royal family. Although he’d told her he was excused from most duties to focus on his studies, he must still be very busy. Convinced that this explained the situation, she smiled brightly at him.
“Shall I come with you to the royal palace?”
Having her along would surely calm his nerves. Plus, if she was lucky, she might even get an audience with the king or queen. Joseph hadn’t made a move toward engagement yet, saying it was still too soon after his breakup with Brigitte.
But he shook his head. “No, I’m fine. See you tomorrow.”
Before she could answer, he left the classroom. Sadly, she watched him go.
…For some reason, she felt like she could hear Brigitte’s voice lecturing her again.
“Prince Joseph told me he likes stupid girls.”
But that can’t be!
The first time Joseph talked to her, he had complimented her for being smart. He’d told her how different she was from Brigitte.
I did everything for him…
It never occurred to Lisa that her feelings might be warning her that something was wrong.