I waited quietly, giving Levina space to answer without embarrassment.
“W-Well, I like someone kind,” she said, her face flushing as she ducked her head, clearly shy about her own words.
I recalled Marquis Retan—a scarred face and a wild temperament dubbed the “Beast of the West.” No matter how I looked at it, he didn’t fit Levina’s ideal type.
They said he got fed up with her running away and dragged her to the west like a kidnapper.
Try as I might, I couldn’t recall more details. Back then, I had no connection to Levina—everything I knew came from gossipy noblewomen.
Watching her twist in embarrassment, I pondered. Without interference, history would repeat, and she’d be whisked away by Retan, like it or not.
Should I let it happen, or…
“What about you, Beeonne?”
Levina’s eyes sparkled, her shyness replaced by boldness. I liked that spark—it was endearing.
“I also like someone kind,” I replied.
“Is His Highness as kind as the rumors say?”
Is he kind?
The image of Sys’s sulky, pouting face flashed in my mind.
“Pfft!”
I couldn’t help laughing. Levina’s eyes widened.
“Sorry. His Highness is very kind to me.”
“I’m jealous, Beeonne.”
“You’ll meet someone like that soon, Levina.”
“Will I?”
Her eyes turned dreamy, as if picturing a prince on a white horse. There was no need to shatter her illusions just yet.
But I felt the need to meet Marquis Retan and see what kind of man he was. Initially, I’d planned to use Levina, knowing she’d become his wife. But now, if she truly didn’t want him, I’d help her escape his grasp.
“Kind is enough? Not someone handsome?” I teased.
Her face reddened again.
“B-Beeonne, what about you?”
Not bad.
She countered my question with one of her own, clutching her flushed cheeks.
“Of course, I like handsome men. His Highness is very handsome.”
“I-I also like handsome men…”
Before she could finish, the carriage stopped. I glanced out the window—we hadn’t reached our destination.
Marly, who’d been sitting quietly, slipped out to investigate.
“What’s going on?” Levina asked.
“No idea. Marly will find out.”
Outside, a crowd had gathered, likely due to some issue in the street. Marly soon returned, opening the carriage door.
“What happened?” I asked.
“There’s been an accident, my lady.”
“An accident?”
“Yes, some noble ladies are arguing.”
I frowned. We were on Bibaldi Street, frequented by nobles. Minor disturbances weren’t uncommon, but they usually resolved quickly. Commoners wouldn’t dare raise their voices here, and nobles avoided prolonged scenes for the sake of dignity.
If noble ladies were involved, it would likely settle soon.
“We’ll wait a bit,” I said, closing my eyes to pass the time. Levina waited quietly, too.
As I mulled over Levina and Retan, her murmur broke my thoughts.
“…They don’t seem to be settling down.”
The commotion, which I’d expected to die down, only grew louder. Marly, peering out the window, tilted her head.
“Doesn’t look like it’ll calm soon,” I noted.
“Shall we go see?”
As I moved to step out, Marly followed with a troubled look.
“Levina, stay here.”
“No, I’ll come too.”
I didn’t stop her. Marly smoothed my crumpled skirt as I stepped down, then, noticing Levina’s lack of a personal maid, quickly fixed hers too.
“You’re getting the hang of being a proper maid,” I teased.
“Hehe.”
Marly grinned, rubbing her nose—a less-than-ladylike gesture, but I let it slide.
She’s come a long way from when we met.
A few steps from the carriage, we reached the commotion, but the crowd made it hard to get close.
“Looks like the carriage won’t move for a while.”
The gathered people showed no signs of dispersing, meaning the carriage was stuck. Walking to our destination would be faster.
“Let’s walk,” I said.
“Sounds good,” Levina agreed.
“Luckily, it’s not far. Are you okay with that?”
Luiasha’s shop was a ten-minute walk. Most noble ladies would balk at the distance, but Levina, true to her unorthodox nature, nodded without hesitation.
“Of course! I’m healthy as can be!”
She thumped her chest confidently, making me smile.
“Good. Let’s—”
As I turned to avoid the growing crowd, a glimpse of sky-blue hair caught my eye. I froze, staring at the source.
“No matter that you’re a duke’s daughter, you can’t treat me this way!”
A sharp voice cut through the air. I signaled Marly, who pushed through the crowd to clear a path. The onlookers, annoyed at first, parted quickly upon seeing Levina and me.
“How rude!”
“Rude? Who’s being rude here?”
An agitated voice rang out. At the center stood Lady Leslie, whom I’d spoken with at the tea party, glaring at another woman.
“Do you know who I am?”
“And do you know who she is, yet dare to act so rudely?”
“What?”
Lady Leslie’s face flushed red with anger, her fury barely contained.
Slap!
“Eek!”
Unable to restrain herself, Lady Leslie struck the woman across the face. A scream followed—not from the woman, but from Duke Daysha’s daughter, who’d been hiding behind her.
Tch, she hasn’t learned her lesson since crossing me.
The slapped woman was the one recently dismissed from the palace for defying me. She must now serve as the duke’s daughter’s maid.
“Lea, are you okay?”
Daysha’s daughter clutched the maid’s sleeve, tears welling in her eyes.
“Are you ignoring me, Lady Daysha?”
Lady Leslie’s venomous shout caused the tears to spill down the girl’s cheeks.
“You’re mean!”
“What did you just—”
“Beating Lea—you’re a bad person!”
Lady Leslie’s jaw dropped, as if she might faint. Her stunned expression reminded me of my past self.
I know that feeling.
Daysha’s daughter hadn’t changed—still naive, driven by her emotions. Looking back, she and I were strikingly similar then.
Like magnets repelling the same pole, maybe we hated each other because we were too alike.
