CHAPTER 019
"Ha! Did you just say everything you wanted to?"
Lady Pattinson, known for her pride, raised her voice.
Just as it seemed the argument would escalate, the expressions of the indignant ladies changed.
"It's getting noisy, so shut up."
Lewis emerged from the room where he'd been sitting on the sofa, making his presence known.
The ladies, who would cower before Bella, were even more subdued in front of Lewis.
Seeing their surprised faces, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
They should have been more careful with their words. Did they not know that Lewis was Bella's cousin?
"Marquis...?"
The first to regain her composure was Lady Pattinson.
"Marquis, it's not that—"
Lewis didn't listen to her excuses. He muttered a short incantation, and Lady Pattinson's mouth clamped shut.
Huh?
It wasn't just that he had closed her mouth.
I saw Lady Pattinson's eyes glaze over.
The focus in her brown eyes disappeared as if she were entranced.
"What happened back then?"
Did he cast a truth spell?
With a vacant expression, Lady Pattinson's mouth opened.
"Back then...?"
"Seven years ago, at Lady Croft's birthday party."
With a blank expression, Lewis asked her.
"Tell me how you ruined Bella's birthday party."
Lady Pattinson's mouth moved slowly.
"We met with the other ladies... to find out who had received invitations."
"And?"
"I persuaded the other ladies not to go."
So she was the ringleader?
I let out a breath of astonishment. Lewis's expression mirrored mine.
The other two ladies, anxious from Lady Pattinson's overly candid confession, looked like they wanted to stop her immediately.
But how could they intervene in this situation?
Lewis, the Marquis and master of the Tower, was interrogating her.
"Why?"
Lewis's stern question made Lady Pattinson's mouth move again.
"When I first went to her birthday party... I was so disgusted. Playing with such bizarre things as toys."
Though she spoke haltingly under the spell, it was clear enough to understand.
"My parents told me to befriend her... but she and I were on different levels. We couldn't be friends."
Was she really that hateful? This was too much.
I couldn't stay silent and spoke up.
"Then you should have just stayed away yourself. Why did you stop the other ladies from going?"
"Because I disliked her..."
So it was out of spite.
And now they were complaining about not receiving invitations this time. How could people be like this?
My gaze sharpened towards them.
Lewis muttered with a chilly expression.
"I've heard enough."
Then he turned around.
I followed Lewis's gaze and widened my eyes.
Had our loud conversation drawn the attention of the patrons? They were all looking our way.
And among them, one person stood out unmistakably.
With her stunning looks and commanding presence.
Lewis asked her.
"What do you think, Bella?"
When did Bella arrive?
Lewis explained to me as I rolled my eyes.
"I called her when you stepped out. She needed to hear this important conversation herself."
Using magic to get her here so quickly was impressive.
So Bella heard everything... Was this okay?
I looked anxiously between Bella and Lewis.
Surprisingly, Bella's expression seemed calm.
Last time, she had clearly been shaken by Lady Pattinson's group.
"Uh..."
A small sound came from the room. Lady Pattinson's focus had returned.
The spell was broken.
"Ah..."
I thought she might not remember, but her face turned pale quickly.
No matter how affluent her family was, they couldn't disregard the Crofts.
Not only because of their duchy status but also because the Crofts were renowned for their magic prowess.
Regardless of Bella's magical strength.
Bella took a deep breath as she walked up to Lady Pattinson.
Lady Pattinson, who had been so loud earlier, was now cowering.
She couldn't face Bella directly. Bella was on a different level.
"Was it really you who ruined my party?"
"No, it wasn't. That was a lie."
Lady Pattinson tried to explain.
Lewis smirked and asked.
"So, you're saying I manipulated her? Just to hear that from you?"
Lady Pattinson opened and closed her mouth but ultimately remained silent.
Lewis's smile faded, leaving a cold expression on his face.
"Did you really think you could toy with my sister?"
"It's fine, Lewis."
Bella intervened.
Though she said it was fine, Bella's face was frighteningly cold. She looked like she could freeze someone solid if she wanted.
"They can't even say it to my face."
Bella smiled coldly.
"They can't say it to my face, but I can say it to theirs."
Judging from the current situation, she was right.
"I don't care about these ladies, but they talk about me behind my back. It's interest stemming from inferiority."
Bella continued, giving them a disdainful once-over.
"I don't remember which families you two are from, but you're from the Pattinson Marquisate? None of you can compare to the Crofts."
She then turned her gaze to Lady Pattinson and let out a derisive laugh.
"Go ahead, keep hating me. As if I care."
"...."
Bella spoke confidently.
"No matter what anyone says, I am Bella Croft."
Leaving the frozen ladies behind, Bella was the first to exit the café.
I quickly followed, looking at her face with concern.
"Are you okay, Bella?"
"Of course. I'm fine."
Bella answered nonchalantly, but her smile was strained.
There's no way she could be okay after hearing such outright animosity...
And these were people she once thought worthy of inviting to her party. The betrayal must have hurt deeply.
I ended up getting into the carriage with Bella, leaving Lewis behind, as we headed back to the duke's mansion.
Once we were alone, Bella finally spoke.
"Selina."
"Yes?"
"Is my personality really that strange?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
I answered reflexively.
For a moment, I recalled Bella heading off to hunt her ex-boyfriend with an axe.
'No, no. Bella is perfectly normal!'
I shook my head vigorously to dispel the thought. Now was the time to comfort Bella, who was revealing her vulnerable side.
"You're not strange at all. They're the mean ones."
"I didn't know they hated it so much. I just wanted to have fun."
Regardless of Bella's childhood play preferences, she was clearly feeling bitter.
Seeing Bella, who was usually so confident, show a vulnerable side was heartbreaking.
"People can have different tastes. What's important is that Lady Pattinson persuaded the other ladies not to go."
"After my 12th birthday party was ruined, I stopped inviting people. Michael did the same."
Bella spoke with a weary voice.
"Michael had friends, but he knew I'd be envious if he threw a party with them."
"Bella..."
"Michael is very kind."
Bella smiled faintly, her tone even.
"After that, I had no friends. No one wanted to be around me."
"That's not because they disliked you. Many ladies have a favorable view of you!"
This was true.
When I became friends with Bella, the curiosity from other ladies was apparent.
Most had at least some interest, even if they hadn't spoken to her directly.
Bella wasn't causing any harm.
I spoke, hoping my sincerity would reach her.
"Some people just reject anything different."
Like Lady Pattinson.
"Disliking something because it's different is their problem, not yours. I wouldn't be friends with someone who's bad."
Despite my initial efforts to distance myself from Bella, it didn't matter now.
Bella was just intimidating!
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and continued to comfort her.
"I don't want you to pay any mind to what they said."
"Selina..."
"You know they can't harm you, right? This party will be just as you want it."
So there's nothing to fear.
I moved closer and linked my arm with hers.
"And you have me."
Saying such things felt a bit embarrassing, but I was willing to endure it for Bella.
"Thank you, Selina."
Bella smiled.
Her smile wasn't as bright as usual, but it was a smile nonetheless.
I looked at her and said.
"Let's live well and make them see. You are Bella Croft, after all."
At those words, Bella's smile relaxed more genuinely.
"Of course, who do you think I am?"
She then hugged me.
I quietly patted Bella's back.
* * *
Three days later, the long-awaited party at the duke's mansion finally took place.
Bella had sent out the invitations, but I was the party's main focus.
"Thank you all for coming. Please drink and enjoy yourselves!"
Bella finished her speech, and the champagne popped.
It had been a long time since the duke's mansion had sent out invitations.
Moreover, since Bella had been at the center of the commotion at the last event, many nobles attended the party with slightly tense expressions.
Don't worry. This will be just like any other normal party.
Once some time passed without incident, the nobles seemed to relax.
While picking up some food, I overheard nobles whispering to each other.
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