Chapter 44

44

The Elsner family, while not comparable to the Everett family, was still a household with a considerable reputation. Florentine, the youngest and beloved daughter of such a family, had a very strong sense of pride. A person with a personality like hers would likely do better with someone who worshipped her. However, unfortunately, the person Florentine fell in love with at first sight was Owen.

"I fell in love with Owen at first sight. It felt like destiny."

I remember the sparkle in Florentine's eyes as she said this. When she was Owen's fiancée, I seemed to get along with her quite well. But now, after Florentine was unilaterally broken up with by Owen, I wonder how things are...

I stood quietly, waiting for Florentine to speak. Finally, she spoke again.

"...Lily, be careful of Owen."

"...?"

I thought she was going to say something serious with that grave expression, but it turned out to be a rather unproductive topic.

"...Owen is not normal. I'm worried about you, Lily. After you divorce the Duke of Valentino, you'll return to Everett Castle, right?"

I already knew Owen was not normal, so I let that slide. I didn't expect her, a third party, to openly talk about divorce. Moreover, with the recent rumors that Theodore and I have become closer, there are fewer people who still believe we will divorce.

Florentine spoke as if it were a given.

I didn't answer her question but asked instead.

"Did it seem like I was going to divorce my husband?"

"Huh? Well..."

Florentine laughed a little dejectedly and answered as if it were obvious.

"...I know this might sound presumptuous, but it seems like the two of you are just pretending to get along. It's quite obvious."

"..."

It's obvious?

Florentine continued, her voice low and whisper-like.

"When the two of you are together, Lily doesn't seem happy."

"..."

Not happy.

Hearing this, it felt like a bolt of lightning struck my mind. ...Why didn't I think of that? No matter how much we pretend to get along, someone is bound to notice.

Owen and Hessen probably saw through it easily as well.

That I was still unhappy.

"Lily... Divorcing and immediately returning to Everett Castle is not a good choice. After all, Owen is..."

Florentine's expression twisted as if she couldn't bring herself to say it, and she glanced around before whispering.

"...He is abnormally obsessed with you. He is not in his right mind. Completely... insane."

I almost laughed. If it were true, I might have looked insane too. Or perhaps, to some extent, it was true.

Owen is abnormally obsessed with me and completely insane? That's something I already knew.

It seems that Miss Elsner Elsner thinks of me as a pitiful and gentle lamb.

"Miss Elsner, I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine. I hope you won't worry about me."

I said this with a tone of genuine gratitude. I even gave her a slightly innocent smile, which made her eyes sparkle with confidence.

Suddenly, she grabbed my hand firmly and said,

"Lily, there's someone I want you to meet. After you divorce the Duke of Valentino, it will surely be helpful. This person is very favorable towards you."

"..."

It's surprising that such a person exists. And very suspicious.

I pretended to be in deep thought and then said, as if confused,

"But... Miss Elsner, you are the host of today's salon, right? Is it okay to keep spending time with me—"

"Don't worry about that! And it's just right in front of us. Once we pass through the rose arch, it's right there. The person Lily needs to meet is waiting in the greenhouse."

...It doesn't work. I should have outright refused, and I regretted it a little.

In the end, I ended up heading to the greenhouse with Florentine, passing through the rose arch together.

When we arrived at the greenhouse, Florentine opened the door and peeked inside, seemingly to confirm if the person who was supposed to help me was waiting inside.

...Just in case, I took out the protective gemstone from my pocket and held it in my hand. It was the gemstone Theodore had charged with elemental power this morning.

With the power of his elemental spirit 'Seraphim,' I could endure for a long time even against a dangerous person. But if a crack suddenly appeared like last time, it would be a problem.

"Lily, come in quickly."

Florentine said with a kind face. It was like the face of an angel stepping on a snake. If she wasn't deliberately trying to appear flawless, she must be deeply self-absorbed.

Feeling moved by her efforts to help the pitiful Lily Everett.

'Such an easy person to understand.'

The person waiting for me in this greenhouse... probably isn't a good person either. Maybe I'll end up burning down this greenhouse.

I tightened my grip on the gemstone and slowly stepped inside. Since I've come this far, I might as well see the face of the person who is supposedly very favorable towards me.

Finally, 'he' came into view.

"..."

I let out a sigh.

The person waiting for me was none other than Lennon Chester.

* * *

"Lily, it's been a long time. I missed you."

As soon as Lennon saw me, he let out a gasp. He spread his arms wide as if to hug me and approached with an emotional expression.

I stepped back to avoid his embrace and forced a smile.

"...I didn't expect Lord Lennon to be waiting here."

"Oh, did you forget? You promised to call me 'Big Brother Lennon.'"

You're a sick kid. The way you cling to that title is clearly a fetish.

I smiled while my eyes clearly glared at him.

"That title seems inappropriate."

"We don't need to be formal, Lily."

...As always, if I could, I would kill Lennon Chester. He is a person who evokes disgust just by existing.

"Lily, I heard you and the Duke of Valentino aren't getting along well. The rumors about your improved relationship were just that—rumors. I heard it all from Miss Elsner."

"..."

I glanced at Florentine, and she nodded with a sympathetic look.

At that moment, I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.

"Miss Elsner is truly considerate. She worries deeply about me, a complete stranger."

"Stranger? Lily, we were quite close. I genuinely want to help you..."

Florentine clasped her hands to her chest and wore a worried expression. It was hard to tell if she was playing the role of a saint or if she wanted to humiliate me.

Maybe both.

Florentine Elsner... Now I understand clearly.

"Are you enjoying this, Miss Elsner?"

"Huh?"

"By trampling on me, who is owned by Owen, you can restore your trampled self-esteem."

"..."

Florentine smiled faintly and, as usual, wore a pitiful expression as she spoke.

"I don't understand what you mean, Lily. I just want to help you sincerely."

This woman is also quite insane. That's why Owen cut her off, right? It must have felt like looking in a mirror.

"Lily, why are you being so rude to Lady Elsner? She is trying to help you and me with good intentions."

As Lennon spoke to me in a soothing tone, Florentine chimed in.

"That's right, Lily. I really want to help you. I heard that Lord Lennon is extremely sincere towards you. So, I thought Lord Lennon is the only one who can help you escape from Owen."

I smiled.

"The two of you really get along well. Even twins born from the same womb can't match your compatibility. You two truly make a perfect pair. It's fortunate, Miss Elsner. Don't you need a new fiancé to restore your fallen honor?"

The best response to nonsense is more nonsense. You can't reason with someone who doesn't listen to reason.

Lennon looked bewildered at my words, and Florentine...

"..."

The benevolent mask she had been wearing so persistently finally fell off.

She glared at me with a fierce look and then laughed as if it was absurd.

"What, I thought you were just a meek and gentle girl."

Florentine scanned me from head to toe and muttered.

"Well, you are a daughter of the Everett family, after all. Even if you're only half."

"..."

Actually, not even half. I thought this while calmly looking at Florentine's true nature.

It wasn't particularly surprising. I had expected her to be this kind of person.

"Lily."

At that moment, Lennon called me in a low voice and approached.

I frowned and took a step back to avoid him.

Florentine alternated her gaze between him and me, then smiled chillingly and said,

"Then, I'll leave you two to talk. I'll take my leave now."

At that moment, a foreboding feeling washed over me, and I quickly turned to look at Florentine.

Sure enough, she quickly left the greenhouse and slammed the door shut.

Click—

The sound of the lock being engaged echoed.

'...Damn Florentine.'

I was trapped in the greenhouse with Lennon.