Zervanie walked into the room, meeting Adeline’s gaze head-on.
“Wow, Miss Adeline, your house is so beautiful. I wonder how many people it could fit?”
“Don’t be fooled by how big it is—very few people have ever stayed here. It’s just been me and Felyn.”
Zervanie’s lips twitched twice as she watched Adeline walk into the kitchen to make tea.
“Quit showing off! Felyn lived with me once too, okay?! He even washed my panties, tucked me into bed, fed me fruit… and he also…”
Zervanie suddenly fell into a rush of memories, like her life flashing before her eyes.
Turns out she and Felyn had been that close all along? Why hadn’t she noticed back then?!
Now even speaking to him felt like a luxury.
Adeline walked out of the kitchen carrying a teapot and a tray with a few pastries.
The two most famous beauties in Seiwa gathered in this dining room, and just by sitting there, the furniture probably tripled in value.
Two faces like divine blessings, now sitting here fighting over the same boy.
“Miss Zervanie, was there something you wanted, visiting me so early in the morning?” Adeline finally got to the point.
“I originally wanted to get your advice, Miss Adeline—wanted to ask how I should get along with Felyn. But now, I’m guessing you won’t be so eager to answer that?”
Adeline smiled, pouring Zervanie a cup of tea.
“Why wouldn’t I? Since Miss Zervanie asked so politely. I happen to know just how to build a good relationship with Felyn.”
“Oh? And what would that be?”
“Well—it’s simple. You have to become me first.”
Zervanie couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Screw you! What are you so smug about, Adeline?! So what if you slept with Felyn one night! Look at that smug little face—you’d think you were already married!”
“But Zervanie, don’t be too discouraged.” Adeline took her hand with a sincere expression. “If you sincerely apologize to Felyn, he might forgive you. You two could become good friends.”
“Good friends?! Who the hell wants to be friends with Felyn?!” Zervanie gently pulled her hand back and sipped her tea.
“Adeline, does your father know about all this?”
She thought calmly about how to strike back—if it was just about intimacy with Felyn, she had no advantage.
She didn’t know exactly how far Felyn and Adeline had gone, but there was one thing she did know—
Adeline, the eldest daughter of the Claude family, heir to Lord Claude, his most prized successor.
This woman, who would one day be a rising star in Siveshus Empire politics—was she really going to marry a fallen noble?
Even if she was willing, would her father, Lord Claude, be?
“Miss Zervanie, I don’t know what you’re implying.”
Sure enough, the confidence in Adeline’s expression wavered.
She knew she couldn’t let Zervanie see any cracks—otherwise, she’d press her advantage.
But Adeline couldn’t help it.
The gap in status between her and Felyn had always weighed on her chest like a boulder.
Since Zervanie brought it up, there was no hiding her emotions anymore.
“Just like the other nobles in the Empire, I greatly respect Lord Claude. He’s a vital figure in Siveshus. I wonder… would he approve of you and Felyn being together, Miss Adeline?”
“That’s a private family matter. It’s none of your concern.”
Adeline’s eyes narrowed sharply, but both of them knew she was just using that serious expression to mask her panic inside.
“All right then. I was out of line.” Zervanie didn’t press further. Just hinting at it was enough.
“I’ve spoken to my parents about it,” Zervanie continued, “They’ve already approved of me and Felyn getting married.”
She gently tapped the table and looked at Adeline’s gradually twisting expression with a sense of satisfaction.
Finally scored one back!
“My parents don’t know the full story about Felyn yet, but he’s been studying hard for me. He wants to get into the Royal Capital and join the Divine Church. That way, he’ll be eligible to propose formally.”
Adeline kept sipping tea to keep herself composed.
“I’ve been helping him too. He passed the joint entrance exam. It won’t be long before he enters the Royal Capital Academy.”
“For you?” Zervanie was skeptical. A guy like Felyn studying hard for a girl?
“Yeah, I was moved by his persistence.”
Adeline felt herself regaining control of the conversation and began to relax.
Zervanie, like Viloti, was just another loser in love.
Even if she tried to put up a last struggle, she was no real threat.
“And how do you know Felyn’s doing all this for you? Did he say that to your face?”
“Felyn’s not the kind to say something like that directly… but I can feel it—from the way he looks at me, the way he takes care of me. I just know.”
Zervanie looked at Adeline’s closed eyes and the dreamy expression on her face—and suddenly felt annoyed.
Seriously? You’re fantasizing about Felyn right in front of me? Shameless!
“Miss Adeline, maybe you misunderstood Felyn. What you’re feeling… might not be love from him.”
Zervanie wasn’t saying that just to be mean.
She’d been through it herself.
She once thought that Felyn’s patience and tolerance of all her whims meant he loved her—but it turned out, it didn’t mean that at all.
Felyn’s meticulous care… it was easy to misunderstand.
Wait a minute…
That thought made Zervanie freeze.
Did that mean Adeline was just like her?
Both of them had been mistaken into thinking Felyn liked them.
Wait…
Wait a second—could it be that Adeline was also one of Felyn’s clients?!
The thought made Zervanie’s heart race.
She looked at Adeline, still off in her daydreams, and instinctively licked her lips.
It fit. It all fit.
Like looking in a mirror.
“Miss Adeline, how long have you known Felyn?”
At Zervanie’s question, Adeline finally opened her misty gray-blue eyes.
“It’s been a few years now.”
“Does he usually come to you at night?”
“Mhm.”
Still half-lost in her dream, Adeline wanted to shut Zervanie down once and for all, so she just told the truth.
She hoped Zervanie would realize how strong her bond with Felyn was and give up.
“I see. Miss Adeline, you and Felyn must be very close.”
Zervanie gave a big, honest smile—totally unhidden.
Everything lined up.
Several years. Fixed visits at night.
It was the same as her.
For the past few years, Felyn had always spent fixed hours with her too.
Adeline had to be a client!
Now everything made sense.
Last night, Felyn stayed in her room because of the contract.
And Adeline probably forced him to stay, which explained all her “I was wrong last night” stuff.
Perfect!
In the dark abyss of defeat, Zervanie saw the light of victory.
“Adeline, the cockier you are now, the harder you’ll cry later.”
The good times were still to come!
Zervanie, in her excitement, even forgot the painful truth that she wasn’t Felyn’s only client either.
Because right now, more than anything, she just wanted Adeline to be one too.
That way, there was no way Felyn could actually like her.
“Miss Adeline, if that’s all, I’ll be heading off now.”
“Not staying a bit longer?”
“No need. Oh, and Miss Adeline, just one last thing.”
Zervanie stood at the doorway,
And in Adeline, she saw a reflection of herself.
“Felyn’s a really gentle, considerate boy. You can see so many emotions in his eyes. But… what he feels for you might not be love. It might just be kindness.”
She stopped Adeline from trying to respond and continued:
“I know you won’t believe me. But I’m telling you this for your own good. Just watch him carefully. See if he really likes you. Because if he doesn’t…”
Zervanie leaned against the doorframe, looking out at the sun disappearing behind the clouds.
And softly whispered:
“Otherwise… you’ll end up like me.
And that hurts. A lot.”
(End of Chapter)