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IBP 67
‘Phew, I finally made it in with Big Sister!’
The atmosphere of the social party was very bright.
It felt almost like a small-scale ballroom.
Chloe, Ruth, and I positioned ourselves near the wall, taking in the surroundings.
However, something strange was happening.
“Why is nobody coming over to us?”
“Because Chloe Ardos is famous for being a villainess. She just bluntly snaps at anyone she doesn't like.”
“.......”
My sister is quite famous.......
‘Lady Miru must have really worked up the courage to allow me to attend the exhibition.’
Not only did people give us cold stares whenever we passed by, but there was an overall atmosphere of reluctance to approach us.
Meanwhile, Ruth was casually striking up conversations with the servers pouring wine as they passed.
“Hey, isn't our little smudge cute?”
......She's bragging about me.
‘Ruth is such a doting fool.......’
My sister kept shifting her gaze, as if checking for something.
It was right then.
Lady Miru, who had been observing the situation, approached us and spoke.
“Hello, Lady Coco. And greetings to you both, young lord and lady.”
“Lady Miru! It's so good to see you!”
“Oh, are you the subject of the painting my little smudge said she bought?”
I never even mentioned that; how on earth did Ruth know?
‘Rumors really do travel fast.......’
I chatted brightly with Lady Miru.
After discussing the new painting Lady Miru was working on, she mentioned that she hoped to see us at the next exhibition.
The pleasant conversation continued for over ten minutes.
“I'm definitely going to the next exhibition. I can't miss out when my little smudge is going.”
“Phew, Ruth, go away. You're exhausting.”
Perhaps because they saw us chatting peacefully with Lady Miru?
A few curious young ladies and lords began to gather around us.
There were familiar faces I had seen at the exhibition.
Great, I can feel them wanting to break the ice one by one!
‘This is the chance to clear my sister's notoriety!’
Even if I eventually return to the dog star, I don't want people pointing fingers and calling her mean.
I tugged firmly on my sister's sleeve and spoke in a whining voice.
“Sister, I want to eat that cheese over there.”
Sister glanced at me.
A stir of noise rose from the surroundings. Some of the voices sounded slightly worried.
“Oh dear, what to do. Even if they are family.”
“......S-shouldn't we stop her? Isn't she even more ruthless toward her own family?”
But right then.
Sister nonchalantly popped a piece of cheese into my mouth.
I opened my mouth with a grin and ate the cheese.
‘How do you like seeing my sister feed me?’
Doesn't it feel like you've discovered an unexpected side of her?
Nobody is this kind to a child. So, they'll probably see her in a new light, right?
“Sister, my arm hurts.”
“Come here.”
Sister indifferently massaged my arm.
Everyone wore expressions as if they were speechless.
I tilted my chin up, executing my ‘People of the neighborhood! My sister is such a kind person!’ strategy.
I was about to say something more, but.
Even Lady Miru, who had already met her once at the exhibition, muttered with a bewildered look.
“L-Lady Chloe seems to really love Lady Coco.......”
At that, Ruth pinched my cheek and said,
“Well, why wouldn't she? My little smudge is so cute that even Chloe has been completely won over.”
Ruth...... doesn't seem to be helping much.
However, seeing one of the young lords nearby nodding, it seemed his words had hit the mark.
‘......Wait, this isn't it. The conversation shouldn't revolve around me.’
Still, perhaps because I was clinging tightly to my sister's side.
People seemed to feel that her chilly aura had been somewhat neutralized.
‘I'm glad the atmosphere has loosened up a bit!’
I looked at them with a hehe smile.
And then.
I heard the sound of someone approaching from a distance.
An elegantly dressed gown.
A woman with a mysterious impression, featuring pale blue hair and silver eyes.
“Hello, Lady Coco Ardos, the one they call the <blessed child>. And welcome, Chloe. It's been a while, hasn't it?”
......Dahlia Melomande.
Into the peaceful space appeared the woman known as the flower of social society.
“Hello, Chloe. Have you been well?”
“I have.”
At Chloe's blunt response, Dahlia's expression turned cold.
“We used to be close, so it's a shame things turned out like this.”
As soon as she said that, a brief commotion broke out around them.
‘Oh, this is a classic framing tactic......!’
It seemed Dahlia had spread rumors to her advantage while Chloe was absent from all the social parties.
But my sister.......
“How were we before? I don't remember.”
I thought Sister would naturally bring up Dahlia's affair.
However, she didn't even mention the affair between those two.
“In my memory, you definitely had a trivial supernatural ability that just wrinkled tablecloths; I wonder if you're still the same.”
......Even so, she knew how to effectively crush her opponent.
“Ah...... the past is just the past, Chloe.”
“Is that so? Then I wonder why I still see the old you.”
Dahlia, who had been glaring at Sister, looked as if she had been struck a blow.
“You know, Chloe. Aren't you dwelling too much on past glories?”
“Past glories, huh.”
“A great fiancé, a great darkness supernatural ability....... Things like that. But you see.”
She whispered, pretending to be distressed, acting her part.
“Right now...... just being out here like this is already hard for you.”
“.......”
“Is it safe? Of course, I trust you, but.......”
She looked around and let out a small sigh.
“Others might feel anxious, after all.”
“It's a pity they feel anxious, but my body is normal now.”
Dahlia, who had been staring at Sister, smiled brightly.
“But it's not like it's been proven by a magic circle like at the Imperial Palace, and to accept your claim without any evidence is a bit.......”
As Dahlia repeatedly provoked her, Chloe spoke lightly.
“I have a concern too, Dahlia. This attitude of yours right now—will you be able to clean up the mess later?”
......Gasp!
Is this perhaps a threat saying, ‘I will reveal your affair to the whole world’?
I thought to myself.
‘Sister is expressionless, but Dahlia is turning red.’
......As expected, my sister is incredibly strong.
Not only was there a blade in every single word, but her expression was fierce.
If I were Dahlia, I might have peed like a puppy.
With a flushed face, Dahlia whispered lowly.
“......Do you have evidence?”
“I wonder. Do you think I don't?”
“......Unfortunately, Chloe. Social society is already on my side. So your arrogance ends today.”
After responding sharply, Dahlia whipped around and headed toward a table where people close to her were gathered.
Ruth, who had been watching the conversation between Chloe and Dahlia, whispered quietly.
“As expected of Chloe Ardos. She's strong against the strong and strong against the weak.”
“What are you talking about?”
Chloe gave a light rebuke, and as the two of them exchanged trivial banter, Dahlia raised her wine glass while looking around.
“Ah, I would like to share some good news with everyone here.”
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