Because Kendrick prevented Stella from going out, she wrote while talking with her playmates about the state of the world.
"How are you feeling, Lady Stella?"
In addition, meeting Roy and having a private conversation had to be done at Adrian Manor, which was Kendrick's territory. While they were talking, Lily, one of her playmates, entered.
"Hello, Lady Stella. Here, I’ve brought out some snacks for you to enjoy."
It was an act that hadn't been asked of her. It seemed to be because Roy Andra was not only handsome but also a famous writer. Lily stared intently at Stella as if she wanted to talk to him, but Stella did not invite her to sit down. Instead, she pretended not to notice with an indifferent expression. She simply took the refreshments and turned her gaze toward Roy.
"Thank you, Lily."
She lingered at the door for a moment, then gave up and stepped outside. As the drawing room door closed, Stella nudged Roy. Roy noticed that Stella's expression had subtly changed after Lily entered.
"Is something wrong, Stella?"
She hesitated for a moment and then opened her mouth with difficulty.
"Roy, by any chance, can you get a recording magic tool?"
Stella was affectionate toward Jerina, Shimizu, and Lily, who had joined as playmates.
She already knew that they would stab her in the back. Nevertheless, Stella believed that there was something she could gain through them.
"Is this how you're supposed to wear this? It's too difficult."
Stella decided to reassure them.
If she acted clueless like she used to, her three playmates would let their guard down, subtly ignore her, and badmouth her behind her back. Stella's goal was to catch that happening.
"Lady Stella, we'll do it for you."
Clothing with a style that fastens at the back.
Although she had tried on the clothes herself three or four times, she deliberately pretended to be confused in front of her playmates.
"Thank you."
And Stella moved on to the next step.
Listening to Jerina, Shimizu, and Lily attentively so that they can feel safe.
"And then he proposed to me. Hohoho."
Shimizu happily shared her love story. Stella rested her chin on her hand and looked at her enviously.
"You really are a couple that warms the heart just by hearing about you."
She knew it from her experience before the regression. Stella's reputation in high society was not good. She didn't know exactly what kind of rumors were circulating, but she knew that many people looked down on her. At some point, rumors even spread that Stella was a puppet Duchess receiving poor treatment from Kendrick.
"I want to have a relationship like that, too."
If she acts like she's craving Kendrick's love like this, the rumors will become solidified through them.
"Lady Stella, don't worry. The day will come when the Duke understands your heart, too. Definitely!"
Lily held her hand with an innocent face. And she comforted her.
"That's right, Lady Stella."
Shimizu, who had been rambling on about her love life, also joined in.
"Lily, Shimizu, Jerina, thank you so much. I have nothing to say but thank you."
Over the course of a few days, Stella acted as if she had opened up to her three playmates. Lily had large, innocent eyes, but appeared greedy; Shimizu was interested in men and liked dressing up; and Jerina was interested in luxury goods.
"Won't you take this? I bought it at the market, and I want to give it to you as a gift."
Stella handed them a palm-sized doll.
"…At the market?"
Jerina asked, slightly furrowing her brow.
Jerina took the doll apart here and there. Lily took a deep breath upon hearing Stella's words.
"Heeek! You bought this for a single gold coin?"
Shimizu, who liked to give advice, nodded and spoke. It seemed that the three dolls looked unimpressive in their eyes.
"You got scammed. It was scammed."
Jerina put the doll down with a crooked look.
"Lady Stella is so naive, I think they scammed you."
"Oh, dear. Is that so?"
Stella looked at the doll Jerina had put down with a sullen expression. Jerina hesitated for a moment, then picked up the doll again in a condescending tone.
"Still, I'll accept it out of consideration for your sincerity, Lady Stella".
Lily and Shimizu felt the same way. All three of them wore displeased expressions.
"Thank you, everyone."
A ridiculous situation unfolded where the recipient wore a sour expression, while the giver felt grateful. However, Stella liked this situation. It was because it was exactly what she had intended. The doll was bait. Bait to emphasize her insignificant and frustrating nature to them.
"Ah, it would be a shame to give you only this, so please take this as well."
This time, she handed over a few jeweled precious items. Adrian’s estate was filled with jewels inherited by the Duchess from generation to generation, and this was just a part of them.
"This is..."
It was one of those precious items that wasn't particularly valuable, and Jerina's eyes sparkled.
"Do you like it?"
"Very much so."
She picked up a necklace and couldn't take her eyes off it.
"Thank god."
Stella giggled as if relieved. No matter how you looked at it, she seemed completely oblivious to the ways of the world. It was not difficult for her to act. It was the persona Stella had consciously maintained before her regression. She craved love and attention by never showing her teeth to others, smiling even if forced. To achieve this, she did not care if others looked down on her.
She was stupid.
She felt that her former self was stupid and foolish. However, there was no time to dwell on this emotion. She pursed her lips, giving off an air of hesitation before speaking.
"Um. May I ask you one more favor?"
Jerina, whose eyes had turned to the necklace, did not even reply to Stella's words.
"Wow, how much is this?"
Lily and Shimizu were also too busy looking at the jewels to bother answering Stella's words.
However, their mission is Stella's playmates.
Lily briefly took her eyes off the earrings and looked at Stella.
"Yes, yes. Please go ahead, Lady Stella."
With a face still filled with hesitation, she timidly opened her mouth.
"I can't go outside because my leg is in this condition. By any chance, could you let me know if you hear any rumors about Kendrick seeing other women?"
The room fell silent in an instant. It seemed even a graveyard would be noisier than this. And rightly so, as it was practically the same as Stella having asked them to investigate her husband. With this, Stella had completely revealed her true colors to them.
"...Is that a difficult request?"
She looked up at them with a troubled expression. It was disgraceful enough that her husband had an affair, but to think she had neither friends nor influence to look into it on her behalf was truly ridiculous.
"Yes. Since it is Lord Kendrick who hired us, investigating his background is a bit..."
"Yeah. I suppose so."
Stella reached for the box containing the valuables with a dejected expression. Then Jerina added.
"But we have friendship, you know."
"Friendship?"
Jerina smiled confidently at Stella, who was looking up at her with an innocent expression.
"Yes. Friendship. I will do everything I can to help Lady Stella. Even regarding Lord Kendrick. Right, guys?"
"Huh? Yes!"
"Of course. That's how it should be."
Stella pinched her thigh under the table. Very hard. Hard enough to bring tears to her eyes.
"Stella... are you crying?"
"No. It's not that. I'm just so happy that precious children like you, sob, are on my side."
Sadly, no tears flowed. Still, however, they were welling up. She pressed her eyes with her palm, pretending to wipe them away, and squeezed out more tears. The three women exchanged glances.
This guy is such a pushover.
"How are you feeling, Lady Stella?"
In addition, meeting Roy and having a private conversation had to be done at Adrian Manor, which was Kendrick's territory. While they were talking, Lily, one of her playmates, entered.
"Hello, Lady Stella. Here, I’ve brought out some snacks for you to enjoy."
It was an act that hadn't been asked of her. It seemed to be because Roy Andra was not only handsome but also a famous writer. Lily stared intently at Stella as if she wanted to talk to him, but Stella did not invite her to sit down. Instead, she pretended not to notice with an indifferent expression. She simply took the refreshments and turned her gaze toward Roy.
"Thank you, Lily."
She lingered at the door for a moment, then gave up and stepped outside. As the drawing room door closed, Stella nudged Roy. Roy noticed that Stella's expression had subtly changed after Lily entered.
"Is something wrong, Stella?"
She hesitated for a moment and then opened her mouth with difficulty.
"Roy, by any chance, can you get a recording magic tool?"
***
Stella was affectionate toward Jerina, Shimizu, and Lily, who had joined as playmates.
She already knew that they would stab her in the back. Nevertheless, Stella believed that there was something she could gain through them.
"Is this how you're supposed to wear this? It's too difficult."
Stella decided to reassure them.
If she acted clueless like she used to, her three playmates would let their guard down, subtly ignore her, and badmouth her behind her back. Stella's goal was to catch that happening.
"Lady Stella, we'll do it for you."
Clothing with a style that fastens at the back.
Although she had tried on the clothes herself three or four times, she deliberately pretended to be confused in front of her playmates.
"Thank you."
And Stella moved on to the next step.
Listening to Jerina, Shimizu, and Lily attentively so that they can feel safe.
"And then he proposed to me. Hohoho."
Shimizu happily shared her love story. Stella rested her chin on her hand and looked at her enviously.
"You really are a couple that warms the heart just by hearing about you."
She knew it from her experience before the regression. Stella's reputation in high society was not good. She didn't know exactly what kind of rumors were circulating, but she knew that many people looked down on her. At some point, rumors even spread that Stella was a puppet Duchess receiving poor treatment from Kendrick.
"I want to have a relationship like that, too."
If she acts like she's craving Kendrick's love like this, the rumors will become solidified through them.
"Lady Stella, don't worry. The day will come when the Duke understands your heart, too. Definitely!"
Lily held her hand with an innocent face. And she comforted her.
"That's right, Lady Stella."
Shimizu, who had been rambling on about her love life, also joined in.
"Lily, Shimizu, Jerina, thank you so much. I have nothing to say but thank you."
Over the course of a few days, Stella acted as if she had opened up to her three playmates. Lily had large, innocent eyes, but appeared greedy; Shimizu was interested in men and liked dressing up; and Jerina was interested in luxury goods.
"Won't you take this? I bought it at the market, and I want to give it to you as a gift."
Stella handed them a palm-sized doll.
"…At the market?"
Jerina asked, slightly furrowing her brow.
Jerina took the doll apart here and there. Lily took a deep breath upon hearing Stella's words.
"Heeek! You bought this for a single gold coin?"
Shimizu, who liked to give advice, nodded and spoke. It seemed that the three dolls looked unimpressive in their eyes.
"You got scammed. It was scammed."
Jerina put the doll down with a crooked look.
"Lady Stella is so naive, I think they scammed you."
"Oh, dear. Is that so?"
Stella looked at the doll Jerina had put down with a sullen expression. Jerina hesitated for a moment, then picked up the doll again in a condescending tone.
"Still, I'll accept it out of consideration for your sincerity, Lady Stella".
Lily and Shimizu felt the same way. All three of them wore displeased expressions.
"Thank you, everyone."
A ridiculous situation unfolded where the recipient wore a sour expression, while the giver felt grateful. However, Stella liked this situation. It was because it was exactly what she had intended. The doll was bait. Bait to emphasize her insignificant and frustrating nature to them.
"Ah, it would be a shame to give you only this, so please take this as well."
This time, she handed over a few jeweled precious items. Adrian’s estate was filled with jewels inherited by the Duchess from generation to generation, and this was just a part of them.
"This is..."
It was one of those precious items that wasn't particularly valuable, and Jerina's eyes sparkled.
"Do you like it?"
"Very much so."
She picked up a necklace and couldn't take her eyes off it.
"Thank god."
Stella giggled as if relieved. No matter how you looked at it, she seemed completely oblivious to the ways of the world. It was not difficult for her to act. It was the persona Stella had consciously maintained before her regression. She craved love and attention by never showing her teeth to others, smiling even if forced. To achieve this, she did not care if others looked down on her.
She was stupid.
She felt that her former self was stupid and foolish. However, there was no time to dwell on this emotion. She pursed her lips, giving off an air of hesitation before speaking.
"Um. May I ask you one more favor?"
Jerina, whose eyes had turned to the necklace, did not even reply to Stella's words.
"Wow, how much is this?"
Lily and Shimizu were also too busy looking at the jewels to bother answering Stella's words.
However, their mission is Stella's playmates.
Lily briefly took her eyes off the earrings and looked at Stella.
"Yes, yes. Please go ahead, Lady Stella."
With a face still filled with hesitation, she timidly opened her mouth.
"I can't go outside because my leg is in this condition. By any chance, could you let me know if you hear any rumors about Kendrick seeing other women?"
The room fell silent in an instant. It seemed even a graveyard would be noisier than this. And rightly so, as it was practically the same as Stella having asked them to investigate her husband. With this, Stella had completely revealed her true colors to them.
"...Is that a difficult request?"
She looked up at them with a troubled expression. It was disgraceful enough that her husband had an affair, but to think she had neither friends nor influence to look into it on her behalf was truly ridiculous.
"Yes. Since it is Lord Kendrick who hired us, investigating his background is a bit..."
"Yeah. I suppose so."
Stella reached for the box containing the valuables with a dejected expression. Then Jerina added.
"But we have friendship, you know."
"Friendship?"
Jerina smiled confidently at Stella, who was looking up at her with an innocent expression.
"Yes. Friendship. I will do everything I can to help Lady Stella. Even regarding Lord Kendrick. Right, guys?"
"Huh? Yes!"
"Of course. That's how it should be."
Stella pinched her thigh under the table. Very hard. Hard enough to bring tears to her eyes.
"Stella... are you crying?"
"No. It's not that. I'm just so happy that precious children like you, sob, are on my side."
Sadly, no tears flowed. Still, however, they were welling up. She pressed her eyes with her palm, pretending to wipe them away, and squeezed out more tears. The three women exchanged glances.
This guy is such a pushover.
"Please don't cry, Lady Stella."
They patted Stella's back with mocking smiles. Heck, heck. Sounds were heard. It seemed Stella was so funny they couldn't suppress it. However, Stella pretended not to notice.
"We will definitely bring you information that will be helpful to Lady Stella."
***
Before she knew it, it was evening.
The playmates, having no intention of comforting Stella until nightfall, stealthily got ready to leave. Stella watched them with a look of regret until the very end.
"Well then, goodbye, Lady Stella."
"Alright. Please make sure to come tomorrow as well. I'll prepare some delicious snacks."
Bam.
The door closed. The silence felt particularly profound because the room had been filled with the chatter of four women. She wiped away the fake tears welling up in her eyes. Then, she took out the magic tool hidden under the bed.
"So, do I just need to press the button like this?"
It was a recording magic tool she had asked Roy to give jer. The valuables she had gifted to Lily, Jerina, and Shimizu were imbued with magic connected to this. When she pressed the cylindrical button, Shimizu's voice was heard. Since the necklace and earrings must have been worn immediately, she was able to collect most of their conversations.
"I knew it, the talk about her being delusional was right. With a face like that, what man would like her? She's only pretty."
They were talking about Stella. A chuckle escaped her lips. No matter how foolish Stella might be, how could she be badmouthing her when it hasn't been that long since she left? And inside the Duke's mansion, of all places. Stella clicked her tongue in disapproval.
"I'm telling you. She acts so clueless. Duke Kendrick is way too good for her."
"By the way, she told us to find out about the rumors. What should we do about this?"
Then, Stella heard the voices of Lily and Jerina as well. It was just as she expected. Since she didn't trust them, she wasn't hurt. She did feel a bit of skepticism as a human, but oh well. It was fine.
"What do you mean? What should we do? We just have to do as Sia tells us."
The sound of laughter was heard.
Sia?
Stella briefly set down the magic tool. After all, any sound emanating from near valuables was bound to accumulate neatly in this cylindrical device. Praying that she hadn't heard it wrong, she turned the spring at the top. It was rewinding the sound.
"What do you mean? What should we do? We just have to do as Sia tells us."
As expected. The name 'Sia' was heard clearly. Stella's prediction that those who had been relentlessly scratching at her wounds even before her regression were connected to Sia was not wrong. She decided to eavesdrop on their conversation further.
'Pandering to that pushover Duchess, getting a reward from Duke Kendrick, and taking money from Sia again. And this sucker even gives gifts?'
Stella knew that she was the sucker they were talking about.
The voices of the three friends snickering were contemptible.
Yes. What should I do with this...
Comments
Post a Comment