The first time I realized something was absurd was at a picnic where Seraphina was monopolizing everyone’s attention.
“Huh?”
Suddenly, my eyes wavered.
The spring breeze blowing ever so softly, lush greenery and brightly blooming flowers.
Colorful tea refreshments and fragrant tea were set on a table with a pretty tablecloth.
And, in that picturesque scenery…
I saw my fiancé and my best friend being flirtatious with each other.
“Oh no, Sera.”
My fiancé, Gregory Gusteau, personally placed several soft cushions on Seraphina’s back.
Those cushions, it seems like they’ve been taken from others.
Even though the three of us have been childhood friends since we were young, to not have any hesitation in calling your fiance’s friend by her nickname in front of others is a bit…
And to gently place a cushion on the back of a friend of the opposite sex in front of his fiancee…
This cannot be right, right!?
At the same time, Gregory was looking at Seraphina with a dreamy gaze.
“Sera, you like refreshing snacks, right? How about you try this one?”
He then personally placed a piece of lemon cake in front of Seraphina.
For your information, I also know how to eat lemon cake.
But Gregory only looks at Seraphina with honey-filled eyes.
I was treated as if I was completely invisible!
“Yes, Gregory.”
Seraphina blinked her eyelashes prettily and looked at Gregory.
“Sitting like this reminds me of the old days.”
“Yes, we used to go out like this when we were kids, right?”
Hey, I was present at that time too, okay?
Could you two please not leave for your own worlds?
“I remember at that time, Lari fell into the water.”
“That’s right and while saving Larit, you got a scar on your pretty knee…”
Gregory, who quickly responded to Seraphina’s words, glanced at me as if reprimanding me.
“Larit, you’re still alive thanks to Sarah. Be grateful. Understood?”
“Ah, yes.”
I reflexively lowered my eyes and shrugged my shoulders.
How should I say this, it felt like my body was reacting on its own.
On the other hand, there was constantly a question lingering in my head.
‘I, the fact that I am intimidated by Gregory and Seraphina…is that really true?’
The situation played out like this.
When we were young, the three of us were playing near a pond and I fell into the water.
Serafina held out a long stick and pulled me out of the water, but in the process, she slipped and hurt her knee.
As a result, a small scar was left on her knee.
You know, if you don’t look closely, you won’t even know if there is a scar or not…
Either way, due to that incident, I tried even harder to be nice to Seraphina.
Serafina, and Gregory too.
Him, because he would always tell me all the time, ‘You owe your life to Serafina’.
‘But the thing is.’
The reason I fell into the pond at that time.
‘If you really have to ask, wasn’t it because of Seraphina?!’
At that time, Seraphina kept making a fuss, saying she really wanted the flowers blooming around the pond.
Gregory said he was scared to go near the pond, so he pushed my back and told me to get it for her.
So, while I was picking flowers for her, I fell into the water.
If you don’t even try to save me in that situation, aren’t they worse than scum?
That moment.
Crack.
I felt like I heard a loud crackling sound deep inside me.
‘Why have I only been grateful to Serafina until now?’
I slowly narrowed my eyebrows.
Up until now, I had just been grateful to Seraphina, thinking of her as the savior of my life.
A strong sense of discomfort came over me.
I, how come I never harbored any suspicion toward this ridiculous situation?
It’s as if someone had forcibly drawn limitations for me…
But then, Seraphina, who was chatting with Gregory, suddenly glanced back at me.
She then, while drooping her eyes ever so softly, said.
“Lari, I feel like my shoelaces have come loose. Tie it up for me, please?”
“……”
I’m sorry but, there was no formal apology or even a word of understanding.
Honestly, you’re also sitting on a chair, couldn’t you just bend over and tie them yourself?
Nevertheless, I obediently got up from my seat and squatted down in front of Seraphina.
The body moved on its own as if it was destined to do so.
At the same time.
A blatant laugh came from behind me.
“Really, does Lady Annecy not have any pride?”
As he was trying hard to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out, his voice sounded somewhat unclear.
“Even though she’s the heir of Viscount Annecy, how could she kneel on the floor to tie Lady Lopez’s shoelaces?”
Yeah, that’s right. I don’t even know why I’m doing this either.
“Gosh, to think she doesn’t have any self-awareness as the next head of the family.”
“Anyone would think she’s Lady Lopez’s chambermaid if they saw this.”
The whispers that pointed out my attitude quickly transferred to my appearance.
“Besides, that tacky dress. When did it first become a trend?”
“What about the hair? I don’t know why her hair hangs down like that. Can she even see straight ahead?”
“What, is that not why Sir Guestus is always around Lady Lopez?”
“She’s not even good at guarding her fiancé, what’s that all about?”
It was a familiar ridicule.
At the same time, something that Serafina used to tell me flashed through my mind.
“Because you have a plain face, a dress in a darker color would look better on you.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to let your hair hang long? Since you’re shy, you can cover your face with your hair so that you can avoid other people’s gaze.”
“Jewelry? Hmm… isn’t it a bit too much for you? I think it would look better on me than on you!”
One of the noble ladies smiled and opened her mouth.
“I think Lady Lopez’s beauty stands out even more because Lady Annecy is next to her. Isn’t that right?”
At that moment.
The sense of discomfort I had felt so far became a strong question that flooded my mind.
Why am I squatting here like this?
Why did I feel like I had to be good to Seraphina at all costs?
Because I owe Serafina my life?
‘No, that’s not it.’
A realization that felt like a thunderbolt came at me.
It’s because… this world is inside a book I read in my past life!’
<Lovable Seraphina>
As the title of the novel clearly states, the female protagonist of this world is Seraphina.
The contents are roughly as follows.
Seraphina is a low-level noble without even a fiefdom.
Seraphina makes her social debut with the help of her close childhood friends, Larit and Gregory.
And with her natural beauty and lovely nature, she continues to win the affection of everyone.
Although there is interference from the evil villainess, Princess Claudius.
Seraphina does not give in and monopolizes the love of the two male protagonists.
For your information, Gregory cannot be the male protagonist.
Seraphina’s discernment was very high, so there was no way she would notice the count’s second son, who didn’t even have a title.
Ah, so who am I?
‘Seraphina’s close childhood friend, Larit.’
When she was young, her life was saved by Seraphina.
She is a character who values Seraphina more than her own body and envies her friend who becomes more beautiful every day.
Thus, Larit is willing to do anything for her dear friend.
Even though she was scolded, slapped, and splashed with water by a villainess instead of Seraphina…..
‘Sera, as long as you’re happy, I’m fine,’ she says while smiling goofily.
A sweet potato cake created solely for Serafina’s happiness.
That Larit was me!
