Chapter 13
As I tilted my head with a calm face despite my true feelings, Belieta pointed to my necklace.
Oh, is this about Depoxy Island from before?
Has she been there in the meantime? She must have gone there herself and suffered a lot.
I don’t think she really went there.
“What do you mean?”
“You said that the gem you have is only found on Depoxy Island, I sent someone to check and found no such jewel. What happened?”
“I told you so. It’s such a rare gem that you should go and find it yourself. “It’s so precious that most people just pretend not to know?”
“That can’t be true. No one in that land would spout such nonsense after seeing Bozbone’s seal. You know that, right?”
I nodded as she continued speaking in a calm voice.
Although it wasn’t right, there was nothing wrong with what she said
“Yeah? That’s weird. Because that’s what I heard.”
“You heard that?”
“Yes.”
I wanted to tease her more, but I ended up being like a beehive for no reason.
I cut off the tail with an appropriate excuse.
Bellietta was suspicious.
She looked at me with a skeptical expression
On the other hand, I made a sad expression and walked over to the other side and sat down.
Belietta also sat down with me and tightened her eyes as if she was asking for an explanation.
“Who did you hear it from?”
“Ezekiel Ross.”
Sorry, Ross. I’ll sell your name just once.
We met more than 10 years ago, so this is okay, right? We’re not going to see each other again anyway.
It’s a lie, but Bellietta reacted to that name.
“That’s what the man said?”
“Yes. I thought he said so… … Wasn’t it? I never thought he would have lied. But there isn’t any? That’s strange… … .”
Instead, when she bit her fingernails as if she was in trouble, Belieta couldn’t get any angrier and frowned at her as if she was frustrated.
She must be annoyed.
What could be the reason for sending a nobleman all the way there?
I guess it was because she wanted to imitate me and steal a part of me.
But it didn’t work out as she expected and she didn’t get what she wanted, so she’s probably seething inside.
That was just satisfying.
“I ended up deceiving you unintentionally. “I’m sorry, Bellietta.”
I faked it on purpose and I’m not sorry, but my facial expression expressed regret in a realistic way.
Bellietta bit her lip and sighed deeply, nodding her head as if she understood.
Stupid.
I scoffed inwardly and looked at Bellietta’s face.
When I looked at her face, the image of Aden was drawn.
A sneer was drawn at the corner of my mouth again. I can’t believe you’re just casually picking up jewels without even knowing what happened in Rippleton.
I wanted to laugh out loud and say that I stole your man.
But it’s not the time yet.
I wanted to enjoy this joy a little more.
I rested my chin and rolled my eyes while watching Bellietta’s reaction.
Let’s open it a little.
“Anyway, Bellietta.”
When I called softly, Bellietta’s head tilted.
With a lovely expression. I also smiled at her face as she looked at me.
I paused a bit, arousing Bellietta’s curiosity.
“What’s wrong?
I slowly opened my lips at the urging of Bellietta’s voice.
“Nothing much, just…… I’ve been interested in a guy lately.”
“… … A guy?”
Bellietta’s eyes widened, but she didn’t seem that surprised.
She already knew that I was interested in Layton, so she wouldn’t be that surprised.
I nodded with a shy, pretentious expression.
Clever Bellietta changed her expression to a very curious face, as she was familiar with it.
Bellietta was by no means stupid or simple.
She just tried to appear that way.
Rather, she was a cunning woman who used that appearance to her advantage, to take advantage of her opponents’ suspicions and catch them off guard.
It was in Bellietta’s nature, born into House Bozbourne.
Bellietta smiled genuinely, like someone who was really happy to see a stranger, and clapped her hands lightly as if she was happy for them.
“Who is he? Do I know him?”
I smirked inwardly as Bellietta tried to figure out his identity.
Bellietta, who was already sure it was Layton, had no reason to be curious about my answer.
So, despite her outward reaction, her eyes remained impassive. I sneered inwardly at her lukewarmness.
Bellietta, you don’t have to be like that.
If you want to take everything from me, you’ll have to be genuinely curious.
“Yes, You know him, and I also know him.”
“Really? Who?”
Who.
She smirked and held up a finger.
“That’s a secret, I’ll tell you later.”
“Well, well, well. Come on, tell me. Who is he?”
I hid my laughter at the demanding tone in Bellietta’s voice.
As I hid it at this point, Bellietta’s eyes lit up and she smacked her lips a few times as if she was trying to wake me up.
A few times, the names of other Elders besides Layton’s came out of Bellietta’s mouth, but instead of denying it, I only gave her a vague smile.
“I’ll tell you later.”
I hid my mockery in a thin layer of laughter.
Bellietta’s eyes narrowed at my response.
Even though she was already convinced that Layton was the one who had my attention, she seemed to resent my continued hiding.
Bellietta looked at me in silence for a moment, and I gave her a quiet smile in return.
When I told her it is a secret, she didn’t budge but Belieta changed her strategy.
She sighed with a weak voice with a truly sad look on her face.
“My dearest friend, Sierra. I could tell you all my secrets if you wanted me to, but you don’t think I’m worthy.”
“Don’t think so, because I don’t know my own heart yet.”
“I think we can figure that out by talking to each other.”
Pretty persistent.
What’s more, Bellietta’s behavior brought back unpleasant memories.
“Sierra. Are you playing with me?
Bellietta would always say it as if we were in the same place together, but then she’d turn and walk away when I got on her nerves.
Each time, I was the one being dragged and Bellietta was the one leading.
With Bellietta’s urging ringing in my ears, I grabbed the unpleasant feelings that were creeping into my head and squeezed them down.
It’s time to stop.
I slowly hardened my smiling expression and pushed the flowing hair behind my ear.
Then, turning to Bellietta, who was looking at me, I smiled weakly and spoke slowly.
“Bellietta.”
Bellietta’s mouth closed at the sound of her name.
Seeing my expression, Bellietta slowly stiffened.
That’s enough. It seems like too much. Even if we’re friends, this doesn’t feel right. Isn’t it more important that I’m is interested in someone rather than who that person is?
Bellietta’s eyes fluttered.
Was it because I said what she needed to say before she did?
“Sierra I’m worried about you…….”
“I appreciate the concern, but I need you to stay within the lines.”
You’ve already crossed a line you shouldn’t have.
Bellietta met my eyes in silence.
Silence hung thick between Bellietta and me.
Without answering, Bellietta seemed to be thinking about what to do, feeling her pride crushed.
Before she could make the first move, I snapped my fingers and called for the maid.
Bellietta looked at me with a puzzled expression, but my mouth opened before she could.
“Get the carriage ready for Bellietta.”
I met the gaze that followed me and spoke briefly.
“Why don’t you call it a day, I’m a little tired.”
“…….”
Bellietta bit her lip and stared at me, then let out a small sigh.
Was she remembering that day three years ago when she rejected me?
Bellietta stood up from her seat, a strange feeling of discomfort in her stomach.
Bellietta stood up and looked at me, her expression slowly unraveling.
“…… Okay.”
She smiled quietly at me with a subtle expression as if she was embarrassed.
It was a smile that made me think of the words, ‘I’ll take a look at you today.’
“I’ll go, Sierra. Then take a break.”
Bellietta passed me and slowly approached the terrace.
Then she paused slightly, turned around and focused her gaze on me.
Bellietta slowly opened her mouth with a face full of kindness.
“Sierra. ”
I tilted my head to the voice calling me.
Bellietta, who was leaving, brushed her hair with a leisurely smile on her face.
“We are still friends, right?”
Friends.
If anyone could call a relationship forced by one party a friend.
There was a moment of silence at the slow voice.
A gentle breeze blew in, brushing against my back and slowly fading away.
I laughed quietly into the breeze.
“Yeah.”
I’ll always be your friend, even if it’s only in words.
“Of course, Bellietta.”
We could play this game for years and years.
* * *
“Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?” (maid said)
I narrowed my eyes at the voice as I tilted my glass.
I turned and looked at the maid.
The maid’s shoulders shook slightly.
It must have been me and Bellietta who said it was bad.
The only person in the room who heard our story was the maid in front of her.
In her eyes, I must have looked cold as I firmly told my congratulatory friend to stop.
I didn’t blame her.
After all, she doesn’t know anything.
I set my glass down and crossed my legs lightly.
“What makes you think that?”
“That…… was a slip of the tongue, miss. I apologize.”
“No, nothing to apologize for. I’m just curious as to why you think I was harsh. What did you see that made you think I was harsh?”
The maid rolled her eyes nervously and seemed to be trying to think of a way out of the situation.
Too bad.
