“Hey, Adel. Mind your words in front of Countess Edna. We are before the crown prince.”

Even Yeriel sharply warned her, meaning how dare a commoner speak informally to a noble.

The clear line that Adel thought Yurisien would draw was drawn by Edna and Yeriel.

“How could this happen…”

I believed both were on my side!

Edna and Yeriel only had eyes for Benjamin. Their expressions were as if smitten with love. Adel realized then.

“I’ve been abandoned.”

During Windsor’s instability, in Yurisien’s absence, how thick had the friendship between the three grown? They thoroughly degraded me in front of the crown prince, making me entirely insignificant.

Anger rose towards the two who abandoned friendship for love.

“Am I of Duke Stevain’s standard?”

Both had promised to support her when Adel confessed to having feelings for Duke Stevain. But not Benjamin. What does this mean?

“Don’t I deserve that much?!”

What’s the difference between you and me! Adel wanted to shout. If Edna hadn’t quickly opened her mouth, Adel would have.

“We have exactly four invitations from the Duchess of Stevain. It would be so great if all four of us went!”

Adel was puzzled. There were five people here.

“Isn’t one missing…?”

Adel hastily corrected herself. At that moment, all three sets of eyes turned to her.

Edna, Yeriel, and Benjamin.

Adel’s vision darkened. In that darkness, only the three people’s eyes brightly glowed.

Finally, Edna, holding back laughter, said,

“Why would a commoner like you deserve such an honored place?”

Yurisien gazed at the man seated across, humming softly. Benjamin was enjoying a peaceful afternoon, summoning butterflies with his magic, and even calling birds.

Yurisien sighed after taking a sip of tea.

“That was too much.”
“Me?”

“Yes.”

“What for?”

“For Adel.”

Yurisien let out another weak-hearted complaint. Benjamin internally clicked his tongue.

Moments ago, the hypocrites who were hardly worthy of being called Yurisien’s friends had turned their affections toward Benjamin, despite announcing they would marry Yurisien. Their behavior was utterly shameless.

They had even attempted to usurp the seat next to Benjamin.

‘If you’re a friend, you shouldn’t be drooling over your friend’s future husband.’

Among them was the clueless commoner Adel. Because Benjamin had already investigated those close to Yurisien, he knew very well how much Adel had ignored, cursed, and ridiculed Yurisien.

“Don’t you know? Or are you pretending not to know?”

“……”

“So you protect that commoner despite knowing?”

“Don’t keep saying ‘commoner, commoner.’ She’s not a friend, but there was a time when she was.”

Seeing him say this, it seemed like he had finally drawn a clear line.

Benjamin rested his elbows on the table, tilted his head, and looked at Yurisien. Then he spoke frankly.

“If I hadn’t acted as I did, she would probably be dead in a few days. The cause would be… yes, lusting after Stevain Youngsik, Edna’s fiancé.”

“Adel didn’t know that Edna and Stevain Youngsik were engaged.”

As Yurisien stubbornly said this, Benjamin asked with a gaze as if he was fond of a naive child.

“Do you really think Lady Stevain would think the same?”