Isabella did not even hope for such fairy talelike courage. This was true not just when the other party was a frail and evasive person like Clemente, but also for anyone else.

‘I wouldn’t have stepped up either.’

However, her words were different.

“Sister, poor Isabella became like this without doing anything wrong. Isn’t it so…?”

Clemente only hung her head down in silence. Isabella had an intuition that if she applied more pressure here, her target might run away. Truly, what a delicate person.

“Sister Clemente. I’m not saying you should step up now. You have a family too, how can I force such a great sacrifice? I am not that ruthless.”

Isabella switched to a soothing mode, her voice dripping with honey. It was rare for Isabella to put so much effort into women, maybe once or twice a year at most.

‘Living life, I’ve really done all sorts of things.’

“Then, what….?”

The Miniature Pinscher raised its head gently in the comforting warmth.

“You know the position Isabella is in these days, right?”

Isabella dropped her head and feigned sorrow. No, she was truly sorry. What on earth has become of Isabella de Mare, who used to shake the world!

“Nobody even calls me in the social circle, and I have no friends now. Even the royal masquerade this time….”

As she talked up to this point, real emotions surged up, and Isabella found herself on the verge of tears.

“Nobody…. wants to go to the masquerade with me….”

People ignoring her flashed in front of Isabella’s eyes. An empty mailbox, people turning their heads when they meet at the mass. When times were good, they followed her wagging their tails, but when times were tough, there was no one reaching out to her.

‘Men, of all things…. I can’t trust them!’

From the beginning, Isabella didn’t trust women. So she declared that she wouldn’t trust humans collectively.

She lifted her moist eyes to look at Clemente.

“I’m not asking much from you, sister. Please be with me in the social circle. You can at least do that for me.”

Surprised at Isabella’s rather moderate request, Clemente nodded her head.

“That much….”

“I’ve been ostracized for something that wasn’t my fault.”

Clemente was surprised when Isabella seemed to blame herself.

“So, if you take me with you and restore my good reputation. Charity work, prayer meetings, anywhere is fine.”

Countess Clemente de Bartolini was renowned for regularly volunteering at the Holy Hall and the shelter.

She and her group of friends, ‘The Silver Cross Wives’ often volunteered for the elderly, washing bedding, preparing food, cleaning dormitories, and the like.

The fact that these women, who didn’t lift a finger for housework at home, were doing chores in the Holy Hall was somewhat amusing, but their labor was different, much like largescale wheat farming on a farm is different from gardening flowers for ornamental purposes.

“If it’s that….”

At Clemente’s agreement, Isabella’s eyes quickly twinkled.

“Let’s get started right away. Sister, you have a date this afternoon, don’t you?”

The best times to foster smallscale fellowship were during lunch and the subsequent afternoon. Large parties were held in the evening, but luncheon gatherings and afternoon tea time were the main meeting times for the ladies.

The reason why Clemente called Isabella at such an odd hour, like eleven in the morning, would undoubtedly have been because of the luncheon and afternoon tea time.

Whether Isabella’s prediction was correct, Clemente stammered in response.

“Well, there is…there is one…”

“Who is the appointment with? The Countess of Balzo? The Duchess of Salvati? Or even the Baroness Lorestan would do!”

Isabella rattled off a list of Clemente’s acquaintances among the ladies. Clemente felt a slight aversion to Isabella, who knew too much about her, and denied it, hoping that Isabella would not be interested in her afternoon gathering.

“No… No… It’s not female guests… I’ve arranged to meet with family.”

The Countess Bartolini had a rare external appointment from lunch. Therefore, on the day her lunch plans were free, her relatives were supposed to come over and have lunch together.

“Octavio… He said he is bringing a friend…”

Clemente thought that if she told Isabella that the socialite ladies were not coming, she would lose interest and return home.

However, she clapped her hands and laughed at that, like a peony in May. Isabella’s laughter was somewhat akin to a carnivorous plant said to grow deep within the Moor Empire.

“Oh my, is Signor Octavio coming? Sister! Please, be sure to invite me!”

Joy danced in Isabella’s purple eyes. She pushed Clemente again with a resolute look.

“We used to play together when we were young.”

Isabella looked at Clemente with a deep smile. Clemente shuddered under that gaze. Although it was an irresistibly sweet expression, Clemente could not defy Isabella at the moment.

It would be better to comply in this situation. Clemente obediently asked.

“Isabella, do you prefer meat or fish for the main dish? We have lamb and grilled mackerel.”

Isabella showed her teeth in a grin.

“I don’t like either. Please prepare veal for me.”