Chapter 19

"What? Don't I do something similar? I act like an arrogant sod to stay under the radar of scheming nobles." He stated with a shrug of his shoulders, successfully changing the topic.

I smiled. "Really. I was a little surprised when I saw you act so arrogantly in the garden. It was a bit stronger than I expected..."

"Hehe!" He grinned. "Did you like it?"

"Quite ..." I said, seriously impressed. He is a person who did whatever he liked, but it wasn't to the point of arrogance. His facade was a complete 'arrogant sod' as he called it. He also paid attention to details like the tilt of his chin and his pose when seated. He even completed his act by picking a fight with someone or the other every now and then, it seemed. Cassandra couldn't stop gushing on and on about his notoriousness. Unless you had seen him act out of character as I did, you wouldn't guess that it was an act.

"I'm glad." He gets up. "Now rest for a bit, please."

"I don't want to..." I grumbled. "I'm almost always resting at home because of Cassandra..."

He sighed. "Alright. Stay seated, at least." He sits again and looks into my eyes. "Next time, please rely on me. I may not be your friend yet, but I worry about you. If you need help with anything, let me know."

I stayed in the room until the party ended and then went to meet the Duchess and the Duke. I wouldn't tell Luis, but I felt a lot better because I rested.

"Are you feeling better, Aster dear?" The Duchess asked. "Was it true that you got stabbed in the stomach?"

"What?! Are you alright, Aster?" The Duke exclaimed in surprise.

I smiled. "I'm alright, Uncle. Thank you for letting me rest and lending me a dress, Aunty. Please don't worry, I feel a lot better and the wound isn't that deep."

"I was the one who got you the dress, Aster." Luis popped up behind me. "And I was also the one who told Aunt about your wound. I also let you meet Flavius and Paula. I was worried the most. Where's my 'Thank you'?"

With a sigh, I dryly said, "Thank you, then."

"Hm. Go on, go on. Lay a heap of praises on me for my timely help." I could imagine his self-satisfied smirk. "Aren't I the best friend you could ever find?"

I closed my eyes and smiled to contain my anger, a vein on my forehead throbbing. "Don't get me started on you. Why don't you shut your mouth? If you keep running your mouth like this, someday I'm gonna smack that grin off of your face."

"I don't get what you're talking about." He placed his hands behind his head and walked to stand next to me. "Besides, don't lie. Paula told me that your wound was so deep that she got a fright when she was helping you dress it."

"This is what I was talking about!" I turned to the Duchess and Duke. "Honestly, it isn't that deep. He's just speaking nonsense. Please don't worry."

The Duchess laughed. "Well, you seem active enough. You also have Luis to take care of you. We won't worry, alright?"

The Duke seemed a bit curious. "The two of you know each other?"

"Yes!" Luis exclaimed at the same time as I said. "No."

"Aster is a very good friend of Luis', right Luis?" The Duchess smiled fondly.

"Yes!" Luis exclaimed once again.

"Do not ignore my opinion, please. " I said. They did.

Finally having been let go by the trio, I make my way home. Tired, I sigh deeply as I step through the doors of the mansion, only to freeze in the presence of the person waiting in the hall for me. The person was a lady in her early thirties. The lady had features very similar to those of myself, except she did them more justice with the flawless figure she maintained. She was none other than my own mother.

She stood there with a frosty expression, smacking her hand fan on her palm. "Aster... What is it with these rumors I've been hearing?"

I shuddered. I only remember thinking 'I should have taken Luis' offer to take me home. At least that way I could have avoided this...'