I'm Done Being Your Best Friend

It was the end of December. The people of the Kingdom of Beland held a year-end party every year on the very last day. Even among the nobles, the way the year-end party appeared to each was different.

Some families would simply spend time with each other, while others invite nobles to a grand banquet they organised.

If our family was the former, the latter was Daisy’s.

Daisy, who had recently refused George’s marriage offer, did not send me an invitation to the year-end party. It was as expected, nothing surprising.

Instead, I received another invitation. The sender was Chloe E. Grint.

I thought of the people who could attend this year-end party. It went without saying that Chloe and all of the aristocrats close to her would be there. And chances were even powerful families could possibly come…

Will Earl Moore’s year-end party have the same number of people attending as last year? Depending on whether people would be present there, they would know their place among the aristocrats.

Controversy has already been raised twice, so wouldn’t it be different from last year? Guess I would figure it out after the year-end party’s over…

Will Logan come too? That thought came to me for a moment. Even though he didn’t socialise, I would be very happy if I could see his face.

Shall I ask him? I sat down at my desk and pulled out the tools to write a letter. I would just state a normal greeting in the letter and then casually mention the year-end party.

I muttered the content while writing the letter down…

I got a reply from Logan shortly after.

The first thing that caught my eye was the sophisticated handwriting. It was the first time I saw Logan’s handwriting. It was sophisticated and sharp, through which I could somehow sense his personality.

Like how he was not very talkative, the length of his reply was also short. It said that he would come by if he had time.

“My lady, what are you looking at?”

Nancy, who was brushing my hair in the morning, asked.

She must have wondered why I was still looking at the short letter.

I replied with a grin.

“It’s just…I have something on my mind.”

“Is that so? You’ve been holding onto that letter for a while.”

Thinking about him, I held the letter for a long time without knowing that Nancy was watching from behind.

I smiled softly, folded the letter, and put it back in the envelope.

***

On the day of the year-end party.

I headed to the Duchy of Grint with Nancy and Sir Bolt.

The exterior of Duke Grint’s residence was as usual.

In Daisy’s case, decorative trees were lined up in front of the mansion. Not only that, but when one entered the mansion, there would be candles, ribbons, flowers…The decoration that they put into the mansion was insane.

On the other hand, Duke Grint’s manor certainly had a calmer vibe.

“Lady Nelson! You’re here!”

I showed the invitation to the servant standing at the entrance, and as I entered, Chloe approached me with open arms. As a member of the family that held the year-end party today, she was splendidly dressed.

She wore a red dress with a shade darker than her lips. As for highlights, her earrings and necklace were embedded with large emeralds, making them pop out on the dark red background. Her black hair, which she usually let loose, was beautifully knotted up and adorned with rose pins.

“You are so beautiful!”

Sincere words without an ounce of lie came out. Chloe chuckled at how amazed I was.

“Lady Nelson is pretty too. Now, shall we go in?”

I walked with her to the main hall where the banquet was held.

“Lady Nelson!”

Upon entering the banquet hall, Heidi, who was sitting at the round table, waved at us. She was sitting with the girls, lady Roberts and lady Cruz.

I approached the table happily as though I hadn’t seen their faces in a long time.

“It’s been a while, lady Coventry. It’s the first time we meet again after the last ball.”

I sat down next to her and smiled.

“I know right. By the way, Lady Nelson, you look good in your gown today.”

The dress I was wearing was a combination of light yellow and white hues. The back part was tied twice with flower decorations to further emphasise the volume. Since it was a banquet, I chose a dress with different details, and it seemed like a good choice.

As I expressed my thanks with a small smile, lady Cruz, who was in front of me, looked at me and smiled mischievously.

What’s with that face? I was baffled at the sudden change of expression.

“Aren’t you supposed to leave the seat next to lady Nelson empty?”

“Pardon? Why is that?”

Who else is coming? I tilted my head.

“Duke Harrison. He’s going to sit next to the lady.”

No but, it was unsure whether Logan would come or not. And why is it assumed that he should be sitting next to me? I looked at her in bewilderment.

But Chloe smiled and asked as if I was the only one thinking like that.

“Why are you reacting like that? You two are close, aren’t you?”

“That’s right. Isn’t lady Nelson the only young lady the Duke meets privately?”

Just by the way they said it, it sounded like I was dating Logan. I shook my head at their teasing.

“We’re close, but it’s up to the Duke to decide where to sit.”

“Oh my!”

It was then that lady Roberts, who was looking straight ahead, suddenly put on a surprised expression.

What is it? I followed her gaze. And at the entrance to the banquet hall, a familiar face appeared.

It was none other than Logan.

I really did not expect Logan to come. I looked at him with no less astonishment than lady Roberts.

Dressed perfectly, he was guided by the servant to Duke Grint and sat down next to him. Albeit I just saw him from afar, seeing him at a place like this made me feel even more welcomed. At that thought, a smile crept upon my lips.

“Um, are you sure there is nothing going on between you two?”

Chloe asked, looking intently at me.

Chloe also wondered if Logan liked me even back when I said I didn’t know Logan’s true identity. Thus, it would not be unreasonable for her to suspect our relationship.

It’s really not like that.

Unfazed, I tried to change the subject.

“By the way, won’t the Crown Prince come?”

“He is not coming today. He’s decided to stop by when my family has a New Year’s party tomorrow.”

The conversation quickly took a turn. Lady Cruz, who was teasing me for fun, also brought up another topic when my reaction was not good.