TDDCS

Chapter 91 - First friend I made

“She approached you like a thieving cat. What did she say?”

“She wanted to apologize for Miss Elliot for slapping me on the cheek at the last tea party.”

“You don’t believe that word straight away, do you?”

“I thought it would be a greeting. I heard that the intention of bringing Miss Elliot that day was not very good. Rather than calling me to apologize…… It seemed like she was trying to figure out who I was.”

“That is correct. Miss Lena, as I was thinking from a while ago, you are very noble.”

“It sounds kind of like an insult.”

“It’s not an insult, but it’s not a good thing either. You’re definitely noble enough to understand that.”

Lena glanced at Gerard once more and shook her head.

In the meantime, the performances stopped for a while, and people chatted over champagne or tea. And a young girl from the other side who had been glancing at Lena sneaked up to her and spoke to her timidly.

“Hi, hello, how are you? My name is Leslie Peregrine. Uh, it’s, it’s been a while since my father got the title, so this is my socialite debut. May, maybe…… If you need a friend…… No, of course you don’t need it, but…….”

She was a pretty girl with blush-colored hair, white skin with freckles, and green eyes. However, her speaking to Lena in the first place was all the courage she could muster, she couldn’t even meet Lena’s eyes, her face turned red, and her two hands were clutching the handkerchief. Lena seemed to know how courageous she had been to approach her.

“Hello? My name is Lena Belrose.”

So she spoke softly to her, but behind her, Gerard spoke in a harshly stern voice.

“Lady Baronet Peregrine. I understand what you meant to say, but I don’t think it’s a very good way to find common ground just by saying that you’ve just been given the title.”

Then, the young lady named Leslie was startled and immediately lowered her head.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I’m still…… still poor in etiquette and I made a big mistake. Please forgive me.”

Lena frowned again at Gerard. But Gerard’s eyes were sharper than ever. He looked carefully at Leslie and nodded his head to Lena. He seemed to mean it was okay to talk to her, but Lena even thought that she didn’t want to be a noble if everything was like that.

“Raise your head, Miss Peregrine. There are many things I don’t know either. Count Langtail probably warned us both not to make mistakes elsewhere.”

Leslie slowly raised her head at Lena’s friendly voice. But she was pitiful, like a terrified puppy who kept looking at Gerard.

“How did Baronet Peregrine receive the title?”

“Ah, my father worked as a servant in the Royal Palace for a long time, but he recently became the second prince’s last servant.”

“Oh, I see. So, has Miss Peregrine been to the Palace? It’s my first time, so everything is awkward.”

“I haven’t been here often, only a few times to deliver my father’s items through the back door where the servants come and go…….”

Lena liked Leslie. Now, Leslie has shrunk due to Gerard’s glares, but her original personality seemed to be cheerful and playful. A glimpse of vitality in her vivid eyes spoke of it.