But at the same time, she was sometimes anxious. What should she do if she was so drunk with endless happiness that one day, all of a sudden, everything disappeared?
In the near future, less than two years later, she would have to leave the Grand Duchy when her contract with Noel ended. Then, would she be able to survive? Would she be able to endure this emptiness?
It’s so hard just thinking about it.
Irene’s complexion darkened. Lady Jasmine, who was watching her quietly, spoke, “Hmm….”
“In my eyes, you are a good person as his wife.”
“Yes?”
“If you do not have anyone around you to share your worries with, how about me? Madame, what are your thoughts?”
Irene, lost in her thoughts, opened her eyes wide at the words of Lady Jasmine, which she had not anticipated.
“I have a keen eye for evaluating people, having held so many parties. There is no other place where diverse people gather like a party. But what’s interesting is that there are so many people, it’s tough to find good people. So when I find a good person, I want to be close somehow.”
“…”
“Don’t you know? I mean, I want to become your friend.”
Irene just blinked, not knowing what to say. It was the first time that she was going to gain a friend this way.
When Irene did not answer, Lady Jasmine frowned slightly.
Is it the tea?
The moment she saw Irene at her first ball, Lady Jasmine deliberately had said something that would irritate her. It was because she was curious to see how Miss Chase would react to the rumours around her.
However, she did not say anything and just smiled. The moment she saw it, she had an intuition, ah, this person, it was okay.
The more she talked with her, the more genuine she felt. Jasmine liked her because she could not manage her facial expressions properly, unlike the people entangled in the social world and who wore a double mask.
However, after her ball, Irene no longer entered the social world. She still wanted to see her again, so she sent an invitation to the exhibition, and Irene came -- with the Grand Duke.
Since then, Irene became a difficult person for Lady Jasmine to approach. She became the fiancée of the Grand Duke, and in an instant, she became the Grand Duchess. So, for the time being, Lady Jasmine gave up. It was then that a letter from Duchess Kristen expressing she wanted to meet arrived. Duchess Kristen had asked her to help organise a tea party. Of course, there was no reason she could not help, but she was very proud of hosting parties. If other people heard it, they would spread word about how much pride she held for parties.
The desire to get closer to her and the party were two different things, so if the reasons were not valid, she thought of going back without a second thought.
However...
She said, ‘I’ve only attended the Duchess’ party twice, but each time she felt how much you loved to host parties. So naturally, I thought to ask you to help me with hosting a party. I have a basic understanding of parties. So, I wanted to get help from Lady Jasmine, who has a better understanding of how parties function.’
Until now, no one had understood her affection for parties, but she only acknowledged and respectfully approached her.
How could she refuse? Still, she liked the person the more she talked with her. Thus she expressed her desire to be her close friend to Irene. It was quite courageous...
It must have been tea.
Seeing Irene’s frown on her forehead, Jasmine soothed her upset stomach. Still, she wanted to help organise her party in the future, so the moment she tried to rescind her previous words.
“Sorry. It was the first time I’ve heard that someone wanted to be my friend, so I did not know what to say.”
“You only have to answer honestly, Madame. It’s fine if you do not like it; say you do not want to.”
“I want to.”
“Yes?”
Lady Jasmine could not hide her bewildered expression at her immediate reply. She might take her own words lightly. Lady Jasmine wondered if Irene was being serious or not, but Irene was very serious.
Needless to say, Lady Jasmine was a little stunned. Lady Jasmine did not quite understand why she wanted to be her confidante. However, she felt that she was a good person while working with her, and Lady Jasmine believed it would be better if Duchess Kristen shared her concerns and received her help. Especially if Duchess Kristen experienced a problem yet did not have anyone with who to confide.
More than anything else, Irene thought it would be nice to have at least one person who would have her back when she left this place. Then wouldn’t her loneliness and emptiness be relieved a little?