It Seemed My Fiancé Hated Me, So I Distanced Myself—But for Some Reason, He Complained - Chapter 14

“…Clarissa. You received an invitation too, didn’t you? What do you plan to do? Will you attend alone and lonely, or will you make up some excuse to decline attending in protest against the royal family?”

Lord Ryan seemed quite irritated. After hesitating briefly, I answered.

“…Actually, I received an invitation from an acquaintance asking if I would like to attend the party with them. I declined at the time, but… Since you seemed reluctant to attend with me, Lord Ryan, and Chelsea wants to attend with you, I thought this might work out perfectly.”

“Hah…!? Who exactly is this person from where!?”

Lord Ryan’s eyes narrowed sharply as he shouted.

Chelsea addressed Lord Ryan with a light, cheerful voice.

“Isn’t it fine, Lord Ryan! Surely, it’s just some dull young master who’s having trouble finding a partner and invited Sister out of desperation. Let’s yield the partner role to them just this once. I’m certain you’ll have much more fun with me than you would with Sister!”

“But Miss Chelsea, these events are meant to be attended with one’s fiancée.”

“Both Father and Mother said this isn’t a formal party, so there’s no need to be so strict about it! Just this once should be fine!”

Chelsea overrode Lord Ryan’s troubled expression.

Then she even called my father and stepmother, securing their permission for her to attend the party with Lord Ryan.

Though Father and Stepmother seemed somewhat bewildered, they didn’t seem entirely displeased that their beloved daughter would be attending the party with Lord Ryan of the well-regarded Flory family.

When I mentioned that they could explain to others that the suggestion came from me, they readily agreed.

“If Clarissa wants to attend with another young master, there’s nothing we can do about it. Ryan, I’m sorry but please accompany Chelsea.”

“We apologize that Clarissa is being willful about this, Ryan.”

Though I wasn’t pleased that it was being made to seem like I was the one who made the request, thinking that this would prevent Lord Ryan from giving me cold looks during the garden party made me feel relieved.

Lord Ryan maintained a strained smile as he nodded along with Father’s words.