It Seemed My Fiancé Hated Me, So I Distanced Myself—But for Some Reason, He Complained - Chapter 36

“Lady Anastasia! There’s no need for any contest. Lady Clarissa has already been chosen by His Highness Lucas. She shouldn’t have to prove herself to you through some competition!”

“That’s right. Such a contest offers no benefit to Lady Clarissa at all!”

While I stood there unable to properly respond, the maids argued back against Lady Anastasia on my behalf.

Lady Anastasia furrowed her brows in displeasure and said, “What impertinent maids you have. Very well. If you claim there’s no benefit for Lady Clarissa, then I promise that if I lose, I will never approach His Highness Lucas again. How about that?”

She looked at me with challenging eyes as she spoke.

Even with such an offer, all I could feel was bewilderment.

I don’t want Lady Anastasia to never approach His Highness Lucas again. More than that, I don’t want to compete at all.

“Well? What will you do? Answer me.”

Lady Anastasia thrust her fan toward me again.

Even if she thinks I’m running away, maybe I should just decline politely and keep things peaceful.

But just as I was thinking that, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

Lady Anastasia is right. I’m not yet someone worthy of being recognized as His Highness Lucas’s fiancée.

In my current state, where I can’t even handle Lady Anastasia on my own and have to rely entirely on my maids, I can’t imagine a future where I stand beside His Highness Lucas and carry out official duties.

Maybe this is my chance to become “someone worthy of His Highness Lucas.”

“…What kind of contest did you have in mind?”

When I asked, Lady Anastasia’s eyes gleamed sharply.

I could hear the maids behind me gasp.

“Oh? So, you’ve mustered some courage? I’ll at least praise you for that spirit. Let’s see… How about a contest that measures our qualities as a future princess? We’ll each host a tea party, and compete to see who can better satisfy the invited guests with their hospitality?”

Lady Anastasia pressed a finger to her lips and spoke cheerfully.

The contest was more ordinary than I’d expected. It seemed fitting for a competition meant to gauge one’s suitability as a princess.

But hosting a tea party… Having been scorned as a Cinderella-like noble and having had almost no proper aristocratic interactions, this might be the area I’m worst at.

“What will you do, Lady Clarissa? If a future queen can’t even host a proper tea party, I’d say that’s quite a problem.”

Lady Anastasia chuckled as she spoke.

I could hear the maids behind me complaining to Lady Anastasia.

What should I do? Can I really do this? To be honest, I’m not very confident.

But if I could succeed… If I could make Lady Anastasia acknowledge me through my own efforts, rather than being protected by my maids, I feel like I might be able to acknowledge myself, even if just a little.