I’m Done Being Your Best Friend

use there was no one I wanted to greet at that time.”

“…”

Daisy shut her mouth.

Chloe’s tone sounded a little arrogant.
I guess Chloe was the party that started it first for today.

I glanced alternately between them.
Chloe was smiling, there was something ironic and sarcastic about her smile though it was subtle.
Daisy, on the other hand, was smiling softly as well, but her facial expression had long hardened and her smile was somehow forced.

In a little while, Daisy will counterattack.
Daisy was always like this, trying to relax and pretending not to get hurt.

But this time my prediction was wrong.
Daisy’s desire to hold superiority over Chloe somehow did not work out so well as it was intercepted the moment George stepped in between.

“Oh, Lady Moore!”

George quickly greeted me and Chloe.
But his main aim today was Daisy.
He gave Daisy a soft smile as soon as he finished greeting.

“The party is not at its most lively state, yet, you are here early.”

“Sienna wanted to come sooner this time.
You are quite early yourself, too.”

Now Daisy would be held by George for a while.
This was a great opportunity for George.
Dancing and talking with Daisy sociably, I wondered if George would do well…

Either way, it would buy me some time to be more engaged in Heidi’s case.
I turned my head towards Chloe.

“But how come I don’t see Lady Coventry with you today?”

“If you ask about Lady Coventry, she went up to rest in the lounge earlier.”

“Already?”

The ball was just starting, it was unexpected of her to retire so quickly.
Chloe seemed a bit confused about my bewildered reaction.

“Yes, I heard she is not feeling well today.”

It was certainly not the time to stand idly next to Daisy and get involved in her silly chattering.
I was frustrated, but I hid my innermost feelings and displayed a worried look.

“It’s a ball and she is sick…isn’t it too bad? I would like to visit Lady Coventry and comfort her.”

“Then would you like to come with me?”

I glanced at the clock in the middle of the ballroom.
Daisy told me that people evacuated the mansion at eight o’clock, when the fire on the second floor grew bigger and smoke overflowed the whole building, including downstairs.

I still have time.
I went upstairs with Chloe to the lounge.

Maybe it was because the ball had just started, the hallway of the second floor was empty.
It was understandable that they only found out about the fire quite late afterwards.

When there was such an event, with the exception of servants who served and organised the party, others seemed to have all stayed hidden in their rooms.
Maybe they were kept out of the nobles’ sight as much as possible to maintain the class and elegance for the ball.

Had anyone been walking around here at this time, the fire would have been noticed right away.
But it was a relief this time that I found Heidi before it was too late.

At first, a voice could be heard coming from inside the women’s lounge.
Was she not alone? The other person might be the injured victim in the accident at that time.
The newspaper did not mention who the injured people were.

I grabbed the doorknob of the women’s lounge ahead of Chloe, and opened it without hesitation.

“So-”

The two women stopped talking and turned to look at us.
They paused for a moment when the strangers appeared.
As I was about to go inside, I stopped as I glanced past them.

Heidi was not here.