The Alyssum’s Inferiority Complex

With long platinum silver hair and jewel-like amethyst eyes, Lucretia Adallindus would catch anyones eyes as she passed by. If someone said that she was beauty personified, no one would come out to disagree.

However, superficial beauty was all Lucretia had.

”Ah. Lady Irene, I hadn known you would be attending Lady Odelias tea party today. ”

”Lady Lucretia… ”

Standing in a beautiful rose garden, a girl with shoulder-length brown hair and some specks of freckles on her face looked uncomfortable, as she muttered under her breath. She had a cute stature as she dressed in a green dress that matched her eyes. Though, none of her appearance stood out, when she stood in front of the enchantingly beautiful girl in front of her.

”I-it is a pleasure to see y— ”

”Especially since you had rejected my previous invitations recently. Did I do anything to upset you? ”

The silver-haired girl stared at the cowering girl in front of her, as she rested her hand on her cheek in a concerned manner. However, her tone and attitude clearly showed that she wasn actually concerned. The brown-haired girl could feel the gaze on her, and looked away nervously.

”N-no! Of course… not… I was feeling a bit unwell, b-but Ive recovered now… ”

”Ah~ thats great, isn it? You must come to the gathering Ill host next time, then. I would be quite delighted! ”

”Y-yes… of course… ”

With an angelic smile, people would normally not find anything wrong with what she had said, but the brown-haired girl trembled at that smile.

As her brows knit, she remembered the torment she had to go through whenever she had gone to a gathering hosted by Lucretia. Whether it be having hot tea poured on her or forcefully cutting her hair, just the thought of having to attend made her stomach sick.

The other ladies in attendance could feel a tension in the air, but they all turned their eyes away, not wanting to poke a sleeping bear.

Seeing a vague silence within the air, Lucretias sparkling eyes wandered around, until she stilled. A devious smile appearing on her face, she hid it slightly with her delicate fingers.

”Lady Irene, I really am worried about you, since you seem to have a weak constitution. ”

”Eh? Um… Im really better now. Thank you for your concern, Lady Lucretia… ”

Taken slightly aback, Irene was cautious and wary. As she took a step back, Lucretia took two steps forward.

”No, no, I can see that you haven fully recovered yet! Look how sickly pale you look right now. ”

Tilting her head slightly to the side, she held her head with her hand.

”But don worry! I know the perfect way to help with your complexion! Beauty is important to a lady, after all. ”

Irene couldn help but feel a chill travel down her spine, as she saw Lucretias beautiful amethyst eyes lid in excitement.

”Since you
e much too pale, why not darken your complexion? Since we
e in a garden, wouldn the dirt do the trick? ”

”Eh— ”

With that one sentence, the mood of the venue completely turned cold. Even Lady Odelia, the host of todays party, only uncomfortably hid her face with her fan as she looked away.

”I-I… t-thank you for your concern, b-but Im really alright… ”

Forcing a smile on her face, Irene stepped back as cold sweat traveled down her body. A deep and dark churning feeling couldn help but create painful knots in her stomach, as she only wanted to escape from this hell.

However, as she took a step back, she could feel a firm grip on her wrist.

”Where are you going? ”

With wide eyes that looked as though she could look into your soul, Irene felt her legs weaken as Lucretia stared at her with expectation. The latters hand held on tightly, stopping the former from moving another step.

”Come on. Do it. I recommended this because of my concern for you. You aren going to embarrass