Chapter : 20
“Welcome, Roa.”
As I arrived at the principality’s embassy, Stella, the fiancée of the duke, greeted me.
“Pony is over there.”
“Yeah, I can hear her laughter from here.”
“Pony’s laugh is pretty unique. Merina Ikel is here too. I didn’t want to invite her, but since she’s the sister of Her Majesty the Empress, I couldn’t leave her out.”
Stella twitched her eyebrows in displeasure.
“I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”
“Just avoid her over there. Since you came alone today, she probably won’t cling to you.”
“Yeah, that seems likely.”
Stella turned her gaze toward me and let out a huffing, deflated sound.
“She’s really something.”
No wonder—Merina was speaking to the Crown Prince. Looks like he’ll realize his feelings here after all.
“That means we can relax a bit.”
“Yeah. I was worried I might be too distracted to watch out for you, so it’s a relief.”
“Don’t worry, go ahead. I’ll go see Pony.”
After firmly holding my hand and letting go, Stella returned to greeting the guests. She handled everything so skillfully—it was impressive, befitting the heir of the Maritni Marquisate.
“Miss Levian.”
But the moment my friend left, it seemed my luck ran out, as the male protagonist’s voice, tinged with hostility, reached me.
“Rocia Levian pays her respects to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
I came prepared today, having taken Vitalin.
I’m not sure when I moved from standing in front of Merina to this spot.
“You came alone today?”
“Yes.”
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, scanning me up and down, as if something was displeasing him.
Since he’s the Crown Prince and I’m merely a marquis’ daughter, it wasn’t rude or strange for him to act this way, so I stayed quiet. Arguing now would only make him angrier.
As if it were predetermined.
“Hah! Last time, you charmed the Master of the Magic Tower and stole everyone’s attention. Why? Did he abandon you?”
“Master of the Magic Tower and I are not in a relationship of abandoning or being abandoned.”
“Sure, sure. So you were just left behind.”
The Crown Prince immediately began mocking me, right in front of me. Did Merina tell him about me?
Because of me, she got into trouble?
No wonder the Crown Prince’s temper was triggered.
“Is that really how Your Highness sees it?”
At first, I wouldn’t have said a word when hearing such remarks, but now I could smile politely while responding.
“What…?”
“Your Highness, who did you come with? If you leave your partner alone and speak to another woman, your partner might seem abandoned.”
I was subtly telling him to go to Merina, but his answer surprised me.
“I came without a partner.”
Wait—did he?
I quickly sorted through my scattered thoughts.
Originally, at the ball, the Crown Prince would realize his feelings and request Merina as his partner at subsequent events, but nothing happened at this ball.
So the Crown Prince must have come alone.
Life was so chaotic that I got momentarily confused.
“I see.”
“Since the young lady was abandoned by the Master of the Magic Tower, I will escort you.”
“Your Highness, I am unworthy to stand by Your Highness as your partner.”
I nearly stepped back in shock, but managed to respond plausibly.
“Didn’t I suggest it? Dare you argue with me?”
“According to Your Highness, I am a woman abandoned by the Master of the Magic Tower. If a man keeps an abandoned woman by his side, it would only tarnish the Crown Prince’s image.”
The Crown Prince, caught by his own words, just opened and closed his mouth, while I quickly stepped back.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Fearing he might grab me again, I quickly mingled with the ladies around me, and fortunately, the Crown Prince did not follow.
Why would he do something he’d never done before?
Could it be that the Emperor, worried that our family might be linked to the Master of the Magic Tower, ordered him to? Yes, that must be it. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the Crown Prince to speak to me.
Any other reason would be more terrifying, so let’s hope it’s this.
I felt a wave of nausea but forced a bright smile.
“Hello, everyone.”
“Welcome, Miss Levian!”
Luckily, there were some friendly faces among them.
“Long time no see, Miss Klen.”
Thanks to Violet, word had spread that Merina had tried to push me out of the social scene.
Even so, many still seemed to believe Merina’s side of the story more.
“Miss Levian, that necklace is absolutely lovely today.”
“You wore it to the last ball too, didn’t you? I wanted to ask where it was from but never got the chance.”
This time, instead of a large diamond like the last ball, the necklace had dozens of teardrop-shaped blue diamonds strung together.
“Thank you for the compliment.”
I lightly touched the necklace so it caught the light, and the blue diamonds tinkled clearly.
“Oh my, did you hear that? These must be top-grade diamonds.”
“Indeed. Where did you buy them?”
“They were made by our family.”
Since the Levian Marquisate had never dealt in jewelry before, everyone looked surprised.
“Miss, I want to buy one. How would I go about it?”
“Since the product is limited and some are earmarked for export to the principality, you’ll have to wait quite a while. Is that alright?”
“Of course.”
“I can wait as long as necessary.”
I could hear the price of the jewelry rising.
I had been careful to accumulate funds not only for my family’s prosperity but also to secure finances to protect them in case something went wrong.
If accused of treason, I’d have to send my family to the principality or kingdom.
One must always be cautious, as unpredictable events can occur.
After some time discussing jewelry, the topic shifted.
“I’m looking forward to the upcoming hunting tournament.”
“Me too. Will everyone participate?”
“I’m not a good rider, so I’ll just watch from the stands.”
The hunting tournament marked the end of the social season and was also an important event in the original story.
“And you, Miss Levian? Will you participate?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
I would attend, but I hesitated.
The winner of the hunting tournament receives the royal treasure, the ‘Mirror of Truth,’ so I must win.
“I plan to attend. Who knows? If I get into trouble, maybe someone dashing will save me?”
“Miss, what a romantic thought. Are you hoping someone will come to your aid?”
“Hmm, I wonder… perhaps, the Duke of Lisiancious?”
A young lady from a count’s family blushed, and an excited gasp escaped from her beside me.
Then the Duke of Lisiancious appeared, calling my name.
“Here you are, Rocia.”
He even said my name.
He had supposedly refused to call me by name—so why now?
However, the Duke looked flustered, as if he hadn’t expected to speak my name.
Everyone at the table, including the lady who wished to be rescued by him, looked between me and the Duke, bewildered. I, too, was surprised but smiled brightly.
“Hello, Duke. I didn’t expect you to attend the party today.”
When I firmly drew the line, the Duke’s expression darkened.
“I was having an enjoyable conversation with the others here. Would you like to join?”
The Duke of Lisiancious disliked crowded places, so it was a deliberate offer.
“Of course.”
But unexpectedly, he stepped closer to the table.
Those who had the chance to talk to him actively engaged, while I quietly chose to listen.
At times, it seemed his gaze lingered on me, but I ignored it.
“Hello, everyone.”
As the conversation deepened, the party’s host, Prince Stein, subtly joined our table. He introduced important figures from the principality, including ambassadors.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Heh, I hear this is the one who caused our Prince some trouble?”
A well-known merchant in the principality looked at me with sparkling eyes. Stroking his gray beard, he laughed.
“Judging by the jewelry you wear, you must hold an unbeatable hand in business.”
Indeed.
Everything must be paid for in full.
“I’m grateful for your kind assessment.”
The merchant hinted at inviting me for further discussion later. I accepted, feeling honored.
The party continued as I moved from table to table, speaking with different people from the principality.
When the Duke and I moved to a third table, someone from a nearby table intervened.
It was Merina.
