Chapter 145 - I’ll Only Say It Once (2) (1/2)
‘Ah!’
Suddenly, Elena spotted Mirabelle in the crowded room. Elena knew her family attended the reception, of course, but hadn’t had the time to seek them out yet. Elena gave her farewell to Log.
“I’ll see you again soon.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Eternal glory to the Ruford Empire.”
After receiving the ambassador’s bow, Elena immediately headed towards where her sister was amicably chatting with another noblewoman.
“Mirabelle!”
Mirabelle’s head turned, and she gave a sunny smile when she spotted her older sister.
“Ah, sister—no, Your Highness!”
She quickly corrected herself and gave a small giggle. Elena found the sight so adorable she couldn’t help but smile.
“Where have you been?”
“Oh, I’ve been talking with Glenn.”
“Glenn?”
It turned out that Elena knew the young woman next to Mirabelle. Their cousin Glenn had freckles and thick red hair, and Elena had once left Blaise Castle under the pretext of going to Glenn’s wedding.
“Oh my goodness, Glenn. It must have been a long way, how did you get here?”
Glenn bowed her head and gave a smile.
“Hail the Crown Princess. Eternal glory to the Ruford Empire.”
“You can omit such greetings between us.”
“I had so much help from the hairdresser you sent to my wedding. Of course I had to attend my cousin’s wedding—No, I mean, Your Highness’.”
For some reason, Elena found it heartwarming that her family had not yet adjusted to her status. She was beyond happy to see her family after only meeting political figures.
“It must have been a difficult journey to the capital city. Did you both have dinner?”
Elena played the older responsible sister among Mirabelle and Glenn. For now, she could shed the pretentious image of the crown princess and become the real Elena.
*
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Carlisle had also been surrounded by a number of people, but soon enough everyone gave him a wide berth and he was left to himself. Perhaps it was due to his aura that no one approached him, until a lone shadow appeared by his side. Carlisle, sensing the presence, turned his head and saw a familiar face.
It was Derek, Elena’s older brother.
“What are you doing here, Your Highness?”
Carlisle had once been given a cold reception by Derek, but the latter was in a very different mood now. Carlisle replied in a voice equally as flat as Derek’s.
“I’m waiting for my wife.”
Derek’s eyes shone brightly for a moment, but he continued on calmly.
“May I stand next to you for a while?”
“Make yourself comfortable.”
Carlisle, however, did not initiate any further conversation with Derek, and neither did Derek with Carlisle. Derek might have come to say something, but no words were exchanged between them.
And so silence passed. Neither man seemed uncomfortable standing in what others would have called an awkward atmosphere. It was only after a long silence did Derek finally speak.