Chapter 86 (1/2)

Chapter 86: Chapter 86

As soon as he arrived at the banquet hall, he went away from me after he said that coldy .

‘That’s not what I meant. Well, he might take it that way.’

I definitely thought I could be freed from the imperial family if he took one of them as his wife.

While looking at him disappearing gradually, I saw some young ladies approaching me, so I changed my expression. The first day of the National Founding Day festival passed like that.

On the second day of the festival, I was on duty.

I received a message from the Imperial Palace, saying the crown prince could not attend the banquet as he was busy. As I was supposed to attend it as his partner for the next five days, I didn’t have to go unless he attended.

Initially, I decided not to go, but later I thought I had better just show up then leave quickly.

But I didn’t think I needed to go there on time. So, I practiced fencing until late, then arrived at the banquet hall very late.

“H, Lady Monique.”

“Entea, you are also there.”

“Yes, I was waiting for you to come.”

“Me? Why? ”

Entea had a serious look. Thanks to the commercial success of the hairpins that began to sell in the market last summer, she secured a stepping stone to succeed the Viscount Sharia family. When she became more and more impatient because she was close to achieving her goal, she came to my house shortly after the sale of the hairpin and offered a deal to me. She suggested that if I supported her efforts to be the successor of her family, she would swear allegiance to me.

When he heard what she said to me, my father initially didn’t like her idea, but eventually accepted her offer.

It was not a bad deal. The merchant vessel group of the Sharia family could obtain the political support of our family, while our family could secure the wealth and intelligence of the Sharia family. Of course, our mutual support could be provided only within the reasonable limit as stipulated under the imperial law.

She volunteered to be my right hand man in return for the deal. Even though she couldn’t collect quality intelligence like Duke Verita did, she was quite good at collecting intelligence thanks to the wealth of her family’s merchant vessel group and extensive contacts. I could get a handle on important stuff while reducing my activities in social circles. So, I could expect she brought some important information if she sought me in a hurry.

“Well, the atmosphere of the banquet hall is strange today,” she said.

“Why? What’s going on? ”

“There are some rumors about why the princess fell on the dance floor yesterday. The noble factions remain silent because they support the princesses here, and the noble women are whispering among themselves. But the young ladies led by Lady Genoa are blatantly making a mockery of the princess. Right now the princess pretends not to know it, but if something goes wrong, there is going to be a big disturbance.”

‘Who spread such rumors? The only people who were there yesterday were the crown prince, me and the other princesses,’ I thought to myself.

But I didn’t think too much about it. Princess Moira couldn’t talk about it out of shame, while Princess Frincia and Princess Beatrice weren’t the type of women to spread rumors. Then, most likely Princess Naima and Princess Beary were responsible for the rumors because they were openly against her.

Suddenly, I was annoyed by Lady Genoa and her followers. Why did they run their mouth so recklessly? Besides, the victim of the rumors was none other than a foreign princess.

“Okay. I think I have to make them shut their mouth first.”

“I think so. I’m afraid you might be involved in it against your will.”

“Thank you, Entea. You are really helping me a lot. ”

“It’s nothing compared to your favor to me, Lady Monique. I’m flattered by your compliment.”

I tried to cope with the situation as quickly as possible, but when I found Lady Genoa and her followers, they were already confronting Princess Moira. To be precise, they were embarrassed by her confident and undaunted attitude.

“It’s all my fault. I’m so ashamed…”

“Oh, my dear princess!”

“It’s because I was too arrogant because I failed to control myself… But how could you be so cruel to me as you’re a woman like me?”

In the end, Princess Moira took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. Lady Genoa, with her face hardened, and other young ladies, who were at a loss what to do, stood in front of her.

I barely held back a sigh. I knew that the princess was a picky lady, given that she was acting differently to me and the crown prince, but I found her much more picky than I thought.

I hated using the method, but I had no choice but to deal with her in person.

“What the hell is this? Why is Princess Moira crying? ”

After taking a deep breath, I stepped forward. When I asked with a cool voice, Lady Whir, standing behind Lady Genoa, flinched.