Chapter 154 (2/2)

“Hey, you idle assistant! Don’t you know you’ve got lots of work to do. You can’t afford to have free time here for a cup of tea. I can’t tolerate you.”

“…You know what? I have to keep working until the eve of the ball, starting tomorrow.”

“Really? Good for you! Let me go and enjoy the ball.”

I glanced at the red-haired young man smiling brightly at me.

‘You’re so annoying!’

Beatrice, who curiously looked at me pouting at him, said, “Lady Monique, oh Aristia, I’ve never seen you acting like that. It looks like both of you are very close.”

“… Do you think so?” I asked back.

“Well, um… by the way, we have only one week to go before the ball,” said Beatrice.

Frincia, who heard Beatrice, asked me carefully, “You’re right, Beatrice. By the way, Aristia, is the crown prince also attending the ball with Duke Jena’s daughter?”

I said, nodding with a bitter smile, “Yes, actually it’s a ball to celebrate her registry into the Duke Jena family.”

On the day when Duke Jena decided to adopt Jiun as his foster daughter, he invited all the nobles who attended the conference to commemorate the event. The invitations were sent out to them, regardless of their factions. It angered many members of the pro-emperor faction. Besides, the crown prince’s attendance order worried them, who were clenching their teeth as they couldn’t find any legitimate reason to shun the ball. They were dissatisfied with the fact that the crown prince, who seemed to defend her at the conference, said he would host a ball for her at the Imperial Palace.

I didn’t know what his intentions were, but as the ball was held to celebrate Jiun’s registry into the duke’s family, his partner was supposed to be Jiun, the heroine of the day. Because of that, the pro-emperor faction got enraged once again and put pressure on me.

‘But what should I do? There is nothing I can do in this situation. ‘

I stroked Luna’s silver hair lying on my knees, avoiding Beatrice’s eyes, who seemed to look at me sadly.

Carsein, who put down the cup, said with a smile.

“My little girl, are you entering the ball alone?”

“Nope. I will go with my father.”

“Hey, that makes you more lonely. What if he is on duty on that day?”

“Oh, you’re right. Let me ask him.”

“Hey, don’t bother your father who is busy. How about going with me? Let me save you.”

When he said that, Frincia turned to me. Her light pink eyes looked at me quickly.

“Oh, that’s surprising, Master! I didn’t know you were thinking of attending the ball. Good for you! Aristia, why don’t you two go together? ”

“Yeah, that sounds good. They will think you look like a good match.”

As Beatrice chimed in after Frincia, I thought about it for a moment.

‘Well, that would be okay.’

If I ask my father, I’m sure he will certainly change his shift, so I can go to the ball with Carsein. As he doesn’t like to go to balls anyway, I don’t have to give him a burden because of it.

“Okay, thanks, Carsein. ”

“Good. By the way, you have to go back, I think. You told me you’re on duty starting tomorrow.”

“You’re right. Oh, gosh, look at the time. Frincia, Beatrice, I’m sorry. I think I should leave first.”

“No problem, Aristia. Thank you for your time. See you in a week. ”

“See you next time, Aristia.”

Is it because both of them share the fact that they got married and came from a foreign kingdom? As close friends, both of them seemed to have more tea time, so I left after saying goodby to them. I got on the wagon with Carsein who came out of the mansion, insisting he would escort me back home because he couldn’t let me go back alone in bad weather.

He suddenly broke the silence and called me, while looking at the rain outside the window silently, with his chin on his hand.