Chapter 158 (1/2)

Chapter 158: Chapter 158

“Hey, don’t dance to this tune.”

“… That’s why I told you I didn’t like this tune.”

Who dragged me out here? I stared at him, pouting, but he smiled casually.

“Hey, they’re watching you. Control your expression, will you?”

“Oh my! You’re so annoying.”

“Uh, I’m serious. What if they spread rumors that you have a bad personality?”

When I giggled in surprise, he just looked at me with a smile.

Now, that the band played out the tune, I duly showed my manners by holding the hem of my dress. Then I came out of the dance floor, holding his hand, who bowed politely.

When I took a few steps, chatting with him, a couple stopped us. They were Crown Prince and Jiun.

“I, Casein de Lars, am honored to greet you, the Little Sun of the empire.”

“I, Aristia la Monique, am honored to greet you, Your Majesty.”

“… It’s been a long time, Sir Carsein. And you, too. ”

Then he nodded blankly as usual. He looked at me and Carsein silently. Jiun, who stepped forward with her hand on his, looked at me with a bright smile.

‘Does she want me to greet her first?’

In terms of protocol I was higher than her, but right now she was higher than me logically as she attended the ball in her capacity as the crown prince’s partner. Controlling my displeasure, I slightly bowed to her.

“Hello, Lady Jena.”

“Hello, Lady Monique. It’s my first time to see you here after meeting you at the conference hall.”

First time? Maybe she is right because I saw her for the first since my return.

Just like I did at the conference hall, I felt scared when I found her so different from the old her that I remember. Given that she said she saw me after a long time, obviously she came back from the past like me. What the hell is her real intention?

“Your dress looks good on you. It’s hard to look good in a red dress, especially if one’s young like you.”

“Really? Thank you.”

“You also look great. As you are wearing a uniform, I guess you are probably a knight? I think both of you go really well together. ”

“Thank you, Lady Jenna. I’m sorry to introduce myself belatedly. My name is Carsein de Lars, Duke Lars’s second son. I belong to the 1st Knights Division. ”

“Oh, you’re with the Duke Lars family! Come to think of it, your hair really resembles your father’s.”

Was it my mistake that I was annoyed by the way she spoke? I felt like she was using the common talking trick commonly used in social circles, namely pretending to praise the other party while looking down on them in her heart.

I felt something strange. Why is she hostile to me? In the past, she was so friendly to me.

Was she trying to keep me at bay? Was she afraid I would take away the crown prince because I was still his official fiancee?

“As you make such a good couple, I’m afraid the crown prince might misunderstand you. Oh, please don’t misunderstand me. I’m saying this because your clothes and dancing today were so beautiful like a picture.”

“Oh, I don’t think the crown prince will misunderstand us. Actually, he asked me to take good care of Lady Monique recently.”

“Oh, I see. That’s good to know.”

“Anyway, thank you for the compliment. ”

Jiun and Carsein were having a war of nerves, hiding their intention while talking. But the crown prince was only looking at me, not casting a glance at them at all.

He seemed to have something to say to me.

I slowly caught my breath and looked away from him as naturally as possible.

Then I saw a man walking to us urgently. He was the crown prince’s aide, whom I saw several times before.

“Please forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty. I’ve got an urgent report…”