Chapter 176 (1/2)

Chapter 176: Chapter 176

I tried to refuse his offer, but I couldn’t say anything when I noticed his cold gaze at me at the moment. Looking at me hesitating for a moment, he said with a deep sigh, “You should prepare for the banquet on the second day, so let me tell them you are absent because of my order. So, just go back and take a good rest.”

“… Thanks so much, Your Majesty. ”

“Thanks for your hard work today. See you tomorrow. Sir Lank, Sir Strah, escort Lady Monique to her house.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

I mounted a horse with a sigh, watching him turn back, escorted by the royal guards.

‘I really don’t know what to do. I will work it out in one way or another.”

Escorted by two knights dressed in white uniforms, I turned the horse’s head to my house.

The sun was unusually hot in the afternoon.

Clink!

A sharp sound rang out in the banquet hall where soft music was playing. I managed to control my crumpling expression at the sound and turned up my trembling mouth slightly.

‘Is it the third time already?’

While pressing down my surging annoyance, I asked for the understanding of the ladies who were talking with each other. As soon as I took a few steps off, I heard several people whispering among themselves as if they found it was funny.

Carsein already appeared before me and said, “Is it the third time? It seems like he was determined to do so.”

“I guess so.”

“What are you going to do about him?”

“Well, I have to cope with it.”

Staring at me blankly, he nodded and reached out.

‘I can solve it on my own…’

With a sigh, I put my hand on his. Anyway, since my partner today is Carsein, I thought it would be good to move around with him.

“What is going on?”

“Sorry, Lady Monique. I made a mistake because I didn’t realize Lady Lanier was standing behind me.”

The servant, who was leaning forward to pick up pieces of glass scattered on the floor, apologized. I felt really annoyed.

‘Mistake? No way! Lady Lanier stood right behind you on purpose.’

Those who were in charge of chores at the Imperial Palace were usually senior or middle-level servants, so they must have been commoners. That’s why he felt he had to apologize, even though he was not responsible.

I turned to the woman with sandy hair who was looking at her dress, at a loss what to do. Watching her embarrassed, I unwittingly broke into a smile.

‘Oh, you are quite good at disguising yourself! Why don’t you try playing an actor on this occasion?’

“Lady Lanier, your dress was ruined. What a pity!”

“I know, Lady Monique. It’s my favorite dress…The servants here are very careless today. The banquet started only a little while ago. I don’t know how many ladies ruined their dresses.”

Although I was dumbfounded by her spitting out lousy complaints, I barely managed to make an apologetic expression instead of frowning.

“I am sorry that your favorite dress was ruined. Let me report this guy’s mistake to the palace affairs bureau. By the way, I think you need to change first. Let me tell a maid to escort you to a guest room.”

“Fine. Let me tell my maid to do so. I’m afraid your maid might make the same mistake as the servant. Excuse me then.”

She roughly bowed to me and quickly disappeared.

I once again suppressed my surging annoyance. I unwittingly tightened my grip on Carsein’s hand.

I recited the words ‘Let me be patient’ deep down, and said to the servant, who was lowering his head, “Were you injured at all?”

“… No, my lady. Sorry.”

“If you were not wounded, that’s good. Whew! Be more careful next time.”

Fortunately, it seemed that he understood what I was trying to talk about.

I turned around, who kept bowing to me as if he was moved by my kind encouragement.

When I let out a deep sigh, Caresein looked at me regrettably and said, “It looks like you’re very frustrated. What can you do about it? You can’t leave this place. Why don’t you go to the lounge for a short break?”