What on earth are you trying to say?
Agatha looked up at him blankly. Theodore hesitated and continued speaking with difficulty.
“...By chance, the name of the Marchioness was mentioned in the presence of my grandmother, mother, and sister. I couldn’t hear the details of what happened, but I don’t think it will be good for the lady.”
“...”
“Please keep a close eye on the nobles related to my family, Marchioness... I wish you happiness wherever you are.”
Theodore bowed to the Crown Prince once more and stepped back.
The nobles' excitement quickly died down as the time they spent with the Crown Prince was very short.
Anthony looked surprised.
“That’s unexpected. Was the Duke that kind of person?”
Agatha nodded slightly in agreement without saying much.
She knew better than anyone that Theodore Neuta, despite his cold demeanor on the outside, was affectionate towards his family.
Of course, he was a man who wasn't particularly talented at coordinating affairs between family members.
However, the Duke's reaction was unexpected.
The man who always took his family's side when it came to her grandmother, mother, and sister, took her side instead of them when they were no longer family.
That was after they got divorced.
When Agatha was silent for a while, Enoch looked into her face.
"Are you okay?"
“I already knew he wouldn’t stay still. I was just surprised by the Duke’s strange reaction.”
Agatha shook off the meaningless sentiments that Theodore had left behind.
“Lady Neuta, Lady Grandma, and Young Lady will return to the autumn social scene. It will be resolved naturally when the new season begins.”
“If it’s okay with you, Ma’am, then it’s fine.”
Theodore's appearance was much more gentlemanly and sensible than Fernand's.
Even Enoch wouldn't misunderstand this much.
As Agatha gathered her thoughts and straightened up, a loud trumpet sound was heard.
Phew-
It was the sound announcing the appearance of the Emperor.
“Her Majesty Emperor Wamilai II, the Sun of the Roxbard Empire, Her Majesty Empress Margaret Roxba, the Moon of the Roxbard Empire, and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Elizabeth Roxba, the Little Moon of the Roxbard Empire!”
With the appearance of the royal family, Anthony also moved to fulfill his duties as Crown Prince.
“See you later.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After seeing Anthony off, Agatha immediately bowed to the Emperor.
The Emperor had grown taller than usual. He wore the sun crown on his head, a purple mantle with the royal symbol draped over his shoulders, and in one hand he held a golden scepter of glory.
“Everyone, raise your heads.”
The Emperor's voice echoed throughout the quiet hall, where not a single breath could be heard. Although the volume was not loud, there was no place in the large hall where the voice could not be heard.
“To honor the efforts of the gentlemen who are working for the prosperity and peace of the empire, we will extend this summer ball by one day. I hope that today will be a day of great enjoyment and a time of sharing good news.”
Although it was not explicitly referring to Agatha and Enoch, it was a story that anyone with ears and a mind could understand.
The Emperor looked at Agatha and Enoch with a pleased expression, then gave orders to the Crown Prince.
“Let the Crown Prince lead the first dance today.”
“I will do so, Your Majesty.”
As the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess came to the center of the hall, a lively waltz began to flow.
Roxbard's foremost rascal began to move through the halls with skill and grace.
It was an unspoken rule that the first dance at a ball was for those of high status or social standing.
Therefore, the nobles who had to rush into the hall following the Crown Prince today were the Marquis Aratus and his wife.
“Madam, would you do me the honor of having your first dance?”
Agatha smiled and took Enoch's outstretched hand.
“I've been waiting.”
Agatha, who was escorted to the center of the hall, danced with Enoch and faced each other.
Although the nobles' eyes were all focused on her, she was so focused on Enoch that it didn't bother her at all.
Beneath his neatly styled blue hair, his handsome face had rough lines.
Agatha looked into Enoch's grey eyes that seemed endlessly deep and suddenly opened her mouth.
“Didn’t you feel bad when the Duke of Neuta approached us?”
Even though she knew she had six ex-husbands, actually meeting them face to face would be a different feeling.
“I think there was a good reason for that today.”
“After the divorce, the only time I’ve seen my ex-husband is recently. There weren’t as many occasions where I thought I’d run into him.”
“I also know that this is not your intention.”
As more and more people entered the center of the hall, the tempo of the music quickened. As the hems of their skirts swayed and the steps became more intense, Enoch’s voice pierced her ears.
“But I don’t feel good.”
Enoch's eyes looked very dark as he spoke. Looking at the man who seemed deep in thought, Agatha tightened her grip on the hand she was holding.
It wasn't clear whether Enoch was upset because he had affection for her or simply because he was her husband.
'I just wish I had feelings and was making this face.'
Agatha looked into Enoch's eyes and thought so.
“How was my dance today? It was much better than at the wedding, wasn’t it?”
She changed the mood and raised her voice tone. When Agatha sent the signal first, Enoch's expression also softened.
“You are wonderful today.”
“I was a little nervous at that time.”
Unlike at the wedding, Agatha was not nervous and showed off her dancing skills to her heart's content.
Enoch also responded to her graceful and smooth dancing, with light steps.
After the first song ended and they left the center of the hall, Enoch draped his suit jacket over Agatha's shoulders.
A large, strong hand gently smoothed the hair that had fallen out of the suit.
As he was about to move to a place where there were people he was familiar with, the Emperor called Enoch over.
“Marquis Aratus. Come here!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Enoch, who had already answered the call, took the back of her hand that he was still holding and kissed it.
“I’ll be back shortly, Agatha.”
“Okay, I’ll be waiting.”
She's been happy with him since our last meeting.
The Emperor gave Enoch his seat and began his great work.
The royal family's podium and steps were crowded with key ministers and nobles from each department who were trying to establish a relationship with Enoch, who had just made his debut in the court.
“Here, have another drink, Marquis.”
“I am ashamed, Your Majesty.”
Agatha nodded faintly as she watched Enoch’s troubled eyes. She said she would wait, but she didn’t think that would be possible right away.
Now, the new Marquis who has just entered the court and is favored by the Emperor appears.
He'll probably be able to get out by the time the mountain of alcohol and food has worn off.
His expression became subtle at her calm face as if she had already expected it.
'Okay, then.'
Enoch doesn't seem to have anything to worry about.
Agatha turned her gaze back to her work as she nodded slightly.
“Lady Agatha. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I saw the Marquis put this robe on his wife as soon as they had their first dance.”
“It was a very beautiful scene.”
Many nobles, including her close associates, had approached her.
“Thank you, everyone. How about we sit over there and chat today?”
“Good idea. There will probably be more customers than usual, so there’s no need to bother standing around.”
“Hohoho. Madam Iris too, really.”
On one side of the hall, there was plenty of space with sofas and couches for people to sit and chat.
Among them, the largest and widest space was chosen, and as Agatha sat down at the head seat, her aides and their limbs naturally filled the area around her, forming a sort of barrier.
Amidst the outpouring of congratulatory messages, the aides selected a few people they had been keeping an eye on and called them into the inner space.
“Lady Agatha. This is Lady Sion of the House of McKellen. She is due to make her social debut in the next society event, and would like to introduce herself to you.”
“Hello, Marchioness Aratus. My name is Sion McKellen. Belated congratulations on your wedding earlier this year.”
“Thank you, Miss McKellen. Um, would you like to sit over here? Would you like Mrs. McKellen to come with you and chat for a while?”
“It is an honor, Marchioness.”
Agatha gave place to some of them.
Those who succeeded in getting inside and even getting a seat were met with envious and jealous looks.
“I didn’t know Lady Agatha would be interested in the McKellen family.”
“I heard that Lady Vanessa, who was a close associate of hers, often invited her to her salon.”
While selecting new people to become her confidants and aides, and choosing people who would be good at increasing their influence in social circles, Agatha occasionally kept a close eye on Enoch.
Theodore, who had now taken a seat next to him, seemed a little worried, but nothing serious seemed to have happened yet.
As the attention of the nobles gradually began to wander, Agatha called out to her closest confidant and confidant, the Marchioness Iris Domunia.
“Mrs. Iris.”
“Yes, Madame Agatha. Go ahead.”
The quick-witted Iris Domunia immediately tilted her head toward her.
The surrounding area was filled with many curtains and the sound of people talking, so their voices could not be heard at all.
Agatha covered her mouth with her fan and whispered quietly.
“I think we should keep an eye on the Neuta family.”
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