Her red hair, which seemed to embrace the setting sun, danced with her movements.
The sight was as beautiful as a butterfly.
Her smiling face was even more beautiful.
Were dancing women always this beautiful?
...Or is it beautiful because it's Adele?
He doesn't know. He should have seen the woman dance.
All he saw was the disgusting sight of Aldor pretending to be a woman.
He didn't know which one, but one thing he knew for sure was that he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Red hair fluttering in the wind.
Perdes looked at Adele as if half-fazed, as the hand movements sweeping through the air seemed out of this world.
Ssaaaa-
From somewhere, a sound like the wind rustling against leaves was heard.
It seemed like he heard something breaking.
Something very solid.
"Are you okay?"
While he was thinking about what it was, he suddenly felt a soft touch on his cheek.
“...!”
Perdes, who finally came to his senses, took a step back in surprise when he saw fresh green eyes right below him.
“Perdes?”
Adele called out in confusion, but could not answer.
Perdes was afraid that if he opened his mouth, something strange would come out, so he couldn't even say that he would leave and leave the room as if running away.
Perdes returned straight to his bedroom and leaned against the harshly closed door.
Then, Adele's hand moved down the cheek that it had touched.
It couldn't have been that way, but it felt like it still had a soft texture.
His heart was pounding, and he kept picturing Adele dancing beautifully before his eyes.
Although he hasn't had a coming-of-age ceremony, he is 16 years old and cannot be called a child.
He was at an age where his sense of self was established and he knew clearly what emotions came from it.
But he doesn't know this.
Why do I feel this way when I think of her? What on earth is the identity of this strange feeling that seems good, yet sad, and sad?
Really... I don't know?
Perdes fell to the floor, shaking his head and laughing as a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
“...That can’t be possible.”
It was a simple illusion.
The only person he can rely on right now is her.
He was betrayed by the person he trusted the most, and his heart was lost and he needed a place to lean on.
But then she happened to be there.
Because there is no one else but her.
That's why he's just feeling this way.
Perdes repeated several times that it had no other meaning.
***
It was before going to bed that Chernosser sent the champagne in question through his servant.
“His Royal Highness is sending this as an apology for what happened before.”
I looked at the champagne the attendant gave me.
It was ordinary champagne that looked fine on the outside, but the fact that it was sent by Chernosser was enough to make it suspicious.
Moreover, what the servant brought was champagne, which is usually eaten at celebrations.
No matter how stupid Chernosser was, he was a Prince.
He is also a legitimate Prince born to the Empress's descendant.
There was no way he didn't know this basic fact, and it was clear that he was trying to make fun of me in return for an apology.
How dare you pull off a prank like this when the Empress, who had a lot of pride, was apologizing for the Max Tower incident.
I felt a little bit of sympathy for the Empress.
Instead of taking the champagne, I waved my hand.
“If you want to apologize to me, please tell His Highness to show more sincerity.”
"Your sincerity...?"
"Yes. You shouldn’t just send champagne, but there should be at least a letter of apology.”
When I showed a firm will that I would never accept it without it, the servant had no choice but to step down.
May asked cautiously.
“Is it okay if I send you back like this, Miss?”
"It's okay. He’ll be back anyway.”
“With a letter of apology?”
When I nodded, May let out a small exclamation.
“His Highness the Second Prince is famous for having a very strong pride and not apologizing even when he does something wrong...You’re amazing, lady.”
"Very."
I wasn't happy to be praised for something like this.
I took off the shawl I was wearing to greet the attendant, laid it down on the sofa, and sat down on the bed.
“Are you going to sleep?”
"Yes. I have to get up early tomorrow and get ready, so I’m going to sleep early today.”
“Then what should I do if His Highness the Second Prince’s servant comes?”
“You can welcome it.”
“Well, me?”
May looked surprised and pointed at herself with her index finger.
“His Royal Highness sent a gift, but how could I, a mere maid, receive it...”
"It's okay. Just say that you have no choice but to receive it for me because I am going to bed and that you will deliver it to me when I wake up. If there is no letter of apology, send it back.”
“Is that really okay?”
"Of course."
When I added the words not to worry, May hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
“I understand, Miss.”
***
As expected, not long after I lay down in bed, the servant came again.
I didn't see it, but I could hear May and the attendant arguing a little through the thick door.
“...I can’t just let a man in while the Lady is sleeping.”
She was stamping her feet, wondering if it would be okay, but then she disappeared.
Since May kept saying the right things, the attendant had no choice but to step down even if he did not like her.
“Then be sure to tell Lady Leopold when she wakes up.”
In the meantime, it appears that May was given some champagne.
Seeing as May received it calmly without saying anything, it appears that a letter of apology came with it.
I didn't think it was Chernosser who wrote that letter.
It must have been the Empress or someone from the chamberlain who ghostwrote it.
And my predictions were exactly right.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I checked the letter Chernosser had sent me and scoffed at it.
Although the handwriting on the letter was quite similar to Chernossor's, it could not fool the eyes of his one-time wife.
“Take care of this.”
Nevertheless, the reason I accepted it without saying anything and presented it to Lord Aldor was to use it for another purpose.
It was a bit disappointing that it wasn't a letter written by Chernosser himself, but that was it.
Since I could use that for my plans, I entrusted it to my trusty Lord Aldor for safekeeping and prepared to go to the debutante of the Marquis de Lanchot.
For parties such as New Year's Day or National Foundation Day, you can decorate as much as you like without worrying about what others think.
However, like Debutante, it was not a party where the main character was decided. It was polite to decorate less flashily than the main character.
So, I wore a plain dress that didn't stand out and gave a little extra strength to the hairpin and accessories.
When the preparations were almost finished, Perdes came.
Perdes had his hair neatly combed and was wearing a matching tailcoat like mine.
“It’s all ready...”
He came in, but suddenly stopped. His eyes widened slightly.
"What's wrong?"
“No, nothing.”
Even though Perdes was surprised, he spoke slowly and acted.
“Young Lady... I was surprised because you were so pretty.”
Is this sincere? Or is it acting?
I don't know which one, but what is certain is that I am happier than when I received praise for Chernosser's work.
"Thank you. Perdes, you look really nice today too.”
Perdes blushed his earlobes and scratched the back of his neck as if he was embarrassed by my words.
Even acting like this is done perfectly. It was amazing.
I was once again impressed by his acting skills and asked Sir Eren, who followed him in, for a favor.
“Preparations are almost complete, so please wait in the hall with Perdes.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“See you later, Perdes.”
"Yes."
I couldn't keep him waiting for long, so I finished quickly and went down to the hall where Perdes was waiting.
“It’s nice to see you dressed up like this.”
But Perdes was not alone.
“It would have been great if you had been like this before.”
The Crown Prince was also there.
Why is he here?
I went down the central stairs and looked at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince must have sensed my gaze and turned towards me.
Our eyes met for a moment in the air.
“Lady Leopold.”
The Crown Prince smiled as sweetly as if it had been coated with honey and called my name.
It meant to come down here quickly.
I didn't want to go, but I couldn't leave Perdes alone in front of the tiger's den, so I went down and stood in front of them.
“It’s been a long time, Lady Leopold. How were you?"
“Yes. It seems like His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is doing well.”
“Thanks to you, Young Lady.”
“It’s all thanks to me.”
I smiled and continued.
“I guess you’re doing well thanks to my father, not me.”
“...!”
"My father sacrificed himself to save Your Highness the Crown Prince, so I hope you live a meaningful life.”
The Prince's expression crumpled for a moment at the words that were like a well-honed blade, but he quickly recovered and spoke to me.
"Of course. I plan to use this life that Duke Leopold saved for the empire for the rest of my life.”
So the Crown Prince expressed his efforts by saying that he has been studying politics diligently these days.
I want to tell you.
You're going to die in 3 years anyway.
So don't do anything useless.
“I see.”
However, if I told the truth now, it would not impress the Crown Prince at all, so I swallowed what I wanted to say.
When that day comes, I have to laugh at it a lot.
... This is possible, assuming that I am still alive and safe until then.
“By the way, what are you doing here, Your Majesty the Crown Prince?”
“I heard that the Lady will be participating in the debutante of the Lady of the Marquis de Lanchot, which is being held today.”
The Crown Prince held out his hand to me with his characteristic eye smile.
“Will you give me the honor of escorting the lady today?”
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