As Cedric looked at him with pitiful eyes, Calix finally opened his mouth.
"By the time I got there, the situation was already over. It wasn't a big deal."
“Really?”
"I don't think you should be so overprotective, Odelia. If you hold on to him so tightly, Cedric's face will flatten."
Odelia looked at Cedric with a suspicious gaze, then finally removed her hand from his face. Then she sat back down and said with a sigh.
"If you have any worries, just tell me. Why are you struggling so much and getting into a fight with some vagrant?"
Cedric muttered softly, avoiding eye contact.
“No, nothing like that..."
Obelia frowned slightly and spoke seriously.
"I know I'm not the type to give relationship advice, but I know how to comfort a friend who's been dumped, right?"
Cedric sighed deeply and slumped his shoulders.
"What kind of comfort can a clueless kid like you possibly have?"
"What do I have no clue about?!"
“That’s it... That’s it..."
At that moment, Calix spoke to Cedric in a calm voice.
"Odelia is a bit oblivious."
Odelia stuck out her lips as if she felt wronged and looked at Calix. "You say I'm oblivious? Your Highness."
Calix raised the corners of his mouth slightly as he looked at Odelia, who was grumbling.
"I like that about you, too."
At those short words, Odelia once again had a troubled expression on her face, and Cedric looked at Calix like that and thought to himself.
'Ah. I recognized this incredibly strong opponent as a rival, even if only for a moment.'
It may be a bit offensive to say this, but he thinks it's possible to at least consider it. Prince Calix has a very foxy side.
Then suddenly, a thought occurred to him.
'Then why does His Highness continue to let Odelia go on dates?'
***
At that moment, in the Empress's residence, where a gentle fragrance was rising, Fabiana slowly put down her pearl-decorated teacup.
[ The eldest and second sons of the Count's family were murdered by an unknown assailant on their way home from a social club. ]
Fabiana muttered softly as she folded the unfolded newspaper.
"This is how it's going to come out, Calix..."
Count Dalton was a family loyal to the Empress's family and held considerable influence in high society. Not long ago, Fabiana deliberately invited two of their children to tea and subtly leaked a story that could tarnish Odelia's reputation.
They tried to fathom the Empress's feelings and spread the word, so that everyone could hear, so that everyone could see Odelia through colored glasses.
They were castrated and died a miserable death. Fabiana looked out the window for a moment.
The trees in the garden swayed in the breeze, and a subtle fragrance spread across her nose.
The newspapers interpreted the leaves scattered over the corpse as a mockery, but Fabiana immediately recognized them. They were the tea leaves she had used when she had invited them not long ago, harvested exclusively from the Empress's garden.
She no longer doubted it. This was a warning. A message meticulously calculated so only she could perceive it.
Fabiana nodded calmly and spoke to her maid.
"I must convey my condolences to the Count's family. I will prepare to pay my respects."
On the surface, his words seemed to express regret, but the temperature inside was cold.
Fabiana lifted her teacup again. Her fingertips trembled slightly, and the teapot rattled gently as she lifted it.
'Even so, you would kill because of that woman? At best, they were just spreading rumors, and you killed them knowing that? You really fought for that woman that much, Calix?'
***
Odelia changed into her evening attire to attend Lady Herdel's tea party, to which she had been invited earlier. It was a simple dress in soft pastel tones.
Calix, Cedric, and the Grand Duchess were waiting to see her off.
His expression seemed to indicate that he was uneasy and uneasy about sending Odelia alone. Odelia smiled brightly at the sight, feeling grateful and slightly embarrassed.
"It's not like you're putting a child out on the water; it's just a bunch of young ladies showing up for tea time. Everyone, please go now."
Odelia, who was gently patting Cedric and the Grand Duchess on the back, was about to stiffly say, "Your Highness, please go in quickly," without being able to touch Calix. Calix responded with a smile.
"When did I ever treat you like a child left at the water's edge? Is there such a thing as a grown child?"
That's the same thing. Odelia, feeling slightly embarrassed, grabbed the doorknob and tried to leave. At that moment, Calix approached from behind, gently grabbed her hand, and gave her something.
What he handed her was a large picnic basket. A delicious aroma wafted from beneath the lightly covered cloth.
“What is this?”
Calix gave a brief, meaningful smile and answered.
“Go open it.”
And with an even more leisurely movement, he slipped a small ring he was holding onto Odelia's left little finger. The ring was just right, neither too big nor too small.
"Why the ring all of a sudden...?"
When Odelia was too embarrassed to continue speaking, Calix gently rubbed the ring that fit her little finger perfectly.
"...You'll know this too when you go."
As the carriage gently pulled away, Odelia's gaze naturally turned to her left hand. The small ring on her pinky finger sparkled in the soft sunlight.
She stroked the ring. Her fingertips couldn't stop rubbing it. It felt as if the sensation Calix had left behind still lingered somewhere on the ring.
Odelia slowly lowered her eyes. She felt a pang of excitement, yet a strange pang of sadness. Then, her eyes met the servant sitting in front of her, and she turned her head sharply to look out the window.
She exhaled quietly, her gaze fixed on the quickly passing street scenery.
***
The destination they arrived at was the Herdel family's mansion. The neatly manicured garden and antique-style building were impressive. As Odelia stepped out of the carriage, a servant followed her, carefully holding a large basket.
Soon, the Herdel family's butler came out to greet them and politely guided Odelia and her servant. And just as they were about to step into the mansion.
“Welcome!”
Judith came running out with a bright voice. She held Odelia's hand tightly with both of hers, her joy evident.
Apparently arriving just in time, several people appeared behind Judith. From behind, the sound of chariot wheels and greetings could be faintly heard.
Odelia's servant smiled and took a step back, and Odelia and Judith walked towards the terrace garden where the tea party was in full swing.
Since it was rare for her to visit another family's townhouse in person, Odelia turned her head here and there to look around the interior of the mansion.
The terrace, adorned with antique columns, was filled with vibrant roses, and the garden's flowers and trees swayed gently. The gentle sound of the fountain flowing between the stone flowerbeds and the subtle fragrance of the flowers mingled, creating a sense of art in itself.
"This is... truly a beautiful mansion. It looks like a temple of some mythical goddess. Lady Herdel must be so beautiful to live in such a grand place. Wow. How can the garden be like this..."
Odelia muttered in admiration, then suddenly felt embarrassed, wondering if she was being too country-like, and coughed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand."
Then Judith shook her head with a sad expression.
"Thank you, Odelia, for your sincere praise."
"Huh? Am I biased?"
"Huh...?"
"I have a selfish desire to look good. I was first invited to a tea party by a lady who debuted in the same year. Besides, I like beautiful and cute things."
Judith blushed. Is Lady Odelia naive or confident? Speaking like that is proof of selflessness...!
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