Chapter Eight

Nothing really changed. The servants did their jobs as usual, and I planned enough classes to keep Rion busy, so there was no need to worry about him following me here. Still, I meticulously checked the trunk and under the carriage’s seat cushions, just in case.

Ugh, puberty! When everything except studying is fun! It wasn’t that I couldn’t understand how Rion felt, but this was for his own good.

“Little Miss, I think those there would work.”

“Good, go grab them.”

I paid off a few servants to tip me off about what was happening at the royal palace. I already knew some things, but I needed to confirm there was nothing new that got past me. When you think something would be “A” in this life just because it was “A” in a past life, but then you realize it’s actually “B,” it really throws you for a loop.

“Looks like there’s nothing new.”

“Then shall we go inside now, Little Miss?”

Aster looked so excited. It must have been the party food, since she didn’t strike me as someone who would get down on the dancefloor.

“Your hand, Little Miss.”

Thank you for not abandoning me at the sight of food. I held her hand, covering my smirk with my fan. You may be consumed by the thought of stuffing your face with food, but you won’t have time for that today.

“Aster, did you eat before coming here?”

“No, I will eat here.”

“Oh dear…”

You won’t be able to… I decided to keep the truth close to the chest.

Aster held onto the invitation as we walked together to the banquet hall entrance.

“Rosalite Roxburg and her knight, Aster Brown.”

Dozens of heads turned and stared at Aster. Because it was a casual banquet, most of the guests were either children of noblemen or people with too much time on their hands, so there wasn’t anyone conspicuous.

Suddenly, the wild heiress of the House of Roxburg appeared! Daring to speak to me directly would be a failure to know one’s place—so Aster would be everyone’s target instead.

I silently gave my condolences to Aster, who was surrounded by a mob of people with nosy questions, and turned to the feast. I’ll eat enough for the both of us, Aster. Then I’ll let you know which foods you must try later. The seafood dishes at the royal palace are to die for. The king crabs!

The seafood was incredibly fresh here, due to the trade port located east of the capital. The dishes were so rich and flavorful, too, thanks to the plethora of spices available. But what I really craved, more than anything, was fresh sashimi with chojang. Dipping fresh sashimi you just caught in some chojang and eating it while sitting on rocks at the seashore in the rain, then finishing everything off with a hot pot of ramyeon… I’d kill for that. I remember sobbing because I wanted to have ramyeon so badly. I still wanted it so badly that it was more than a reminiscence. Ramyeon…

“Lady of the dukedom, would you kindly honor me with your hand?”

Huh? What’s this? I was crunching on some king crab legs when a man’s hand in a clean glove appeared before my face. I didn’t want to realize it, but it was Shitbag #3’s voice.

“I deeply apologize, your royal Crown Prince. It would be shameful to dirty Your Highness with these hands.”

“Well then, you could just wipe them clean. Or perhaps you are too clumsy for things like this, considering you are always working at your desk.”

“Of course not, but you will walk around stinking of crab shells if you dance with me. Have you no heart for the other esteemed daughters who have waited so long for this day?”

“You are the last one I’ll be dancing with, so don’t worry about it.”

“Well, I humbly accept then, Your Majesty, if you must beg.”

Theodore didn’t even care that I was provoking him. He continued smiling like the sun as I put away my dish full of crab and wiped my hands on a warm towel handed to me by a servant. What did he mean, I was the last to dance with him? The party had just started. I wondered if he danced his feet off before I came into the banquet hall.

The Crown Prince escorted me to the middle of the hall, both of us gliding like on water. As we took our place, the band played a slow song, and I fell in step.

“So, I heard there is a new member of the House of Roxburg?”

Ohhh. This is what you’re after… I became disillusioned by the gay novel part of this entire story and crinkled my brows.

“That is correct.”

“Would I see him before Her Royal Highness the Queen’s birthday?”

“Perhaps.”

“You are being curt. Is he that endearing to protect him so?”

You. You, you, youuu. You check yourself, Shitbag #3. I spun around and violently grabbed the back of his neck, leaning back with my whole weight. Gasping at the unexpected blitz, the Crown Prince grabbed my waist. I looked up at him, mirroring his smile.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness. I will make anyone who tries to make a move regret being alive.”

“Scary.”

“Please do not forget that you have an older sister and a younger sibling.”

There was no change in Theodore’s expression, but I could tell he was in a bad mood. It was just an assumption, but I could tell.

“I would never imagine you spending your days at your desk scribbling worthless letters in that sluggish body with dance moves like yours, Lady Rosalite.”

“The hand that held my waist shook quite a bit, but you led excellently, Your Majesty.”

Once the social dance was over, we gave each other appropriate comments, bowed, and turned in opposite directions. I went to look for more crab legs without giving a single backward glance. I look for Aster—it was about time I saved her.

“Excuse me, Lady, may I have a moment of your time?”

What now? I attended this banquet to eat and party, but bothersome things kept happening. I spun around to see the faces of a crowd of ladies, their faces full of grief. The one who spoke to me was teary-eyed. I assumed she was part of the House of Edanelli based on her red hair and dark skin tone.

“We know that you didn’t do it on purpose, but people like us… just grasping the opportunity to attend such a banquet…”

Tears dripped from the redheaded lady’s eyes. Woah there, come on now, don’t cry. It’s not like you’re caught in a loop of eternal life like me. What do you have to be sad about?

“Now, now, child, eat this. Eat it. It’s nice and sweet.”

Please. Eat something sweet and calm yourself. I patted the redhead on her back as the other ladies told me the circumstances. Basically, these esteemed ladies only made it to this casual “Let’s Find a Wife for the Crown Prince” fiesta by bribing the right people. They discussed among themselves that there would be no hard feelings if the Crown Prince picked only one of them since he didn’t normally deal with so many people. They told me how they had been waiting for him to hold out his hand to one of them, any of them.

But I appeared, and he chose to dance with me first, then claimed he had to leave because he stank of crabs and didn’t want to bother the other esteemed daughters. Gosh… this clown interrogated me about my little brother, then left without even glancing at the other women. I sighed heavily as I asked the ladies where Shitbag #3 went. They told me he was taking a break, so he probably went down the hall to the lounge.

I snapped my fan open and fanned myself a few times before heading toward the lounge. I came to take a break, but I’m so busy. Okay, there he is. I sped up and caught up with the Crown Prince, blocking his way. He asked me if I had something to say. I nodded vigorously and bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty! Please consider our wishes!” I yelled obnoxiously.

The maidservants, who were eavesdropping, scurried away.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Your Royal Highness! Please, you must think of your future generations! Your Majesty!”

“If this is some joke, that’s enough. My future bloodline is none of your concern.”

“Oh, but it is, Your Majesty.”

I straightened up and lifted my head.

“How many years has it already been? Playing along with your mischief is only fun the first few times. I don’t know about the others, but do you really think that the House of Edanelli or the House of Roxburg just sit silently through your antics because we are clueless? A lady of the branch family of the House of Edanelli is in tears out there. You must at least mind your manners.”

“You need to mind your manners, Lady Rosalite.”

“Oh please, you’re talking to me about manners? If I were bad-mannered, I’d tell you to cut the shit, and not speak to you with such eloquent, flowery words. No matter how long you hold out, you won’t make a single crack in the bond between the four duchies.”

The smile on the Crown Prince’s face grew wider at my confident statement. Oh, this clown is so pissed off right now. Of course, that was just another assumption.

“If you are furious and feel wronged, then you should become royalty in a country with strong sovereign power in your next life.”

I know, I know. It was the country’s fault that the dukedoms thrived and prospered. How can anyone blame you? After delivering that last blow, I turned around and headed back to the banquet. Ah. At least now those ladies might get a chance to hold the Crown Prince’s hand. They wouldn’t get in trouble with their family heads.

I made my way into the hall. Seeing the sun set and the lights grow brighter, I thought about how I should feed Aster. The Crown Prince seemed to have taken my words to heart because he was dancing with one of the ladies. The redhead was no longer crying and looked delighted to see me. How cute, jumping up and down excitedly like that. Was dancing with that shitbag such a joy for you?

“Aster!” I called her away from the still-surrounding mob. I took the shawl from her shoulders and draped it around the redheaded lady’s shoulders, thumping her on the small of her back as a show of support.

“The night air is chilly. Take your time and enjoy yourself tonight.”

I gave her a little push toward the Crown Prince and took Aster with me to clear out the buffet. Aster voraciously scarfed down every bit of food that I brought her as though she had a hundred starving children in her stomach. Astor was gluttonous, probably because she grew up in—well, you know the rest.

I don’t want to go home, I chanted as I watched the party reach its end. The amount of work allotted to me was the same whether I went home then or the next day, but I was not in the mood to go home right then. Everyone wanted the party to go on forever.

“Are you not going home, Lady of the duchy?”

As I stood there fanning myself out of frustration, the group of ladies approached me. They invited me to join them in a pleasant conversation while they waited for their carriages in the garden. It sounded like quite a nice idea, taking in the night breeze and getting friendly with these ladies. But I wasn’t in the right mood.

“Thank you, but I really do not want to go home yet.” I sighed like the ground would disappear beneath my feet, and the ladies gave understanding groans.

“We heard from our family heads that the reason we live so comfortably is all thanks to the House of Roxburg. Do please take good care of your esteemed self.”

“Do please take good care of your esteemed self,” I repeated.

I nodded at each lady as they respectfully said their goodbyes, the esteemed daughter of the branch family of the House of Edenelli at the lead. She mentioned that she would return the kindness I showed her tonight, holding on tightly to the shawl I gave her. I chuckled, not only because the idea of wanting to repay me for such trivial matters was adorable, but also because I could not fathom what she could do that would ever manage to repay my kindness.

“It’s just about time to go, Little Miss.”

It looks like you ate well, Aster.