5.9
And the image of him at the banquet hall that followed was rummaging through my mind.
‘The tailcoat suited him very well.’
Though there was probably nothing that wouldn’t suit that face.
‘I’ll have to see him again when I go.’
While thinking of the people I would see there, ironically, I thought of the man I wanted to see the least.
Then I realized that lately, Kane had been strangely quiet.
‘Has he finally given up?’
If so, it would be a relief, but based on that man’s words and actions, it didn’t seem like he would give up so easily.
Therefore, I had to stay vigilant and not let my guard down.
“My Lady, My Lady!”
Mary called out to me as she entered the room.
‘Could it be?’
There had been a similar situation like this before.
Remembering that time, I unknowingly grew tense and watched Mary enter the room without taking my eyes off her.
“My Lady!”
“What is it?”
“I clearly left the hair ornament for today with the dress, but I can’t see it. What should I do?”
Ah, I wondered what it was.
“We can just use something else.”
“But that one goes best with the dress you’re wearing today.”
Mary said with a tearful face.
“I can’t see where it went. I am sorry. I should have managed it better; it is my mistake.”
“It’s fine, I’m pretty no matter what I do.”
“That’s right! Our Lady looks good in everything!”
I just tossed those words out to reassure Mary, but she accepted them so well that a feeling of embarrassment welled up.
“For now, I will look for it one more time, and if it’s still not there, I will bring something even prettier than that.”
“Yes, alright.”
Mary left the room with hurried steps.
The outfit I was to wear for today’s eve festival was a pale blue dress that slightly revealed my shoulders and chest.
I had my hair pinned up neatly to expose my neckline.
Originally, for the hair ornament, I had prepared a pretty one with small blue sapphires densely woven along a string.
It’s not like the hair ornament had legs, and I thought it wasn’t a big deal, assuming
Mary had just placed it somewhere else by mistake and couldn’t find it.
It was a bit disappointing, but even if we couldn’t find it, I could just pin a different ornament.
“My Lady!”
By the time all preparations except for the hair ornament were finished, Mary had just entered the room.
“I found it!”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“Yes! It had fallen to the floor of the wardrobe!”
Mary approached me.
And she densely pinned the sapphire hair ornament into my hair.
“Wow, you are truly so beautiful.”
I smiled softly at Mary’s compliment.
“What about Father and Mother?”
“The Duke and the Madam have also nearly finished all their preparations.”
“Then let’s go down.”
“Yes.”
As I went down the stairs to the second floor, passed through the hall, and stepped outside the mansion, Lian was standing gallantly in front of the carriage today as expected.
And at the same time I saw Lian, Lian also looked at me.
However, Lian’s eyes widened slightly upon seeing me.
“Lian.”
“My Lady.”
“Lian, isn’t My Lady so beautiful today?”
Mary spoke with a proud face.
“My Lady is always beautiful.”
What’s wrong with these people today?
Especially Lian, who had never said such a thing to me before, so I looked at him with an embarrassed expression.
“That is true. But isn’t she much more
beautiful today?”
“Mary.”
I called her name as a sign to stop.
“Especially with her hair up, the straight
and long neckline that shows—”
However, today especially, she could not stop her praise of me.
“Stop.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. But My Lady, you would know by looking in the mirror. I am a bit worried today.”
“About what?”
“I’m afraid all the nobles coming to the eve festival will fall for My Lady.”
That was a huge exaggeration.
Of course, my appearance in the mirror earlier was quite satisfying compared to other days.
But it wasn’t to that extent.
Just as I was about to say something to Mary, my parents came out.
And my parents also seemed surprised as soon as they saw me.
‘What is it?’
The only thing different from usual was that I had my hair up.
Or does blue suit me well?
Anyway, since everyone said I was pretty, I was embarrassed at first, but gradually my mood improved.
And with that feeling, we departed for the Imperial Palace.
The banquet hall for the eve festival was prepared in the widest garden of the Imperial Palace.
As it grew dark, many nobles had already gathered there for the eve festival.
I followed my parents around and shared greetings with several nobles.
Afterward, while I was sitting in my spot, Eiden and the Duke of Bayon, who were heading to the next table, approached our side.
“Duke Hates, it has been a long time.”
“Duke Bayon, have you been well.”
Certainly, the two did not like each other.
Although they were fully courteous to one another, it was perfectly obvious in their gaze, tone of voice, and attitude.
Duke Bayon greeted my mother following my father, and then greeted me as well.
And now it was time to exchange
greetings with Eiden, who was behind him.
“Young Master Bayon.”
My parents do not yet know that we are on a first-name basis.
There was no need to inform them of that one by one, and besides, it was not polite to call someone by their name in such a formal setting.
So, for the first time in a long while, I addressed him formally.
“Lady Hates.”
He seemed to have the same thought as me.
“It is such a shame; it would have been nice if Lady Bayon could have come too.”
“My older sister was also very regretful. Especially, she was even more saddened by not being able to meet the Lady.”
“Is that so. Please convey my message that I will visit the Bayon Duchy once more sometime.”
“I will do so. Thank you.”
“Ahem!”
It was the sound of my father clearing his throat. It meant he didn’t quite like the current situation.
“Then, please take your seats now.”
As I guessed, my father indirectly told the Bayon people to return to their seats quickly.
“I was just about to go. Let’s go.”
Duke Bayon took Eiden and returned to their seats.
“Belita.”
And as soon as they moved away, my father called me in a dignified voice.
“Yes, Father.”
“Are you going to keep going in and out of the Bayon house like that?”
“It is because Lady Bayon’s health is not good. I cannot call a sick person here.”
“Honey, Belita will handle it well on her own.”
Mother lectured Father, telling him not to keep interfering.
“I understand. Belita, I trust you.”
Then, at Mother’s words, Father immediately shut his mouth.
‘As expected of Mother.’
My benevolent and wise mother.
I also wanted to be like such a mother.
So when Duke Bayon told me previously that I resembled my mother, I felt good all day.
I sent a grateful smile toward Mother.
There was some time left until the eve festival began.
While pretending not to look, I kept glancing toward where Eiden was.
Strangely, as if Eiden was also looking at me, our eyes kept meeting.
Whenever that happened, he would smile beautifully, curving his eyes.
It was then.
Suddenly Eiden disappeared from my sight, and a black tailcoat dominated my vision.
‘Ah, what is this.’
Feeling a bit of annoyance inside, I raised my head, and standing there was a human being who caused anger to surge beyond mere annoyance every time I saw him.
He was perfectly blocking my view without a single inch of error, like someone who knew exactly who I had been looking at.
I glared at him with a displeased expression.
But like a shameless person, his expression did not move an inch.
After a short while, he gave me a brief glance and then immediately turned his head to greet my father courteously.
“Duke Hates, it has been a long time since we met.”
“Ahem. It has been a long time, Duke Maxius.”
Father accepted Kane’s greeting, openly revealing his uncomfortable feelings.
After Kane greeted my mother, he came back in front of me.
“Lady Hates, it has been a long time.”
“Yes, it has. It has been a long time, Duke Maxius.”
Though coldness dripped from my voice, I replied while maintaining a polite attitude.
I had no intention of hiding the emotions I felt for him, but this was a formal setting.
Since my parents were present and many other nobles were bound to have their ears perked and focused on the situation here, I absolutely did not want to do anything that could be criticized.
However, Kane stared at me intently.
‘What.’
Just as a feeling of unpleasantness was about to accompany my wonder, he opened his mouth.
“You are truly beautiful today especially.”
I am not happy at all to hear such a thing from you.
“Thank you, Duke.”
Hearing words that were not welcome at all, I forced myself to reply with a thank you.
“Ahem, how about the Duke returns to his seat now. It seems the eve festival will begin shortly.”
As expected of Father!
Father was indirectly telling Kane to get lost.
