The Imperial Princess and the Prince of house Bertilde are entering!
When I asked why, I heard a voice at the stairs saying that Azuela was entering. Thump, thump, my heart was pounding.
Why is this like this again?
My heart was pounding too much and I felt like it was going to explode just with the thought of any involvent with Azuela, my enemy, but I felt more than just the feeling that she was my enemy. There was so kind of fear.
Im not scared, Im not scared.
I turned my head to Azuela while I was still holding Wyndert and Lucas hands. Azuela was standing above the stairs wearing a red dress full of flowers, with a boy, whose face I couldnt see clearly because of the stairs. Azuelas face was stiffer than the last ti.
She seems to be feeling unwell.
Azuela glanced down and then imdiately focused on Wyndert. Her eyes that were colder than usual fell on our hands. Wyndert was holding mine tightly. Azuela glanced at Lucas who was standing next to us, then closed her eyes and opened them again.
So thats Azuela.
That expressionless and calculating face was the real Azuela. She imdiately changed her expression as she gently descended down the stairs with a soft and elegant expression. I watched her co down for a while, then turned my head. Once again, my head hurt and I felt like I was about to collapse, so I grabbed Wynderts sleeve and he supported my back as if he had read my mind.
Your hands suddenly beco cold.
Lucas gently rubbed my hand with a worried face. He didnt know why I was so nervous, but he just did that.
May I ask for one hot drink?
I looked up at him for a mont and asked for a drink to calm myself down. It was because my legs were already shaking so badly that it had beco difficult for to walk on my own, and I was anxious to let Wyndert go.
Here, tea is good when youre nervous.
Lucas returned quickly with a cup of aromatic tea. I thanked him with my eyes and placed it on the empty table after taking a sip.
Shushu.
Then I clenched and opened my fists repeatedly and took deep breaths, trying to calm my mind, as Wyndert called softly. I looked up and saw him looking sowhere behind my back.
Its nice eting you two from the Vaillot house like this again. Your other brother is here too?
It was Azuelas voice. I turned around slowly in a state of shock as if I had heard a ghosts voice. Azuela and her partner stood in front of us. After that, there were several girls who surrounded them as if they were close with Azuela.
Unlike the casual looking Azuela, they stood around in a circle from a little distance looking at Wyndert in fear.
I greet the Imperial Princess.
I greeted Azuela and turned my head to look beside her. There stood a boy with gorgeous red hair, resembling Azuela. I think Ive seen him sowhere. I thought as Azuela smiled and introduced us to the boy.
Felix, this is the Grand Prince Vaillot. Next to her is the Grand Princess. The two of you, this is my cousin, the Prince of the Bertilde Family.
(T/N: Theres a difference between Wyndert and Felix due to their title. A Grand Prince is the son of a Grand Duke while a Prince (not an Imperial Prince) is a title given to a Dukes son, but not the Dukes heir. And by rank, a Grand Duke is higher than a Duke, since he was only below the Emperor but higher than a Prince and Duke. )
Azuela paused for a mont after that, as if sothing was missing. I dont know what she was going to say, but I had a feeling that it probably wasnt a good thing seeing how the gazes from all over the room had changed sympathetic gazes landed on from all directions.
Why are you looking at with pity?
I am already the Grand Princess of the Vaillot Family, and it wasnt a good sign to have soone pity . I deliberately pursed my lips and raised my chin slightly.
I greet the Little Lord of the Empire.
Its been three months.
Im sorry I couldnt co to see you sooner.
The boy greeted Lucas first. The two seed to already know each other.
This is Felix Keeble de Bertilde.
The boys voice was a little cold. So your na is Felix. I almost flinched violently as soon as I heard his voice, then I took a deep breath. Although he was young, his voice remained ever so clearly in my mory.
I am Pell. I ca to see you.
That voice first appeared in the original story when Shuelina really felt like she was going crazy from her loneliness. It was during the ti she was locked in the cold secret room of the house of Marquis Bertilde, was betrayed by the maid she had trusted, and beca truly alone. After being imprisoned for several months without being able to talk to anyone, Shuelina beca desperate.
Its okay if you betray again! Please co back! Dont leave here alone! Its scary, Im scared! Anyone, please talk to !
It was the voice she heard through the window for the first ti when she had lost all of her energy while crying out in loneliness and fear. Though he was blocked by a grate so in the end she could never see his face, and could only talk to him for five minutes every few days, Shuelina loved him because he was her new savior.
You must run away imdiately. Remove this grate.
Although Pell only thought of Shuelina as a re form of entertainnt. Shuelina then broke the grate and had to either hit her head trying to fit through or eat the rotten food he gave her, saying that was the only thing he could give her. She endured it all in order to have the sympathy of this cruel man and to talk to him for even one more minute.
So you were the heir to the Marquis of Bertilde. Thats why you could go back and forth like that.
It was neither a betrayal nor a friendship in the end. The Pell that Shuelina knew was actually Felix, so there was no one who betrayed her in the first place. He said that he was working under the orders of Marquis Bertilde but it was all a lie. It happened that her first love was a fictional character.
How could everyone I believed turn out to be a lie? I clenched my fists as I realized just how much of a pitiful person the original character Shuelina really was.
This is Wyndert William de Vaillot.
I am Shu elina de Vaillot.
When I thought of Felix, my head felt cold as if I had been doused with a bucket of ice cold water. Rather than feeling uncomfortable from that sensation, I was glad I was able to greet him with a rational mind.
Now then, gentlen, take this ti to talk to each other. The ladies will have a good ti too.
Azuela nudged Felix towards Lucas and Wyndert, then she looked at and said, Ill introduce everyone to the Young Lady, too, then smiled kindly.
What, you want to stay away from Wyndert? I looked up at Wyndert as he tightened the grip on my hand.
Im really looking forward to getting to know the Young Lady too!
Is it because she is still young and hasnt had this kind of experience before? I guess she was nervous.
Young Lady still looks like a lovely little child! We will help the Young Lady adjust well.
Arent you all tired of acting like adults? After all, they were all young children who have yet to debut. I could see how everyone was trying to talk while pretending to be elegant, like a socialite lady.
Then they grinned, pointing to the way I was holding Wynderts hand. They seed to be looking at as if I was sothing cute and lovable, but I bit the inside of my lips lightly.
Actually, youre all looking down on .
Treating each other children in a friendly way as if they are a lovable child isnt a huge flaw when everyone gathered together is a child. However now, everyone who ca here is pretending to be an experienced socialite on behalf of their families. Treating as a child here was no different than disrespecting the Grand Duke as well as .
It was clear how they were afraid of Wyndert, but did they an that it was more important to discreetly look down on like that than worry about angering him?
Youre such a baby.
At that mont, I heard a small voice from the other side of the room blaming . It seed as if she was talking to herself, but I looked at her and tilted my head. She was a head taller than .
Who is this Young Lady?
I heard it too, so there was no way Wyndert, a knight, wouldnt have heard it. He looked straight at her face and asked, her face reddened. She even staggered as if her legs had lost their strength.
I, I am Count Evians
Young Lady Evian, I wish you could repeat what you had just said.
If I was the only one who heard those words in the background I would have ignored it, but Wyndert seed to be very angry when he suddenly heard her blaming . Young Lady Evians body trembled and quivered as the gazes turned to her, whilst also receiving Wynderts angry energy.
Its not like a gentleman to put such pressure on a lady. Dont forget that its a New Years event to wish for good luck.
Azuela softly intervened at that mont. That made it seem as if Wyndert had committed a big mistake towards the Young Lady Evian, while the latters eyes were filled with respect (towards Azuela).
Azuela, it seems like it was Shuelina who first heard soone who was slandering her in the first place.
As Azuela stepped out, Lucas spoke those words while listening beside with his arms folded. He seed to have heard it too.
The accurate order should be accurate. I think the Young Lady Evian should apologize.
(T/N: Order here refers to their rank (from their family line), being Lucas at the top (Crown Prince), Azuela (Imperial Princess), Wyndert (Grand Prince), Shuelina (Grand Princess; ranked lower than Wyndert because shes a girl), then ca the Young Lady Evian, whos obviously lower in rank, so she should apologize to Shuelina.)
At Lucas words, Azuela trembled slightly and approached his direction. And next to Lucas, she whispered, What will be left of my reputation if my brother says it like that?
Hmm, I heard everything. He muttered, but I was more sensitive because of my spirit power.
Honestly though she was talking about the Young Ladys physical developnt, I dont think this is very wrong.
Yes?
Azuela suddenly turned and looked at with sad eyes. I couldnt help but blink my eyes when I was suddenly attacked.
Though you can act childish at ho this is the ballroom, those behaviors are not like those of a lady at all. You have to try to be friendly with everyone.
Pardon?
As the Young Lady is still young, I understand it. Then at this point, this whole talk is over.
What? Why do you keep saying that I was acting like a baby?
I was embarrassed that I couldnt keep up with the conversation, but Young Lady Evian nodded while standing to the side. Then she approached with a determined expression.
In the first place, you took away the Imperial Princess partner by acting like a baby! You shouldnt do this no matter how young you are!
Huh? What did I do while acting as a baby? I stole Azuelas partner?
Since it wasnt Wyndert does it an that Lucas was originally Azuelas partner?
I think this is a misunderstanding.
I said as I tilted my head, but Young Lady Evian finally broke the suspense and revealed the answer to my question.
His Highness the Crown Prince and even the Grand Prince! They were both the Imperial Princess partners. How could you take them away for yourself?
Young Lady!
Unexpectedly, it was Azuela who got angry as she bit her lips. I blinked and alternately looked at Wyndert and Lucas.
Young Lady! Im sure Ive said earlier that since the Grand Princess of Vaillot said so, this whole talk is over at this point of ti.
Azuelas attitude was still bright, but her voice was pressed as if she was holding back sothing. Upon hearing her scolding, Young Lady Evians face reddened with embarrassnt and resentnt.
It was just for the Imperial Princess.
The girl looked around for soone to help her, but no one seed to think to help her because it seed like she had gone against the Imperial Princess will.
So, is this a split?
(T/N: I should learn more about rank )
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