“Hmm, is that so?”

Oh! But what is with this mood? Why does it feel so strange and uncomfortable?

“Aren’t you going to follow me?”

“Do I look like I have that much free time?”

Lucas snorted as if he didn’t understand what I said. Huh, that’s odd. But why isn’t this uneasy feeling going away…

TL/c: 끄응 is another mimetic word that is more commonly used in text messages to denote embarrassment, awkwardness or difficulty. It can also be used as a sound for being badly sick or worried so I used ‘Huh’ here for that.

I didn’t feel relieved because Lucas was the type of guy who would go anywhere if left alone. As I clung to my suspicions, Lucas opened his eyes wide and gave me a naive expression as if he couldn’t understand what I was saying, but his expression made my doubts even more intense.

Hmm, why does Lucas look like a deceitful wolf in sheep’s clothing…

“You can’t go back on your word.”

“What’s the problem? Even if you ask me to go with you, I don’t feel like it.”

Do you really hate it that much? The grumpy look on Lucas’ face made me tilt my head so I couldn’t help but give him a few more dubious glances.

୨・┈・・┈・୨✿୧・┈・・┈・୧

The next day, I rode in a carriage to attend the Alpheus’ tea party.

eaglesnovɐ1,сoМ Teleportation would be faster and more efficient, but wouldn’t be able to move all the attendants who were traveling with me.

I quickly learned how much my body aches after riding in a carriage for a long period of time when I would go out. Haa, but the seat… Ah no, the carriage is amazing!

“Princess, we have arrived.”

After a bit of time had passed, Felix called and I got off the carriage.

“Princess!”

As soon as I grasped Felix’s hand and set my foot on the ground, a gentle voice rang in my ears as if it had been waiting for me. I focused on the girl running toward me, ignoring her messy hair.

“Hi, Jennette, how have you been?”

Jennette smiled brightly in response to my greeting.

“Welcome, Princess. I missed you.”

Her sparkling blue eyes gleamed like glass beads in the sunlight. Oh, you look so radiant today, don’t you?

If the Jennette of two years ago was an unripe flower bud, then the Jennette of today flaunts her dazzling beauty like a freshly bloomed flower. To put it bluntly, Seventeen years old Jennette was pretty damn gorgeous.

I was weak to beauty, just like I was with Lilian who boasted an extraordinary innocence ever since I was a baby. Perhaps now I’m looking at the world with a calm countenance and a joyful smile.

“Oh, wait a minute, Jennette. Your hair is a little messy.”

As it turns out, her impeccable beauty is perfect! I raised my hand to straighten Jennette’s messy hair. Of course, Jennette’s hair is still pretty even when it’s messy but it’s nice to have her hair the way she intended in the first place because she must have worked hard to style it for today’s tea party.

“Okay, there you go.”

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“Thank you, Princess.”

Jennette seemed a little shy when I touched her hair but she didn’t refuse. Oh, by the way Felix, why are you watching us with that fatherly smile on your face?

PR/C: Felix, pls be my daddy….

“The other young ladies who arrived first are waiting over there. Please follow me, Princess.”

I turned from Felix’s curious gaze and walked away. Just like the lily girl, I was calling the person in front of me by her given name Jennette, not Miss Margarita.

Jennette and I seemed to grow closer as I became accustomed to calling her by her given name. She knew that I used to look at her with suspicious eyes, but now I know that Jennette wasn’t the one who tried to use black magic on me

“Oh, Princess! Welcome.”

“It has been such a long time since I’ve seen you like this.”

“You are so beautiful today.”

The young ladies who had been invited to today’s tea party rose from their seats and began chatting as soon as they noticed me. With a smile, I greeted them as well.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too. I’m not sure if I’m late. Thank you for inviting me today, Miss Margarita.”

“You’re welcome. It’s an honor to have the Princess here.”

Since today’s tea party was more crowded than a private meeting, I decided it would be better to use Miss Margarita’s formal name instead of her given name.

“So, I immediately leapt from my seat and ran out.”

“Oh my gosh, really? What happened next? Hahaha.”

“Miss Valentin must have been so embarrassed.”

The young ladies chatted for a long time. To not spoil the ambience, I listened to some of their stories. But, ugh, that’s no fun either. I decided to pay them a visit because it was the first time the Alpheus’ hosted a tea party for Jennette.

“Isn’t Miss Margarita also a fan of Debunik’s tea?”

I spoke directly to Jennette, who had been quietly listening to the conversations with a smile on her face. I smiled secretly as I watched Jennette start a pleasant conversation with the other girls.

Whoa, just as planned! It was her first time hosting an event like this herself so I was worried that she wouldn’t be able to participate in the conversation, but now I can safely leave. Jennette’s beauty shone through with a bright smile that lit up her pale cheeks.

Ugh, beauty is so precious. We should all work together to preserve beauty.

It wasn’t only Jennette, but all the young ladies here were as pretty as flowers adorned with various charms.

Okay, with true beauty, choice trumps over rank. I’m happy since my appearance is quite to my taste.

Crunch!

TL/n: 부스럭 is the sound of stepping on or touching dry leaves.

Huh? Suddenly the thicket next to us began to sway and rustle. That’s strange. It’s not windy right now.

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that bush over there strange?”

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After a while, the girls also began to feel like something wasn’t quite right. Oh, isn’t this on the border of the forest? Maybe a deer lost its way?

There was no way the Alpheus’ would host a tea party where wild beasts were, but there is a hunting site in the area that has been approved by the Imperial family. Just in case I concentrated magic power at the tip of my finger.

Rustle!

“Oh my god!”

Boing!

As soon as the creature hopped out of the thicket, I relaxed and lowered my hand.

“Oh, it’s a baby rabbit.”

“How cute.”

The stray animal turned out to be a cute little rabbit. If I had gone overboard and blew it away with magic first, I would have felt embarrassed..

“It’s fur is so soft. Would the Princess like to touch it as well?”

I think the rabbit would be surprised if I touched it like that. I’m also not much of an animal person anymore…

“I’m fine.”

I took a step back despite the fussy reactions of the young girls.

Rustle.

Suddenly, the thicket started to rustle again. Could it be the mother rabbit this time?

Rustle!

Oh, but that shadow looks more like a bear!

“Could you all please step back for a moment?”

The figure emerging from the forest was so enormous that it couldn’t be compared to a rabbit. How strange, why did the Alpheus’ choose a location with so much wildlife as a tea party spot?

It wouldn’t hurt to be alert in advance, especially given it wasn’t a small animal and I had no idea what it was.

“What exactly is it?”

“Um, I’m not sure yet.”

Jennette asked, her voice nervous and curious, but she couldn’t figure out the creature’s identity based on its appearance. I pushed the girls to the side and spread my arms out in front of me. Felix and the other knights were also preparing to draw their swords.

Crunch!

Finally, a great shadow emerged from the forest’s border and into the light.

“Oh dear, I must have lost my way.”

However it wasn’t a bear that stood in front of us. I was taken aback by the unexpected appearance and opened my eyes wide.

“Duke Alpheus?”

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Oh, Mr. White! Why are you coming from out of there?

The person who appeared was none other than Roger Alpheus, donned in a hunting suit rather than his usual formal clothes. The other apprehensive knights and young ladies had rabbit-like wide eyes, as if bewildered by his unexpected entrance.

But Duke Alpheus, who was receiving these gazes, had thicker skin than I expected. He smiled with a mischievous, almost shameless grin as he opened his mouth.

“Greetings, Princess. May there be prosperity upon the Obelian Empire.”

Don’t greet me so casually! I lowered my arms in a daze.

“May I know what has brought the Duke here?”

Jennette, who was next to me, squeaked out a startled ‘Uncle?’ with her eyes wide open. Seeing as the Duke was wearing hunting clothes, he must have been hunting nearby…

What I don’t understand is why he was blatantly pretending that his appearance before us just now was a coincidence.

“That is…”

“Father, I wish to feign ignorance but no matter how much I think about it this direction is…”

Crunch.

Suddenly, another man appeared behind Duke Alpheus. There was a small commotion behind me when I saw the figure of a picturesque man appear through the light.

“Kyaa!”

TL/n: 꺄아! Is a word used in the Korean language for screaming or shocked sounds, more often used by women.

“Oh my!”

“Ah, Lord Ijekiel?!”

Ah, first it’s Mr. White and next it’s Ijekiel! But, unlike when Mr. White first arrived, the reaction behind me was much different.

As his embarrassment began to show, Duke Alpheus cleared his throat. . Ijekiel paused briefly when he made eye contact with me before looking at his father with narrowed eyes.

“I went hunting with Ijekiel this morning and, much to my dismay, got lost in the forest. I ended up here after walking for quite a while.”

“But, you’ve traveled quite a distance from the hunting grounds. How could you get so lost…”

After hearing Duke Alpheus’ explanation, Felix was muttering in disbelief beside me. He was staring at the Duke with a rather pitiful look due to his terrible sense of direction.

“You must be more attentive next time. A fine will be imposed if you hunt outside of the permitted area.”

“Ehem…”

From Felix’s innocent advice, you could see a trace of irritation on Mr. White’s brows. That would be the case. That is, if he was truly lost.

TL/c: Oh sweet, innocent Felix. It’s no wonder you always get in trouble with Claude. TuT’

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