Princess Arta cautiously opened her mouth.
“What kind of favor is it?”
“I apologize, but it’s difficult to discuss here.”
There were too many watching eyes around.
From the beginning, the princess had been dealing with people who had been approaching her non-stop, and it seemed she had just found a brief moment to acknowledge Daniel.
“Is it really that important?”
“Yes, it is.”
Suddenly, the princess’s voice dropped significantly.
“Is it about the Queen of Chamal?”
Daniel was quite surprised that the princess knew about it.
“How do you know about that, Princess…?”
“I heard it from Melissa.”
Come to think of it, the princess wasn’t only close with Kisa.
Melissa Dos. A woman who was Kisa’s close friend, and with whom Daniel also had quite a connection.
Daniel had previously visited the Dos family to ask her if Kisa would really become the Queen of Chamal or not. Although he hadn’t gained any useful information.
Therefore, if someone were to leak information to the princess, it would likely be Melissa.
‘She’s more loose-lipped than I thought.’
It seems Kisa had a rather indiscreet friend. Making plans to have Kisa distance herself from Melissa after they married, Daniel answered the princess’s question.
“Yes, that’s right. That’s why it’s difficult to discuss in front of others.”
After hearing Daniel’s answer, the princess glanced briefly in a certain direction.
There, a man was engaged in conversation with Duke Oclis, who wore a serious expression.
Though his back was turned and his face wasn’t visible, Daniel immediately recognized who it was.
A red-haired man who commanded the princess’s attention and to whom the notoriously authoritative Duke Oclis repeatedly nodded in agreement—it was the new Duke of Hillan.
He was a celebrity who had recently been attracting public attention, but to Daniel, it was like a story from another world.
Normally, considering his future as the head of the Lowens family, he would have at least exchanged greetings with him since they were attending the same banquet. However, Daniel’s attention was currently focused on only one issue.
Kisa, his little chick who, unlike her usual self, kept causing trouble lately.
The chick should just stand beside him and happily chirp, so what could be the problem?
‘Damn it…’
As he became impatient and considered whether to dare urge the princess for an answer, her lips finally moved.
“Alright. Let’s move somewhere else.”
After saying this, the princess excused herself from the people around her and headed toward the nearest of several exits leading to the corridor.
It was just at the moment when the band’s performance reached its climax and people’s dance movements became more rapid, so it seemed that few people took much notice of the two of them leaving together. Probably…
“What were you saying earlier? Is Kisa really going to become the Queen of Chamal?”
Once they reached an empty corridor, the princess looked at Daniel and demanded a detailed explanation.
“Yes, I’m certain of it. And I need your help to prevent it.”
Daniel voiced his thoughts without a moment’s hesitation.
“Kisa wishes to reconcile with me now, but due to unavoidable circumstances, she’s unable to express her wishes. Please help us.”
“Goodness. What does that mean? Please explain in more detail.”
“Princess, actually…”
After hearing the story, the princess wore an expression of disbelief.
“That can’t be right. When I asked her just before, Kisa clearly said she wouldn’t become the Queen of Chamal. She said it was all Melissa’s misunderstanding.”
Daniel bit his lip lightly.
Kisa, this silly thing. Hiding it from others until the end.
Looking back, Kisa had never clearly expressed her situation to Daniel either.
She had only revealed it through non-verbal means like eye contact, expressions, and actions.
Why? Perhaps she feared that Richard might overhear her conversation with the princess?
Or maybe she didn’t want to expose her father’s shameful attempt to sell off his daughter?
But what mattered now wasn’t the exact reason, but stopping Count Vansfelt’s plan.
Having always believed he could read Kisa’s mind as clearly as his palm, he harbored not the slightest doubt that he might be wrong.
“Kisa is hiding the truth.”
“Kisa is?”
“You know as well, don’t you, Princess? She’s always been the type to suffer alone rather than sharing her worries or problems with others.”
“…Well, she has been that way. I’ve never heard anything negative about Kisa from her own mouth.”
“I guarantee it. Count Vansfelt is certainly planning to make his daughter the Queen of Chamal.”
As Daniel asserted confidently, the princess seemed to become increasingly confused. Time to drive the point home.
“Please help us. All you need to do is free the child momentarily from the count’s secretary who stays by Kisa’s side as her ‘partner.’ I’ll take care of the rest.”
When there was still no response, Daniel appealed with an even stronger tone.
“You’re the only one who can help Kisa and me here!”
After a moment, a look of determination finally appeared on her face.
“Alright. How can I help?”
****
With a particularly impressive, passionate dance tune marking the end of the prepared pieces, the band’s performance came to a close.
As those who had been dancing in the center of the hall scattered in all directions, Richard, standing beside her, spoke.
“I’m sorry, Miss. Because of my poor dancing skills, you’ve only been watching despite coming all this way…”
Kisa shook her head and comforted the deflated man.
“No, it’s fine. Sometimes it’s not bad to just watch others dance.”
It wasn’t a lie. She didn’t dislike dancing, but being someone who had already become the subject of gossip due to her broken engagement, she didn’t want to dance in front of everyone.
“But you didn’t have to reject all the dance offers from other gentlemen because of me.”
“It wasn’t because of Richard, I just didn’t want to dance with them.”
How could she want to dance with those whose intentions were clearly to seduce her?
However, Richard seemed to believe that Kisa was very fond of dancing and appeared quite apologetic.
To be fair, she had practiced dancing until her feet bled since childhood. But that didn’t mean Kisa’s love for dancing was that intense.
It was simply that, among all the abilities her father, Count Vansfelt, desired for his daughter, dancing was the one at which she showed the most talent.
“…”
Having attended the banquet, she was beginning to feel bitter, so Kisa deliberately changed the subject.
“Ah, before I forget, I should give this.”
As Kisa smiled brightly and shook the handbag she was holding, Richard looked around.
“Speaking of which, it’s about time they started collecting.”
Then, pointing to a spot in the hall, he said:
“Oh, there he is.”
The person Richard pointed to was one of the servants of the Habertz family, moving among the guests with a tray.
At a typical banquet, drinks for the guests would have been placed on the tray, but strangely, nothing was on the silver tray.
Additionally, there were several servants like him walking around the banquet hall with empty trays.
“Over here.”
When Richard caught his eye and gestured, the servant promptly approached them.
Kisa took out a heavy pouch from her handbag and placed it on the tray the servant politely extended.
“Fifty gold coins. A donation in the name of the Vansfelt family.”
The servant bowed his head and responded.
“Yes, thank you very much. We’ll check it, and if there are any discrepancies, we’ll let you know separately.”
There couldn’t be any discrepancies. She had counted them out of boredom on the carriage ride over, and there were exactly fifty coins.
After the servant withdrew, Richard whispered in Kisa’s ear.
“This year, with Princess Arta and Duke Hillan in attendance, everyone will likely make generous donations.”
To look good in front of others. There might be ulterior motives, but what did it matter? As long as a lot of money was raised at the charity banquet.
“Who do you think will donate the most this year?”
Kisa asked him with an excited expression.
Along with the unique donation collection method, one of the things that attracted people’s attention at the Habertz family’s charity banquet was the question of who would be the highest donor of the year.
Since it brought both honor and a subtle display of wealth, there were quite a few people aiming for it every year.
Richard stroked his chin and offered his opinion carefully.
“Well, I think it might be Duke Hillan? I heard he has a completely different level of spending.”
When Seyard was mentioned, Kisa instinctively scanned the banquet hall. However, he was nowhere to be seen.
‘Huh? He was right there just a moment ago.’
Well, there’s no rule saying he can’t step away for a moment. Kisa refocused on Richard’s conversation.
“Oh, but for the past three years, Duke Oclis has always been the highest donor. So he seems most likely.”
“Why? It could be Duke Hillan.”
“But according to rumors, he recently spent too much buying an island—”
At that moment, someone interrupted Richard.
“Kisa, here you are.”
It was Princess Arta.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes, I have something important to discuss. Could you spare me some time?”
Though phrased as a question, there was no way anyone could answer ‘no’ to her request.
“Of course. Shall we go to the lounge again?”
“No. I’ve asked Lady Habertz for an empty room. The conversation might be lengthy, so let’s go there. Come, follow me.”
What could she possibly want to discuss? Kisa tilted her head in curiosity but followed the princess.
“Richard, I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, please have a comfortable conversation.”
From behind, Richard nodded with a smile.
