Carlothian’s servant, regardless of the maids’ sulking expressions, followed his orders and brought back some cookies that could be quickly grabbed from the kitchen.
I was surprised and my eyes sparkled at the sight. Seeing this, Carlothian smiled faintly and picked up a cookie, bringing it right to my mouth.
“Ah-.”
“Ah?”
When I asked in confusion, he placed the cookie between my slightly parted lips. No, I’m not a child.
But once it was in my mouth, I might as well eat it.
I munched on the cookie while looking at Carlothian with half-closed eyes.
“I can eat it myself.”
“I know. I just want to do this.”
“Is this one of those things?”
An extension of his ambition to make me fall in love with him?
Carlothian seemed to understand what I meant and replied.
“Something like that.”
“Hm……”
For now, I accepted the cookies he fed me one by one. It was a bit burdensome to see the maids, who had initially opposed this, looking at us with satisfied expressions.
‘We’re not even at that stage yet.’
In fact, it’s somewhat awkward to say that. I was aware that we were acting affectionately in front of others and had done everything.
I munched on the cookie while thinking.
‘What exactly is our relationship? Have we become engaged to each other?’
But I haven’t accepted it. Carlothian had boldly declared that he would make me fall in love with him.
Ah, I feel dizzy. So dizzy.
For now, I cleared all distracting thoughts from my mind to focus on today’s events. That wasn’t what was important right now.
Having finished an entire plate of cookies, I looked at the clock. There was about an hour left until the banquet.
“It’s time to leave now.”
The sun was still shining outside. The banquet was set to start at six o’clock. It was still warm, so the daylight would likely last until around seven.
Carlothian extended his hand to me. I stared at his hand for a moment before cautiously taking it, and together we descended the stairs.
A large carriage was waiting in front of the mansion on the first floor. I hadn’t seen that carriage before.
As I gazed at the carriage, Carlothian spoke.
“It’s new.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s the carriage you’re supposed to ride in.”
“……”
I looked at him with a lost expression, but he calmly escorted me and helped me into the carriage. The sofa inside was made of red velvet, and even the window frames were intricately carved.
‘Wow, I wonder how much a carriage like this costs.’
Recalling the precious gems Carlothian had gifted me last time, I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. For his wealth, this was probably just a drop in the bucket, but I still couldn’t help but be amazed.
While I was fiddling with the delicate carvings on the window frame, Carlothian climbed into the carriage. Instead of sitting across from me, he sat beside me and crossed his legs.
“What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it too obvious?”
“What’s wrong with being obvious?”
“Well… never mind.”
I leaned back against the seat and stretched out my legs. They really sparkled all the way to my toes. I looked at my dazzling white shoes, which shone so brightly they were almost blinding.
Then, suddenly recalling something, I asked him.
“By the way, Carlothian.”
“What is it?”
“I heard from the Madame.”
As I looked up at him, Carlothian naturally met my gaze.
“I heard a rumor going around that I’m not the real culprit in the curse incident involving Princess Dorothea. Did you start that rumor?”
“Yes.”
Hmm, I thought so. Unless someone was trying to frame the Duke, it would be hard for such rumors to circulate. But then Carlothian said something I hadn’t expected.
“However, I wasn’t the only one spreading those rumors.”
“Excuse me? Who else?”
“It seemed to have started from the palace.”
“The palace…?”
I widened my eyes.
Dorothea!
It could only be her.
“I didn’t expect Her Highness Princess Dorothea to care that much.”
I was oddly moved and clenched my fists. I had to wake her up. If something happened today, I would somehow grab Yermondi’s tail and make her lift the curse on Dorothea.
Seeing my determined spirit, Carlothian clicked his tongue.
“Aren’t you grateful to me?”
“Oh, of course I am grateful to you too.”
“Just with your mouth?”
“Excuse me?”
Carlothian closed his eyes dramatically and leaned toward me. Ah, this guy. He doesn’t stop with the teasing.
I glared at him with narrowed eyes, noticing his long eyelashes. They were beautiful. His lips, waiting solely for me, were also lovely.
In a daze, I admired him and then quickly pressed my lips against his.
Peck.
He opened one eye in disbelief.
“Is this really all there is?”
I rubbed my lipstick off his lips with my finger. His lips felt soft under my fingertips.
“I’m sorry, but if I do any more, I think the dress the maids helped me with will get messed up.”
I answered with my head held high, and he nodded seriously.
“That’s true.”
He acknowledged it willingly. I thought no one could match my boldness, but he seemed a step ahead. I smiled wryly and pulled my hand away.
Clop, clop.
The carriage continued to move for a while. The palace came into view outside. I felt a moment of tension as I looked at the palace.
“Is Princess Yermondi really going to do that?”
To be honest, it was hard to believe that Princess Yermondi would do such a thing unless she was out of her mind. But with Dorothea down, her intentions seemed clear.
As I clenched my fist on top of my dress, Carlothian took my hand. I turned to look at him.
“It’ll be okay.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
I didn’t have the confidence to stop what was about to happen today. I just wanted to minimize the damage when it occurs.
“What about the knights?”
“They’ve all arrived and are surveying the area.”
“Got it.”
The carriage soon reached the entrance of the palace. Already, I could see the nobles’ carriages bustling about.
The Denaves carriage passed through the long line of carriages leisurely. There was no carriage inspection, which was mandatory.
This is the benefit of power.
The Denaves carriage arrived comfortably at the Diamond Hall. There was a crowd of people because we had deliberately arrived late.
As the carriage stopped, Carlothian got out first and extended his hand to me.
As soon as I stepped out of the carriage, I heard gasps from those around us.
“Ah, Ariadeline?”
“Oh my, is that really Ariadeline?”
“I heard rumors she was coming.”
“I can’t believe she actually showed up.”
People were murmuring to one another. Without realizing it, I gripped Carlothian’s hand tightly. He glanced back at me and squeezed my hand in return.
As Carlothian and I made our entrance, the commotion among the people grew even louder.
They buzzed with the rumors they had heard, scanning us with their eyes. The dress and suit, as if made for a pair, heightened the atmosphere.
I raised my chin lightly, refusing to back down. I didn’t want to appear intimidated here. Carlothian looked at me and smiled, as if to say I was doing well.
His smile drew gasps of admiration from those around us.
It seemed quite surprising to them that he was smiling at me.
If the people outside were this noisy, I wondered what kind of scene would unfold inside the hall. I felt sweat forming in my palms.
The doorman, recognizing us, wore a startled expression before he opened the door and shouted loudly.
“Duke Carlothian Denaves and Lady Ariadeline are here!”
It seemed he found it hard to attach the honorific ‘Lady’ to my name. However, that name alone was enough to draw everyone’s attention.
The people inside the hall, who had been engaged in soft conversation, suddenly lifted their heads in unison.
The author had no one else in her story that was all powerful but the freak ml so thats why he’s the ml🥴