Chapter 23
More importantly, the Crown Prince actually showed up at the banquet today!
Since he often skipped these events due to his heir training, I had assumed he wouldn’t attend this one, either.
Because of the half-drawn curtains on the terrace, Mikael couldn’t see my hair color properly at first. It was only after stepping onto the terrace that he realized his mistake.
“Oh, my. I apologize.”
If he went back into the banquet hall now, he’d run into Lilianne!
The Crown Prince was still heartbroken over his breakup. If he clung to Lilianne in public, things would get messy.
In a formal event like this, Lilianne wouldn’t be able to ignore him even if she wanted to.
I quickly stepped in front of the prince before he could turn away.
He looked at me in surprise as I forced an awkward smile.
“T-The moon is bright tonight. Would you like to have a cup of tea before you go back inside?”
Mikael looked at me, puzzled, but then gave a polite smile.
“I appreciate the thought, Lady, but I must decline.”
As he tried to pass me again, I quickly handed him the herb tea I was holding.
Caught off guard, Mikael instinctively took the cup, his eyes widening in surprise.
“It’s lemon balm tea. It warms the body and helps to calm the nerves.”
Just then, I spotted Sabrina entering the terrace, looking for me.
I discreetly signaled to her.
Noticing my cue, Sabrina glanced at Mikael’s back, then quickly turned around to inform Lilianne.
“Thank you, but I really don’t need it,” Mikael said, trying to hand the cup back.
I grabbed his hand before he could return it. I needed to hold out for time until Sabrina reached Lilianne.
Mikael looked completely bewildered by my sudden action.
“Lady, I think you’re misunderstanding something. Earlier, I only approached you because I thought you were someone I knew…”
Misunderstanding? No, you don’t get it! If you go inside now, you’ll make things difficult for Lilianne!
“Just one sip. Just try one sip.”
My persistence made Mikael eye me suspiciously.
To reassure him, I took a sip from the cup myself and smiled.
“There’s no poison in it, I promise.”
Mikael gave me a dumbfounded look, then sighed in resignation.
“…Alright.”
Good thing he was a patient man. If he were someone like Mathieu, he’d probably think I was crazy.
Well, to be fair, Mikael was a little indecisive at times.
As I awkwardly smiled, he finally took a sip of the tea.
His expression softened—it seemed he actually liked it.
I checked to make sure Sabrina had completely disappeared from sight before forcing another smile and starting small talk.
“Your hands were quite cold earlier. Tea is the best way to warm up.”
Mikael smiled back at me.
His red hair shimmered under the moonlight, and his handsome lips curled into a pleasant smile.
“The tea is calming. I do feel a bit more relaxed now.”
For a moment, I was mesmerized.
Hey, you! You should be saving that smile for the heroine! Why are you flashing it at just anyone?
Snapping out of it, I coughed lightly and changed the subject.
“You should be fine to head inside now.”
By now, Sabrina should have warned Lilianne.
Mikael looked at me curiously.
“Is this really all you wanted?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Did you really stop me just to give me tea?”
“Well… yes. I just thought you needed it more than I did.”
Mikael looked surprised for a second, then his expression turned thoughtful.
Finally, he gave me a bittersweet smile.
“You’re quite kind, Lady.”
Well, I hadn’t meant to, but somehow I ended up playing the role of a kind grandmother giving tea to her grandson.
I just returned his smile awkwardly.
“Oh, by the way, may I ask your name?”
His sudden question made me hesitate for a moment.
But there was no reason to hide my identity.
“…Claire. Claire von Devonshire.”
“Devonshire…? The former fiancée of Lord Mathieu?”
Mikael’s voice held a hint of surprise as he repeated my name.
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
“Uh, yeah… well. Haha…”
“You’re… quite different from what he described.”
What had Mathieu been saying about me?
Just then—
“Mikael.”
A familiar voice called out.
Mikael and I turned at the same time.
Mathieu was leaning against the terrace doorway, arms crossed.
Although he had called for Mikael, his sharp gaze was directed at me.
What was with that look? Like a man catching his cheating wife?
Mikael noticed Mathieu staring at me and gave an awkward smile.
“Oh, Mathieu. I was just about to head back inside.”
Mikael then turned to me and smiled apologetically.
“Thank you for the tea, Lady Claire.”
“It was my pleasure.”
I responded politely, bowing slightly.
Mathieu, however, looked unimpressed.
“Weren’t you just flirting with the young Marquis of Beuclaire a moment ago?”
Mikael and I both turned to stare at him.
Mathieu scoffed and continued.
“And now, you’re after the Crown Princess’s position as well?”
That was the last straw.
I frowned in frustration.
“What are you even talking about—”
“Mathieu, don’t misunderstand. Lady Claire simply offered me a cup of tea.”
Mikael stepped in to defend me, but Mathieu just narrowed his eyes.
“Why?”
“…Why?” Mikael echoed, looking confused.
Mathieu glanced at Mikael before fixing his gaze back on me.
“What reason did you have to drink tea alone with him on this terrace?”
Was he interrogating me like a cheating spouse now?
I was too stunned to respond.
Mathieu let out a mocking chuckle.
“Oh, so just because you’ve changed a little on the outside, men are suddenly flocking to you, and now you think you’re someone important? First, the young marquis, and now even His Highness the Crown Prince—flirting with both, are you?”
I was so stunned that I couldn’t even get angry.
But before I could say anything, the Crown Prince spoke up in my defense.
“Lord Mathieu! Aren’t your words too harsh?”
“Your Highness, please stay out of this.”
“No, I can’t just stand by! How dare you speak so rudely to a lady? Strictly speaking, you broke off your engagement with Lady Claire, so you’re nothing more than a stranger to her now. What right do you have to interrogate her like this?”
Wait, why were they arguing while I was just standing here?
The situation was so unexpected that I couldn’t even be mad.
With a sigh, I bowed slightly to the Crown Prince.
“I don’t think anything good will come from staying here any longer, so I’ll take my leave.”
Straightening my back, I turned and walked away with dignity.
Mathieu instinctively called out to stop me.
“Claire! I’m not finished talking!”
As he moved to follow me, Mikael stepped in his way.
“Why are you acting like this? You already broke up. Don’t you realize how ridiculous this looks?”
Mathieu stiffened at Mikael’s blunt words.
Realizing that he had gone too far, he ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
Mikael sighed as he looked at him.
“Have you been drinking?”
“I’m completely sober.”
“And where’s Alex?”
“He probably passed out a while ago.”
Imagining Alex sprawled out on a sofa after drinking with Mathieu, Mikael sighed again.
“Let’s go inside.”
As he patted Mathieu’s shoulder, Mikael’s gaze was drawn to something glimmering on the terrace railing.
Slowly approaching, he picked up an amber-colored hair ornament.
It was the same one Claire had been wearing earlier, perfectly matching her dress.
Mikael hesitated for a moment, about to call Mathieu back.
Then, after a brief pause, he quietly slipped the ornament into his pocket.
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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Advance chapters of this novel are available of my kofi channel
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