Daniela let out an awkward laugh, as if trying to change the subject, then walked over to the table where the food was laid out. Ashid followed her with a faint smile on his lips and struck up a conversation.
“So, what made you decide to give your aunt a hairpin?”
“…Ah, that’s a secret.”
“I heard you’ve been working on some business plan with the person Sir Dayer introduced recently. Is it related to that?”
“Well, who knows? You’ll find out eventually.”
“So that’s a secret too?”
The two continued their conversation as they picked out food, unaware that they were now facing each other with softened expressions.
How humiliating.
How disgraceful.
She didn’t know how to deal with this maddening feeling.
Lady Emily Linburton, daughter of the Marquis, glared viciously at Daniela, who was standing beside Grand Duke Alveric. She couldn’t stand the sight of her smiling so gently while chatting with the Grand Duke. That foxlike smile made it feel like she was mocking Emily for what had happened earlier.
“Damn her.”
Emily bit her lower lip hard to keep from letting loose a string of profanities that had risen to the tip of her tongue. Just then, Princess Elizaveta, surrounded by a group of people, made her way over to Emily and sat down in a prepared chair. Fanning her flushed cheeks, she turned to Emily and spoke.
“Oh, Lady Emily. Why are you still standing here? The party’s in full swing—you should be enjoying yourself more.”
“Your Highness!”
Emily’s face, which had been twisted with fury just a moment before, instantly softened at those words. She bit the inside of her cheek to force tears to her eyes and complained to the princess.
“Do you know what just happened to me? I was treated so unfairly and I’m just so upset, Your Highness!”
“Oh dear, what happened?”
As Princess Elizaveta looked at her with a puzzled expression, Emily launched into the story of what had transpired with Daniela earlier. Of course, she twisted the details slightly to favor herself.
The princess gave a brief sigh and said,
“So that’s what happened.”
“What do you think, Your Highness? Don’t you agree that the Grand Duchess was terribly unfair to me?”
“There’s some truth to that… but didn’t you say you were the one who approached the Grand Duchess in a friendly manner first?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m sure you were hurt by what she said, but it’s not as if she was completely wrong. Even though you are my companion and deserve to be treated with equal respect in my absence, the Grand Duchess is royalty, and you are a noble. Naturally, you should show deference to her.”
“But…! I’m going to be engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince soon! If we go by rank, wouldn’t that make me her superior?”
Flustered by the princess’s unexpected reaction, Emily raised her voice. But Princess Elizaveta’s gaze turned cold as she responded in an icy tone.
“Let’s be clear, Lady Emily. You’re not engaged to Adrian yet. You’re merely one of the candidates.”
“Th-that may be true, but…! You said you’d support me, Your Highness! And His Highness the Crown Prince’s uncle, Duke Rodion, said he would back me too…!”
“I did say that. But now I’m starting to have second thoughts. I wonder if someone who’s already jockeying for dominance with a potential family member should really become the Crown Princess.”
“Your Highness!”
“That’s enough. Let’s drop the subject—I don’t want to hear any more about it.”
With that, Princess Elizaveta rose from her seat. As she returned to the group of nobles, she smiled and said to those admiring her hairpin,
“Isn’t this hairpin beautiful? The Grand Duchess Alveric gave it to me today as a gift. I’ve been royalty all my life, but this is the most precious and lovely gift I’ve ever received.”
The group laughed and chatted merrily.
“That senile old woman…”
Emily glared daggers at the smiling princess, her gaze sharp and venomous. At the same time, she bit her lower lip until it bled.
Nothing was going her way tonight.
Daniela Enchanto,
That wretched girl—I tried so hard to reveal her true nature! And just because of some cheap hairpin, the princess is overjoyed like a fool!
Her plan to expose Daniela’s wickedness to the princess had completely fallen apart. On top of that, the princess even hinted at possibly withdrawing her recommendation to the emperor that Emily become the next Crown Princess.
Emily’s hands trembled with anger and anxiety.
Did they really think I’d back down so easily?
Daniela had always flaunted herself as the future Crown Princess. Though they were supposedly friends by name, Emily had always been her servant in practice.
No one knew how delighted Emily had been when Daniela was cast out of the Crown Prince’s palace. She had thought it was a relief never to see that arrogant face again.
And yet, that wretched girl had returned—this time as the Grand Duchess Alveric.
I will become the Crown Princess. And when I do, I’ll make Daniela pay for every humiliation I’ve suffered.
With a cold glint in her eyes, Emily curved her lips into a twisted smile. She already had quite the useful plan in mind.
Princess Elizaveta’s party didn’t end until dawn.
Having reunited with her maids, Daniela stepped into the darkened garden alongside Ashid. With his escort, she boarded the carriage, which slowly headed back toward the townhouse.
A while later, they arrived at the front of the main building. Daniela turned to Ashid and said politely,
“Good night, Your Highness.”
“You too.”
Ashid replied curtly. Though they’d stayed at the party longer than usual, he didn’t feel all that tired.
Probably because he’d spent the evening sharing food and conversation with Daniela. To his surprise, she was quite fun and knowledgeable.
As he recalled their earlier conversation, Daniela suddenly hunched over and coughed hard. Ashid frowned.
“Are you alright?”
“…Ugh, I didn’t feel it inside, but it’s chilly out here.”
“You’ll catch a cold at this rate, my lady. Let’s go in quickly,” Mela said worriedly. Daniela nodded.
Just then, Ashid undid the clasp of the cloak attached to his jacket and draped it over Daniela’s shoulders.
“…!”
Daniela’s eyes widened at the sudden cool scent of his cologne, the crisp night air, and the warmth radiating from the heavy cloak. Flustered, she stammered,
“I-it’s okay! I’m heading to my room anyway…”
“I am too. Just wear it.”
Ashid stopped her from taking it off and quickly walked into the building before she could say anything more.
He actually wanted to linger a bit longer and look at her wrapped in his cloak—it suited her. But he knew that if he did, she’d probably take it off and hand it back, and he didn’t want that.
Mela, watching with a knowing smile, said to Daniela,
“Let’s go in, my lady. I’ll return this cloak to the steward myself tomorrow, so don’t worry.”
“…Okay. Thank you.”
Daniela replied hesitantly. Her cheeks flushed as she carefully wrapped the large cloak around herself.
She had felt cold just moments ago, but now, strangely enough, she was very warm. She told herself it was because the cloak was just so thick and heavy.
Western capital of the Aschilad Empire, Gloria Road. Residence of Duke Rodion.
Late at night, after most of the household had gone to bed, a carriage stopped in front of the mansion. With the coachman’s help, a woman stepped down—Emily Linburton, her face and long hair hidden beneath a hooded robe.
When she reached the entrance, the dignified head butler led her to the duke’s receiving room. Duke Rodion, sipping a liquor with ice floating in the glass, greeted her.
“Come in, Lady Linburton.”
With a prim expression, Emily greeted the duke and took a seat on the sofa. The duke set down his glass and asked,
“I received your letter. So, what’s this brilliant plan you have to trip up Ashid Alveric?”
Thank you very much
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