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nCarsein responded in a usual tone and led me to the right. While the crown prince was rather defensive in dancing with me, focusing on his dance rather than leading his partner, Carsein led me vigorously. I thought that he might not be good at dancing because he practiced fencing every day, but he led me surprisingly and skillfully. I was a bit surprised.

n“You might have wanted to ask me why I danced so well, right?”

n“… Yes, how do you know?”

n“It’s written all over your face. Well, do you think I only spend my time practicing fencing? As you know, I’m a duke’s son, so I’ve learned the basic skills of dancing.”

nWhen I looked at him with incredulity, he pulled me to the left and whispered, “Why, did you get a crush on me again? I know you recognize I’m cool in many ways, but you shouldn’t have a crush on me, okay?”

n“Nope, I don’t. Don’t get me wrong.”

n“Don’t deny. It’s written on your face.”

n“No, I don’t, Carsein.”

n“Hey, are you balking at me now?”

nWhen I stared at him sharply, Carsein giggled and brought up a different topic.

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nI felt upset a bit, but as he kept cracking jokes, I stopped being angry and laughed with thim. Anyway he was so good at changing topics for a change.

nAfter enjoying the dance for a while, I said that I would be back after taking a break in the lounge. I was a little tired because I hadn’t attended a party in a long time.

nThe lounge was divided into a space with soft chairs for sitting and chatting, and a space with a mirror where one could adjust his or her clothes under a widely draped curtain. I went inside the draped curtain to tidy up my dress. The space where nobody was around was quiet except for the sound of music flowing from the banquet hall.

nI heard several people coming in. As if they saw something interesting, they spoke in excited voices.

n“Did you see Lady Monique a moment ago?”

nI flinched when they mentioned me. What did I do?

n“Yeah. I could understand the crown prince because he is her fiance, but I really can’t understand the two men’s behavior. How despicable!”

n“You bet. I know their families are close from her childhood, but how could they do that on an occasion like this?”

n“Do you know that? I went to a garden party at the Duke Verita’s house the other day. Well, she put some sugar into the two men’s teacups. Oh my, it’s really disgusting.”

nI grabbed my trembling hands tightly and clenched my fist. I was taking a deep breath, holding back the urge to get out of the place. Somebody cut them off with a firm voice.

n“Stop that talking. I feel uncomfortable to hear that. ”

n“But she was…”

n“No matter what, she is going to be the next emperor’s wife. She is the one we have to serve in the future. So stop talking like that. You are showing disloyalty to the empire. ”

nI clenched my fist more. Did he say I was going to be the next emperor’s wife no matter what? He seemed to dissuade them on the surface, but when I reflected on his words, he was actually trying to ridicule me like them.

n“What are you talking about, lady Genoa? Didn’t you hear the rumors about lady Monique? ”

n“Right. I heard she became an apprentice knight. I hear she started to see other knights.”

n“That doesn’t fit a lady! I wonder if she is really interested in becoming the queen. Maybe the crown prince is thinking about a breakup. ”

n“That’s too bad. If it wasn’t for imperial law or God’s prophecy…”

nI clenched my teeth. Is she Lady Genoa? Even though she was the leader of the daughters of the pro-emperor groups, she was sympathizing with them!

nThis time I heard another voice with a high tone among their whispering. If my memories are correct, she was Lady Whir.

n“Don’t you know that the emperor hates the Temple? As he is conscious of the people, he just respects her as the child of God’s prophecy. That’s it. If she had not been the daughter of the Monique family, the crown prince would have broken off his engagement.”

n“Yea, I think so. But the thing is she is the daughter of the Monique family, the most trusted one by the imperial family.

n“Stop it,” said Lady Genoa firmly.

nShe continued, “Even if she doesn’t become the queen, Lady Monique has the highest status in our faction. How can we gossip about her in a situation where we are at a standoff with the anti-emperor factions? Please watch your language, so what you have just said will not be leaked.”

n“Okay, Lady Genoa.”

n“Sure. But I really feel sorry for you, Lady Genoa. I think you’re better than her as the crown prince’s fiancee. Even if it wasn’t her family…”

n“Stop it, Lady Whir! Now, let’s go back. We stayed here longer than we thought. ”

nI heard them dragging their skirts, and in no time, silence fell in the lounge.

nEven though they were gone, I stood inside the curtain for a long time. I felt my clenched hands were trembling.

n‘I think I didn’t pay any attention to the rumors circulating in social circles.”

nI thought about it rationally. In order to get out of my predetermined fate as soon as possible, I had no choice but to become a knight. That’s why I refrained from socializing with people and focused on fencing whenever I had free time. In fact, I was sick and tired of socializing and partying in social circles before I came back from the past.

nBut now I couldn’t stand still after hearing their conversation. How can an earl’s daughter dare to slander me behind my back? I couldn’t believe they were eager to put me down instead of being united against the anti-emperor factions.

nAlthough I didn’t want to, I felt I needed to control these young ladies in social circles. If I continued to stay aloof from this situation, it would continue to adversely affect them, me, and the imperial family as a whole. I had to fight to protect my precious friends and other things that I cherished.

nI straightened up. I checked my hair and clothes once again and tried to look calm.

nLooking in the mirror, I practiced making the kind of smile suitable for socializing, which I got accustomed to in the past, but rarely made after coming back from the past.

nIt made me laugh somehow when I thought of my past. In the past, I was ignored as a woman who didn’t win over my fiance’s heart, but now, I was ridiculed for trying to tempt several men. No matter how different the old me was from me right now, the difference was so dramatic.

nI held back the urge to laugh and looked around. I heard somebody calling me at a distance.

n“Aristia! You are here. ”

n“…Allendis. ”

nWhile he was approaching me with a bright smile, his eyes were trembling violently.

nSmile quickly disappeared from his lips.

n“Are you okay?”

n“Yes. I don’t know what you’re talking about. ”

n“Oh, how come you have such a look? Your smile is weird. What happened? Who depressed you like this?”

n“… Oh, nothing.” When I shook my head, he paused for a moment and sighed.

n“You look tired. You had better go back.”

n“…. ”

n“I am telling you because I’m worried. You have to report to work tomorrow, right? ”

n“Okay, Allendis. Let me go and ask for his understanding.”

n“I’m going to escort you there.”

nWhen I heard he was talking to me with a worried look, I was suddenly overcome by fatigue.

nIt was natural that I was exhausted. I had a heavy workload because of the official ceremony to commission the new knights. Besides, I was very busy yesterday and today.

nWhen I looked around the banquet hall, I saw Carsein and his mother surrounded by many daughters standing by the window. When I approached slowly and said goodbye, Carsein, who was chatting with several ladies, asked me, “Are you going back, Aristia?”

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n“Yes, Carsein. Congratulations once again.”

n“Thank you. But can you go back alone? ”

n“Oh, Carsein, don’t worry. I will escort her back home,” said Allendis with a smile.

nHe added, “The crown prince asked you and me to take care of her, as you know. As you’re today’s hero, you won’t be able to leave, so let me escort her. ”

n“… Oh yes, please. Thank you. ”

n“See you next time. Let’s go, Aristia. ”

n“Thank you, Allendis. See you next time, Carsein. ”

nBecause the banquet is still in full swing, it didn’t take long to prepare a wagon.

nAs soon as he climbed into the wagon, Allendis spoke in a very decisive tone, which was unusual.

n“Now, tell me, Tia. What happened?”

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