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nShe was a princess from the Lisa Kingdom. I heard that the kingdom was in a war. Did they send her to get the support of our empire? But why is she shaking like that?

nShe alone looked timid among the other princesses staring at me.

n“I am Beary de Sapu, the eighth princess of the Sapu kingdom.”

n“I’m Naima de Sono, the third princess of the Sono Kingdom.”

nAfter Princess Beary, wearing a splendid dress and jewels, and Princess Naima, a stunning beauty, introduced themselves, Princess Moira came forward. Looking at the young man with blue hair, she smiled and bowed to me.

n“I’ve seen you once before, Lady Monique. My name is Moira de Eet. I am the 1st princess of the Eet kingdom. ”

n“Hello, Princess Moira. I’m Aristia la Monique. ”

nAfter she was done, the crown princess reached out to me after nonchalantly watching them greeting him. It was time for him to start the festival to celebrate the National Founding Day.

nWhen he went out to the dance floor, the band began to play a slow dance song, as usual.

nAfter I finished dancing with him and tried to leave, he suddenly asked me with a smile, “Can you dance with me once more?”

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n“Pardon? Why are you…?”

n“Good. Don’t miss your steps and follow me well.”

nThey began to whisper among themselves when they watched him speaking to me face to face even after the dance was over. Noticing that, he raised his hand.

nSuddenly, the band started playing a new song. It was dance music with speedy tempo, similar to the song the band played at his birthday party. As it required one’s stepping to the music fast and violently, nobody could dance well without keeping step with his or her partner.

n“Your Majesty?”

n“If you don’t concentrate, you will miss a beat again.”

nI looked at him with an embarrassed look, but he casually pulled me.

n‘Dancing twice in a row?’

nFortunately, I’m engaged to him, so I didn’t have to worry about a scandal. Typically a scandal would certainly have broken if a man and a woman who had no romantic relationship had danced twice in a row. In fact, at a time when rumors were circulating that his engagement with me was broken off, why was he doing this in the presence of the princesses who were here to compete to be his bride? I looked up at his deep blue eyes to find out his intentions, but I couldn’t read anything.

n“Did you go back home safely the other day?”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

n“I enjoyed the tea you left behind that day.”

n“Pardon? I think the tea got cold when you went back… ”

n“Oh, cold tea tasted good anyway,” he said, while leading me.

nIf so, did he actually drink the cold tea after he escorted me and returned to his study? I couldn’t imagine it because it didn’t fit him at all. Normally, he would have told the attendant to bring fresh hot tea.

nSo, why did he drink the cold tea as it was?

nThis time, I didn’t miss a beat or stumble while dancing, so I grabbed his hand and left the dance floor. As he returned to the place where the princesses were sitting, he picked up two cups from the servant and handed me one.

nHe said with a smile, “You danced much better today. You had good steps as well. ”

n“I’m pleased to hear that, Your Majesty.”

n“I enjoyed you dancing. But when you said she danced well today means that she didn’t …” Prince Safu slurred. Her tiara studded with luxurious jewels shone in the chandelier. She must love something colorful and gorgeous.

n“I heard that Lady Monique is a knight. Maybe you’re too busy to pay attention to dancing. I saw you wearing a uniform the other day. You looked really knightly, ” said Princess Moira with a bright smile.

nI didn’t feel good about the hidden meaning of what they said, but I just drank tea silently.

nIf one of the princesses becomes his bride and Jiun appears soon after that, I would be freed from him finally. As he can’t accept me as his concubine, the imperial family will have no choice but to wait until I become the official successor of my family. If I think about it, I can put up with this kind of mockery.

n“Well, Lady Monique wearing a uniform? Come to think of it, I remember seeing you then.”

n“Oh, now you remember me, crown prince.”

n“Exactly. I was very impressed with your behavior at that time. ”

nPrincess Moira smiled more brightly at his words.

nPrincess Naima, whose frowning even looked pretty as she was so beautiful, asked, “May I ask what part of Princess Moira impressed you?”

n“Oh, I didn’t know how good she was at manners. If you want to keep good manners according to the time and place, you really have to pay lots of attention. I think she was really good at it.”

n“Pardon?” The princess looked at him as if she couldn’t understand at all.

nNor could I. Why did he suddenly bring up the topic about manners? Was he talking about the time when I bumped into her when I was completing the security checkup with Duke Lars the other day? At the time, she challenged me by saying that she was higher in rank than me, citing the reason that she was not yet officially introduced.

n“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

n“You’re welcome, Princess Moira. Um, by the way…”

n“Pardon, Your Majesty?”

n“Now that I see you here, you are not only good at manners, but also you look frugal. Personally, I am satisfied, but I would not say that looking frugal even at this place is good. ”

nAll their eyes were fixed on the princess’s dress. Her dark blue dress with a low neckline and skirt swollen with panniers had pink ribbons at regular intervals, and her angajangte reflecting the latest fashion trend was also made of pink ruffles. The chest part of her dress glistened as if it were sprinkled with jewelry powder. By any standard, one could not say she looked frugal.

n“Really?”

nAs if she was embarrassed, she stopped smiling. Princess Naima and Princess Beatrice were puzzled, and Sapu nodded as if she agreed. Princess Frincia was laughing silently, turning her back.

n“So, if you don’t mind, let me give you a dress. As you came as a guest here, it would not be polite if I don’t.”

nGenerally speaking, presenting a dress to one’s opposite sex in the empire was the expression of one’s good feeling to the other person.

n“You are giving me a dress?”

nHer eyes stopped trembling, and she smiled brightly again. Puffing out her chest, she stared at him with her green eyes shining.

nPrincess Naima and Sapu were frowning while Princess Frincia looked at him with her eyes wide open, as if she felt his offer was unexpected.

nWith a puzzled expression, I also looked at him because I suspected that he was really interested in her.

n“Oh, I have to ask my fiancee first if she feels okay.”

n“Pardon, Your Majesty?”

n“I’m sorry. Actually, I have a dress I prepared for you, but as you can see, it seems that she needs it more urgently. I would like to give it to her. Is it okay with you?”

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n“…Yes, please go ahead, Your Majesty.”

nI paused for a moment and nodded slowly. He stopped an attendant nearby and instructed him something. Then, he lifted a cup silently.

nWhile looking at him who was silent, I tried to think straight. He said he was going to give the princess a dress he had prepared for me. How should I take this? Does he want to give her the title of his bride, or even empress?

nI met his blue eyes briefly, but I couldn’t read anything. I looked at Princess Naima and Princess Beary trying to put their best foot forward for a while, then looked back at Princess Frincia.

nWith a gentle smile, she whispered to me, “Lady Monique, your water color dress looks really good on you.”

n“Thank you, Princess. I enjoyed the tea you sent me. ”

n“I’m glad you liked it. I was afraid you might be offended as my gift was so small.”

n“No, not at all. Thank you very much. ”

nPrincess Frincia in a light purple dress was very beautiful. She could not be compared to Princess Naima, whose stunning beauty stood out at first sight, but she had a calm and intellectual beauty. After looking around with light purple eyes, she whispered, “Anyway, I was a little surprised. Do you remember when we first met? I mean before we were with Sir Lars.”

n“Yes, I remember.”

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