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nAs soon as he arrived at the banquet hall, he went away from me after he said that coldy .

n‘That’s not what I meant. Well, he might take it that way.’

nI definitely thought I could be freed from the imperial family if he took one of them as his wife.

nWhile looking at him disappearing gradually, I saw some young ladies approaching me, so I changed my expression. The first day of the National Founding Day festival passed like that.

nOn the second day of the festival, I was on duty.

nI received a message from the Imperial Palace, saying the crown prince could not attend the banquet as he was busy. As I was supposed to attend it as his partner for the next five days, I didn’t have to go unless he attended.

nInitially, I decided not to go, but later I thought I had better just show up then leave quickly.

nBut I didn’t think I needed to go there on time. So, I practiced fencing until late, then arrived at the banquet hall very late.

n“H, Lady Monique.”

n“Entea, you are also there.”

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n“Yes, I was waiting for you to come.”

n“Me? Why? ”

nEntea had a serious look. Thanks to the commercial success of the hairpins that began to sell in the market last summer, she secured a stepping stone to succeed the Viscount Sharia family. When she became more and more impatient because she was close to achieving her goal, she came to my house shortly after the sale of the hairpin and offered a deal to me. She suggested that if I supported her efforts to be the successor of her family, she would swear allegiance to me.

nWhen he heard what she said to me, my father initially didn’t like her idea, but eventually accepted her offer.

nIt was not a bad deal. The merchant vessel group of the Sharia family could obtain the political support of our family, while our family could secure the wealth and intelligence of the Sharia family. Of course, our mutual support could be provided only within the reasonable limit as stipulated under the imperial law.

nShe volunteered to be my right hand man in return for the deal. Even though she couldn’t collect quality intelligence like Duke Verita did, she was quite good at collecting intelligence thanks to the wealth of her family’s merchant vessel group and extensive contacts. I could get a handle on important stuff while reducing my activities in social circles. So, I could expect she brought some important information if she sought me in a hurry.

n“Well, the atmosphere of the banquet hall is strange today,” she said.

n“Why? What’s going on? ”

n“There are some rumors about why the princess fell on the dance floor yesterday. The noble factions remain silent because they support the princesses here, and the noble women are whispering among themselves. But the young ladies led by Lady Genoa are blatantly making a mockery of the princess. Right now the princess pretends not to know it, but if something goes wrong, there is going to be a big disturbance.”

n‘Who spread such rumors? The only people who were there yesterday were the crown prince, me and the other princesses,’ I thought to myself.

nBut I didn’t think too much about it. Princess Moira couldn’t talk about it out of shame, while Princess Frincia and Princess Beatrice weren’t the type of women to spread rumors. Then, most likely Princess Naima and Princess Beary were responsible for the rumors because they were openly against her.

nSuddenly, I was annoyed by Lady Genoa and her followers. Why did they run their mouth so recklessly? Besides, the victim of the rumors was none other than a foreign princess.

n“Okay. I think I have to make them shut their mouth first.”

n“I think so. I’m afraid you might be involved in it against your will.”

n“Thank you, Entea. You are really helping me a lot. ”

n“It’s nothing compared to your favor to me, Lady Monique. I’m flattered by your compliment.”

nI tried to cope with the situation as quickly as possible, but when I found Lady Genoa and her followers, they were already confronting Princess Moira. To be precise, they were embarrassed by her confident and undaunted attitude.

n“It’s all my fault. I’m so ashamed…”

n“Oh, my dear princess!”

n“It’s because I was too arrogant because I failed to control myself… But how could you be so cruel to me as you’re a woman like me?”

nIn the end, Princess Moira took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. Lady Genoa, with her face hardened, and other young ladies, who were at a loss what to do, stood in front of her.

nI barely held back a sigh. I knew that the princess was a picky lady, given that she was acting differently to me and the crown prince, but I found her much more picky than I thought.

nI hated using the method, but I had no choice but to deal with her in person.

n“What the hell is this? Why is Princess Moira crying? ”

nAfter taking a deep breath, I stepped forward. When I asked with a cool voice, Lady Whir, standing behind Lady Genoa, flinched.

n‘Oh, it’s you who spread the rumors!’

nAt the moment, the princess said, looking at me, “Sorry, Lady Monique.”

n“Oh, don’t say that, princess!”

n“This happened because I tried to covet your place without knowing my place. I’m so sorry, Lady Monique.”

nShe repeatedly lowered her head and cried. Then she whispered to me, “A little underdeveloped kid like you mocked me like this? I’ll get you!”

n“… ”

n“How come you managed your subordinates so poorly? I think I can carry out my mission more easily now.”

nShe was now pulling herself together and began to challenge me.

nAlthough I felt like making a frown at her, I didn’t. I even made a sorry expression when she was pulling herself away from me.

nWhen I saw her green eyes burning with a desire to get even with me, I boiled with rage, but I calmed down as best as I could.

n‘Don’t feel offended. She is just helpless. I know you want to avoid this kind of situation, but this is the only option under the current situation.’

nAfter taking a deep breath, I bowed slightly to her. Several ladies looked at me with surprise, holding their breath, because as the future empress I, not she, bowed.

n“I’m so sorry, Princess Moira.”

n“… Lady Monique. ”

n“It is my fault that I failed to manage these ladies properly even though I had a duty to supervise them.”

n“Oh, no. It is not your fault. It’s because I’m clumsy.”

n“Well, as supervisor, I’m responsible for their wrongdoing. I’m so sorry, princess. Please forgive me generously. ”

nPrincess Moira’s expression began to change.

n‘If you want to maintain your image as a pitiful victim, you had better stop now.’

nAs expected, she stepped forward and grabbed my hand and said she was okay with a trembling voice. When I apologized once again, she, who was staring at me annoyingly, bowed and left the place.

nPeople around us, who were watching us amid chattering, began to disappear one by one.

nLady Genoa and her followers, who stiffened at the scene, came to me hesitantly and said, “Lady Monique.”

n“Yes.”

n“You don’t have to be sorry… It’s my fault.”

nLady Genoa, who was always calm, was very embarrassed like the princess. When I looked at Lady Genoa, Lady Whir and their followers, I let out a deep sigh. Why are they so narrow-minded?

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n“I won’t tell you to stop gossiping behind one’s back.”

n“…. ”

n“But let me tell you one thing. All of us have sworn allegiance to the emperor. Please keep in mind that one small mistake can immediately disgrace the empire and the imperial family. ”

n“… I will keep in mind. I’m so sorry, Lady Monique.”

n“Good. Please be careful in the future.”

nI cut them off coldy and left them behind, who were at a loss about what to do. When some of them came to me with a worried look, I told them I wanted to be alone and left the banquet hall.

nI walked through the garden, exposed to cold night air. Unlike the banquet hall, which was filled with all kinds of noise, the garden here was located far away from the central palace. I liked the serenity of this garden where I couldn’t even hear a very small sound. I looked up at the night sky for a long time. It looked like I was left alone in this world. I felt as if I was being sucked into the black sky right now.

n“What are you doing here?”

n“Oh, Carsein.”

nI came to my senses at the sound of a familiar voice.

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