At that time, Bella wanted to talk to Keira, intrigued by the mystery of the bloodline of elementalists.
So she approached her, ignoring the cold air around the lady.
The results were disastrous, of course.
Arabella: âDo you know what happened when we bumped into each other at a party? I tried to talk to her, but she just side-eyed me! Isnât it common courtesy to at least turn to face the person when they talk to you?â
Michael: âCalm down.â
Arabella: âThatâs not all! I talked to her very kindly. But she completely ignored me. No matter what I talked about, she always gave short answers. What, is that not ignoring me?â
The unfriendly look on the womanâs face completely destroyed Bellaâs desire to become friends.
Nevertheless, at that time, Arabella tried to continue the conversation a few more times, risking embarrassment and further breaking the pride of the royal family.
She talked about the weather and spoke about the recent scandal in the capital.
The first person Arabella wanted to get close to was Keira.
And Bella only realized after several attempts.
âThis person isnât interested in me.â
Eventually, she walked away, blushing in shame.
The embarrassment and shame she felt were still buried in her heart.
âŠBut unbeknownst to Bella, the conversation did not flow that day because the topics Bella chose were ones Keira couldnât understand at all.
The Viscountess getting kicked out of a boutique for causing a scene, the latest fashion trends â those topics were familiar and exciting for Bella, but not for Keira.
However, since Bella wasnât aware of the situation, she had nothing but resentment and annoyance.
For her, it was common sense to respond appropriately when someone talked to them in her mind.
And another thing; if the ball was too noisy for her taste, shouldnât she just have left instead of telling Bella to keep quiet?
Arabella: âIt pisses me off whenever I think about it! Sheâs so weird, isnât she?â
If Bella didnât run away, she would have said,
Arabella: âWhy donât you go to the lounge or terrace instead of forcing others to stay quiet?â
But Bella only thought of what to say once sheâd walked away.
Bella gritted her teeth. What did Keira think of when the person who wanted to get close to her in the past ran away from a single glare?
âShe must have thought it was ridiculous!â
Shame, anger, and embarrassment came at the same time.
Arabella: âIt was like she was looking down on the Imperial family!â
But something more ridiculous happened next.
Bella thought her brother would sympathize with her. Michael was a man who had more pride in being a member of the Imperial family than anyone else.
ButâŠ
Michael: âShe wasnât like that with me, though?â
Bella: âHuh?â
Michael: âI had the chance to talk to her twice, and while it was awkward at times, we had a long conversation. I donât think she had any intention of ignoring the Imperial familyâŠâ
Bella: âWhat are you trying to say?!â
While Bella talked about the capital trends and scandals, Michael discussed the knight promotions test and the capitalâs defense against demons.
Bella: âSo, are you trying to say she ignored me?â
It was enough for Arabella to misunderstand the situation.
Keira treated the Crown Prince with courtesy yet gave Bella short answers.
Bellaâs fists trembled.
Bella: âOnce I get married, itâs over, isnât it?[1]â
Michael: âYouâ Bella, arenât you overreacting?â
Bella: âYou donât get it! If I get married, Iâll end up in a lower status; thatâs why some people already look down on me!â
Unlike her brother, the Emperorâs only son, Arabella was one of the Emperorâs three daughters. And they all knew that the fate of a princess depended on her fatherâs love and favor.
The Parvis ladyâs fate was the complete opposite; even if she didnât have her fatherâs favor, as the next elementalist, she was guaranteed to receive special treatment for the rest of her life.
âLady Parvisâ status will be higher the day I get married.â
Bella: âI donât want to deal with her.â
Michael: âIf what youâre saying is true, isnât that all the more reason to find out what sheâs up to?â
ââŠâ
Bella bit her lips.
Her brother was right. If the Parvis family really was looking down on the Imperial family, they had to find out why theyâre suddenly socializing.
Bella: âFine. Iâll give it a try. But donât expect too much. Sheâs already ignored me before.â
Michael: âThen, please.â
Bella: ââŠI will.â
It hurt to think that sheâd have to smile and approach the lady who once slighted her just to gain information.
âI wonder if she remembers my face?â
Sheâd prefer it if Keira didnât remember that she ran away from her before.
Ludwig: âWhat? The Princessâs Salon?â
Ludwig raised his head and asked.
In confusion, the butler replied.
Robert: âA-ah, yes. Her Highnessâs salon will be opening soon, and Her Ladyship confirmed her attendance.â
Ludwig heard Keira had broken up with the man she was involved with when she went to the ball. He was confused, believing that Keira started socializing because of that Aiden or whatever his name was.
But wasnât that over already?
Ludwig: âI heard sheâs been feeling down since attending the last ball.â
Robert: âYes, it certainly seemed so⊠I-I donât know what sheâs thinking. Itâs like sheâs completely changed.â
The butler recalled when he saw Keira wearing a flower on her head.
âSometimes she laughs and chats with the maidsâŠâ
Really, her personality changed so much that it seemed like sheâs a different person altogether.
Ludwig: âCall her. Iâll ask her myself.â
Robert: âI will.â
Robert, who was about to leave the office, paused and asked.
Robert: âIâm sure Her Ladyship will ask why youâre calling for her. What should I say?â
ââŠâ
Obviously, if Ludwig called her for nothing, she would make excuses not to meet with him.
But he couldnât exactly be honest and tell her heâs curious why sheâs still going out after breaking up with the man she started datingâŠ
ââŠOkay. Weâll talk about this again when your excuse doesnât work.â
Ludwig was relieved he said what he said last time.
Ludwig: âWe agreed to talk about whether people believed her excuse or not. I need the report on the results.â
Robert thought.
âJust say what you want to sayâŠâ
What was wrong with being honest?
But Robert wouldnât dare say anything presumptuous.
The butler bowed and went upstairs to pick up Her Ladyship.
Keira was sitting in front of a desk in her private study.
âAh, so you were studying.â
It was a familiar sight. As expected, even if the lady had seemingly changed overnight, her essence was still the same.
It was a little suspicious to see her hiding the paper she was looking at in the book as Robert got closer, but the butler didnât care much.
Because he knew Her Ladyship would never do anything wrong.
Keira: âW-whatâs the matter?â
Robert: âHis Grace is calling for you.â
Keira: âHis Grace?â
Keira thought that the Duke seemed to be calling her often lately.
Keira: âWhy?â
Robert: âHe was worried when he heard you would be going to Her Highnessâs salon.â
âWorried?â
Keira couldnât believe it.
Robert: âOf course, Your Ladyship may not mean anything by going, but the public may think differently. It was curious enough that Your Ladyship accepted the invitation of Marquis Francais before.â
Keira: âOh, so itâs that.â
Keira was surprised that the Duke might have changed, but it turned out that he didnât.
She nodded as if convinced.
Robert: âPardon?â
Keira: âItâs nothing. Continue what you were saying.â
Robert: âAh, yes. His Grace said he wanted to know the results of the plan you mentioned last time.â