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Chapter 84
It was true that the main character would go out alone when entering the coronation ceremony, and when the toast happened, there had to be the mistress by his side. Obviously, I had to be in a position to deal with the guests nearby, but not this close.
Since Lucian had no spouse, of course, his mother, the Duchess, had to be present.
When I asked, Lucian gently raised one eyebrow.
“You’re so strange.”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you know?”
“…Yes?”
It felt like the two of us were exchanging stories that were out of focus. However, without having to think about what it was, people began to flock in.
“Congratulations!”
“Now, I should call you Duke, not Young Duke!”
I’d never been in a social world before, so it was my first time dealing with so many people at once. So, even though I wanted to fall back, Lucian didn’t let go of his hand on my waist.
People started to surround us so quickly that I couldn’t even speak to him. They were trying to get into the new power and struggled to look good to me as well. It was the first time I realized that I could get a cramp on my mouth. I would die if I try to respond with a smile all the time.
Worried if Lucian was okay, I glanced at him, then blinked quickly in surprise.
He wasn’t smiling at all.
He was indifferent to the approaching people with a perfect expressionless face without even a single smile. In the old days, his expressionless face was common, but now, wasn’t it much better…? Especially recently, I hadn’t seen it so much, so it felt awkward to me.
Looking at his numb face, which had not changed at all from his childhood, I felt a little reminiscent of his childhood, but it wasn’t.
I tugged his coat slightly.
Despite my small actions, he quickly turned his head to me. I then waved my hands and blinked at him. It meant bending down because he was tall, and I couldn’t get close to his ears no matter how much I lifted my heels.
Lucian got it right away and leaned over, and put his ear to me.
A low laughter was heard.
“Why are you so stingy with your smile? They are guests who have come all the way to the mansion, so you have to greet them with a smile.”
Despite my rebuke, he looked at me obliquely with a subtle smile. The next moment, he twisted his head slightly and whispered into my ear.
“They run to me like this even if I don’t smile, do I have to smile?”
“….”
There was nothing to reply to what he said because it was an excellent fact.
“…Just try a little.”
Laughing again at my crumpled reply, this time, he smiled a little bigger and looked around with surprised eyes.
…Well, I know right.
He’s so cool when he smiles, right?
He was just like a picture. Thinking that, I nodded proudly with an agreeing look.
“Hey, Rachel!”
At that moment, a familiar voice rang from among the crowd.
“Bellisa!”
I tried to go to her to my delight, but it didn’t go my way. Lucian, who was still wrapped around my waist, gazed at me with an unfamiliar face.
“Brother, I will go and see Bellisa for a moment.”
At my request, he smiled silently before gesturing lightly. At that, the people who had surrounded him so densely retreated back like fallen leaves with a single gesture of his hand. Was it true that it was just so crowded that I couldn’t even breathe properly…?
It seemed that my stuffy breath was opened in the doubtful space.
I said that I was going to meet Bellisa on my own, although he seemed to have interpreted it differently. It was because he took me personally and went in front of her himself.
“No, not this…”
“Yes?”
When Lucian asked as he smiled softly, I just smiled. Guess I heard it wrong.
“Rachel, it’s been a while. I’ve been sending you letters, are you okay?”
“It’s okay now. You must be worried a lot?”
“Yes. I didn’t get a reply all of a sudden, so I thought about what I did wrong?”
“Fufu, really?”
“Don’t laugh. I was really serious about it.”
Bellisa’s eyes widened in a grumpy way. I really liked her. She was comfortable and pleasant, and at the same time, it was good to keep the line.
In addition, I was even thinking of getting away from Lucian’s side during this time. It wasn’t usually difficult to be with the main character of the banquet. I felt a little sorry for him, though I didn’t want to deal with people anymore.
…I must never engage in social activities.
“Oh, Rachel.”
Then Bellisa said, pointing to one side of my head.
“Your hair is messy.”
I was surprised by her words. I thought I was careful, when did that happen?
Meanwhile, Bellisa covered the mess with her hands and spoke to Lucian, “Duke, may I take Rachel to the powder room for a while?”
At her request, he glanced at her with cold eyes.
…No, why was he being so harsh?
“Brother, I’ll be back soon. I can’t welcome guests in a messy state.”
As I requested again, Lucian responded with a timid expression.
“I’ll take you.”
“Brother is the main character today. Where are you going?”
I replied quickly in a small voice.
Say something that makes sense. Countless eyes were looking at you right now, how could he say he would take me…? Ugh, I was already getting goosebumps. In particular, I was most afraid of the ladies who looked at me with burning eyes.
Yes, I understand… He’s a very good bachelor for you.
Of course, I think the same.
However, it doesn’t seem like Noah was utterly right, so who’s going to love Lucian…?
From now on, it was different from the original story, so he might date someone I didn’t even think of. Deciding to bless him unconditionally, male or female, I was finally able to get out of his arms.
Before leaving with Bellisa, Lucian gently grabbed my hand and opened his mouth with a sad expression that makes you wonder if it is the person who was expressionless when dealing with others.
“If it takes a long time, I will pick you up.”
Well, I didn’t think it’s something to say that went well with that sad expression.
“I’ll be back soon.”
Although he frowned slightly because he was unsure of my answer, I took Bellisa’s hand and walked out of the banquet hall. When I entered the private powder room, I sat down on the sofa and let out a long sigh.
Bellisa, who sat across from me, giggled.
“Why are you having a hard time sticking to the main character?”
“It’s not because I wanted to, what if Brother won’t let me go?”
“Anyway, you idiot.”
“Hng…”
I emptied all the cool water in the powder room and exhaled a refreshing breath.
“But, which side is messy?”
Similarly, as I looked around, holding the hand mirror that was already there, Bellisa burst out laughing.
“Of course, that’s a lie!”
…I really hadn’t thought of that. How—
“Such a clever idea.”
“Fufu, who am I?”
“The famous Lady Marquis Bourgne.”
“Fufufu, if you know, listen to me.”
“Yes. When was the last time I didn’t listen to Lady Marquis Bourgne?”
Bellisa continued to burst into laughter at the playful remarks. Then, she spat out her following words, “But your brother is really weird.”
“Why brother? Bellisa, what did you eat wrong today?”
What the hell was wrong with our Lucian? He was so perfect today that the halo kept chasing him? Seeing my expression that I did not understand her, Bellisa let out a long sigh.
“I don’t quite understand.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to hang out with my brother like that.”
“…Your brother?”
“Yes. Though I’m not the only one who hates it, right? No matter how good friendships are between grown-up siblings, we don’t really stick together.”
I tilted my head.
Weren’t all siblings like that…?
Of course, I thought they would stick around this much, right? I was a little surprised. Well, how would I know about the other siblings?
“Still, I liked it. It’s fun to be together.”
“Well, if you like it.”
Bellisa quickly changed the subject. She deserved to be called a socialite queen.
Having already received a proposal, she was seriously thinking about marriage. Obviously, marriage here is fast, compared to Korea. Nonetheless, why didn’t Lucian do it? I thought it was because of Noah, but it wasn’t, right?
Was he meeting no one at all…?
I left the powder room after a short, deep chat with Bellisa. As I walked down the hallway with her, I saw a familiar face walking across.
“Greetings, the Prince, the Young Lion.”
Bending her back, Bellisa raised a greeting. Even though I really didn’t want to, ut I had no choice but to politely bow to the Prince.
“Greetings Prince, the Young Lion.”
“Arise, ladies.”
A gentle low-pitched sound touched my ear. He really was a guy that couldn’t be hated with his voice.
“I’m sorry, Lady Marquis Bourgne, could you please leave us for a moment?”
Hearts seemed to pop out of Bellisa’s eyes when she saw the Prince who treated me with respect. Here, the imperial family was a mysterious entity. Even if you are a nobleman, it seemed like they were an existence that you couldn’t meet casually.
I wanted to say no, but I’m worried about Bellisa, so I might as well let her in first.
Oh, why again?
Why did he come and bothered me now?
Bellisa glanced at me for an opinion, and I nodded my head slightly. I felt gratitude for her for thinking of me first, even when she had to follow the Prince’s words.
After confirming that she had entered the banquet hall, I asked with a completely different look of annoyance than before.
“Why again?”