Chapter 60

Chapter 60

“Greetings, Grand Duchess Blaine.”

“It’s such an honor to meet you. You’re truly as beautiful as rumored.”

“…You’re exaggerating. The Grand Duchess is also very beautiful.”

“Oh, I am glad that the Duchess, who was once praised as the most beautiful woman in the Empire, said so. In fact, when I heard that the Duchess was coming to the banquet today, I paid a lot of attention to dressing up.”

“I see.”

“Yes. I wanted to look good to the Duchess, so I was a little overdressed.”

“You wanted to look good to me…?”

“It’s embarrassing, but to be honest, I’ve always wanted to be friends with the Duchess.”

‘…What does this mean?’

Min-ha was embarrassed by Grand Duchess Blaine’s friendly attitude, saying that she wanted to be friendly with her even though she explicitly showed hostility a while ago.

It was not that she was a fool. With her strangely dubious behavior and the appearance of the Grand Duchess speaking from a while ago, Min-ha grew vigilant towards her. Because of that, she instinctively pulled back and blocked Noah.

“Also, is Noah the cute young master standing there?”

“Noah Persen greets Grand Duchess Blaine.”

However, Grand Duchess Blaine, who did not take her eyes off Min-ha’s movements, spoke her words to Noah, who was standing behind her. Contrary to her concerns, Noah politely greeted her.

Then, Grand Duchess Blaine spoke to the child while wearing a mannerly smile.

“Oh, my. You’re so mature. I heard Noah’s only five years old, but his manners and demeanor are as good as any other adult knights.”

“Thank you, Grand Duchess.”

“You’re cute, too. I hope that my children will grow up to be proud and cute children like Young Master Noah.”

“I’m flattered, Grand Duchess.”

The next moment, Grand Duchess Blaine smiled at Seth’s words before calling a maidservant, who was standing next to her, and lifted the wine glass to moisten her throat.

The appearance of returning to an expressionless face after emptying the wine seemed to indicate that there were no more words to continue the conversation. Seeing that, Min-ha felt glad. It seemed that this comfortable seat was finally coming to an end.

At the moment she relaxed her expression, thinking that she could spend time with Seth and Noah more comfortably, Marquis Loengram and Vivian, who seemed very excited, walked towards them from the left side of the upper seat.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Grand Duchess!”

“No. I was drinking good wine and chatting with the Duke and Duchess of Persen, I didn’t think it was boring.”

“Hahaha! I’m glad you enjoyed it. The wine was prepared after thinking hard about the Grand Duchess.”

“It’s an honor to hear that you liked it, Grand Duchess.”

The Marquis of Loengram and Vivian narrowed the distance before they could leave their seats, first approached and greeted Grand Duchess Blaine, who was sitting at the top of the table. As the Grand Duchess reached out her hand to the Marquis, who left a deep kiss on the back of her hand, and Vivian, bowing her head slightly behind to say hello, Min-ha hardened her expression.

‘I wanted to finish this in moderation and go back…’

Even Min-ha, who did not know much about etiquette in this world, knew that he had not met the banquet organizer, she could not just go back without even saying her greetings.

‘They came when we were just about to leave as if it was planned.’

Perhaps, Seth had the same thought because his expressionless face until a while ago was now crumpled. Now, when that fussy greeting was over, it was obvious that they would pretend to know Seth, Min-ha, and Noah as well…

Unsurprisingly, after Marquis Loengram greeted the Grand Duchess, he immediately turned to greet Seth.

“Oh, goodness! Thank you to all three of you for attending. Did you enjoy the banquet? When I heard from the butler that you really liked the chocolate cake.”

“My wife and my brother were very satisfied. It was quite tasty.”

“The patissier in my castle must be very happy to hear that! Oh, I also prepared an eclair for the Duchess as well! I don’t know how it was?”

“I don’t know. It’s hard to say because I haven’t tasted it yet.”

“Yes…? Is that so? The Duchess’s favorite dessert, so I told them to prepare it specially…”

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After having a one-sided conversation with Seth, who showed only a blunt reaction, Marquis Loengram turned and spoke friendly to Min-ha.

To his question about how eclair was, she answered honestly.

At that, the Marquis’ expression hardened slightly. He had an expression that was different from the reaction she had expected. But soon, he loosened his expression before opening his mouth and patting his daughter, Vivian’s, shoulder, who was standing next to me with his big hand on the shoulder.

“It seems that my daughter made a mistake. Haha, please forgive me.”

“…I apologized, Duchess. I was trying to understand the tastes of the guests, though there must have been a mistake.”

“No, it could happen.”

Would it not be more unpleasant that a person who does not know each other perfectly understands the other person’s taste…? Min-ha thought so to herself and accepted their apology.

Suddenly, Seth, who took Noah’s hand, came up to Min-ha’s side and embraced her shoulder before opening his mouth.

“Well. I think we all said hello to each other, can we go first, Marquis?”

“This…! What do you mean, you’re going to go already? The banquet has just begun!”

“That’s right, Duke. The night is still long enough for you to go back to your bedroom already.”

“Of course! I’ve prepared a set of cards and cigars on the other side of the party hall, so I hope you’ll enjoy them to your heart’s content.”

“I’ve no hobbies in cigars, and I’m not particularly drawn to playing cards today.”

This time, as if reading Min-ha’s mind, Seth directly spoke what she wanted him to say. She sighed in relief at his words and grabbed his hand that was holding her tightly, thinking that they could go back now. However, at his words, Marquis Loengram and his daughters were dissuaded.

Seeing that, she did not know why they were holding on to them so persistently. Nevertheless, Seth flatly refused their insistence on leaving.

“Does the Duchess feel the same?”

Unexpectedly, Grand Duchess Blaine, who had been quietly listening to the conversation with an expressionless face until a while ago, intervened.

Perhaps, she had emptied the wine before she knew it. The Grand Duchess handed the empty glass to the maid as she slowly got up from her seat, supported by the other maids, towards Min-ha. She took Min-ha’s other hand, which was not holding Seth’s hand, and led her towards her.

“Actually, at my request, Young Lady Vivian held a small tea party in the salon over there.”

“…Ah. I see.”

“It’s been a long time since we met, can’t we have a cup of tea together? There are already other wives in the salon, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Duchess to take this opportunity to socialize with them.”

“…Oh. I’m sorry, but I don’t think today is a day. If other people are also attending the tea party, wouldn’t it be fun to chat with them without me?”

Min-ha was somewhat embarrassed by Grand Duchess Blaine’s actions as if she was begging. Considering the Grand Duchess’ sharp expression the moment she met eyes with her a while ago, it would not have been an invitation from favor. Even so, Grand Duchess Blaine’s expression, holding her, seemed sincere…

…As if she was up to something.

With her premonition feeling like it would not be good. It seemed like something troublesome was going to happen. Because of that, she decided to turn down the offer of the Grand Duchess Blaine.

Hearing that, her eyebrows dropped while squeezing Min-ha’s hand as if she would not let her go.

“Actually, I did not intend to attend this banquet, though I decided to attend because I wanted to meet the Duchess of Persen. So, out of rudeness, I asked the Marquis of Loengram to put the Duchess on the invitation list… I’d be very sad if you wouldn’t give me time to share a cup of tea with you.”

“…Is, is that so?”

“Yes. I was very much looking forward to this moment. I even delayed the falcon hunting trip that the Emperor proposed… If it goes back like this, what should I say to the Emperor—”

“Ah…”

When she behaved as though she would refuse her until the end, Grand Duchess Blaine seized her by bringing up the Emperor.

At her words, Marquis Loengram and Vivian, who were by her side, began to contemplate and shouted at Min-ha.

“Oh, my goodness! Are you really going to reject the Grand Duchess’ proposal like this? You won’t, right?”

“This is a great disrespect, Duchess! The Emperor will be very upset to hear that his beloved has been subjected to such a thing! And, in the future, that anger might go to the Duke of Persen—”

“Are you threatening her now, Marquis Loengram?”

“That… It’s not that…”

“Seth! Wait a minute…!”

At that moment, Seth, who had been standing next to Min-ha with a stiff face until now, distorted his expression and spoke harshly. Immediately, the expressions of Marquis Loengram, Young Lady Vivian, and Grand Duchess Blaine, who was pushing her, all hardened.