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Do You Still Think So?
Nathaniel, who said he would give the moon that wouldn’t not lean and red flowers for ten days, kept his words truly.
A night meeting was held. Not in a ballroom, not in a mansion somewhere, but on the left wing of the palace where Kyrie stayed.
While waiting for an escort, Kyrie looked up at the crowd over the window.
“………It looks like a lot of people are coming.”
“The nobles of the capital said they were all coming!”
MarryAnne, who was tying a ribbon around her waist behind her back, replied.
“Just from the capital?”
“They said there’s no need to let people in the provinces know because there’s only chaff” (PR note: a metaphor for a person who has become useless and cannot function properly.)
Indeed, Nathaniel’s words made her laugh. Kyrie sat absent-mindedly looking at the mirror, thinking about the night out of the door.
“I don’t have enough space. The floor is also not a hardwood floor…….”
“It’s okay to tear down the corridor!”
“That was the sound I heard yesterday.”
“Yeah!  And everyone is enjoying it because the atmosphere in each room is different.”
“……I see.”
Come to think of it, anyone could prepare for the night meeting even if they were not themselves. The Emperor was right. She was unique to Nathaniel. For others, she was just a being that could be replaced at any time if her parents did not constantly prove their needs.
Kyrie stared into the mirror. The woman in the mirror was so unattractive and shabby. She didn’t think anyone would care if she stopped swimming to avoid falling into the water.
Knock, knock.
There was a knock on the door. Kyrie got up from her seat, ignoring her heart, as if it was a wildfire.
As she went out to the parlor, Nathaniel, dressed as usual, stood.  He must look classy, but wearing a modest, black robes, he looked overly attractive without any decorations.
Nathaniel wasn’t particularly surprised to see Kyrie dressed up in a ridiculously colorful manner.  Because her outer shell didn’t mean much to him.
[Let’s go.]
Kyrie wrapped his arm around his. When she touched the inside of his arm, it seemed that Nathaniel had brightened his eyes at first glance, but Kyrie thought it was an illusion and let it pass.
Even though it was night, the shadows lengthened throughout the lighted hallway. It was repeatedly shortened.
Bright, bright.
Kyrie, who was just walking as Nathaniel led her, muttered.
“I don’t know what you want, but it won’t go your way.”
[You’re the only one who thinks I want something.]
Nathaniel replied as if he had been waiting.
“I know, that doesn’t mean you don’t really want anything.”
[Ah.]
Nathaniel quietly exclaimed. His voice sounded lower and more dangerous than usual due to the wide, empty corridor.
[Knowing that far, you should have known that I’d feel more enjoyed when you said it.]
“That’s right.”
Kyrie was trying to say something and soon shut her mouth again.  Even if she said she thought it would be useless.  Nathaniel, who had a slight anticipation, also walked quietly and gracefully when Kyrie was silent.
Before long, the corridor connecting Kyrie’s room and her short ballroom ended.
Kyrie whispered.
“Let me go.”
[No]
The door adorned with lanbries opened.  A brilliant light poured onto Kyrie.
“Miss Kyrie Buchanan! Welcome. I waited for you to come.”
“Miss Buchanan, have you been healthy?”
“You have become more beautiful. Miss Kyrie!  Somehow, the red color suits you so well!”
“Miss Buchanan! Do you know me? It’s been so long!”
Kyrie was surprised by the fanfare exploding toward her, and she stepped back without knowing.  Right away, Nathaniel’s eyes became cold.
[Stop.]
The bands hurriedly stopped playing, and the nobles who shouted their greetings immediately held their breath.
They greeted Kyrie a few seconds later, as if nothing had happened, but more unpretentiously.  Everyone was laughing. Except for Kyrie.
Soon after, someone came up. Kyrie’s eyes widened.
“Her Majesty the Emperor…..”
“Enough. Get up.”
The Emperor dissuaded Kyrie, who was trying to bend her knees in a hurry.
“I won’t be able to attend very often because the administration of the state is hectic, but I will visit often, Miss Buchanan.”
“…….”
“I’ll leave Eden, so if you need to, talk to this kid.”
After the Emperor spoke briefly, she stepped back with a cool face. Following her, the Crown Prince appeared in an awkward motion.
“Um…Miss Buchanan.”
“Your Imperial Highness ….”
She had to respond as if nothing had happened, but her mouth seldom fell.  Kyrie also heard of Eden’s humiliation. So she was forced to be more cautious. As she hesitated, Eden, who had turned like an old goat within a few days, grinned wide open, revealing all his teeth.
“It’s such an honor to invite you! If you have something to talk to the Royal Family,….Come!”
Every time he said each word, he looked at Nathaniel. Nathaniel also had a particular chill when he faced Eden. It was an uncomfortable position for everyone.
“……You look uncomfortable, wouldn’t it be better to go home early?”
Eden’s face brightened up at Kyrie’s suggestion.
“H, Huh, can I?”
[No.]
But Nathaniel, who had been quiet until now, spoke in a drowsy voice.
[The Crown Prince will be here until the night is over.]
His voice was as loud as it could be when he was buried in the crowd. However, his voice always had a strange echo that filled the floor to the ceiling and cut through the air. It was the same again this time.
Eden seemed to swallow fear instead of oxygen, but soon smiled with his gums showing.
“Well, come to think of it, you’re right! I feel like I want to stay up all night! Haha!”
He disappeared while smiling like a madman. Kyrie quietly opened her mouth as she looked at the back of the staggering prince.
“Are you having fun?”
[No.]
“Then stop doing this. Because it’s not fun for me at all either.”
[That’s it. I’m suddenly happy to hear you say that.]
Kyrie grinded her molar. Nathaniel smiled at her, who seemed bored at first glance.
[But it’s true that there’s a lot of noise.]
He slowly let go of his arm.
[Enjoy it.]
“What?”
When Kyrie looked back, Nathaniel was already not there. People approached as if they had waited to surprise her.
“Miss Buchanan! Miss Buchanan! Oh, when will you talk to us?”
“Talk to me, too.”
“I heard you like pheasant hunting, Miss Buchanan!”
Rachel Hill was the first to snatch Kyrie in a hectic greeting. She skillfully crossed her arms to Kyrie, flapping her cilantro hair. (T/N: it means her hairs were frizzy)
“We’re first! We know each other, right? Let’s go over there!”
Rachel smiled and led Kyrie toward the young people. Kyrie stumbled in a mess and was led to her seat. Fortunately, most of them were familiar faces.
‘But why aren’t Laura and Maria here? There’s no Miss Cassner either.’
Just as they wanted to stop Kyrie from questioning, the young ladies began to make a fuss with their new voices.
“Miss Buchanan, Miss Buchanan! This night meeting is so fun and nice! Keep it open!”
“Oh, long time no see, Miss Hart, if it’s a night party…….”
“And I… I saw it! There was a mountain of jewels in the other room!”
“How! So cool…You can have everything in the room!”
“Besides, the Legendary Lord is so cool!”
“Miss Cobalt, I…….”
Kyrie managed to open her mouth amidst the raging stories, but she was quickly buried.
“You’re gonna open it up, right? Did you call the Patriotic Lord? I can’t wait!”
“So is he not here today?”
“Sir Leschaux….”
“Kyaa! Lord Leschaux!”
The new patter hit her ears. Kyrie tried hard not to frown on her tinnitus. (PR note: tinnitus is like a buzzing noise inside of your ears, sounds like a broken TV.)
“The only one that can call him that is Miss Buchanan! It’s so romantic!”
“It seemed that the Patriotic Lord was busy helping Buchanan’s business these days.”
“Hey, it’s the family of Miss Kyrie!”
“Oh, my! I’m looking forward to the night ahead!”
“…….”
She felt dizzy. She felt like throwing up. The lights of the colorful chandelier seemed to burst inside of her skull. Kyrie said in a tired voice, pointing at the armrest of the sofa so as not to collapse.
“Thank you for the compliment. But I’m going back to the mansion soon.”
It was that moment. The surrounding area became quiet at once.
The band’s music didn’t stop, but when so many people stopped talking at the same time, a terrible void was created.
Their eyes weren’t smiling, but the bizarre faces of the young people, who were smiling with their mouth pulling all the way to their cheeks, stared at Kyrie. Not only the noble ladies, but also all the noblemen around her.
Kyrie felt fear enough to want to escape from her seat. To such Kyrie, Rachel Hill whispered with a smiling wooden doll-like face.
“Do you still think so?”
***
Rachel’s hair