Chapter 12

It looks like you're crazy. Why are you giving this to me? The invitation card forced into my hand felt heavy.

“Come, we’re invited too.”

“To be invited by Her Highness the Princess… I’m envious.”

The noble ladies sent me congratulatory glances filled with jealousy and envy. If you’re that envious, you should go!

‘What reason do I have to reject this invitation?’

I absolutely didn’t want to get further involved with Dodolea. I racked my brain, but no proper solution came to mind. I glared fiercely at the invitation card in my hand.

“Her Highness the Grand Duchess Laphireon, it seems your invitation wasn’t satisfactory. You haven’t said a word.”

“I appreciate the invitation. I’ll check my schedule and visit later.”

Later. Maybe in thirty years? I’ll visit before I die! I narrowed my eyes and smiled, and Dodolea, who seemed to echo my smile, came closer.

“Since you’re so precious, if you have something to do, don’t do it yourself; have your subordinates do it.”

“I can handle it myself.”

“Is that so? Then you must not be busy. When do you think ‘later’ will be?”

Her strong determination to set a date for today was evident.

“Actually, my health isn’t very good these days, so it’s hard for me to give a definite answer.”

“Oh, you’re not feeling well. Then you should come to the palace as soon as possible. The palace has very skilled doctors.”

“No, it’s best to rest at home when you’re sick.”

“You should be treated by the best doctor in the empire since you’re ill.”

“I know what’s wrong with me. If it’s contagious, I don’t want to infect Her Highness the Princess, so I need to be careful.”

“If it were contagious, you wouldn’t be able to walk around like this. It doesn’t seem to be contagious.”

Our exchange continued endlessly. Seeing her determined efforts to invite me, I became even more certain that I shouldn’t go.

‘If I go, I’ll die!’

An alarm bell rang in my head. Just as Dodolea’s red lips were about to open, I heard a voice calling me from a distance.

“Her Highness the Grand Duchess!”

Celsius, who was running towards me, quickly stood beside me. His gaze, which was on guard, turned to Dodolea.

“I’m here to see Her Highness the Princess.”

“...Yes, you could have come a bit later, but it’s a shame.”

Celsius placed his hand on the red ruby earring, perhaps preparing for any unforeseen events.

‘What is he planning to do? She’s crazy!’

Celsius doesn’t know that we don’t get along, and with Dodolea smiling, he might think she’s a crazy princess.

“Don’t misunderstand. I just gave Her Highness the Grand Duchess Laphireon an invitation.”

Celsius looked at me again to confirm.

“Really?”

“...Yes, I did receive an invitation.”

It’s not a lie. Nothing has happened yet today. ‘Today’ is the key.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“...Then that’s a relief.”

Celsius lowered his hand from the ruby earring and whispered softly, so only I could hear.

“I was worried when I saw Her Highness the Grand Duchess’s frightened expression from a distance.”

So that’s why he rushed over and was on guard against Dodolea. Was my expression that bad?

“If anyone has been bothering you, tell me.”

I narrowed my eyes and examined Celsius. I held his hand to prevent him from touching the earring and whispered.

“Do you remember what I said this morning? Celsius.”

“I remember. But...”

“But?”

“If anyone dares to bother Her Highness the Grand Duchess, I won’t let it go. I’m fine living alone in the countryside for the rest of my life.”

I could feel Celsius’s sincerity. His blind trust left me speechless. After confirming that everything was fine, Celsius looked around and said loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“Let’s return to the mansion, Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”

It was as if he was warning everyone not to touch me since he was by my side.

‘Small and growling, like a cat... or a cute puppy?’

Either way, his intention to get me out of this hellish situation was certainly appreciated. Nodding in agreement, I was about to leave when Dodolea interrupted.

“Since Her Highness the Grand Duchess is out for a rare outing, why don’t you stay a bit longer, Laphireon?”

No! I don’t want to! I’m going back with Celsius!

“No, Celsius has come to wait for me... We should return now. Let’s go, Celsius.”

“Since it’s a rare outing, stay a bit longer. You don’t seem to be sick today, so let’s go to a nearby tea shop and have some tea together.”

As Dodolea approached me with a smile, Celsius quickly blocked her path.

“Since Her Highness the Grand Duchess has declined, I’ll escort her back to the mansion.”

Dodolea’s eyebrows twitched. Her eyes, which were looking down at Celsius, turned cold and bloodless.

“...I envy the Grand Duchess. She’s protected like a precious flower in a greenhouse.”

Dodolea’s voice dropped to a low tone. Although Celsius didn’t know the full situation, he seemed to sense the tension and didn’t step aside.

“Her Highness the Grand Duchess is a precious person to our family.”

The word ‘precious’ seemed to push Dodolea over the edge, and her face contorted strangely.

“His Excellency the Grand Duke instructed me not to let even a single bug near her.”

“...A bug.”

Dodolea bit her lower lip, and a drop of blood formed. It seemed her patience was wearing thin.

‘I don’t know what this crazy person will do!’

She looked ready to strike at any moment. I quickly pulled Celsius into my arms and hid him behind me. At that moment,

“Everyone is gathered here.”

A voice that could resolve the situation rang out. The noble ladies covered their mouths and bowed, and Dodolea stepped back.

“I see Her Highness the Princess here as well.”

“Your timing is like that of a savior.”

Dodolea sneered as she saw Terdeo approach me and Celsius, who was still on guard.

“Well, well.”

Terdeo checked on me and Celsius, then naturally positioned us behind him. Standing behind his broad back, my anxiety melted away.

“To cause such a commotion over a single invitation. If you invite the Grand Duchess a second time, my head might roll.”

Dodolea laughed, looking around at the noble ladies.

“People might think I’m bothering the Grand Duchess.”

Terdeo looked down at Dodolea with a warning tone.

“Surely a wise princess wouldn’t harass the Grand Duchess in front of everyone. But if you invite her separately and harass her, that’s a different story.”

Dodolea’s smile turned cold at the direct hit. Her red lips were tightly closed, and the noble ladies watching also fell silent. The atmosphere was quickly defused by his arrival.

“If you have anything else to say, say it now. Both my wife and I are busy.”

Dodolea looked at Terdeo with a deep gaze. Displeased by the gaze, Terdeo frowned.

“Since you have nothing to say, we’ll take our leave.”

“...You may go.”

With Dodolea’s permission, Terdeo turned around as if he had been waiting for it.

“Let’s go, both of you.”

As soon as Terdeo finished speaking, Celsius, who had been in my arms, slipped out and quickly climbed into the carriage I had arrived in, slamming the door shut.

“I’ll take the carriage the Grand Duchess arrived in and return first. You two take the carriage His Excellency arrived in and come slowly.”

“What, what?”

I met Celsius’s eyes. He smiled contentedly. No, it’s fine! Don’t be considerate! Before I could reach out, the carriage driver, following Celsius’s order, started the carriage.

‘Damn it.’

I watched the carriage drive away with a blank expression, but it didn’t come back.

“Let’s go too.”

Terdeo opened the door of his carriage and extended his hand to me. The noble ladies watching let out exclamations of surprise at this simple gesture. Of course, they would. The Grand Duke of Laphireon has never escorted anyone before, and it’s probably because he avoids physical contact.

‘Ugh, I’m tired.’

I wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. With a resigned sigh, I placed one hand on my forehead and the other in Terdeo’s, climbing into the carriage. Dodolea watched the entire scene silently. Once the carriage started moving, I finally opened my lips, which had been trembling in fear.

“How did you get here?”

“Your maid returned to the mansion first. When the person who was supposed to pick up Celsius didn’t come, I came to check.”

Rebecca, nice move.

“What did you talk about with the princess? Did anything strange happen, like your hair being cut?”

Instead of answering, I looked at the invitation card still in my hand.

“Nothing happened because there were other people around. She only invited me to the palace.”

“You should burn that invitation.”

“Huh, can I burn an invitation from the royal family?”

Terdeo took the invitation card from my hand, put it in his inner pocket, and chuckled.

“The royal family won’t know if I burned it or not. What do they care?”

That’s true