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“Your Majesty, this is Theon, the eldest son of the Family of Fried, and Julia of the Family of Delevingne.”
As Theon and Julia approached, aide Robert spoke to Carnan.
Carnan had a pretty good impression on both of them.
It was because they grew up well among the young nobles and got along well with Raymond.
They will be Raymond’s support.
‘Besides, Theon also became Raymond’s aide….’
Carnan already knew about it. It was because of a secret letter from Grand duke Fried.
‘Did the power of the spirits reappear after a hundred years?’
After hearing that, Carnan thought about promoting the marriage between Theon and Dorothea.
In addition to helping each other, it will also serve as a political opportunity for Fried and Milanaire to bond more tightly.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The two greeted Carnan with courtesy and then greeted Dorothea as well.
“Happy birthday, Princess.”
“Thank you.”
Dorothea smiled awkwardly at Theon and Julia. She should act normal, but again, she becomes awkward for nothing.
Dorothea looked at Ethan. It was just that she was concerned about him.
Surrounded by people from afar, he quietly drank champagne while his eyes were on Dorothea.
After all, he must be concerned that Theon and her are together.
“I think you two got along well.”
Carnan, who was next to her then, looked at Dorothea and Theon and said that.
As far as Carnan knew, aside from Ethan, Theon was the closest to Dorothea. They even went on a trip to Fried together.
“yes.” Dorothea replied.
‘It’s impossible to say no. For now, we’ve been staying together as before. ‘
It’s no good to show off her anger because she has no choice but to run into him often.
At that moment, Theon’s red eyes met Dorothea’s eyes.
Theon had been staring at her since before.
When he made eye contact with Dorothea, he smiled and spoke casually.
“I didn’t send the present in advance, so can I give it to you now?”
Theon didn’t seem to mind. His appearance is no different from before.
‘Is he really okay? I mean, how sincere would he have been if he had liked me?’
‘Yeah, It was just awkward, but not enough to worry about it for a long time.’
Dorothea relaxed a little, relieved to see Theon like that.
“Sure.”
With Dorothea’s permission, Theon handed her the gift Theon had been holding all along.
It was a rather heavy gift, beautifully wrapped in red wrapping paper.
“I’d like you to open it later when you get inside, I think it would be a bit embarrassing to open it here.” Theon said.
Dorothea nodded at his request.
Carnan watched the two of them carefully.
“Theon Fried, by the way, are you not engaged yet?”
“What? Ah, Yes, Your Majesty…”
“Milanaire and Fried have been friends for a very long time. Ubera has a long history because we depended on each other and helped each other without conflict with power.”
Dorothea and Theon, noticing the meaning behind Carnan’s words, made eye contact.
He wants the two of them to have a relationship. As before the return.
Then Raymond, who was next to him, smiled and naturally intervened.
“That’s right, Your Majesty. That Theon has served as my aide is probably a part of it.”
“Theon is talented enough to graduate from Episteme at the top. He can’t be your aide forever.”
“He can stay with me for the rest of my life.”
“I don’t think Theon agrees with you, Raymond.”
Carnan looked at Theon.
Raymond then smiled and looked at Theon.
“Why do you say such sad things? Theon, will you stay by my side for the rest of my life?”
Theon nodded at Raymond’s question.
This is because Raymond knows that even if the story of Theon and Dorothea’s marriage comes out of Carnan’s mouth, they only get uncomfortable with each other.
“I will serve you for life, Your Highness.”
He was grateful for Raymond’s consideration, but his heart ached. At the thought of having to step away from Dorothea.
* * *
Ethan faced Dorothea with Jonathan.
The two people, who stood side by side just because they were from the same family, tried not to show that they had a bad relationship in front of the emperor, but stood more than one step away from each other.
Jonathan Bronte had only recently gotten a lowly position as a guard at the palace in Lampas.
It was a position that seemed somewhat unworthy of the eldest son of a duke, but fortunately he would have no problem returning to Ceritian and taking over the dukedom.
“Happy Birthday. Princess.”
“I sincerely wish you a happy birthday, my princess.”
While congratulating Dorothea, Jonathan deliberately pushed Ethan and came forward.
However, Dorothea’s gaze, as well as that of Carnan and Raymond, were all directed toward Ethan.
Raymond seemed to have already noticed Dorothea and Ethan’s relationship.
And Carnan was also keeping a close eye on their relationship.
Because of that, the two couldn’t even talk. Ethan wished happy birthday to her and made meaningless small talk as if they didn’t know each other.
“As for the security outside Lampas…!”
Jonathan, wanting to get ahead of Ethan, didn’t even give Ethan a chance to speak, and Ethan shrank into silence under Carnan’s watchful eye.
But that made the two of them laugh inside.
The casual glances they exchanged were exhilarating, the words they spoke so casually and carelessly ticked even more.
In the meantime, Dorothea waited. His gift, the one she’d been wondering about since this morning.
But nothing was in his hand, and he didn’t talk about the gift until the conversation came to an end.
Dorothea got a little nervous.
‘I thought he would play the violin for me…’
She doesn’t want a material gift.
Because she already has all the material gifts, expensive jewelry or ornaments are not important.
‘If Ethan gave it to me, even a small pea would mean a lot to me.’
However, he didn’t mention the gift until the end.
‘No way it’s over with a gift from the Bronte family…?’
The Bronte family, not Ethan, sent her a gift earlier, as did other families.
It was a luxury cosmetic used in Cerritian.
It has recently gained popularity among the aristocrats, and it is an item of considerable value, but to Dorothea, it was only one of many items sent by various families.
‘But you’re really gonna end it with that? With the Duke and Duchess of Bronte and Jonathan gift?’
Dorothea’s forehead frowned, and Ethan smiled as Dorothea made a sullen expression.
But he didn’t take a surprise gift from his bosom, nor did he call his servant to bring Dorothea a gift.
Then he smiled at her, bowed, and handed over his place to someone else.
Ethan’s fingertips passing by her brushed Dorothea’s fingertips secretly.
Dorothea’s fingers tingle at his secret gesture.
‘What does it mean?’
Unable to read his thoughts, Dorothea became frantic.
But Ethan blended into the crowd, leaving behind only an enigmatic smile.
* * *
As soon as Carnan finished introducing her to all the nobles, a large three-tiered cake entered the hall to celebrate her birthday.
It was none other than Po who pushed the cake tray in.
The cake was so big that Po, who wasn’t tall, was easily hidden behind it.
On the top layer of the cake, there was a rose made from apples, the signature of Po.
People were amazed to see golden apple roses that were soaked in honey and sparkled.
‘Had he and Raymond worked on the cake since dawn?’
When the cake tray stopped in the center of the hall, Po’s round face poked out from the side of the cake.
His pale green eyes met Dorothea.
He smiled brightly, bulging up his freckled round cheekbones.
“Happy birthday to you, Princess!”
Po placed the cake and bowed deeply.
Dorothea felt strange.
‘Little Po had grown up to be so big that he could bring a cake to an imperial banquet.’
She’d never had a mother, but was this how mothers generally felt?
Po’s technique became increasingly delicate and splendid, and he rose to a very high position in the dessert department of the imperial kitchen.
Some gourmet aristocrats even included Po’s desserts in their list of ’10 must-try desserts in Lampas.’
And at every celebration of Dorothea’s life, there was a dessert made by Po.
When Dorothea nodded her head happily and thanked him, Po, who had done his part, retreated behind the nobles.
Carnan made Dorothea hold the cake knife.
In the center of the hall, surrounded by people, Dorothea cut the cake and everyone congratulated her, raising their glasses at the same time.
“Happy birthday, Princess!”
Dorothea deliberately cut the cake so that the rose didn’t spoil, and had the part with the rose placed on her plate.
As soon as the cake cutting ceremony was over, the band played and the dancers performed.
People watched the show, enjoying cakes and food.
“Your Majesty, you must go now.”
At the end of the first act of the show, Carnan’s aide, Robert, said that.
Carnan’s purpose was to show Dorothea’s position, so his part at today’s banquet is over.
“Enjoy a little more, Dorothea.”
He gave Dorothea the highest seat of the banquet and left the banquet hall.
The banquet continued even after the emperor left.
* * *
Throughout the banquet, Dorothea had a glass of wine in her hand.
It was generally a red wine glass, but it was also a champagne glass that sometimes smelled like apples.
She had to make a toast or wet her parched lips with wine.
But even as the banquet continued, there was one thing Dorothea was most concerned about.
Ethan Bronte. A popular person even at her birthday banquet.
When the music for her was being played, or when the beautiful dancers danced in the center of the banquet hall, she often glanced at Ethan to make eye contact.
Then Ethan rolled his golden eyes slightly to look at her with an unknown smile. That smile made her even more anxious.
Even though she looked at him with sorrowful eyes, he was very sincere in his ‘secret love’ with her today.
He came to her, spoke to her, and disappeared before being suspected.
Simple conversations, brief eye contact, and brief glances.
Even though Dorothea was making eye contact, Ethan turned his gaze away without any regrets at the sound of someone else calling.
Easily surrounded by people, he shimmered and shone without Dorothea.
Dorothea was angry because of that.
‘If you’re going to do this, I won’t have a secret relationship.’
‘I want you to pretend to know more. I want you to stay a little closer to me. I want you to be by my side, not other people.’
Dorothea thought so, and suddenly felt herself becoming too childish.
She shook her head, emptying her glass of wine.
‘Don’t cling to Ethan too much, Dorothea.’
She wanted to have mature love.
Hasn’t there already been a time when love was turned into hate once?
‘I don’t like messy and childish love.’
Therefore, mature love will be possible only if she knows how to make a secret relationship like Ethan.
‘Waiting with patience…’
At that moment, a young lady approaching Ethan with a glass of wine caught her eye.
Young lady, who had been walking around Ethan for a while, pretended it was a mistake and approached Ethan and bumped into him.
“Ooops!”
Young lady, who spilled wine on Ethan’s clothes, pretended to be surprised and grabbed Ethan.
“I’m sorry, what should I do!”