The inside of the carriage was quiet. As soon as they got on the carriage, Cartal opened the newspaper and was busy reading the article; meanwhile, the Lord of the Wizard Tower was checking his outfit as if he was concerned about his clothes.
Serdel looked out through the window. Her gaze was immediately drawn to Blenn, who was riding on a horse.
âHe definitely looked cool after being dressed up.â
She rested her arm on the window frame and put her chin on it. Then Blenn, who had died in a luxury sedan in the modern past, came to mind. What if the car he was driving hadnât hit her mother, who was in the form of her brother? If that were the case, he would have died there and wouldnât have had anything to do with this place.
However, this is just her assumption that he was swept away and started living here. Naturally, like flowing water. As if it was fate.
As if he could feel Serdelâs eyes on him, Blenn smiled as he looked at her. It was as beautiful as sunlight. Serdel was about to smile back when a gorgeous six-horse carriage passed by.
âThe Duke of Heurionâ¦â
Serdelâs eyes hardened when she saw the family mark.
It was the family of the woman Hershe Maient loved passionately.
The carriage, which had just entered the Imperial Palace, stopped shortly after. Click, the carriage door opened, and Cartal got off first. She grabbed his outstretched hand and moved, and the Lord of the Wizard Tower reached out his hand this time.
She blinked like she could see what he was doing.
âI need to get off the carriage too.â
ââ¦.â
She was able to hold back her laughter because it was so ridiculous. Then Blenn reached out to him.
âPlease take my hand and get down.â
âIâm allergic to rough hands. So it must be Lord Serdel.â
However, Blenn didnât step down despite the firm refusal of the Lord of the Wizard Tower. It seems that there was a strange battle of nerves between the two.
Cartal clicked his tongue, and Serdel quickly reached out to the Lord of the Wizard Tower because she thought he would stay like this all day if she didnât do it.
He stepped down lightly and looked around. At that moment, the nobles were getting off the carriages one by one. Their gaze was focused on this side. To be precise, their attention was drawn to the Lord of the Wizard Tower, who is full of purple.
âPft.â
ââ¦Is it a new fashion?â
âItâs hard to understand.â
Those who had seen the Lord of the wizard Tower in the palace the other day were bewildered, and those who didnât know him burst into laughter.
âWhatâs with that purple guy?â
âDoes he love purple so much that itâs driving him crazy?â
Even though it was only a whisper, Serdel heard it because her five senses were quite sensitive.
ââ¦.â
It was then that Serdel sensed that something was wrong and looked at the Lord of the Wizard Tower.
He must have heard the mockery directed at him, but his expression remained unchanged.
ââ¦Uh, Iâm⦠Iâm sorryâ¦.â
âWhat do you mean?â
Even with Serdelâs apology, he remains calm.
âI chose it because I thought it would look good on youââ
âThen why are you sorry? You chose it for me, right? Thatâs all I need.â
Saying that makes her even more sorry.
âIâll escort you.â
She was going to stretch her arm when the Lord of the Wizard Tower extended his arm first.
âAs expected, I think it would be better for me to be the one who gives an escort.â
This was different from before.
âThere are more eyes than I thought. There is also your position as Lord, so I canât just show how greedy I am.â
âThank you.â
Serdel put her hand on his arm.
âItâs been a while.â
At just the right time, the Chamberlain, Viscount Chapelta, approached.
âIâll guide you to the banquet hall.â
Chamberlain was usually in charge of the person with the most power in a place like this, where many nobles gathered. However, today, he chose to stand before Count Robbesta instead of the Dukes or Marquis.
This could be seen as a clear sign that the Emperorâs interest is currently directed to this side. Then Serdel saw the carriages whose doors hadnât yet been opened.
One of them was the Duke of Heurion. He was probably one of the people who waited because he thought Chamberlain would come to them.
âTodayâs Lord Robbesta is very beautiful. Lord of the Wizard Towerâs outfit also suits you very well.â
Through his greetings, the faces of the nobles who recognized that the man in purple was the Lord of the Wizard Tower changed.
People who bought things from the Russell Merchant heard that Serdel would go with the Lord of the Wizard Tower, but they thought it was unlikely because of his outfit.
Meanwhile, Chamberlain took the lead, and the nobles who had gathered paved the way on both sides.
As they followed the Chamberlain, the carriage door opened, and a woman with beautiful green hair and a middle-aged man got out.
With a beautiful appearance that took her breath away, she looked straight at Serdel.
The middle-aged man, Duke Heurion, was the first to approach.
âI greet the Duke Heurion.â
Receiving greetings from Chamberlain, he stood in front of Cartal.
âIt seems like itâs been a long time since weâve lived under the same capitalâs sky, Count Cartal.â
âItâs been a while.â
With a smile, the two shook hands.
Then the woman, Alexa, walked up to Serdel and acted as if she knew her.
âNice to meet you, Lord Serdel.â
The nobles whispered.
âI heard that the Duke has a hidden daughter.â
The ladies quickly spread out their fans and covered their mouths. However, the whisper just grew louder and louder.
Itâs Alexa, who hasnât been able to attend official events for a while.
This is unavoidable because she is Duke Heurionâs illegitimate daughter, and it has been less than four years since he recognized her as his daughter. Therefore, the coming-of-age ceremony was completed by eating a small meal in the family without even having a debutante.
Naturally, the Duke didnât want her to join the aristocracy alone in his absence. Itâs because of the fear of not knowing what kind of mistake she might make. But, looking at it now, the Duke was squinting at Alexa.
âIn the meantime, she met Hershe.â
Hershe must have loved her, but he must have seen the background behind her. Besides, Duke Heurion probably didnât know about the relationship between the two.
Most likely, Hershe was able to come out in such a bold way because he thought of her as his support behind him.
âNice to meet you. Young Lady Alexa.â
Serdel raised her nose.
Even the Dukeâs daughter didnât have any power.
On the other hand, Serdel was the Countâs successor. She was mostly polite, but she didnât even have to bow down.
âItâs been a while. Duke Heurion.â
Instead, Serdel approached the Duke and showed a straight face. Elegance flowed from her, who had manners without any disturbance.
Oops, as if she wanted to, Alexa also approached Kartal and lifted the hem of her dress. However, many nobles who had already seen Serdelâs elegance didnât even pay attention to Alexaâs greeting.
âWell, thenââ
Before the conversation lasted longer, Chamberlain stepped forward. Cartal moved forward with him, and Serdel, who was about to follow, whispered very quietly near Alexa.
âDid you enjoy the secret love affair, Young Lady?â
For a moment, Alexaâs eyes became cold.
Serdel smiled softly.
Her relationship with Hershe was now a weakness for Alexa. The aristocratic society seemed to be open, but it was also subtly conservative.
Who knows if Hershe is alive and surviving? Of course, since he was already dead, he couldnât have had power.
As soon as there is a rumor that she seduced a man with a fiancee and broke the engagement, even the illegitimate child will be caught and cursed.
Whenever Hershe took advantage of her and abandoned her in the past, she always gave her a mocking look.
Serdelâs eyes were cold.
âHershe Maient is.â
Startled, Alexaâs shoulders trembled. She paid close attention in case someone had heard Serdelâs words. Then she made eye contact with the Duke Heurion, and her complexion turned pale instantly.
âI donât know if you received that love well. Of course.â
Serdel smirked at her as she passed her whose lips were turning blue.
âLady, are you all right?â Blenn asked carefully from behind.
âLord Serdel. Youâre like a villain with a rose in your mouth.â Beside her, the Lord of the Wizard Tower raised his thumb. âIt was very attractive.â
Serdel shrugged and told Blenn that she was fine.
The place where Chamberlain led them was an outdoor banquet hall. It was nice because the weather was clear and it wasnât stuffy because it was daylight. The large table, which was divided into several rows, was piled up with various treats.
The reaction of the nobles, who followed one after another, was not bad. They were seated where they were assigned. A familiar voice came from behind when Serdel was about to sit next to Cartal.
âLord Serdel.â
It was Damon.
She didnât expect to see him here.
The head of the family is poisoned, and he has to take care of his two half-brothers. She thought he couldnât go because he was too busy trying to get his family back in order.
âI almost couldnât come, right?â
He shook first so that Serdel wouldnât feel awkward talking.
âAre you okay?â
âIâm okay. Youâve become the successor. Congratulations.â
With greetings, he gave her a small gift box. There was a fountain pen inside.
âThank you.â
With a bright smile, he was also polite to Cartal.
âItâs been a while. Count.â
âHas your family been stable?â
âYes, thank you for your concern, my family has been very stable.â
âHow about the Marquis, is he okay?â
âHeâs still struggling a little bit, so he decided this morning to put down his duties and rest in the annex.â
It was said that he had stepped down as head of the family and was taking rest in the annex.
Serdelâs eyes widened.