Chapter 20

“Nine, you just need to be handsome. The rest, I’ll ca…… no, I’ll take care of it.”

It was the psychology of people to bluff the more they’re scared.

In the end, I sent a wink flying towards Nine, who was walking with me towards the main gates, and attempted to send a look that said ‘You believe in me, right?’. Whether Nine found me exhausting or embarrassing, he turned away with his ears burning bright red.

Sorry, please forget it.

“Ha.”

Once we passed through main gates, there stood a very fancy carriage with the mark of the Royal Palace in front of the door, and in front of the carriage, Ian stood, dressed up in a uniform. He had an expression of slight boredom, but I became speechless because he was still handsome.

But our Nine is more handsome!

I glanced at Nine’s face and after regaining my confidence, I cleared my throat as we approached.

“Ahem, Cough, Ahem!”

“……? Ah, Melissa. Have you co……me?”

Ian, who had put on a bright smile that suggested he had been waiting for me, grew stony as he turned towards me. It was a very slight difference, so only I, who had been Ian’s biggest fan for 18 years, could tell.

You bastard, were you surprised?

However, I pulled on a naive smile that yelled I don’t know anything and hugged Nine’s arm.

“Yes, your Highness. I’m very thankful that you’ve come all the way here.”

“R, right…… But who is this man next to you?”

At Ian’s dumbfounded face, I called out shouts of delight inwardly. The moment I saw his face, all my fright, caution about defamation, and whatever were all blown away.

“Ah, this man? You don’t have to mind him. He’s my partner.”

“Partner……? Melissa, wasn’t I your partner?”

“Oh my. Your Highness had never accepted my request for a request at any of the parties prior to this one, so I thought you would find it uncomfortable at my request and generously found a partner for myself. Did I do something wrong?”

I shamelessly laughed “hoho” and peppered him with facts.

Ian was unable to agree or disagree and stood there with his tongue-tied.

“That…….”

“Why don’t your Highness take a chance and take another lady you love as your partner? Like Lady Linda from previously, aren’t there many of them? Even if it’s right before the party, I’m sure they would be delighted to be in your Highness’s presence.”

I advised him as if generously, and slowly turned around.

“Then, I shall see you at the party, your Highness.”

“Wait……! That, where are you going? The carriage is here…….”

Ian shouted after me hurriedly and pointed towards the Royal Palace’s carriage. Now that I look at it, it’s so ornate to the point that it almost looks cheap. And it’s creepy how the two-headed symbol of the Royal Palace is drawn on so detailed.

I swallowed the sigh that nearly slipped out.

Instead, I curved my eyes and smiled at the idiotic Ian and stabbed word after word into his head.

“Your Highness. Don’t you think it would be ridiculous if my partner and I were to ride in your Highness’ carriage?”

In fact, you would be found most ridiculous.

“I dislike awkward atmospheres.”

I neatly finished my sentences, turned my back against the ikemen behind us, and walked towards our Household’s carriage. My mouth was about to rip from my wide smile.

I humiliated him! Finally humiliated him!

It was a laugh far from a lady’s laugh, and closer to a perverted old man’s, but I was so happy, it was uncontrollable. In the end, I calmed down only after I received a glance from the carriage driver that wondered ‘what’s wrong with her?’ and boarded the carriage.

However, it was only the very start of everything.

The moment I walked into the party, I knew that humiliation I had planned for him would finally come to fruition.

“Huhuhu, huh……..”

“…….”

However, I didn’t know that Nine’s eyes were quickly growing chilly.

***

‘It was beyond my expectations.’

This was what I thought as I looked around at the people who snuck glances at me.

They were most likely surprised by the mere fact that the royal carriage rolled in powerlessly behind the duchy’s carriage. Duke Podebrat was still in the countryside and he was unable to attend the party, Jake habitually didn’t attend such events or he snuck in and back out, so the only person who would ride the duchess carriage was me. It was odd that Ian and I had disembarked from separately, but more than that there was a handsome man next to me whom they’ve never seen before.