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Chapter 21
‘A social party attendance quest?’
Lucy felt dazed.
‘Is this quest already appearing?’
What was the social party attendance quest?
It was a major event where she could raise the affection levels of all the male leads at once.
In the game, it was a party hosted by a noble lady Lucy had befriended, and Elisha did not even attend.
But now she was being invited to a social party hosted by Elisha.
‘Did the route change after succeeding in the imperial banquet quest?’
Either way, it was a perfect opportunity to raise the male leads’ affection levels all at once.
Lucy was happy.
Very happy, but…
‘If I attend the party with my negative stats…’
Wouldn’t it turn into a disaster?
Lucy glanced at Bartholomew.
During the imperial banquet quest, she had received a great deal of help from him.
But for a social party quest where she had to directly interact with the male leads, she could not rely on Bartholomew.
‘In the first place, I can’t keep depending on him every time.’
She needed to fix her negative stats before the party.
With that resolve, Lucy asked Bartholomew after her meal with the Emperor ended.
“Are you planning to attend the social party as well, Lord Bartholomew?”
“Do you need my help then?”
Lucy quickly shook her head.
“I would be glad if you came with me, but I’ve already received too much help from you.”
She looked at him with apology.
“Even today, you helped me a lot. You even attended the unexpected meal with His Majesty.”
It was by no means an easy situation.
The Emperor had taken interest in Bartholomew and asked him many questions, and each time Bartholomew had to respond carefully.
Not only that—
Whenever the conversation was about to turn toward Lucy, he smoothly stepped in and gave appropriate answers on her behalf.
For someone inexperienced in proper social interaction like Bartholomew, it must have been exhausting.
As Lucy had guessed, Bartholomew looked drained.
“If you don’t need my help, I will not attend the party.”
At his answer, Lucy nodded.
It was time for her to solve the quest on her own.
At the Emperor’s command, Lucy was no longer staying at the temple and was moved to a separate residence.
It was sudden, but not surprising.
She had danced and shown she could move normally, so there was no reason for her to remain in the temple.
After packing her belongings, there was still time before the carriage arrived to take her away.
Lucy went to find Bartholomew.
Unlike Lucy, who was leaving the temple, Bartholomew would remain.
When would he return to his estate?
Bartholomew raised his eyebrows when he saw her.
“What brings you here?”
He assumed Lucy would only come with a purpose.
She always had.
Lucy scratched her cheek.
“I came to say goodbye.”
At her words, Bartholomew looked at her silently for a moment.
Their short acquaintance was coming to an end.
Bartholomew was awkward with both meetings and farewells.
He had no experience with either.
He searched his mind for something to say and chose the most ordinary words.
“Then I wish you good health.”
Lucy widened her eyes.
“Lord Bartholomew. You’re speaking as if you’ll never see me again.”
“…Is that not so?”
“Of course not! That’s disappointing. I thought of you as a friend.”
Friend.
Lucy said it casually, but Bartholomew found the word unfamiliar.
He had never thought of Lucy as a friend.
At first, she was simply bothersome. Later, she was someone he owed a debt to.
As Bartholomew remained silent, Lucy spoke again.
“You’re not planning to cut ties with me, right? Just because we’re not in the temple together doesn’t mean we become strangers.”
She then recalled Bartholomew’s request.
“And you said you wanted to see Cerberus again.”
“Ah.”
Bartholomew nodded a beat late.
Thinking of meeting Lucy not because she was a “friend” but because of Cerberus made his confused feelings settle somewhat.
“So if you’re bored, or if you want to see Cerberus, come find me.”
“The princess?”
“Yes. Come to my residence. You’re always welcome.”
The imperial residence was not far from the temple, and if he wished, it was close enough to visit within a day.
Bartholomew still looked hesitant, so Lucy held out her hand.
“Promise me.”
She extended her pinky finger.
Bartholomew reluctantly hooked his own pinky around hers.
After the promise, Lucy finally smiled.
Bartholomew stared at her quietly as she smiled brightly.
“Oh, right.”
After releasing their fingers, Lucy added,
“I should also say goodbye to Cecil.”
With that, she left.
Watching her disappear, Bartholomew brought his hand to his chest.
A tight pain lingered there.
After Lucy was gone, the discomfort returned again, and he tilted his head.
It was strange.
It felt as though when Lucy was beside him, he could breathe more easily.
The night Lucy left the temple.
A visitor came to Bartholomew.
It was Duke Faraday.
He arrived in a state of great anger.
Having returned from a business trip after hearing that Bartholomew had attended the imperial banquet without permission, he immediately sought him out.
“What on earth were you thinking!”
At the duke’s shout, Bartholomew replied calmly.
“It was Lady Lucy’s request. I could not refuse.”
At the mention of the princess, the duke sneered.
“You mean that incompetent Princess Lucy, not Princess Elisha?”
At his words, Bartholomew’s eyelid twitched.
“If it were Elisha’s request, it would have been difficult to refuse. But Lucy? You could have easily turned it down!”
“I do not understand why you think so. To me, both princesses are the same.”
Bartholomew’s calm rebuttal only fueled the duke’s anger further.
“Bartholomew. You made a vow when you entered this family.”
“….”
“I have told you repeatedly, and you agreed to obey it.”
It was one rule.
To live without attracting attention.
The duke had taken Bartholomew in for that purpose.
How ironic it was.
If he wanted Bartholomew to remain unseen, he should not have taken him in at all.
Seeing Bartholomew remain silent, the duke sighed.
“Fine. Let’s say the banquet attendance couldn’t be helped.”
He ran a hand through his hair roughly.
There was something even more important than the banquet issue.
“You even met the Emperor privately. What did His Majesty say to you?”
“He suggested that I attend the social party.”
At the mention of the social party, the duke let out a hollow laugh.
“That’s absurd. You’re not planning to go, are you?”
“I am.”
The duke let out a deep sigh, trying to suppress his anger.
Then he asked casually,
“Did you take your medicine?”
He was referring to the emergency lethal drug.
Bartholomew answered calmly that he had taken it all.
“I prepared a new one.”
The duke took out a small bottle from his coat.
Bartholomew accepted it obediently.
It looked the same as before, but something was different.
A strange symbol was engraved at the bottom of the bottle.
“If your condition worsens, take it. It will be more effective than before.”
“Understood.”
Bartholomew put the bottle away in his coat.
Of course, he had no intention of ever taking it.
