LMTM 09

Chapter – 09

While I was looking around the banquet hall, a well-dressed man approached me. His steps were a little awkward and hesitant, but he was definitely looking straight at me.

“L-Lady Regifield.”

“…Young Lord Dawson.”

Thankfully, it was a face that existed in Reyna’s memories. That could have been embarrassing.

When I recognized him, Dawson’s face brightened.

“You know who I am?”

“Yes. I remember you. We talked briefly at a banquet before.”

“Haha, that’s right. I’ve been waiting for a chance to see you again. Looks like today is the day.”

Dawson edged closer to my side. Compared to earlier, he walked with a bit more confidence. Closing the distance, he tried to speak to me in a friendly way.

“You haven’t attended many social gatherings lately, so it’s been disappointing.”

I’d been busy chasing after Cesar all that time. And the spare time I had, I spent writing letters — the kind that would never reach him. Now that I’d stopped doing such pointless things, I actually had time. I could finally enjoy my own life.

“I’m planning to come out more often now. I think we’ll be seeing each other frequently.”

“That is wonderful news.”

While I was talking with Dawson, people slowly began gathering around. Of course. Being a Regifield, huh.

The Duke of Regifield’s family was prestigious — and they had Rochester, a Sword Master.

They said you could borrow millions of gold coins on Rochester’s name alone.

A country with a Sword Master had an entirely different level of national defense.

Are they all trying to get close to Rochester?

“I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Gelston from the Count of Tears’ household. If you’re free this weekend…”

“Hey! Wait your turn! Lady Regifield was speaking with me first!”

Dawson snapped.

Hold on.

“You haven’t even asked her on a date yet! There’s no such thing as ‘turns’ when it comes to asking someone out. If you like Lady Regifield, then just ask!”

Watching the two men argue, I realized something a beat too late…

Am I… being asked out on a date right now?

By two men at the same time?

Wow. This is a first.

So things like this really happen once you give up on Cesar.

“Lady Regifield, would you care to see an opera with me this weekend?”

“No, my lady — I heard the weather will be wonderful this weekend. Won’t you come out to the lake with me and ride a boat?”

They both spoke over each other.

Honestly, both of them looked decent. It’s just that Rochester and Cesar were above and beyond — this was what normal looked like. Tall, handsome. Too handsome can actually be a bit overwhelming. Look at Cesar — his face practically causes trouble. As for Rochester… he turned into the mastermind.

Anyway, they seemed like perfectly fine date candidates.

And besides, it wouldn’t hurt to show Cesar and Grace that I’m not in love with Cesar anymore.

And meeting good men, marrying one, and living well — that sounded pretty nice too. You need to meet people to figure out who’s worth marrying.

So I answered lightly:

“I don’t see why you’re fighting. The weekend has two days. Why not go boating one day and see the opera the other?”

“…Lady Regifield, you must be a genius!”

“What a brilliant idea! Then which shall we do first—”

Since Dawson spoke to me first…

“I’d like to go boating first.”

“I’ll come pick you up at eleven. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight from excitement.”

“The opera starts at three. How about lunch first, then the opera on Sunday?”

“Sounds good. There’s actually a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try.”

Of course — a Jane recommendation. And Jane’s picks had never failed me yet. Same with that dessert café Selena and I went to.

Wow.

So this is what it feels like when men fall from the sky.

Whew. Not bad at all.

＊ ＊ ＊

Around that time.

Cesar had also been invited to Selena’s birthday banquet. The invitation came to the imperial family, and Cesar was attending as their representative. The crown prince was away handling affairs in the frontier, and the emperor and empress were too old for such a youthful party.

Because of that, attention naturally gathered around Cesar, who arrived alone.

His gaze naturally drifted toward Reyna.

That corner of the room was filled with laughter, and oddly enough, Reyna in her sky-blue dress kept catching his eye. She looked the same as ever — except for one thing: the eyes that had always been crushed with tears were now sparkling.

The face that had always trembled on the verge of tears now had a pleasant smile.

The lips that had gone pale from sleepless nights were tinted pink.

The appearance that had made Cesar feel guilty — was completely gone. Reyna’s true self was finally showing.

“Then who on earth is prettier than her? Why do you think Lord Regifield gets so worked up when it comes to his sister?”

He remembered his fellow knight fussing over her. Cesar fixed Reyna with a strange look.

There were other differences, too.

Come to think of it, Reyna had eaten fairly well at the Halibord estate. In front of Cesar, she could hardly eat at all. She had changed — a lot.

“See? What did I tell you? Lady Regifield’s popularity is no joke.”

A fellow knight nudged Cesar in the side, chuckling. Cesar swatted his hand away.

“Feeling regret now?”

“…That’s nonsense.”

Cesar muttered quietly. It was simply irritating — the men standing beside Reyna.

He studied them. He knew who they were. The types you always saw at gatherings — young nobles who loved gossiping about romance like fools. Why them, of all people, with Reyna?

“Looks like Lady Reyna has finally broken away from you completely. Well, she’s young — she stayed hung up on you for too long.”

His colleague’s words slid right past him.

Where was Rochester? He’d been threatening to crush anyone who approached Reyna.

Cesar raked a rough hand through his hair.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look so well.”

“It’s nothing.”

He shook his head.

Who Reyna met or what kind of men they were — none of it had anything to do with Cesar. Their ties had been severed that day. Reyna had been the one to cut them, but he had wanted that, too. So there was no point in acting like a fool now.

Forcing himself, Cesar walked away.

Soon, people gathered around him again, and he shifted his attention elsewhere.

The banquet was only just beginning.

＊ ＊ ＊

When the party without its main character had gone on for quite a while, Selena finally appeared. Her face was pale. She looked sad — and angry. Because of that, no one dared approach the birthday girl.

But I would be fine.

I was her best friend, after all. I walked up to her and spoke. Selena’s expression darkened as she turned to me. Something must’ve happened with Grace. These days, he was the only one who could make her laugh or cry. Selena was madly in love with him — hotter than any romance.

“Selena.”

“…Reyna.”

“Did something happen? You don’t look well. And Grace—”

“Grace isn’t coming.”

She cut me off coldly.

What now?