THJDM 24

chapter 24

Still, it wasn’t yet the worst-case scenario.

People had recognized her, but Elion hadn’t.

Even if a report were to come out, it would be about Rubiana and some handsome man, not about her.

Please… I hope no one who recognizes Elion shows up until the very end…!

On Rubiana’s pale, tense face, worry surged like a tide, and Elion felt it wash over him.

Damn… I miscalculated. I didn’t think walking through a busy street in broad daylight would attract so much attention. This is dangerous. It won’t do the young lady any good to get involved with me unnecessarily.

Most people didn’t recognize him.

But if even one of them did, news that he and Rubiana had strolled through the marketplace would quickly reach the royal court.

That could not happen. Not under any circumstances.

He couldn’t let Rubiana and her family become targets of the empress’s suspicion because of him.

A simple meal to express gratitude for saving her life could be explained away, but being seen walking together through a shopping district could easily lead to all sorts of misunderstandings.

Elion spoke with a heavy voice.

“It can’t be helped, Your Highness. I’m sorry, but we should just return.”

“Huh? Why… why is that?”

“I don’t like drawing attention. It usually leads to troublesome situations.”

He frowned.

“I’ll head back to the Grand Duke’s residence. I’ll make sure not to be late for dinner.”

“Ah…”

“You should return for now, and then go out again with your maid.”

Rubiana hesitated.

She couldn’t let him leave just yet.

There was a place she absolutely had to go with him.

She was still aware of the people around them and fearful that tomorrow’s gossip column might carry a story, but she couldn’t give up.

I may not be the proper lady yet, but I have to do what I can as the lady of the house. I have to protect the capital.

Rubiana grabbed Elion’s hand.

The sudden touch made his eyes widen slightly.

“Could you… stay with me? Actually… there’s a place I want to go with Your Highness.”

“What? You want to go somewhere with me? Somewhere other than the Count’s residence?”

Elion tilted his head, clearly puzzled.

Rubiana looked up at him and parted her lips.

“Th… the circus.”

“What?”

Perhaps her voice had been too soft, as he asked again, clearly not hearing her.

Rubiana mustered her courage and spoke louder.

“The circus.”

“The circus? Just like that?”

Elion’s expression was full of questions.

She had planned to visit a bookstore or a dessert shop, alone.

There had been no mention of the circus at all.

“That’s…”

Rubiana hesitated.

I can’t say, “Because we need to go to the Gria District from here.”

Since they were in the middle of a bustling shopping street, she couldn’t use any “grab and drag” tactics.

So all she could do was appeal to his sympathy with a tearful act.

Rubiana looked up at Elion with eyes already moist.

Though there were still onlookers, she decided to ignore them for now.

Focus.

For now, the top priority was to use the excuse of wanting to see the circus to go to the Gria District with Elion.

“I’ve been feeling a bit down lately.”

“……”

Elion’s pupils wavered.

She felt half-successful already, having stirred some emotion.

“Thanks to Your Highness, my life was saved, but I’m not fully healthy yet. It’s natural to feel depressed when I don’t know when I might die.”

“……”

Elion’s heart thudded at the low, heavy tone of Rubiana’s voice.

He wanted to comfort her, but didn’t know what to say.

“But I thought… if I went to the circus… saw a lively performance… maybe it would help me feel better.”

“I see.”

Elion slowly nodded in agreement with her words.

“I wanted to go to the circus with someone, not alone. Someone who could understand my gloomy mood.”

That someone… was him.

Having said what she could, Rubiana fell silent, waiting for his response.

She silently prayed that her quarter-hearted act would at least provoke his sympathy.

“…Alright.”

Finally, he gave permission.

Rubiana felt both joy and surprise at his answer.

Is the Grand Duke… indecisive and bad at refusing requests? Or is he strong with the strong, and gentle with the weak—strong-weak, strong-weak?

His blue eyes looked down at her with tender compassion.

Replacing her heavy, subdued tone with an excited one, Rubiana almost shouted:

“Then let’s go to the costume shop first!”

“Let go of my hand first.”

“Ah… yes.”

Startled by his words, Rubiana quickly released his hand, berating herself for not noticing she had been holding it all this time.

The two entered the Cornice Costume Shop.

“The men’s section is on the third floor.”

“Alright. Let’s go up.”

As they began to climb the stairs, Elion’s communication stone flashed.

It was a black communication stone.

“Fred. If the young lady goes up first, I’ll follow shortly.”

“Yes, sir.”

A perceptive employee approached and guided Elion to a private lounge.

Rubiana began climbing the stairs alone.

When she reached the second floor, she ran into the trio of ribbon-haired young ladies she had met earlier.

Ugh… such bad timing. I just stepped on a landmine.

Rubiana clenched her teeth and sighed internally.

It seemed they had just finished ordering their dresses and were about to leave.

Though slightly surprised, Rubiana decided to ignore them and keep walking.

She didn’t want to waste precious time and energy on irrelevant people.

Especially when they were hostile, there was no reason to engage.

There were far more important and enjoyable matters in the world.

“Oh, Rubiana, fancy seeing you again!”

“I saw you with the Countess. Back again?”

“What did you come to buy?”

But perhaps Rubiana was an interesting target to them.

They called out to her with bright, taunting smiles.

Rubiana didn’t reply; she scanned the trio briefly and moved on as if she didn’t know them.

As if a familiar acquaintance tried to acknowledge you, and you simply passed without a word.

In her previous life, her first life, she could never have acted like this.

But now it was different.

She had to distinguish between people important to her life and those who weren’t.

These three were not only unimportant, but also harmful.

Keeping her eyes off them, Rubiana moved forward.

I can’t look like I’m running away! Running is right, but I can’t let it show! I must appear indifferent! Coldly indifferent!

She repeated this mantra in her mind, gathering mental strength.

Yet the trio was persistently annoying.

Soon, sharp voices pierced Rubiana’s ears.

“Hah! What’s this? Rubiana, are you ignoring us?”

“How rude! We were happy to see you again and said hello.”

“Did something happen to make you so upset? Are you taking it out on us?”

Rubiana smirked crookedly.

You know well enough. Yes, I am ignoring you.

How could I be happy to see you again, after all the gossip you spread about me behind my back!

Yes, I’m in a bad mood meeting you. But I won’t vent.

I don’t have the time or energy for people unworthy of my attention.

She had much to say, but knew it was pointless.

Rubiana had no intention of speaking with them.

With another cold smile, she slowly opened her mouth.

“I’m a bit busy. Excuse me.”

Just as she stepped forward, a blonde young lady slapped Rubiana on the shoulder.

“Hey, who do you think you are? Ignoring our greeting?”

“Seriously. It’s too much. Born into a spiritist family and you can’t even become a spiritist. Who do you think you are, ignoring us?”

“Even if you ignore us, we should ignore you too. Why are you ignoring us?”

The atmosphere grew tense, and the employees began to panic.

They wanted to avoid a public confrontation among the young ladies at all costs.

Then, from somewhere, a deep, ominous voice sounded:

“What’s all this commotion blocking the way?”