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Chapter 12
I swear I had only exchanged greetings with Marquis Slanford once at a party in the past. And even then, we hadn’t really spoken much.
“It must just be a polite remark.”
It couldn’t possibly mean he truly cherished me from the depths of his heart.
Britya tried to calm herself and persuaded the count, who was glaring at her sharply.
“I can’t wait for the day I get to see your kind and warm eyes. I truly want to see you soon, Britya.”
Reading the words written on the invitation, the countess next to her blushed faintly.
“Ugh.”
Beside her, Leonie made a retching gesture.
“He says he wants to see you soon, Britya Slanford.”
“That’s not it!”
At the count’s accusation, Britya nearly screamed in frustration.
“You even said you wanted to touch the Grand Duke of Turas, and now secretly it’s the Slanford Marquis too?!”
“Creive.”
“I didn’t raise you like this!”
“I said that’s not true!”
Britya shot up from her seat and shouted.
“There’s nothing going on! I just know his name and face, that’s it!”
Despite her protest, Count Lockhart still didn’t look convinced.
“I thought our girl couldn’t get married because she had no men around, but turns out she’s not getting married because there are too many men,” the count whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
The countess giggled.
“So it seems, dear. We had nothing to worry about.”
“Even Hailey!”
“A mad dog, a playboy, and now another one?”
Leonie added her own remark.
“I told you it’s not like that. I have no relationship with Marquis Slanford, and certainly not with the Grand Duke either.”
“You can deny the marquis, but we saw what happened with the grand duke.”
The count chuckled. Britya let out a long sigh. No matter what she said, her family would keep teasing her about this for a while.
“A warm, kind gaze… We all have similar eyes. What if he thinks that about me too?”
“Then he might think the same about me too.”
Leonie and the count laughed, saying it was unpleasant.
“So what’s your taste exactly?” Leonie asked.
“Me?”
Leonie crossed her arms and thought for a moment.
“The mad dog is stronger than me, so he’s annoying. And that playboy’s smug face is irritating.”
She frowned.
“Is there no third option?”
“You’re greedy too, just like Tia.”
The count laughed.
“I prefer the playboy who seems scheming over the mad dog.”
“Why are you suddenly calling him Sig?”
Leonie narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“I just received his reply today.”
Leonie scoffed at how proud he looked over a single letter.
“So now you’re calling him Sig affectionately?”
“It’s a sign of closeness. We decided to be friends.”
“So you like the mad dog more than the playboy because he’s your brother’s friend?”
“Exactly!” the count winked.
“I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
Britya gave up. She was too tired to deny anything anymore.
“Don’t drink!”
“Don’t drink alcohol!”
As she tried to leave, the two shouted after her.
“I wasn’t going to anyway.”
Britya muttered and got into the prepared carriage.
“Why did I do that?”
As the carriage swayed, she fell into thought. She recalled the night she had no memory of after drinking.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember why she had done it.
Why had she thought he was “cute”?
Even though she supposedly said it herself, she couldn’t believe it.
“He did look fluffy.”
Like something that would feel good to touch. But asking to touch him—that was another matter entirely.
And Marquis Slanford had almost no connection to her. He was practically a stranger.
The only recent interaction they had was that he had promised to attend a party and then didn’t show up.
“Maybe he’s trying to apologize for that?”
That would make sense. But then why say things like wanting to see her eyes or missing her?
Besides, he had been invited by Count Lockhart, not her. If anyone needed an apology, it was the count.
Britya felt her thoughts growing tangled.
Would she run into him at the party today?
Sig said he disliked parties, so maybe not. But the marquis was known to enjoy them.
Surely Lady Rovelli wouldn’t have invited him for no reason…
The closer the carriage got, the more uneasy she became.
“Britya! You came!”
Lady Rovelli greeted her warmly, then looked around as if searching for someone, frowning slightly.
“I really wanted to see you. You look even brighter than last time.”
Her thick lips moved quickly as she complimented Britya.
“There’s someone I want to introduce to you today.”
Britya tilted her head in curiosity.
Who could it be?
Before she could think further, Lady Rovelli looked around again and clicked her tongue.
“Oh, sorry. I don’t see them right now. They were just here.”
“It’s fine, I can wait.”
Britya smiled politely.
“Good. Until then, enjoy the party.”
The duchess chuckled and left.
The noblewomen who followed her giggled as they passed Britya.
That laugh… what was that supposed to mean?
Britya frowned slightly.
Who was she supposed to meet?
Maybe she shouldn’t have come.
But then people recognized her and greeted her warmly, which lifted her mood a little.
“Britya!”
“I’m sorry I left early last time.”
“It couldn’t be helped, it rained so heavily.”
“I feel so relieved hearing you say that.”
A lady smiled, then glanced around and whispered:
“I was so surprised he came today.”
“Looks like he’s becoming more active in society.”
Britya didn’t understand what they were talking about.
“Who came?”
“Right over there.”
The lady pointed toward a corner of the hall.
Britya turned her head—and for a moment, she thought she was mistaken.
“I’ve never seen him in person either.”
“But I have at an imperial party. He looks even larger now.”
Who could possibly stand in a corner and still dominate the entire space like that?
“Have you heard the rumor about the Grand Duke of Turas?”
“That he tore someone’s mouth apart for insulting the Emperor?”
“No, I heard it was the Empress!”
The women grew excited.
“Britya, is it true the Grand Duke of Turas is here?”
“What is he like in person?”
“What connection does he have with Lockhart?”
Britya smiled awkwardly, feeling overwhelmed.
“Is it true he caused a drunken rampage?”
“They say he destroyed part of the Lockhart manor’s hall.”
“No, that’s not true!”
Britya was startled.
Those rumors were wrong. He had never caused such chaos—in fact, if anything, the Lockhart side had.
“I heard he smashes wine glasses when drinking.”
“In the North, there’s only snow, so they use forks?”
“Do they eat with their hands?”
“Right hand? Left hand?”
“Wait, what are you talking about?!”
Britya stopped them.
“None of that is true. He eats like any normal person.”
Why are they saying such things?
The ladies laughed.
“It’s just a joke, Britya.”
“We just asked because we heard rumors.”
“We wouldn’t actually believe that.”
But their tone sounded suspicious.
“He was very polite and proper.”
Sig was a good person. Even though he had done countless absurd things, she had forgiven them all.
“He didn’t deserve to be mocked at all.”
“Why ask things you don’t even believe?”
Britya was irritated.
“Don’t be angry.”
“We were just curious.”
“If it’s not true, then it’s not.”
They exchanged awkward glances.
“Ah!”
One lady gasped.
A massive shadow fell over Britya.
Even without looking up, she already knew who it was.
