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Chapter 20.
“Welcome, Roa.”
When I arrived at the embassy of the principality, the young lord’s fiancée, Stella, came out to greet me.
“Pony’s over there.”
“I can tell. I can hear her laugh all the way from here.”
“Her laugh is distinctive. Merina Ikel is here too. I really didn’t want to invite her, but since she’s Her Majesty the Empress’s sister, I couldn’t exactly leave her out.”
Stella frowned slightly, looking displeased.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“She’s over there, so try to avoid her. Since you came alone today, she probably won’t try to cling to you.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.”
Stella followed my gaze and let out a short, breathy laugh.
“She really is something else.”
No wonder — Merina was talking to the Crown Prince. So that’s where he’ll realize his feelings. I guess that moment is happening here.
“Well, at least that means we don’t have to worry about that.”
“True. I was afraid I’d be too busy to take care of you, but that’s a relief.”
“Don’t worry about it. Go on. I’ll go find Pony.”
Stella squeezed my hand before letting go and went back to greet more guests. She was handling it all so gracefully — truly the worthy heir of the Maritni Marquisate.
“Lady Levian.”
But as soon as my friend left my side, my luck ran out — I heard the cold, antagonistic voice of the male lead.
“Rosia of the House of Levian greets His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Good thing I took a Vitalin before coming today.
I didn’t even see when he left Merina’s side to come here.
“You came alone today?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
For some reason, the Crown Prince narrowed his eyes and looked me up and down, clearly displeased about something.
But since he’s the Crown Prince and I’m just a marquis’s daughter, his rudeness wasn’t surprising. Pointing it out would only make him angrier — as if it were predetermined to go this way.
“Ha! You used to show up with the Tower Master and hog all the attention, but what now? Did he abandon you?”
“The Tower Master and I aren’t in a relationship where one abandons the other, Your Highness.”
“Right. You were probably the one he abandoned.”
The Crown Prince started sneering at me out of nowhere. The fact that he was doing this could only mean one thing — Merina must’ve said something about me.
Something like ‘She’s caused me trouble’, perhaps?
So his temper switch got flipped again.
“Is that how Your Highness sees it?”
Before, I wouldn’t have been able to say a word to him — but now, I could smile sweetly and reply.
“What…?”
“May I ask whom Your Highness came with today? If you leave your partner alone to speak to another lady, people might think she has been abandoned instead.”
I was politely telling him to go back to Merina, but his reply was unexpected.
“I came without a partner.”
Wait, really?
I quickly sorted through my muddled thoughts.
In the original story, the Crown Prince realizes his feelings at a ball and starts inviting Merina to every event afterward. But that hasn’t happened yet in this timeline, has it?
So yes, he must’ve come alone.
“I see.”
“I’ll take pity on the lady abandoned by the Tower Master and escort you myself.”
“Your Highness, I am far too unworthy to stand by your side as your partner.”
I nearly stumbled back in shock, but managed to compose a suitable answer.
“Didn’t I just offer? How dare you defy me?”
“According to Your Highness’s own words, I am a woman abandoned by another man. Having such a woman by your side would only tarnish Your Highness’s image.”
Caught in his own words, the Crown Prince just opened and closed his mouth soundlessly as I quickly took a few steps back.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
Afraid he might try to grab me again, I hurriedly slipped into a nearby group of young ladies. Thankfully, he didn’t follow.
Why was the Crown Prince acting like this?
Did the Emperor perhaps order him to, fearing our family might align with the Tower Master? That must be it — otherwise, there’s no reason he’d bother with me.
Any other reason would be far worse.
Feeling queasy, I forced a bright smile.
“Good evening, everyone.”
“Oh, Lady Levian! Welcome!”
Luckily, there were a few friendly faces among them.
“It’s been a while, Lady Clen.”
Thanks to Violet, rumors had spread that Merina had pushed me at the last ball.
Even so, most people still believed I was the one who bullied Merina.
“Lady Levian, your necklace is stunning.”
“You wore it at the last ball too, didn’t you? I wanted to ask where you got it, but never had the chance.”
This time, unlike the large diamond I’d worn before, the necklace was made of dozens of teardrop-cut diamonds strung together like raindrops.
“Thank you for the compliment.”
I lightly touched the necklace to make it catch the light, and the blue diamonds gave off a clear, chiming sound.
“Oh my, did you hear that? Those must be top-grade diamonds.”
“I know, right? Where on earth did you buy it?”
“It’s a piece made by my family.”
Since the House of Levian had never dealt in jewelry before, everyone looked surprised.
“Lady Levian, I’d love to buy one. How can I?”
“They’re limited pieces, and some are being exported to the Principality, so there might be quite a wait. Would that be alright?”
“Of course!”
“I don’t mind waiting either.”
I could almost hear the price of the jewelry rising right then and there.
The reason I was so determined to make money wasn’t just for the prosperity of my house — but also to prepare for the worst.
If we were ever accused of treason, I’d need funds to send my family safely away to the Principality or another kingdom.
I always tried to prevent the worst, but you never know when something unpredictable might happen.
After a while, the topic shifted from jewelry.
“I’m looking forward to the upcoming hunting tournament.”
“Me too. Is everyone participating?”
“I can’t ride very well, so I’ll just be watching from the stands.”
The hunting tournament marked the end of the social season — and was also an important turning point in the original story.
“What about you, Lady Levian? Are you participating?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
I was planning to, but I left it vague.
I had to win the tournament — because the winner would receive a royal treasure, the Mirror of Truth.
“I plan to participate,” one lady said brightly. “Who knows? Maybe if I’m in danger, a gallant man will come save me!”
“Oh, how romantic! Is there someone you hope will rescue you?”
“Hmm, who might that be… perhaps Duke Lisiansius?”
A baron’s daughter blushed furiously, and delighted squeals rippled through the group.
And right then, Duke Lisiansius himself appeared — and called out to me.
“There you are, Rosia.”
By my name.
Wait — hadn’t he said he wouldn’t call me that anymore? Why now?
He looked as startled by his own words as I was.
Everyone — especially the lady who’d just said she wanted him to rescue her — stared between me and the duke, completely dumbfounded.
Even I was caught off guard, but I managed a polite smile.
“Good evening, Your Grace. I didn’t realize you’d be attending tonight’s party.”
Drawing a clear line, I kept my tone firm — and the duke’s expression darkened.
“I was having a lovely conversation with these ladies. Would you care to join us, Your Grace?”
Knowing that the duke disliked crowded spaces, I offered deliberately.
“Very well.”
But to my surprise, he strode right over to our table.
Those eager to speak with him took the opportunity immediately, and I quietly listened, pretending not to notice whenever his gaze drifted toward me.
“Good evening, everyone.”
As the conversation flowed, the host of the party — Young Lord Stein — approached our table. He began introducing some of the important figures from the Principality.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
“Ha ha, so this is the lady who’s been giving our young lord a hard time?”
A well-known merchant from the Principality looked me over with interest, stroking his gray beard as he smiled.
“Judging from the jewelry you’re wearing, my lady, you’re clearly holding the winning hand in any negotiation.”
Negotiation.
Right.
Everything comes with a price.
“You’re too kind, sir.”
The merchant hinted that he’d like to invite me for another conversation soon, and I replied warmly that I would be honored.
As the evening went on, I mingled with guests from the Principality, moving from table to table — and by the third time Duke Lisiansius and I changed seats, someone from the next table suddenly spoke up.
It was Merina.
