Chapter 19
The day of the investiture ceremony for Marquis Maxwell had arrived.
To welcome their newest member, the nobles of Heriot were gathering at the Imperial Palace Banquet Hall.
“…….”
Ian stood by the window of the Crown Prince’s Office, looking down at the carriages coming and going.
Dressed in full formal attire for the banquet, his posture—standing still with arms crossed—exuded the dignity and composure unique to a Crown Prince.
In contrast to his calm demeanor, however, his blue eyes were restlessly tracking the people stepping out of the carriages.
‘I’m certain invitations were sent to every house…….’
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the palace attendants, but he had double and triple-checked the list just in case.
He had only felt a sense of relief after confirming the Viscounty of Dines on the attendee list.
So why couldn’t he see her?
Every time a carriage arrived or departed, Ian’s body would lean forward in anticipation, only to settle back in repeated disappointment.
“Brother?”
Just then, Maximilian, who was sitting nearby, called out to him.
Maximilian sat across from the desk, his cheeks bulging as he chewed on taffy.
Ever since the fire incident, which had apparently left a deep impression on him, he had been following Ian around like a shadow.
From Ian’s perspective, it was nothing short of a nuisance.
“Why are you just standing there? Are you waiting for someone?”
“Me? Waiting for someone? Hah. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Ah, then you must be monitoring the movements of the Imperial Palace even at this moment! You truly are the best, brother!”
“If your mother heard that, she’d have another fit.”
Ian shook his head, clicking his tongue.
However, if he kicked Maximilian out now because he was annoyed, the Empress would surely throw a tantrum, wailing about the Crown Prince mistreating his younger brother.
“Just eat more candy. There’s plenty in that drawer.”
“Wow, you’re the best, brother!”
‘I’d be even more grateful if you took them and left.’
Swallowing the words he truly wanted to say, Ian turned his gaze back out the window.
When he saw another carriage approaching in the distance, his neck craned forward instinctively.
He suddenly realized what he was doing and felt a pang of self-consciousness at Maximilian’s earlier question.
‘……Waiting? Hardly. I just need to ask Lobelyn Dines about the fire that day.’
How on earth had she known a fire would break out?
He had been thinking of nothing but her because he was curious about that.
At that moment, he saw a carriage pull up to the entrance.
‘Ah.’
A woman with familiar brown hair stepped out of the carriage.
Ian’s eyes lit up at the appearance of the woman he had been waiting for so long.
“Oh, this is actually pretty cool…….”
Unaware of anything, Lobelyn was looking around the Imperial Palace in admiration.
Though she had attended numerous palace banquets as a viscount’s daughter, visiting the palace for the first time since regaining her memories of her past life felt entirely different.
The sight of nobles gathered in small groups chatting excitedly and servants hurrying past only heightened her anticipation for the banquet.
“Come on, the banquet starts soon. Let’s hurry.”
The servants rushing by were carrying bottles of champagne.
Seeing this, Lobelyn shook her head.
‘Ugh, I am never repeating the mistake I made at Count Cale’s estate.’
If she hadn’t snatched Cornelia’s rosé wine that day, none of those incidents would have happened.
So today, she planned to be careful, and then careful again.
‘Come to think of it, how can a single glass of wine make someone lose their memory like that?’
Thinking back, it was strange.
Of course, she had snatched and downed drinks whenever men tried to give them to Cornelia before.
But it hadn’t been enough alcohol to cause a total blackout…….
The mystery was solved sooner than expected.
“Look over there, it’s Duke Bolton.”
“Ugh, let’s get away. I don’t want to speak to that man for even a second.”
“Oh, why?”
“He’s a total creep. If that Duke offers you anything to eat or drink, don’t you dare accept it. He spikes them with strange things.”
Lobelyn overheard two women whispering.
Her ears perked up, and she ducked behind a nearby pillar to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“In fact, there was that whole mess at Lady Furby’s tea party because of his disgusting behavior.”
“Oh my, what happened?”
“He tried to pull that stunt on Lady Furby, and the moment she drank it, she collapsed right there. Apparently, her body couldn’t handle it.”
“Goodness.”
“That’s why he was under house arrest. But since today is a day where all the empire’s nobility gather, he crawled back out. Ah, he’s coming this way. Let’s go.”
The two ladies looked around to see if anyone had overheard their gossip and quickly hurried away.
Fortunately, they didn’t spot Lobelyn hiding behind the pillar.
‘There’s actually a piece of trash like that?’
Lobelyn seethed with rage at the behavior of Bolton, who was essentially toxic waste beyond the point of recycling.
At the same time, she heard heavy footsteps approaching.
‘Let me get a good look at his face. I’ll make sure he never gets anywhere near Connie.’
Lobelyn peeked out slightly to check the face of the approaching man.
She vowed to commit his face to memory.
However, the moment she saw the thin, sly mustache clinging to the edges of his upper lip, Lobelyn’s eyes widened.
‘That man!’
He was definitely a familiar face.
‘He’s the man who gave Cornelia the rosé wine at Count Cale’s estate!’
She remembered him clearly.
She had mocked him inwardly for walking around with that mustache, thinking he looked like he had a bug stuck to his face.
To think a guy like that was trying to make a move on Cornelia.
‘Even his mustache grows like trash, just like him!’
Lobelyn’s last memory of that day was the rosé wine he had handed her.
If it hadn’t been for that, she wouldn’t have even gotten involved with Ian!
‘He was the source of all my problems!’
Lobelyn glared at Duke Bolton as if she were about to finish him off with her gaze alone.
In that instant, the Duke, who had been strolling along and snorting to himself, came to a dead halt.
“Snort?”
Sensing the sharp gaze directed at him, the Duke looked around.
But the surroundings were quiet.
“Sniff, was it just my imagination?”
Scratching the back of his head, the Duke suddenly remembered something and rummaged through the inside of his jacket.
In his hand was a water bottle filled with a sloshing red liquid.
“Heehee, today for sure…….”
Peeking out from behind the pillar again, Lobelyn saw the vivid red color clearly.
That was definitely—!
‘He’s a total creep. If that Duke offers you anything, don’t you dare accept it. He spikes them with strange things.’
Recalling the ladies’ gossip from moments ago, she could guess the nature of that drug.
He clearly hadn’t learned his lesson after causing such a scene at Baron Furby’s estate.
If he was left like this, another victim was bound to suffer!
‘W-what should I do? Should I pretend to talk to him and then snatch the drug and run?’
To do that, she had to speak to him before Duke Bolton put the drug back in his pocket.
Without a second thought, Lobelyn was about to step out in front of the Duke.
Whoosh—
“Gasp!”
Suddenly, a strong force pulled her from behind, dragging her away from the Duke.
Lobelyn lost her balance and was about to scream, but a large hand was faster.
As the hand abruptly muffled her mouth, Lobelyn struggled and resisted.
“Mmph! Mmmph! Mmph!”
“Lobelyn Dines, stay still.”
“Mmph?”
The low voice near her ear made Lobelyn freeze instantly.
When she stopped resisting, the hand covering her mouth slowly pulled away.
Only then did a familiar scent fill her lungs.
“It’s me, Ian.”
“Your Highness?”
Looking over, Duke Bolton had already disappeared.
Damn it, she shouldn’t have let that man go like that!
In the meantime, Ian grabbed Lobelyn’s shoulders and turned her around.
Her plan thwarted, Lobelyn looked up at him with sharp eyes.
“W-what do you think you’re doing?”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Pardon? Me?”
Lobelyn felt somewhat wronged.
“I didn’t do anything wrong……!”
……Well, maybe not nothing .
After all, she was planning to steal Duke Bolton’s property.
About to protest, Lobelyn closed her mouth again and lowered her head.
“…….”
Ian stood with his arms crossed, looking down at Lobelyn with a piercing gaze.
‘What? If you have something to say, just say it.’
Lobelyn lifted her head again to look up at Ian.
He seemed extremely displeased, his shoulders rising and falling with slightly heavy breaths.
His lips twitched several times, but no words came out.
Finally, Lobelyn spoke first to break the uncomfortable silence.
“Your Highness. If I may explain myself first—”
“Lobelyn Dines. Are you telling me your taste runs toward men like that?”
