Chapter 21
21.
“Phew, that was a close one.”
After putting some distance between herself and Duke Bolton, Lobelin let out a sigh of relief.
Her heart was still racing at the thought that Cornelia might have been victimized if things had gone wrong.
‘I need to stay as far away from that perverted Duke as possible.’
Lobelin took Cornelia by the hand and hurried toward a corner of the banquet hall.
“Bell, thank you.”
“Hmm? For what?”
“I mean Duke Bolton. Honestly, I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. He kept talking to me, and I didn’t know when I could leave, but it’s all thanks to you.”
Cornelia let out a slightly exaggerated sigh and clutched her chest.
Looking at her, Lobelin felt a strange sense of pride.
“Ahaha, I couldn’t just stand by and watch Connie get caught by that balding monster.”
“Bell, the Duke isn’t bald. His hair is just a bit… sparse. Pfft.”
At her own words, Cornelia couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.
Lobelin and Cornelia sat at a table set to one side and chatted, giggling for a long while.
Since she had spilled the glass containing that foul drug, Lobelin felt much lighter, knowing Duke Bolton wouldn’t be able to try anything else today.
“Ladies, if the two of you would care to spend some time with us…”
“Ah, we already have company. I’m sorry.”
Young noblemen approached them from time to time to ask them to join, but Cornelia politely declined each time.
After this happened about three times, Lobelin suddenly became curious.
‘Is Connie not interested in men? No, maybe she’s turning everyone down because she already has someone in mind.’
Please let it be Brian!
In an instant, Lobelin’s eyes sparkled.
Her shoulders twitched with excitement; she couldn’t just sit there acting like she didn’t know anything.
If she was curious, she had to ask.
“Connie, you said we have company. Who are you talking about?”
“Huh? Oh, that…”
“Could it be Bri—”
“Who else? It’s you, Bell.”
Ah, I see.
Lobelin, who had been hoping to hear the fanfare of the original protagonists’ romance, felt the wind go out of her sails.
Still, since she had already started questioning, she decided to push a little further.
“Connie, is there anyone you like?”
“Someone I like? Why so sudden?”
“Well, we’re both getting close to marriageable age. It’s time to start thinking about it.”
“Hmm…”
At Lobelin’s words, Cornelia tilted her head.
Perhaps it was because she had such a good time with her friends, but she had never really felt the need for a lover.
“To be honest, I haven’t thought about it much. I assume my parents will pick a good partner for me.”
Cornelia replied with a shrug.
She wasn’t wrong.
Usually, noble marriages were formed based on various interests rather than affection.
And Cornelia was an obedient daughter who had never gone against her parents’ wishes.
However, for Lobelin, this was something she couldn’t let slide.
‘If it’s a marriage arranged by her parents, it’ll end up being Ian!’
No, Connie! Only a fate of rolling through the mud awaits you on that path!
‘Besides, the in-laws’ situation seems quite complicated!’
Furthermore, hadn’t Ian mentioned recently that he wasn’t on good terms with the Empress?
Though he had brushed it off when she asked again.
But even so, she couldn’t just abruptly demand that the unsuspecting Cornelia avoid marrying into the Imperial Family.
After taking a moment to catch her breath, Lobelin gripped Cornelia’s arm with a serious expression.
“Connie, I don’t think so.”
“Huh?”
“No matter what anyone says, it’s your marriage. You have to meet someone who can truly make you happy!”
And that someone is Brian Raven.
“A man shrouded in lies is absolutely out of the question! I won’t allow it! You must keep that in mind!”
And that refers to Ian Heriet.
Lobelin looked intently into Cornelia’s eyes.
Cornelia stared back blankly for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“Oh, Bell. Why are you being so serious all of a sudden? Fine. I’ll look for a good person just like you said. How’s that?”
“Yes, Connie. Start by looking closely at those around you!”
Lobelin nodded with a determined look.
Watching her, Cornelia giggled and asked playfully.
“But Bell, the way you’re talking makes it sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
“What?”
“I just wondered why you were getting so fired up. Is there someone I don’t know about? Did some man lie to you like that?”
Her eyes full of curiosity, Cornelia scooted her chair closer.
“W-what? No. It’s just how I feel for you.”
Stung by the accuracy of the remark, Lobelin looked away and denied it.
Actually, she was right. It was from experience.
That man she had broken up with in her past life—the one she didn’t even want to call an ex-boyfriend.
‘Hey! You lied about your age, too? And you don’t even work at that company? Say something!’
‘…I’m sorry.’
‘This is ridiculous. What else did you hide? Tell me everything while you’re at it.’
‘Actually… I’m getting married next month.’
‘You bastard!’
Everything Lobelin had known about him in her past life had been a lie.
The sense of betrayal was even greater because they had met through a trusted superior’s introduction, and she had been a wreck for a long time afterward.
Comparing that guy to the original Ian, it was hard to tell which one was more of a piece of trash.
Anyway, that was a matter of her past life now, so Lobelin quickly shook her head to clear the memory.
“Ahem. Anyway, keep my words in mind, Connie. Your life depends on it.”
“Yes, yes, I understand. Oh, I think it’s about to start!”
As their conversation ended, the gathered nobles busily took their places on either side of the banquet hall.
Lobelin and Cornelia also stood up and moved toward the front.
“His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, and His Highness the Second Prince are entering!”
At the servant’s booming voice, the massive doors of the banquet hall swung open.
The nobles bowed their heads in unison.
Some peeked up, stealing glances to catch a glimpse of the most noble beings in the Empire.
Once the Imperial Family took their seats on the high dais, the nobles straightened their backs and adjusted their postures.
“Bell, isn’t His Highness looking this way?”
“What?”
While Lobelin was smoothing out her dress, Cornelia whispered beside her.
When she looked up at the dais, she saw that Ian was indeed looking in their direction.
Lobelin flinched for a moment but quickly reassured herself it couldn’t be.
‘No way, there are so many people here. It must be my imagination.’
However, even when she looked away and then back again, his gaze remained fixed on her area.
And he was staring quite intensely.
‘Ugh, what is it this time!’
When Ian’s head moved to follow Lobelin as she shifted slightly to the side, she could no longer deny it.
Ian was monitoring her.
…Though she had no idea why he was monitoring her so passionately.
At that moment, the servant’s voice boomed through the banquet hall once more.
“Cedric Maxwell, come forward before His Majesty the Emperor and swear your oath of loyalty!”
The doors opened again, and another man stepped into the hall.
In that instant, a murmur broke out among the nobles.
“Is that the future Marquis I’ve heard so much about?”
“Oh my, he’s much more handsome than his portrait.”
“Goodness. To think he stayed hidden in the marquisate with looks like that? What a waste.”
The whispers spread, primarily among the young ladies and noblewomen.
Lobelin also stared blankly at Cedric’s face as he entered.
‘Wow, so people like that actually exist.’
Ian and Brian were certainly handsome men worthy of being novel characters, but Cedric was a delicate beauty with a different kind of charm.
The white formal uniform he wore for the occasion highlighted his skin, which was as fair and clear as his eyes.
Ignoring the admiring gazes of the crowd, Cedric ascended the dais and slowly knelt on one knee before the Emperor.
“I, Cedric Maxwell, swear to be the most loyal subject of Heriet.”
“Mm.”
Nodding as if satisfied by Cedric’s oath, the Emperor raised his rapier and placed it on the young man’s shoulder.
After several set procedures and responses, the investiture ceremony concluded.
The gathered nobles welcomed the new peer with thunderous applause.
“Congratulations, Marquis Maxwell.”
“…Ah.”
Ian also approached Cedric, offering his congratulations and extending a hand.
Cedric stared at the hand for a moment before taking it and nodding.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I actually wanted to thank you for the previous matter.”
“The previous matter? Have we met before?”
“Actually, the Elden Merchant Guild belongs to me. If it weren’t for Your Highness’s soldiers during the recent fire, I would have suffered a great loss.”
“Is that so? Elden is yours?”
Ian looked slightly surprised by this new information.
Until now, everyone had assumed the guild was run by a wealthy merchant of commoner origin.
“Since I am still young and of frail health, my butler has been acting as my representative in many matters.”
“Ah, I see.”
“That is why I truly wanted to express my gratitude regarding the fire. However, might I ask how Your Highness knew the fire would break out?”
“Ah, actually, it wasn’t me, but—”
