After leaving Miss Lilia with her homework, Charlotte departed from the Duke’s mansion.
This time, Lilia insisted on escorting Charlotte home, but Charlotte still felt there’d be sparks if Floleen and Lilia met, so he firmly refused.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
As soon as Floleen began to speak, she couldn’t stop.
Talking about her past with Charlotte, she had a smile in her eyes and at the corners of her lips.
“Back then, he used to care so much about me. Every few days, he’d come to the Weis Domain to see me. Childhood was so nice. I could see Charlotte once a week, not like now, when it’s hard to see him even once…”
Bella held a freshly bought berry sorbet, stirring it gently with a silver spoon.
Her lowered lashes concealed the cold glint in her eyes.
She’d only wanted to glean some patterns from Charlotte’s whereabouts, but Floleen was unexpectedly talking about all sorts of trivial old stories.
She really didn’t want to listen to this lovesick young lady’s rambling.
Still, Bella caught onto a few details and asked, “So even you, his fiancée, hardly get to see Marquis Charlotte now? Is he really that busy?”
“He is,” Floleen brushed her golden hair back by her ear, a hint of reproach in her tone.
“Just this morning, he went off to be a home tutor for some young lady again.”
Bella narrowed her eyes. “Marquis Charlotte even has other business in the Empire Capital? Teaching magic? Who could be so important as to invite Charlotte?”
She’d finally gotten some useful information.
Floleen’s eyes harbored a trace of dissatisfaction. “Who else could it be? It’s all over the Empire Capital lately—Lilia Karen. The Blue Rose Duke’s daughter.”
“Oh ho, so it’s her? Floleen, aren’t you afraid she’ll steal your fiancé? From what I hear, Lilia Karen is quite the beauty too—though, of course, she doesn’t compare to you.” Bella chuckled lightly.
Seeing Floleen’s expression sour, Bella knew the bait had been taken.
“Sigh, Floleen, I’m just gossiping, don’t be mad. So, when does Charlotte leave and come home each day? If you’re not stricter, who knows what might happen~” Bella kept probing.
“Why don’t you tell me? I’ll help you analyze it.”
“Well… I’m not really sure what time he leaves in the morning, but he comes home really late… Around 10 p.m., I think?” Floleen recalled that night and felt uneasy all over.
“Wow, that’s not good, Floleen. By your account, Charlotte and Lilia are together for seven or eight hours a day?” Bella said.
Just as Bella was about to follow up with more, the person she’d been waiting for appeared in her view.
“Floleen, why are you sitting out here?”
Charlotte’s voice was keenly picked up by Floleen.
She easily found where it was coming from, and all the displeasure on her face vanished, replaced by a delighted smile at the unexpected encounter.
“Charlotte, what are you doing here? I thought you’d be teaching her till late again today.” Floleen dove into Charlotte’s arms.
“Yesterday was because of some accident…” Charlotte gave Floleen a brief hug, then let her go.
“Marquis Charlotte, greetings. I am Bella Ennis, legitimate daughter of the Duke of Ennis.”
Charlotte glanced at Bella before turning to ask Floleen, “A friend of yours?”
Floleen introduced her, “Well, we only met today, but she’s always wanted to meet you.”
Bella’s manners were impeccable, but her smile was a bit odd, like a hunter’s excitement at seeing prey.
“Charlotte, I’ve admired you for a long time. I didn’t have time to prepare a gift today, but please accept this.” Bella drew out an Ennis family token from beneath her dress.
“Before the Emperor’s Banquet, it’s rare for nobles to have any free time. Tomorrow, I’d like to invite you to visit my residence in the Empire Capital as my guest. Please, don’t refuse.”
Charlotte gave a slight bow and, under Floleen’s resentful gaze, accepted the token.
“Then I shall accept your invitation.”
However, as he took the token, the corner of Charlotte’s eye twitched involuntarily…
Because the token was still warm—who knows where Bella had kept it just now.
Bella looked on with satisfaction as Charlotte accepted the token, her smile growing even wider.
“Well then, see you tomorrow, my idol, genius Charlotte. Meeting you today has made my whole day lucky, so I won’t disturb you two any longer.” Bella turned to Floleen.
“And thank you, Floleen, for showing a stranger like me around the Empire Capital. As a token of thanks, I’ll have Charlotte bring you a gift tomorrow.”
With a toss of her violet hair, Bella walked away with her head held high, lost in the thrill of her successful scheme.
Tomorrow… heh heh, Charlotte won’t see another tomorrow.
Watching Bella’s figure recede into the distance, Floleen finally spoke up to reproach Charlotte,
“Charlotte, it’s bad enough you do things behind my back, but right in front of your fiancée, you accept another noble lady’s invitation?”
Charlotte hadn’t meant to explain, but Floleen had clearly had her ear filled with gossip and was in a temper now.
After all, who wants to watch her own man flirting with a beautiful noblewoman right before her eyes?
Seeing that Floleen was genuinely upset, Charlotte replied in a mild tone, “Do you really think I’d be interested in someone like her? Her figure can’t compare to yours at all, can it?”
Floleen thought it over and realized—he was right!
Though Charlotte’s way of complimenting was a little odd, it was still praise!
If anyone else had said that, Floleen would’ve been angry—comparing her body like some object was so disrespectful. But since it was her beloved Charlotte, she let it go.
Floleen sighed, “I know you must have your reasons, but I do wish you’d tell me. It’s not like I’d ever reveal your secrets.”
Charlotte nodded, then explained, “Actually, I found that girl a bit odd. Floleen, did you notice anything?”
Floleen linked arms with Charlotte.
“Not really. She just seems like an ordinary noble lady—loves to spend money, proud to the bone, and practically oozing jealousy of me. I could see it in her eyes.”
After thinking for a moment, Floleen added, “She kept asking me about you.”
Charlotte suddenly stopped walking. “Oh? She kept asking about me?”
“That’s right. What unmarried noble lady wouldn’t? It’s normal.”
“My reputation in noble circles isn’t great. Would a noble lady really want to get close to me?”
Charlotte was aware of all the rumors about him.
Floleen smiled, looking at Charlotte’s confused face.
“That’s where you don’t get it. No matter your reputation, noble ladies will still flock to you. You’re handsome and capable, and those rumors aren’t even true.”
Charlotte only understood noble politics—like Aifel, he didn’t really get girls’ minds.
After all, ever since childhood, just by standing there, he’d been a dazzling presence.
But Charlotte’s intuition told him that woman definitely wasn’t interested in him romantically.
“She doesn’t see me that way—she must have another motive.”
Floleen grew worried. “So you just walk into her trap? Don’t you care about your own safety?”
Charlotte took Floleen’s hand again.
“All right, enough about that. Today I’ll take you to a great place to eat in the King’s Capital. Let’s not cook at home.”
Floleen understood Charlotte didn’t want to say more.
That was just how he was—awkward, unwilling to accept kindness from others.
On the way, Charlotte pondered: What did Bella really want? The Duke of Ennis from the East Territory—he’d hardly interacted with him.
If it was about interests, that was fine, but Charlotte had nothing he needed.
Suddenly, a terrifying thought crossed Charlotte’s mind.
Maybe… what the Eastern Duke wanted was his very life…
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