“Princess Clecia?”
Lilia had been eavesdropping outside the door that day. Charlotte wanted his father to support this princess.
To be honest, even though Charlotte claimed it was for Lilia’s future, she wasn’t going to buy it.
No matter how he framed it, the fact remained that he was helping Princess Clecia first.
Charlotte had requested that Duke Ryan support Princess Clecia, and the condition he offered was that she would provide security for Lilia in the future.
This was the difference between active and passive support.
In Charlotte’s eyes, it might have been a win-win situation, but the girl didn’t necessarily see it that way.
Charlotte was actively helping Princess Clecia while only passively helping Lilia.
This meant that in his heart, Clecia was more important than Lilia.
Clecia walked gracefully toward the two of them.
“Miss Lilia, Marquis Charlotte, good evening. Please allow me to apologize for my brother’s rude behavior just now. I am sorry for the unpleasantness you encountered before the banquet even began.”
“Lilia, this is one of my few friends. Would you like to get to know her?” Charlotte said to Lilia.
“Who wouldn’t know Princess Clecia? She is the most beautiful woman in the entire Empire.”
There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Lilia’s tone.
Why were all the people Charlotte knew such beautiful young girls?
Clecia smiled slightly and tilted her head. “Thank you for the compliment, Miss Lilia. You are equally beautiful.”
Clecia then leaned in and whispered into Charlotte’s ear, “Didn’t I write you a letter? It would have been best if you didn’t come tonight. Why did you still…”
Clecia had heard some rumors, so she had written to Charlotte in advance.
However, she also knew that in order to maintain his image as a member of the Neutral Faction, it was impossible for Charlotte not to show up.
“You say that as if you weren’t looking forward to me coming.”
Watching the two of them acting so intimately, Lilia’s brow furrowed.
Lilia, who was not very good at socializing, didn’t even know that the relationship between a man and a woman could be this close.
Usually, noble etiquette ended with a handshake.
Why did it look like they were almost about to kiss?!
“Aren’t you two standing a bit too close…?”
Hearing Lilia’s disgruntled tone, Clecia finally pulled away from Charlotte.
She laughed awkwardly. ‘Is this girl protecting her food?’
“Ah… I just had something to discuss with Marquis Charlotte, so…”
Lilia wasn’t going to be fooled so easily.
Previously, she was someone who could go toe-to-toe with Charlotte’s fiancée.
“What business could you possibly have with Charlotte?”
Charlotte seemed to smell the scent of gunpowder in the air again.
Lilia usually seemed quite gentle, so why did she start hissing like a cat whenever they were in front of others?
Charlotte tried to smooth things over. “Lilia, we are both students in the Magic Department of the Kalishi Academy, so we were just chatting about some private matters.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Is that so? Then Princess Clecia will be my Senior Sister in the future. Why don’t you share some interesting stories about the Academy with me?”
Lilia hated it when other women occupied Charlotte’s attention.
Seeing Lilia starting to be relentlessly demanding again, Charlotte gave her a pointed look.
Lilia pouted aggrievedly, but since Charlotte was her Teacher after all, she didn’t mind listening to him.
“Lilia, go get something to eat first. Clecia and I have serious business to discuss.”
Lilia didn’t move. She just stared at Charlotte as if to say, ‘You at least have to bribe me.’
Charlotte massaged his forehead.
“The next time you want to go out and play, just write me a letter. I’ll take you out under the guise of teaching.”
“No problem.”
Only then did Lilia nod in satisfaction and leave. Charlotte really was clever; she had long since grown tired of staying at home.
……
At that moment, the music in the banquet hall suddenly changed as a melodious dance tune began to play.
First Prince Gelis, the host of the banquet, stepped forward. He stood in the center of the stage, surrounded by the spotlight.
His gentle voice was broadcast to every corner of the hall by magic, sounding both soft and powerful.
“Honorable nobles and dear young talents, good evening! I, Gelis, in the name of the First Prince of the Empire, extend my most sincere thanks to all of you for attending this evening’s banquet. Among those present, there are rising stars with extraordinary magical talent, warriors who have distinguished themselves on the field of swordsmanship, and even pillars of the state with great strategic minds and ambitions. Tonight is an opportunity for everyone to make friends, and also a chance for everyone to get to know me. I organized this banquet not for superficial socializing or pointless displays, but to find like-minded individuals. Now, I toast to you all! I hope you all have a wonderful time.”
Clecia looked at her elder brother with disdain. “He only knows how to speak in platitudes.”
Charlotte asked, “He’s doing it to recruit talent. What about you? Aren’t you going to hold a banquet to recruit some people as well?”
Clecia suddenly became unhappy. “How would I dare? Those Regent Ministers all think I’m redundant. If I dared to openly recruit talent, wouldn’t that be an open challenge to my eldest and second brothers? If I really did that, I expect most people would just come to propose marriage. I can’t be bothered with that. Besides, having you is enough.”
After saying that, Clecia tactfully extended her pale and slender hand. “Marquis Charlotte, would you care to dance with me?”
“I would be delighted.”
Charlotte took Clecia’s hand. It felt soft, smooth, and cool to the touch.
The sensation was excellent, as if her hand were almost boneless.
Facing such a exquisite hand, Charlotte directly interlaced his fingers with hers.
This interlocking of their fingers made Charlotte feel as if he had complete control over Clecia.
Clecia was somewhat surprised. Charlotte was being remarkably proactive tonight.
Beneath her surprise, Charlotte’s keen perception felt Clecia tremble slightly.
“Are you afraid?” Charlotte’s emerald-green eyes betrayed no emotion.
Or rather, whatever look you gave him, he would respond with a corresponding emotion.
If you thought he should be a gentle person, those emerald eyes would be incredibly warm and sincere.
If you thought he was a sharp person, his gaze would become extremely aggressive, glowing green like a wolf in the night.
“Why would I be afraid of you!” Clecia was very defiant; she was unwilling to admit that she had just been startled by Charlotte.
It turned out that if Charlotte really wanted to, he was fully capable of…
Previously, the reason Clecia dared to act coquettishly in front of Charlotte was entirely out of self-confidence.
She believed Charlotte wouldn’t do anything to her, and she believed she had the ability to resist him.
But just now, when Charlotte aggressively took her hand, Clecia found herself unable to offer even a hint of resistance.
She was completely swept along. It seemed she would have to re-evaluate the power gap between her and Charlotte.
Charlotte allowed a rare smile to appear, giving Clecia an out. “Princess Clecia, is this your first time dancing?”
Charlotte held Clecia’s hand and led her toward the center stage.
Along the way, the young noble men and women all made way for them—who would dare to block Charlotte and Princess Clecia?
Clecia, having lost the initiative, was completely at a loss. She could only nod in admission.
“I learned when I was studying noble etiquette, but this is truly the first time I’ve danced with someone.”
Forget dancing; Charlotte was the only man Clecia had ever touched in her life.
“What a coincidence. Me too. I’ve never danced with anyone else before.”
“I don’t believe you. A guy like you has definitely seduced many young ladies of the nobility.”
Charlotte stopped on the stage. He placed one hand around Clecia’s slender waist and pulled her closer.
“Do you think my eyes look like those of a liar…?”