Chapter 34
“Young Lord, are you attending the imperial tea party tomorrow?”
Billy, an administrator under Kainis, asked cautiously.
Since Kainis normally disliked such events, Billy was sure he would refuse.
“Yes,” Kainis replied without hesitation.
“Pardon? You’re going to the tea party?”
Since Kainis had never attended any of the Empress’s social events, Billy momentarily thought he must’ve misheard.
“Yes. I heard Lady Luchellonia will be there.”
“You’re going to see Lady Luchellonia? Are you truly thinking of marrying her?”
Billy’s voice trembled with both awe and excitement.
Kainis hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.
“At last!”
Billy nearly teared up with emotion.
How many times had the retainers scolded him because Kainis, heir to the Spencer dukedom, hadn’t yet married?
Now that he could finally be free from those nagging complaints, Billy felt like praying in the direction where Lady Luchellonia might be.
“But Billy…”
Kainis was uncharacteristically hesitant with his words, making Billy look at him curiously.
“Lady Luchellonia seems to be avoiding me.”
Even at the Duke of Snakeo’s garden party, she had run away from him.
Kainis had never been treated like that before, and being left behind had made him feel strange.
“Lady Luchellonia? She’s probably just uncomfortable still.”
“Uncomfortable?”
“Yes. Think about it—she’s only recently come to the capital, and suddenly she’s hearing about marriage. It’s bound to feel awkward. Besides, you’ve only met her three times.”
Kainis nodded in agreement with Billy’s words.
“Also, Young Lord… well…”
Billy was about to say, ‘You’re not exactly the easiest person to get close to’, but bit his tongue for the sake of his life.
“Young Lord… um… you’re very handsome, which might make it even more intimidating.”
Scrambling to finish his sentence safely, Billy quickly changed the topic before Kainis could respond.
“First, the two of you should try to become friends. In arranged marriages, things are always awkward at first. I was super awkward with my wife too in the beginning.”
“Become friends? How?”
“Excuse me?”
Billy was flustered by Kainis’s serious expression.
Even if he’d never met many noblewomen before, how could he ask how to become friends?
It was a side of Kainis Billy had never seen.
“Well, you should meet more often. Go on dates.”
“Dates?”
“Yes. Nobles usually go on lots of dates once a marriage is arranged. That’s how they grow closer.”
“Really?”
Seeing Kainis’s clueless face—as if he didn’t even know the ‘da’ in ‘date’—Billy suddenly found his boss adorable.
Right now, Kainis looked like a child learning to read for the first time, needing everything explained.
“When you see Lady Luchellonia tomorrow, ask her out on a date. Then send a letter to set a time, and after a few dates, you’ll get closer and more comfortable.”
Kainis nodded, and Billy thought to himself:
‘I’d better plan all the date courses myself.’
Only then could he make sure Kainis didn’t lose to Dustin and could actually get married.
The Arnestor Empire, Imperial Palace.
Also known as the “Palace without a Master.”
The first emperor, who ascended the throne through his powerful skills as a magic swordsman, had held immense authority.
But over generations, the royal family’s magical abilities had weakened. For various reasons, the authority of the crown had deteriorated beyond imagination.
Now, the emperor of Arnestor was merely a figurehead—an emperor in name only.
‘Still, the palace looks pretty cool.’
I looked out the carriage window at the palace and opened the small pouch in my right hand.
Inside were two vials of blue potion and a note.
Fliche, here’s the medicine you asked for. I made it just like you said. It works both as a preventive and a cure. I made two just in case—if you need more, let me know.
P.S. I’m sorry I couldn’t come with you today. If anyone weird bothers you, tell me. Be careful of people—especially the Spencer heirs!
I smiled gently as I read the note from Antoni, who had hurriedly followed the Count of Luchellonia to Madonia.
“This medicine should solve everything.”
According to the game, Lady Karen would spike my tea today.
It wasn’t lethal, but it would humiliate me in front of everyone.
And especially in a heavy, frilly dress like this, it was extra disastrous.
I was going to be served a very strong laxative.
I had already lived through this scene once in the game, and the memory still made me sweat coldly.
‘That was seriously one of the most humiliating moments.’
Clutching her belly and waddling to the bathroom—Fliche had to endure the mocking laughter and pointing fingers of noble spectators.
It had left enough of an emotional scar that I felt it even outside the game.
“Ugh… Still, I’d better just drink it today and be done with it.”
If I avoided it now, Karen would just think I got lucky and try again later.
It was better to just take it now than to constantly be on guard.
Luckily, I had the antidote Antoni made.
‘Plus, this might even boost my reputation.’
If Karen’s grand plan to humiliate me failed, people might lose trust in her—and as a result, my reputation might rise even just a bit.
Having made all my calculations, I smiled in satisfaction and downed the potion in one gulp.
“I’m Jane Brochen, the head maid of the Empress’s palace. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Greeting the Luchellonia carriage at the imperial palace was none other than Lady Brochen, the Empress’s right hand.
‘Lady Brochen…?’
In the game, a low-ranking maid had guided this part. For Lady Brochen herself to appear meant the Empress had a serious interest in me.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Brochen. I’m Fliche of House Luchellonia.”
“Welcome, my lady. Her Majesty specifically asked that you be given special attention. That purple dress suits you wonderfully.”
Lady Brochen smiled while quickly scanning me up and down.
“It’s an honor.”
“Then allow me to escort you to your seat.”
I followed her into the Empress’s quarters.
Though the palace was supposedly empty of real authority, the Empress’s wing was lavish and vibrant.
Lady Brochen pointed toward the adjacent greenhouse.
“Today’s gathering is being held in the greenhouse. It’s one of Her Majesty’s favorite places.”
At the greenhouse entrance, she signaled a servant, who opened the door and announced my arrival.
“Lady Luchellonia is entering.”
As the glass doors opened, a warm breeze and sweet floral scent greeted my nose.
As expected from the Empress, who loved gardening, the greenhouse was lush with plants. In the center swayed pale pink hyacinths in the breeze.
‘Wow, this is like a group blind date setting.’
Many young noble ladies and lords had already arrived, their eyes filled with both curiosity and suspicion as they scanned each other.
‘Well, this is a perfect setup to find a marriage partner.’
In the game, the social season was essentially a matchmaking event for the unmarried nobility.
People attended parties diligently, flaunting their family’s wealth and looking for the best match.
‘I really went to a lot of these in-game.’
Remembering how I used to attend even fake parties just to avoid bumping into the male leads, I shook my head.
“Is that the Luchellonia girl?”
As my entrance was announced, one of the nobles near the entrance pointed at me and whispered.
Fliche? XD