Chapter 19
A few days later.
Claire was being prepared by her maids to attend the Fennec Barony’s party.
The usually reserved maids were genuinely impressed when they saw the fully dressed Claire.
“You look stunning, my lady.”
“That dress suits you perfectly.”
“You resemble a mermaid.”
“Really?”
Claire stood before the mirror.
Despite the limited time, Marie had poured her artistic soul into the project. She had worked tirelessly, day and night, to craft the dress.
The completed sky-blue off-shoulder dress was adorned with delicate lace patterns, exuding both innocence and elegance.
The narrow hemline was layered with thin fabrics that cascaded like waves, resembling the tail of a mystical mermaid.
‘I knew entrusting this to Marie was the right decision.’
Claire smiled in satisfaction.
Her hair was half-tied and adorned with flowers, and she wore radiant pearl earrings. Even to her own eyes, she looked beautiful.
‘I’ve never seen myself like this before.’
Neither the Ravello Marquisate nor the Muton Duchy had ever welcomed her beautifying herself, so she had never been able to dress like this.
But things were different now.
‘I’ll live as I please from now on.’
Without worrying about others’ opinions, she would do what she wanted.
Claire grabbed a small handbag and descended to the first floor.
Soon, the partner sent by Teddy would arrive to escort her.
‘I wonder who it will be?’
She anticipated it would likely be the second or third son of a noble family living in the capital.
Before long, a carriage appeared in the distance.
‘…Hmm?’
The crimson carriage approaching the estate looked oddly familiar.
A sense of foreboding washed over Claire.
The dragon emblem on the carriage flag… Could it be?
Claire’s face stiffened as she quickly recalled that the dragon was one of the royal family’s primary symbols. At the same time, the estate gates opened, allowing the carriage to enter.
The carriage stopped right in front of her, and a man stepped out.
With sharp features as if meticulously crafted by the gods, black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a well-built figure wrapped in a formal uniform.
Claire immediately recognized him.
The close friend of her former husband’s son, Crown Prince Theodore Johannes Trisanne.
“…Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Lady Ravello.”
Theodore flashed an incredibly charming smile as he extended his hand. Claire stared at him in shock.
“Why are you here, Your Highness…?”
“I’ve come to escort you.”
“So you’re saying Your Highness is my partner…?”
“I heard you were seeking a partner for the party, so someone introduced you to me.”
Theodore’s casual response left Claire momentarily speechless.
Did this mean that Teddy and the Crown Prince were acquainted?
‘How do they know each other? For the Crown Prince to personally show up… They must be quite close.’
As her mind spun with questions, she ground her teeth in frustration at Teddy’s audacious matchmaking.
And this is what he meant by telling me not to worry?
‘Young people these days have no sense of limits, really….’
Oblivious to the true “limitless” individual standing before her, Claire cautiously asked.
“Your Highness, are you aware of who I am?”
Theodore, still holding out his hand, replied without hesitation.
“I heard you are the daughter of Franz Ravello.”
“…And you still wish to accompany me?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
Of course, there were problems, but if the Crown Prince didn’t consider them issues, it wasn’t her place to argue.
‘This isn’t a bad option for me.’
As the Crown Prince’s partner, she wouldn’t be easily dismissed, and even Brian Muton wouldn’t dare to approach her recklessly.
After some hesitation, Claire nodded.
“People of your generation… I mean, people our age seem very open-minded.”
“I’ve always been open-minded. Much more than you think.”
“Oh. I see….”
Claire tried hard to erase her memories of the young Theodore, who had been sensitive and conservative, and boarded the carriage.
Well, it seems he grew into a more open-minded person over time.
Considering that Theodore was now twenty-two while she was nineteen, it wasn’t so strange anymore.
Awkwardly sitting across from him, Claire hesitated before breaking the silence.
“May I ask you something?”
“You can ask me many things.”
“…Why did you choose a partner like this? There must be plenty of noble ladies eager to be your partner.”
“Because of my difficult personality.”
Theodore responded immediately.
Claire’s expression became subtly complicated. She couldn’t help but recall the past when he seemed desperate to pick fights with her.
“I’m not interested in people who want me.”
“Oh…”
“How about you, Lady? Are you interested in me?”
“No.”
Claire flatly denied it, and this time Theodore’s expression shifted subtly.
He seemed both displeased and unsurprised at her response.
After staring at Claire for a moment, Theodore crossed his arms and remarked,
“You’re perfect for a one-day partner.”
“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
“Likewise.”
The carriage carrying the two soon arrived at the Barony of Fennec’s banquet hall.
As Claire rested her hand on Theodore’s arm and entered, all eyes immediately turned toward them.
“Who is she, entering with His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Isn’t it rare for His Highness to bring a partner?”
“She looks like a fairy, but who is she…?”
“Wait, doesn’t her face seem familiar?”
Under the chandelier lights, her golden hair shone like pure gold.
Her eyes, lighter than emeralds, combined with her delicate features, evoked a strange familiarity.
“The Duchess of Muton…?”
The specter of the deceased seemed to overlay the young woman for a brief moment before stopping.
Her upright posture, unyielding despite the piercing stares directed at her, was something Priscilla never exhibited.
“Wow, for a moment, I thought the deceased had returned. But on closer look, it’s not her.”
“Judging by her resemblance to the late duchess… Could she be the rumored illegitimate daughter of Ravello?”
“Oh my, you’re right! She looks just like the late duchess. That beauty must have passed down to the illegitimate child.”
“But how could an illegitimate child be the Crown Prince’s partner…?”
Claire deliberately met the gaze of a few whispering nobles and smiled.
Despite it being her first foray into aristocratic society, she exuded elegance and dignity that silenced those who had been murmuring about her.
At that moment, the hosts of the party, Baron Fennec and his wife, hurried over to greet Theodore.
“Your Highness, it is an honor to see you. Thank you for attending our party today.”
“We are deeply grateful that Your Highness has graced us with your presence. But may I ask, who is the young lady accompanying you…?”
Although the Baroness had an inkling of Claire’s identity, she cautiously asked.
They had reluctantly invited the illegitimate child to the party under pressure from their son-in-law. However, they hadn’t anticipated she would arrive with the Crown Prince.
What’s more, Claire’s striking resemblance to Priscilla made the Baron and Baroness uneasy, given their knowledge of their daughter’s affair.
“Did you invite someone without knowing who they are?”
Theodore’s brow furrowed, expressing displeasure. Startled, the Baron and Baroness quickly waved their hands.
“No, Your Highness! We were just surprised to see the two of you arrive together and failed to recognize her for a moment.”
“…You are Lady Ravello, correct? A pleasure to meet you.”
Although reluctant, the Baroness addressed Claire as “Lady Ravello,” thus officially acknowledging her status.
As “Lady Ravello.”
“Hello, Baron Fennec, Baroness. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”
Claire smiled lightly as she observed the Baron and Baroness. Her gaze lingered on the Baron’s face, which was strikingly similar to his daughter’s.
She never expected to meet the parents of her former husband’s mistress like this.
“Haha, enjoy the party.”
“If you need anything, feel free to come to us.”
The Baron and Baroness, forced into cordiality under Theodore’s watchful gaze, responded with strained smiles.
Despite having the Muton Duke as a son-in-law, the barony was no match for the Crown Prince.
Through their interaction, Claire was reminded of Theodore’s undeniable authority.
‘So this is why Brian Muton, despite disliking the Crown Prince, couldn’t prevent him from visiting the duchy.’
Aside from the friendship between their children, the Duke himself harbored animosity toward Theodore.
He had even warned his children not to get too close to him.
‘He must have something to feel guilty about….’
With that thought, Claire walked alongside Theodore.
As they entered the center of the banquet hall, nobles flocked around Theodore.
Officially, the Emperor and the Crown Prince maintained a decent relationship. Tobias had no desire to be seen as the “villainous uncle” who snatched the throne from his nephew.
Thanks to this, Theodore held a solid position in aristocratic society, except among a few high-ranking nobles privy to the deeper conflict.
“Your Highness, it’s been a while. Do you remember me?”
“Ah, yes. It has been a while.”
“I have some information to share exclusively with Your Highness. Could we speak privately?”
“I’m busy at the moment.”
“We’re hosting a party next week, Your Highness.”
“I see.”
Nobles attempted to curry favor, while Theodore maintained a distant demeanor, not wanting to appear overly aligned with any faction.
Quietly observing by his side, Claire scanned the room, noting that Brian Muton had yet to arrive.
‘Is he late again?’
Knowing his tendency to make dramatic, tardy entrances, Claire clicked her tongue internally.
When would he finally start acting his age?
Feeling thirsty, Claire excused herself to get a drink and briefly left Theodore’s side.
Seizing this opportunity—
“Can we have a word?”
A young noble lady stepped in front of Claire, blocking her path.
—
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