Chapter 80

The buzzing atmosphere of the banquet hall became fervid with Sihael’s appearance. I smiled contentedly seeing the brooch on his collar. Sihael, who was today dressed to the nines, shined more than usual. The silver hair reflected in the light on the chandelier sparkled as if it had been sprinkled with star powder, and his eyes could seriously swallow the moon…….

“Hey?”

“What?”

“Don’t you think His Highness’ eyes look a little darker?”

“How would I know that?”

After dismissing Lanoa, I left him behind and then looked hard at Sihael’s face.

Was it because of the chandelier light? Sihael’s golden eyes seemed brighter than usual.

‘Are you not well?’

Come to think of it, his movements were strangely stiff. Normally, Sihael moved full of ease, but he was too stiff today.

No, rather than too stiff he seemed more restrained?

Most people wouldn’t be able notice it, and like Lanoa, they wouldn’t find it strange, but I could see it very well.

‘Is he tense because of the empress? But he’s not the kind of person to be so tense because of that…’

I squinted my eyes at him, and at that moment, “Excuse me.” Someone tapped me on my shoulder. When I turned my body, a woman with an impressive tear shaped mole on the corner of her right eye smiled brightly

“You’re Lady Katzel, right?”

“Yes. Who are you?”

“I am the second daughter of Marquis Duqran, Anisha Duqran. If it’s okay with you, would you like to join us?”

Anisha, who spoke in a charming voice, pointed behind me. I followed her gesture and saw five or six young girls peering at me. I looked alternatively between Anisha and the group behind her.

Is this the famous ‘lording over the newcomers’? And that too at my own debut ceremony?

“Is this necklace for real? This is the work of Asila, right?”

Anisha’s eyes twinkled as she looked at me. Her face was too close. I almost took a step back reflexively, but when I heard Asila’s name, I straightened my back and placed my hand on the necklace.

“That’s right. It’s a gift from Asila to celebrate my coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Oh my God!”

Then, the young ladies waiting behind Anisha rushed towards me like moths. In an instant, I was surrounded by the young ladies.

When I deliberately pulled my hair behind my ears, the young ladies’ attention shifted to my earrings. They all exclaimed in amazement.

“They’re so beautiful!”

“This necklace is of a higher standard than the necklace Countess Gillard wore.”

“Is this also a magic tool?”

Anisha asked between the continuous exclamations.

“Yes. Considering how we’re living in a dangerous world these days, I thought I should have at least one magic tool to protect me.”

Then the young ladies nodded continuously.

“There are so many monsters out there these days! I’m scared to go around alone.”

The lady, who had encountered a monster somewhere and the other, who had been attacked by one, looked at each other and asked if they could also get Asila’s jewelry.

Inwardly exclaiming with joy, I smiled at my future customers.

‘Operation successful.’

When I looked up and searched for the baron, I saw him in the distance. He smiled mischievously as if he had been watching me all the time and then raised his thumbs at me without the people around him noticing.

‘You’re truly wonderful.’

I could literally read the praises he was inwardly heaping at me from his face.

Lanoa, buried among the young noblemen, was also working hard in his own way.

While I was smiling at the satisfactory performance and working hard on my new business’s publicity, I glanced at Sihael from the corner of my eye. He was heading to the terrace as if he had not seen me.

I followed his footsteps with my gaze. He looked at me, feeling my gaze. I was about to smile at him reflexively, but when I saw his empty eyes, I stopped.

‘What… why are you looking at me like that?’

I couldn’t feel anything from his eyes. There was no friendly affection or devious mischief. His eyes were like empty shells.

Sihael looked at me insensitively as if he had never seen me before and turned his head. My heart sank when I saw his back moving away.