Chapter 13

In front of the green-roofed mansion at the end of the capital street a sturdy carriage stopped in front of that house.

As soon as it arrived I opened the door and almost ran out.

I thought I was going to die!

I swallowed a sigh of relief, looked back and laughed again.

“Dale, thank you so much for bringing me here.

“I’ll be here at four o’clock in the afternoon…”

“It’s okay.

Dale closed the carriage door, I smiled innocently at him. I kept that expression until the carriage started to move away until I lost sight of him.

“Oh, it was so uncomfortable that I almost died.”

It was simply an impressive moment.

Strangely enough, it is difficult to engage Dale in conversation. I tremble just looking at him.

On any other occasion, I would have refused Samara’s demands, but today was a special day and I had no choice.

“Ah, what a problem.”

I turned and stood in front of the mansion, shaking my head.

Despite this discomfort, I had to come.

With the invitation in my hand, I stood at the door with a somber look on my face.

Shortly after taking a deep breath, I pressed the doorbell firmly.

“This is a lavender-flavored tea with orange zest.”

“Thank you very much.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

Having an invitation was almost a waste of time. It was a mere decoration which they only saw in my hand and they let me in.

Although it was all due to Cristobal, who is rumored to be the most competent butler in the entire capital.

He only had to see my face for a few moments and a smile adorned his face as he opened the door for me and whispered my name?

“Lady Waldenbiston, welcome”

“I guess my costume wasn’t so effective after all…”

Either way….

What a capable butler!

He immediately took me to the salon, prepared tea and snacks.

“This is delicious, maybe I should order some more…”

“Would you like some more tea, miss?”

But what an astonishment you are! You have read my mind!

I was about to mention how much I would love some more tea, when a soft voice was heard behind her back.

I quickly put down the cup and jumped out of my seat.

“María!”

“Oh, my God. What is all that?!”

With a wide smile, Maria walked quickly over to me. Every time I took a step, her curly hair swayed.

She looked so beautiful in a green dress with subtle gold details.

“It’s been three years, and you’re still the same. You’re still dressed like that!”

She gave me a big hug and then let go. Her bright green eyes scanned my face.

It has been a long time…

Three years ago, so many things happened and among them, I decided to disappear for a while to repair my broken heart after the disaster of my unrequited love.

I cut all my ties. I really didn’t want to see anyone.

María and I have been friends since childhood, we made our debut together and supported each other in our adolescent follies.

But now, we manage to get back in touch and here I am.

I smiled as I pointed to my clothes.

“What about my costume? I think it’s perfect.”

“Don’t you know?

Maria looked at me with a disastrous expression.

Huh? Come on, tell me you’re kidding! It’s my best costume!

“But so far I haven’t had any accidents.”

Maria pursed her lips.

“I assure you it wasn’t because your costume was brilliant, you were too lucky. How dangerous the world is these days and you walking around in a man’s costume…”

“Really? I…thought the security in our country wasn’t so bad.”

I thought about all the times I had escaped. Dozens of times where I had fled in the dark and returned at dawn.

Nothing bad ever happened to me.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a drunk passerby or a group of thugs at the entrance to some dark alley.

So I always thought, ‘Ah, the police department works so hard, what good people.’

But Maria thought differently.

“Unless someone has followed you and kept it a secret, I guess you’re unimaginably lucky.”

Who could spy on me and keep me safe? It sounds so ridiculous!

When I slightly furrowed my eyebrows, Maria gently patted my cheek.

“You are a lovely girl.”

I felt uncomfortable at the soft smile on her lips.

“It doesn’t matter if someone is spying on me or if my luck is invincible. It was important to see you.”

Still uncomfortable, I spoke softly.

Maria’s smile was still powerful. It was always like that.

She gave me another sneaky smile at my response.

“If you wear that ‘costume‘ it means you’re grounded, right? Otherwise you wouldn’t present yourself looking so poorly to me. Maybe we should add this to the ‘Records of Ira’.”

“You don’t say! Do you still remember?”

“How could I forget?”

‘The Records of Ira’ was how Bianca had named all my disasters before she was married, she had collected a long record of my failures, disasters and embarrassing situations in which I had been involved, just to rub it in my face.

In short, a record of my ‘accidents’.

All my records so far are negative.

And many more…

I rolled my eyes for a moment and smiled back at Maria.

“It would be great if you didn’t mention it.”

“Of course, it’s nice to see you again, it’s been a long time since we last saw each other.”

“And that’s why I decided to come.”

Although…that wasn’t the only reason for my visit.

I shook the invitation in my hands.

“So, Maria Morelli, you’re getting married.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And to Timothy!”

I almost burst into tears.

“Isn’t that Timothy I know?”

“Ahaha, yes! That’s Timothy, the one we met at the Imperial House around the age of fifteen. You gave him a hard time!”

Mary laughed but I couldn’t laugh.

Timothy Horton!

Only son and …. an idiot!

The first time I was sentenced to a fine in the Royal Guard was because of him!

“I’m against it!”

I burst into a roar on the spot.

I wouldn’t give our beautiful, loving Maria to a man like him!

First of all, I need to explain my anger to this idiot, Timothy Horton, for his bad relationship with me.

Timothy Horton…

Born an only child of the Horton family, this child was the worst result of a very poor upbringing.

The Hortons were originally a humble landless family, and lived on the property of another count, making a meager living off the titles they received for helping him.

But everything has changed since they suddenly became rich from the business they were working in at the White House.

After earning the money, the Hortons proudly moved to the capital, following in the footsteps of all the aristocrats in the rich countries.

So far, there is no problem.

But the Hortons had the biggest problems of the aristocracy.

They had a very old-fashioned view of women’s problems.

They preferred only their male children and encouraged the thought that women were only good for “raising children” and “shutting up”.

That whole family is the worst!

Of course, if they get involved with anyone else, it’s not my problem, but…when it’s someone so close to me, it becomes a different story.

It was around the age of fifteen…the palace had a tradition of having a nobleman’s party every year as the new year approached.

I was very happy at that time, because in my seat I was next to Rubellus.

After many disasters of trying to win his love, I was much more energetic and willing that this time, everything would go very well.

I had to look good and I had to put on several new dresses to look as elegant as possible.

Of course, all the arrangements were overshadowed when I saw Timothy Horton treating his mother in a very rude way.

Although we did not share a table, he was sitting right at the front table where my eyes could not stop chasing him as he continued his rude and despicable act.

It had to be a sign that he was right in front of me, I had to stop that scoundrel.