CH 22

“This invitation came straight to my name. It would be impolite to refuse.”

Ignoring such an invitation was like insulting the sender’s family.

So I was curious who was behind the invitation: Marquis Sios or Lisa?

I will know as soon as I get there.

If Lisa didn’t know, she would be very surprised to see me on the doorstep.

I returned the invitation to Helen and said:

“Tell the butler I’m going to the Marquis’s party tomorrow.”

“Yes Milady.”

After Helen left the room, I lay down on the bed. Fatigue hit me in the head.

“Milady, would you like to get some ruby ​​earrings? Or are pomegranates better?” the maid asked.

“I want ruby ​​ones.”

“It will be done, milady.”

Ruby seemed to fit my curled hair better.

Then the maid put down her pomegranate earring and carefully put on the ruby ​​one.

Finally, all the preparations were completed.

The young maid who was helping me with my clothes looked at me and smiled.

“My lady, you are so beautiful.”

It’s been a long time since I have seen such pure and naive eyes as hers.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

Today’s hairstyle was no longer like that of an empress, but like before the wedding.

Silver wavy hair and bright makeup.

Purple dress. The colors of my eyes.

I smiled with satisfaction. My reflection seemed to take me back to the past, even before marriage. And then I heard a knock on the door.

“Ellie, it’s me.”

“Come in, father.”

When my father entered the room, he saw me and froze.

“How pretty.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you going right now?”

“Yes. Even if I leave now… I will not be late.”

“Okay… It would be great if I could go with you, but something happened today… I’m sorry.”

My father couldn’t go to the party with me because something happened on the estate he was managing.

“It’s okay, I won’t go there for long.”

“Yes, yes. In any case, you will soon be sailing across the seas, so you won’t have to deal with them anymore. And I have already booked a seat on the ship.”

“I need to hurry. We’ll talk later.”

I walked to the carriage.

After an eternity, the carriage stopped with neighing horses.

“Milady, we arrived.”

“Good.”

Coming out of the carriage, I stood motionless, looking at the festive hall of Marquis Sios, from where bright lights streamed.

I was once in this banquet hall with Raymond.

Before our eyes there was still a stage where we walked, holding hands, along these stairs and towards the hall.

Who would have thought that I would be here again before leaving the empire.

In my embarrassment, I did not dare to take a step. But I sighed and threw all thoughts away.

You just need to show yourself here, walk past everyone with a proud look, and immediately go home.

I gathered my resolve and went to the party where soft music came from.

“Lady Croft is arriving.”

The servant’s voice rang out loudly at the party, and when I entered the hall, many eyes immediately turned to me.

Looks mixed with confusion and surprise.

Their eyes were united in one thing – they did not even think that I would show here.

The gaze made me uncomfortable, but since I was once an empress, I was able to pretend to be calm. And then I went straight to the center of the hall.

“Thank you for coming, Lady Croft.”

The Marquis was the first to greet me.

I answered him with a slight smile.

“Thank you very much for the invitation, Marquis.”

I greeted him and looked at Lisa.

Lisa turned to me with a painted smile:

“Thank you for illuminating this place with your presence, Lady Croft.”

“…Not at all, Lady Sios.”

She was not surprised to see me.

That means… The invitation was not the intention of Marquis.

Why…?

Why did you call me here?

I didn’t understand what was in her heart.

Were you worried that I would create trouble for your son…?

No, I would never do that.

But she couldn’t know for sure.

And as I thought about it, the voice of the servant announcing the arrival of a guest rang loudly in my ears.

“His Majesty, the Sun of the Empire, is coming!”

The words of Raymond’s arrival shocked me.

Stunned by his unexpected appearance, I became wary.

“…Rise your heads.”

Raymond’s voice rang out. I got up slowly.

Looking up, I, of course, saw Raymond’s black eyes.

“Why are you here…”

When he looked at me with his black eyes, Lisa’s voice rang between us:

“Thank you so much for coming here for Edmund, Your Majesty.”

Raymond’s gaze shifted from me to Lisa.

“…This is the last birthday Edmund has with his mother, so I had to come.”

Last birthday with his mother?

Raymond’s words puzzled me.

And when she heard this, Lisa tensed slightly.

Lisa will be the empress in the future, so why is this the last birthday that Edmund will spend with her?

His words struck me as strange, but I stopped thinking about it because of the marquis’ voice, which soon followed:

“Thank you for coming here.”

Marquis greeted Raymond and addressed the nobles.

“I would like to thank all of you who visited my estate today to wish Edmund a happy birthday. Please enjoy this evening.”

The sound of music resounded in the hall shortly after the Marquis announced the start of the banquet.

The nobles kept pretending that they liked cakes or were carried away by the pouring music, but their gazes were still turned to Raymond, me and Lisa.

I have to get out of here immediately.

If I had known that Raymond would show up here, I wouldn’t have shown up here at all.

I should have left right now.

Now that Raymond has arrived, I have become an intruder at this party.

“Lisa, I have to go.”

“Already? So soon?”

“Yes, I think it would be better for me to leave.”

At that moment, I felt Raymond’s gaze aiming at me.

But I didn’t even look at him.

When I tried to break this uncomfortable connection of ours, thinking that Lisa would also want this, she grabbed my hand.

“I’ll be uncomfortable if you leave like this. I thought that you would sincerely wish Edmund a happy birthday…”

Lisa looked at me with regret. But her words didn’t sound like she really regretted it.

What she said right now could definitely undermine my reputation.

Even though I am divorced with Raymond, I attended this event, pretending that everything is okay.

At the moment, I studied her face to make sure that Lisa was not lying.

However, her face did not flinch.

I slowly moved my lips.

“…What if I stay?”

“Please wait a bit and make this place brighter. Try at least our desserts.”

As if she had no malice, Lisa smiled, looking at me.

I have already left the post of empress, what more do you want from me?

Raymond’s voice rang out as I tried to bite through Lisa.

“I have to go. So… have a nice evening.”

“Your Majesty, give Edmund more time. He will be upset if you leave him like this.”

As soon as Lisa finished speaking, Marquis came up and added:

“Really, Your Majesty. Edmund won’t be happy about that.”

“Sire…”

Edmund, in the arms of the Marquis, smiled at Raymond and held out his hand.