CH 83

“Youa’re right. That bitch almost dragged me away with her. You arrived in time.”

He even sighed emphatically with relief, as if he had survived a great danger.

If I hadn’t come to his help, he still wouldn’t have had problems.

We both knew it, but we pretended it wasn’t like that.

I finally laughed at his loyalty to his habits.

“Jeremy is a really peculiar person.”

“People don’t change. But what are you doing here?”

“The head of the Phoenix organization always has something to do.”

I pointed with my chin to the tall building behind.

“And, Jeremy.”

“Yes?”

“You were at the court, weren’t you?”

His bright amber eyes gradually opened wider.

“So you caught me. My curse… I have a very beautiful face that stands out from a mile.”

He smiled mischievously, as if he had truly suffered from his beauty.

And this wasn’t just his own assessment. Objectively speaking, Jeremy was really handsome.

Sparkling platinum hair and jewel-like amber eyes. And a gentle pretty face.

Wherever he poked, everywhere he collected gazes.

Even in the Lund kingdom, there was no woman who wasn’t interested in Jeremy while he was hanging out in my flower shop.

“The fact is Jeremy stands alone among the gray crowd. Do you think that that person could have fallen in love with you?”

When I pointed in the direction that the young lady ran away, confusion settled on his playful face.

Naturally, you consider yourself handsome.

Well, that wasn’t a lie either.

Sometimes he was lacking in comparison with Raymond, who wasn’t at all reputed to be of this world.

When I stared at him with a hint in my eyes, Jeremy’s cheeks turned red.

He opened his lips and coughed softly.

“If you’re serious, then I’m now embrassed.”

Seeing his cheeks stained with red, I really wanted to laugh.

“But that’s the truth. I’m not one of those who will mumble and beat around the bush. Jeremy is a real handsome man, so I’ll tell him about it.”

I took a step closer and Jeremy stepped back. He was so embarrassed that even his legs gave way.

I burst out laughing, grabbing his trembling hand. Jeremy frowned when he saw the laugh.

“Are you kidding me?”

“Sorry. However, it’s not often that I see the shy Jeremy. It was so cute,” I said, unable to wipe the smile off my face.

The embarrassment didn’t go away, so now he didn’t know what to do here.

He covered his red cheeks and avoided my gaze.

But have I lied to him at least once?

I changed the subject because I made him more embarrassed than I originally thought.

“In any case, it’s nice to see you again. I really thought that Jeremy wouldn’t float to the Empire. After all, there was no news about you.”

He turned to me.

As if completely calmed down, Jeremy dropped the hand covering his face.

“I thought so too… But I couldn’t turn away.”

While I was puzzled by the new statement, the meaning of which remained unclear to me, he continued:

“Nice to see you again. The trial is over, the Duke’s reputation has surpassed its former. I’m glad to know that you are doing well.”

“Yeah… However, the case isn’t over. So Jeremy is back in the Empire for good?”

“It could be. I have a feeling that I can no longer escape.”

He laughed sarcastically. Black bile was felt in the laughter.

Duke Drua.

The reason why Jeremy left the Empire and wandered under the guise of a mercenary.

At all times, rumors circulated that the heir to Drua was alive.

In the end, the news of the death of the heir in battle was taken for granted.

And when I was Empress, I accidentally heard a story about Duke Drua and his son.

The story of how the Duke brutally insulted his own son.

Perhaps Jeremy didn’t abandon the Empire, but escaped from his father.

And returning to the Empire… It means facing the Duke again.

“Ellie, are you okay?”

My thoughts went deeper.

I answered Jeremy’s worries with a slight smile.

“Oh, nothing. I just thought. So, are you busy tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes. If you have time, would you like to come to an appointment at our estate tomorrow? There will be a big party at the ducal house to celebrate my return.”

Jeremy’s face twitched slightly at the sudden offer.

Invitations were sent to many of the noble families of the Empire, but they didn’t reach Drua.

The Duke who lost everything in the coup, and the Duke who gained everything from the coup.

These two families will never get along together.

Looking at me with serious eyes, he spoke slowly.

“Ellie, you know whose family I’m. We’re not in the Lund kingdom. We are in the Agrita Empire.”

I understood what he meant.

In the Agrita Empire, we can’t be just as open together.

But I didn’t want to reject him.

“I know. But I also know that Jeremy is not like his father.”

At that moment, his eyes trembled.

Indescribable emotions passed over his face. He stared down and covered his face with his hand again.

Jeremy licked his lips as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.

“I won’t force you. But you can come to us at any hour. So don’t be upset that I have Duke Croft behind me. I’m still that same Jeremy’s friend, Ellie.”

A shadow covered his face as he lifted his head.

The magenta sky has now turned black.

“I have to go. It was nice to see you, Jeremy.”

“Be careful, Ellie.”

He didn’t answer the invitation, but only threw a smile.

* * *

Duke Croft’s home, which had disappeared from the scene in recent months, was now in full swing.

The reason is that today is a grand celebration.

It was the party of Duke Croft, whose house almost ceased to exist, so it was an important symbol for everyone.

From early in the morning, people were busy with preparations.

The servants were approaching the final stage: to completely decorate the banquet hall. And the kitchen started preparing dishes.

As the day passed, at sunset, the butler opened the ballroom.

“Milady. It’s done.”

I closed my eyes for a moment and opened them when I heard the servant’s voice.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

Thick wavy silver hair ran across my shoulders and chest, and my face was wearing makeup.

I got up from the table. Now I was wearing a red dress with sparkling jewels.

Every time I took a step, the dress shone brightly with stones.

“You are so pretty!”

“I bet you will be the prettiest at the party today!”

The maids expressed admiration mixed with flattery. Their faces were flushed with excitement.

On a normal day, I would have thought that my appearance was too defiant, but today it was special.

I looked at the red dress in the mirror.

I loved this part of my appearance the most.

This sparkly dress was created by none other than Lumont.

When he said that he would send a gift, noting that ‘it would be good for the party,’ I didn’t think too much about it.

I expected a necklace or bracelet to come.

But it was a dress I couldn’t even imagine.

You forgot to mention to me that you are also a dresser…

Tailoring was a niche that our order had not yet reached. But it would be nice to use this opportunity too.

Looking in the mirror with satisfaction, I finally donned a gorgeous blue diamond necklace.

Then I heard a knock.