Chapter 138

Astana couldn't keep his mouth shut as he entered the Devon family's business briefing room.

"Wow..."

It was as if he had come to a different world.

Maybe it was because of the atmosphere and the bustling crowds that are completely different from the other banquets.

Or maybe it was because of the alcohol he drank heavily while running to the Lombardy territory.

"After all, my mother was wrong."

She said it was a boring banquet, she didn't know anything.

Even though he arrived late on purpose, the banquet hall was full of people.

And it was clear that the business was cruising successfully whatever it was that everyone was excited about.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder.

It was Astana's fault for standing in the middle of a busy space in a daze.

"Hey!"

Astana called someone who looked like an ordinary aristocrat, but he looked at Astana up and down and went inside the venue.

"Damn it. This kind of thing happens because I wear cheap clothes."

No one recognized Astana as a Prince because he wore shabby clothes to escape the Palace without anyone knowing.

"Huh."

Since he didn't have anything to prove his identity, so he couldn't scare him.

Astana moved his slightly staggered steps further inside the venue because of his drunkenness.

"Where can I apply for delivery?"

"How many of these can I buy?"

People's voices were heard loudly from all over the place.

"Hey, there!"

Astana, who was giggling and watching the inside of the banquet hall, grabbed a servant who was passing by with a glass of champagne on a tray.

"Oh!"

Clang.

Thanks to him, some glasses of champagne fell to the floor and shattered, but Astana didn't care what he had done.

He glanced at the embarrassed employee and sipped a glass of champagne in his hand and continued to look around.

Soon after, Astana settled in front of a wall not too far from the entrance.

It was because he was so drunk that he couldn't walk anymore.

"That's great."

However, Astana's expression was quite different from before.

His face, which was just amazed and nice, was now filled with discomfort.

"Florentia Lombardy..."

The project and event were definitely led by Gallahan Lombardy's daughter.

"She has been extraordinary since she was a child."

It was Florentia, who had a lot of strange things going on starting from the day Astana threw his hat.

So when he was young, he used to grit his teeth when he heard the name 'Florentia'.

But it changed as he got older.

When everyone was crawling in front of Astana and trying to look good, Florentia Lombardy was not.1

That was both bothersome and strangely annoying.

"Such a cheeky girl."

From a distance, he could see Florentia Lombardy.

There was no sign of nervousness at all while she was hosting the event that attracted so many people.

"I'm having bad luck."

Until now, he couldn't understand his mother who hated Lombardy.

At this moment, Astana seemed to know her mind.

"Lombardy..."

Astana's reddened eyes from drunkenness captured Florentia and the splendid banquet hall.

Then, Astana caught the eye of a woman looking at the artworks of the Lombardy Scholarship Foundation.

"Larane Lombardy?"

Apparently Belsach's sister, Larane.

Thin, weak, timid, and scaredy-cat.

Another Lombardy lineage, opposite from Florentia.

It was when Astana, with a fishy smile, stumbled and tried to approach Larane.

A sturdy hand clasped Astana's forearm.

"You seem to be drunk a lot, but let's go out."

It was a security guard hired to proceed with the event.

"Let go of me."

Astana tried to shake the hand as hard as he could, but it wasn't easy with him already drunk.

"Where do you think you are, drunk and violent? I don't know which family you're from, but you shouldn't do this in Lombardy. Don't regret sobering up, get out."

"Who do you think I am..."

Astana stopped talking.

There's nothing to prove of him as a Prince.

He could have called in an Angenas aristocrat who lives nearby to confirm it, but he doesn't know what kind of scolding the Empress would give.

"...huh."

Eventually, Astana shook off the security guard's hand and walked out of the venue on his own.

But Astana's constant gaze continued to turn to one place.

* * *

I walked back out to the briefing room with Nosier.

"I'm sorry I took your precious time."

Nosier continued to be ill at ease.

I know that the Monak top is Perez's, but Nosier doesn't know if I knew that far.

"It's okay. Don't mention it."

I've been wondering who put Violet in trouble at the Triva Tree auction.

Nosier was far too frank for a merchant with a long career.

He seemed to have no idea how to act or hide his innermost feelings.

I found out through Bate that he was betrayed by someone he trusted.

Despite such experience, Nosier still seemed to have faith in people.

It may be said that he is foolish, but he is quick to turn his head and cares about his credibility as a merchant.

Besides, he's got a lot of experience, so if he learns little business skills next to Clerivan, he'll be back on his feet soon.

"It wouldn't have been easy to try this innovative approach. Were you afraid of failing?"

Nosier asked me with a serious face.