CH 40

Mariabelle felt the air in the hall change in an instant, but she did not change her expression for even a moment, and continued to receive greetings with a gentle smile on her face.

After the aristocrats with the Grand Duke's title, those with the Duke's title followed.

As is typical of a nobleman, no matter how they felt in their heart, they continued to greet each other with superficial smiles.

Then, at the tail end of the nobles with the Duke title, a powerful and beautiful woman wearing a crimson dress appeared, arm in arm with a man who looked like her father.

Even though it was an open imperial costume, the dress was a little too revealing, and she had voluptuous red lips to match.

Claudia Fontana.

She is the daughter of the Duchess of Fontana. She is also known as the Red Rose of the Empire and reputed to be the most beautiful in social circles.

She was repeatedly named as a replacement for Renato's fiancée, who was in poor health.

At first, there were other daughters who wanted the position of Renato's fiancée, but they had already given up and married into other families because a new fiancée had not been selected in all that time.

Claudia, however, did not give up, and at social gatherings she acted as if she were Renato's fiancée.

And when Monica Marini's health improved and she began to show up at social functions several times, she began to harass her relentlessly.

The harassment was as mild as pouring white wine on her dress, but it was still hard for Monica, who had been recuperating for a long time, and she soon fell ill again and disappeared from the social scene.

For Claudia, who had thought that, after Monica's death, she would naturally be chosen as his next fiancée, Mariabelle had suddenly appeared and usurped the position as crown princess, which was originally supposed to be Claudia's. She could not hide her hatred for Mariabelle.

She stared at Mariabelle, making no attempt to hide her feelings of loathing.

However, Mariabelle, who had been told of Claudia's existence beforehand by Countess Therese Fidelo, quietly looked back at her.

"I congratulate you on this important occasion."

Claudia bowed with her father, but soon became provocative.

"Why did the crown prince of the kingdom fall in love with a commoner's daughter instead of Mariabelle? It's not as if she doesn't have enough charm to keep the crown prince..."

Then she placed her hand on her cheek and tilted her head.

The look in her eyes as she glanced at Mariabelle was full of contempt.

She made no attempt to conceal her indignation at why a woman who had been abandoned by the crown prince of a kingdom was standing next to the crown prince of an empire.

"But it was because of that girl that His Highness was able to get a wonderful fiancée, wasn't it? Even an insignificant commoner should be grateful to his daughter."

Mariabelle did not respond to Claudia's blatant provocation.

She merely smiled.

Renato hugged Mariabelle around the waist.

"Yes, I am also thankful to the people of the country who have no discernment. It is thanks to them that I have met such a wonderful woman."

Saying this, he looked at Mariabelle lovingly.

Mariabelle also looked up at Renato lovingly.

Claudia's mouth was filled with the sound of teeth clenching at the sight of these two people who, no matter how you look at them, are in so much love with each other.

But Renato continued speaking without caring.

"The lady I fell in love with at first sight is of perfect status and family lineage, has already completed her education as a queen, and is even called a perfect lady. This is truly a gift from heaven. I can only think that Mariabelle was sent by God just for me."

Renato ignored Claudia and spoke only to her father, the Duke of Fontana.

Renato had complained to Duke Fontana many times before about Claudia, who was acting as his fiancée without his permission, even though he had never once tried to impress her.

Yet, the Duke of Fontana has always said that he should understand the feelings of his daughter, who is single-mindedly devoted to Renato, and that she is merely misguided.

Renato, who was really annoyed, took this as a good opportunity to declare clearly that he had no intention of having any other woman beside him, apart from Mariabelle.

"Mariabelle is my destiny. Don't you also think so, Duke Fontana?"