CH 15

Miriella turned thirteen.

As usual at home, she learned studies and manners from her tutors and lived peacefully. She visits each other's homes with Anessa of the Marquis Ward family and deepens their friendship.

Gradually, invitations to birthday parties began to come from aristocratic children of the same age who lived in the royal capital. This has the speculation that she will become acquainted with a certain amount of aristocratic children before she officially debuts in society.

"Though I think it's okay now," said Leon, who went home and told her to keep her distance from children who tried to become entourage. A child who can only flatters cannot be a true friend. That's what it means.

That night, Miriella added the rules from the booklet she received from Leon.

And so the days passed peacefully, and the season welcomed winter.

A little over a year until Miriella enrolls in the Royal Academy. For Miriella, it will be a little while before her academy life with Leon.

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"Miriella. We are going to the royal palace tomorrow."

At the dinner table, her mother declared so.

Miriella, who was serious about her favorite sautéed fish, looked up at her mother. There was her mother's face with her faint smile.

Miriella's mother has beautiful pale reddish blond hair and scarlet eyes. According to ten average people of her appearance from the person herself, she was very confident in her hair and eye color.

She thinks this is why she was first seen by the Duke's son, and she was happy that her son and daughter were born with the same reddish blond hair.

In particular, Miriella, who inherited her own hair and eyes and looks like her father, she is her mother's proud daughter.

"The other day, I heard about engagement offer to the Prince Alexis."

"ee?!"

"Let's go to the royal palace tomorrow and meet with His Highness to receive it."

Putting aside her mother who couldn't hide her joy, Miriella turned to face her father.

"Father. Do I absolutely have to accept the talk?"

"No, that's not the case. The story only came because the family lineage and age were close to each other. If you don't feel like it, you can just refuse."

Miriella breathed a sigh of relief.

The name of Prince Alexis is already engraved in her head as a person to watch out for. It's the 『Capture Character』 written in the booklet she got from Leon.

Miriella was originally Prince Alexis' fiancée, so if she refuses here, she should be far away from going to jail!

A pinch is a chance.

Thinking positively, Miriella's mood surfaced.

"Then it wouldn't matter if I refuse I see. Well then, I shall accept this meeting."

"Miriella, don't say such things from the beginning~"

Her mother, who has excessive admiration and respect for the royal family, muttered dejectedly.

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The next day, Miriella was woken up early in the morning and made to get ready and carefully prepared.

Melisa's job as usual is to put on the dress and set the hair. However, soon after, the duchess, who was already come prepared, gives her, Melisa, instructions one by one.

"Braid her hair more loosely and put it together. Miriella's face might be seen as tight and harsh, so we have to make her gives a gentle impression."

No, my face is tough, tight and harsh only when I'm ready for battle, not just always.

Miriella's mood has been declining since the morning when her mother pointed it out. While being scolded for her grumpy expressions, the mother and child along with the maids headed to the royal palace.

This is the first time she has come to the royal palace since she came to see Noel's circus performance.

At that time, she only saw the hall and courtyard in the building immediately after entering the royal palace, and it was her first time to enter the inner court where the royal family lived behind it.

High ceilings and long corridors. The mansion of Miriella, the daughter of a duke, is also quite spacious and splendid, but this is incomparably magnificent.

Guided by a maid, while they walk. As she proceeded while looking at the paintings hanging on the white wall with interest, she passed through a room. There, the two of them sat on the sofa together and waited politely.

Through the door further back, A maid appeared and called out. Her mother, followed by Miriella, stood up and entered the back room.

Waiting inside was the current king's older sister, Madam Campbell, who takes care of all the royal sons, and Prince Alexis himself.

Madam Campbell stood up and exchanged greetings with Miriella's mother. She next stood in front of Miriella and looked at her with a friendly face.

"First time to you, Miriella. I'm happy to meet you."

"First time meeting you too, Madam Campbell."

Miriella, who was tall for thirteen, had the same eye level as Madam Campbell. The two exchanged smiles and sat on the sofa as recommended.

Miriella looked at the face of Prince Alexis sitting in front of her.

He didn't even get up and didn't seem to want to say hello.

Miriella always has a smile on her lips so as not to be rude. However, in her mind, a blizzard of congratulatory flowers was dancing.

The prince was like a prince out of the romance novels she always read. His stone statue-like face shines, and his overall impression of being a prince, with his sweetness and pallidity, is right. No painter would be able to capture this noble figure of him.

However, it is not the appearance that Miriella is pleased with. She is pleased with his attitude, which seems to be openly disinterested in this engagement talk.

In this case, it wouldn't be a problem if Miriella refused, and if anything, they might refuse.

Beside the prince who clearly doesn't face forward and Miriella who started to smile without acting, Madam Campbell and the Duchess proceed to introduce each other. After chatting to some extent, Madam Campbell stood up and moved.

"You two don't talk at all do you. were you two feeling nervous when we are around? If its so, you two do please talk together with each other."

Passing by Miriella with a smooth motion, Madam Campbell left without hesitation. Miriella's mother panicked and followed after her. There was a chamberlain by the wall, but for the time being it was just the two of them.

"You"

"Yes"

"seems to be Ed's little sister. the eccentric Ed's little sister so I heard."

To be told by Onii-sama that I was eccentric, this must the end of the world.

“If the eccentric Ed said so, I thought that in actual fact she would be a decent woman.”

"There is no mistake with that."

The face that had been making a smile until now was getting tired, so Miriella answered with a serious face. After that, just smile only when its fun.

Alexis suddenly looked at Miriella's face and seemed to notice that the smile had disappeared from her face.

"You look grumpy."

"I'm not as good as His Highness."

"So you are saying I look grumpy and angry"

"No, no way! On the contrary, you look happy is what I think."

Miriella continued in a nonchalant manner to Alexis who tilted his neck.

"I have someone I've decided on, so I can't accept this offer."

Today's work is done!

A smile returned to Miriella's face as if to say that.

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"Don't you want to marry into the royal family?"

"No, I don't think so"

“Is it because the man you set your mind to is prettier than me?”

"hah?"

Eh, what is this person is saying?

Does he think he is so proud of his face I wonder.

Miriella was on the verge of putting that feeling into her mouth, but because of that, her cherry-colored lips were moving as if she is muttering something.

Faced with the trembling *mutter*mutter* lips and a startled expression, Alexis' face suddenly turned hot and red. It seems that the voice of Miriella's heart was conveyed accurately.

"Wro, wrong!"

"I haven't said anything yet."

"I get it even if you don't to tell me what you're thinking! I'm not the, uhh, narcissistic man you think I am!"

With her being told that, an unnecessary doubt "I wonder if that so" came out, 

Because the other party started to get excited, heated, and all, on the contrary, Miriella was getting more and more calm.