62 [62]

"I'm looking forward to seeing Karen go."

"Me too, mother."

Lady Lian, the daughter of Count Elba's wife, ran to Karen and hugged her. Karen lifted Ryan and sat him on her lap.

"Is it that good, Lian? Karen, you too, right? This kind of opportunity is rare. Usually, you'll be able to see your face only after the debut ceremony.”

Count Elba's wife, who was supposed to accompany her, blinked at her daughter, who clung to Karen's skirt. Karen put down the hot teacup and tickled the child. Lady Lian laughed out of breath. Karen played with the child for a moment and answered carefully to Count Elba, who looked over with a heartwarming look.

"I'm afraid I'm too young to bother you, is it really okay for me to go?"

Karen was invited with Elba. To be exact, Elba was invited to the meeting she was supposed to go to. And the meeting that Elba and Lian went to was a gathering of young aristocrats and their parents as young as 10 years old. Karen did not fit well in many ways, in terms of age or class. It is more strange to go without a direct call from the royal family. In fact, singing itself was not natural.

"I think Karen is sick of it's boring. Boys are really annoying.”

"Lian!"

"I hate it. D'Artagnan is smarter."

D'Artagnan was the countess's pet dog. Karen patted Ryan, who had been complaining about the pain of social life since his age. Girls of that age are much more mature than boys. And no matter how much we educate them, they're children. There is a limit to teaching resignation and courtesy.

"Lian, don't stick to Karen too much. Excuse me."

"I'm fine, ma'am."

"Yes. Excuse me, Karen."

However, Lady Lian remained calm and went back to her chair and calmly raised the teacup. Karen raised a cup of tea thinking about the future she would not come. Let's not think deeply. You made up your mind.

"Is Prince Louise's son Prince Gwiz's main gathering?"

Lian replied, covering his face.

"Louis is handsome."

"He's... his face doesn't matter. And you have to do well in front of you. All right?

When Count Elba's wife said, Lian answered with a voice.

"I'm doing fine."

"You have to do better."

"Do you think I'm good? The prince will marry the royal family."

The Countess Elba laughed as she gave her daughter, who gave her uncharacteristically realistic answer.

"Marriage is not the only answer, Lian."

Prince Louis is the same age as Lady Lian. If you become a princess, you will be on the path of glory, or else the gathering is of high nobility. They were young, but that's why they thought we should get closer from this point on. No matter how much wealth Verdick builds up, he will not be among the intimacy of the aristocrats.

"I don't think it's a good meeting for me, what do you think?”

Anyway, it's a good meeting. But it wasn't that much of a place Karen could go. Prince Gwiz has called Karen several times so far, but not this meeting. What he called was a more dreary place with gambling and women, and it ended with just watching. You're officially calling me this time? But taking Karen's reluctance as nervous, Elba patted her with just a bright smile.

"It's okay, it's okay. You'll need a lot of help if you have a baby anyway. You need a nanny, you need a good tutor. If you get married, you'll have a baby soon, so it's too late to get advice.”

It's not about whether Karen likes it or not. Unnatural gatherings are a problem. And so far, he has never called her to this 'bright' gathering. Gambling and women have always been a relatively free group of classes and genders. And even if I called you, nothing really happened.

"You look like Catherine.”

That's all.

"It's too fast...I don't even have children.”

Why is it so fast this time? Was it about gambling with the Baron? Or was his entry into Verdick's foster home noticeable to him? Do you think he was interested in his death? Or...

"Does she have anything to do with her?”

"Maybe. Because he was famous for being quite interested in Lady Catherine...It's no exaggeration to wonder about your daughter. Oh, my God, it's romantic, too. I'm sure they like you.”

It wasn't like that until now. Karen looked down at the teacup and fell into some trouble. It's a good thing for her. He knows Catherine better directly. If it were in the past, it would be hard to get involved. There's nothing wrong with being close to a high man.

"That's very much..”

Everything happens little by little in this life. It's not strange. There's always been a change like this.

"Then will Prince Gwiz be present?”

He would if he wanted to see Karen. But Count Elba's wife tilted her head and questioned.

"Well, I don't know. Maybe you'll miss it this time, too? You haven't been here that long. Even at a young age, Prince Louis usually hosted it."

"Caran, Karen. Lewis. You're smart, too."

Next to him, Lady Lian stared into the air with dreamy eyes as she talked about the crown prince. be as precocious as early as possible The Countess Elba stroked her daughter, who was very fond of the crown prince.

"But I don't think there's a problem because the Crown Prince is so mature."

I can't believe I'm letting a 10-year-old host the meeting. Karen laughed like that, but Count Elba's wife and Lady Lian were talking about clothes with a face full of trust in Prince Louis.

***

"Are you still thinking about it?"

Raymond stopped writing the record as Karen agonized over the list. Karen sighed over her cloth.

"I don't know what to wear for a group of kids."

"I heard you lived 100 years. What have you been doing?"

"I loved her.”

"Yes... I see."

"Oh, what would you do if Lord Raymond lived 100 times again?"

At Karen's words, Raymond answered with a shrug of his shoulders without hesitation.

"Of course not. It's world peace.

"You're joking, right?

"Well, I don't know, but I don't understand that you've been living that long and struggling with it. It's our second day. It's not like a ball to choose the bride of the prince, it's just a gathering. No, even if it is. Isn't it too much to think about it for a week? Leaving me by the side of my long way to work."

Raymond looked at a book containing samples of cloth held by Karen and put his tongue out. It was as thick as the countess had. It will contain most of the cloth that is almost available. It's hard to decide.

Karen answered with a snap of her finger. You still don't know what's important. This is what matters most to you. She is Catherine's ex-girlfriend. And he is the crown prince. It's a meeting I've never been to. Beauty is a woman's weapon, and clothing is her army. Shouldn't we be ready to win?

"This is my first meeting. And why am I worried about Lord Raymond?"

"I see. We're just a contractual relationships. My heart is breaking."

By Karen's answer, Raymond held her heart in a dramatic way as if she had been hurt. I answered the action with a smile.

"You're going to win and come back."

"…well, that's a little comforting.”

"Sir Raymond, what's going on all of a sudden?”

asked Raymond with a subtle smile.

"Take a guess. You said you knew the future."

"He's never been there at this time.”

Karen made a slightly discontented excuse, but forced her head to a deeper smile.

"Well, maybe you're going… It must be about the military. It was a little earlier, but it was usually the same for everyone who went during this time.”

"Other than anyone can think?"

"At this time, he called Lord Raymond for the first time to test a gun with a silencer. And he went to do something he didn't want to do. You'll be back in three days."

"What exactly is going on?"

"You've never told me before."

"Is that so? Well, it's obvious it's a soldier's job anyway."

Raymond nervously swept up his drooping bangs. Karen was a little embarrassed about herself choosing a dress. That doesn't mean she can do anything for you.

"I wish you'd gone with me. It's going to be helpful for the future."

"It would have been hard to get there, even if there was no work. The invitation is obviously only for you."

"That's what Lord Raymond thinks, isn't it?”

So I feel more uncomfortable. It is not strange for a fiancee to accompany a man. However, it is unusual for a man to go to a place where only women are invited. It's annoying to have subtle etiquette.

"Sir Raymond. Will Prince Gwiz come out?"

"I think you're coming out. I don't think it's a good thing."

"Do you know anything about him?"

"Wait... I've run into him a few times. This and that."

Raymond didn't want to talk, so he blurted the end. Karen looked at him and rhymed.

"I heard you were a follower of your mother."

"It's only a short time to be swayed by your face."

"Are you talking about yourself?"

"…I have nothing to say."

"Anyway, how do you know?"

"Most men don't want to introduce their women to him."

"Is there anything else I can tell you?"”

“…….”

Reacting to what he had said, Raymond tilted his head around and opened his mouth.

"I don't want to tell a woman like you.”

"Oh, my God, are you blaming me?”

"No, no, it's not."

Raymond waved to Karen. He looked a little embarrassed.

"…well, she's not a very good girl."

"To be specific?"

"Well... why do you think Prince Gwiz would have called you?"

"Because you're my mother's ex-girlfriend and you're curious about me?"

"I think the other way around."

"Because you don't like me?"

"No, not you, but me."

Raymond pointed to his chest.

"You don't like me."