CH 214

“Well, Alice.”

“Yes? What’s wrong?”

Alice tilted her head.

“Perhaps…  Do you know anything about Sir Cedric? I wonder why he didn’t show up at the banquet today.”

“Ah…….”

Alice let out a sound at my question.

From the look on her face, she didn’t seem to know anything about Cedric.

“I’m sorry, Emir. To be honest, the only time I hear from Sir Cedric is almost exclusively with Emir. I think the last time the two of us had exchanges was when we met briefly during the last beast subjugation operation last winter.”

Alice frowned slightly, recalling her memories, and answered.

‘Well, I guess so.’

As soon as Alice became an adult, she came out of the Rose family herself.

In fact, by that time, Duchy Rose was already on the verge of collapse, so of course, the childhood engagement with Cedric was almost broken.

And after she abandoned her family surname, her familial affiliation was completely annulled.

Since then, Alice participated in the beasts subjugation and earned the title of Count through her work, but she did not seem to have any intention of resuming her engagement with Cedric.

So, as Alice said, she had little contact with Cedric right now.

‘It’s definitely different from the original story. Originally, around this time, the Rose family was still well and there was supposed to be an engagement between Alice and Cedric.’

But Alice and Cedric didn’t seem to care for each other, so I didn’t have any regrets about it even though the original story changed.

“Then why are you asking about Sir Cedric all of a sudden, Emir? No way…… Do you still want to see Sir Cedric when there’s me in front of you?”

At that time, Alice asked me with a sad voice.

I shook my head hastily.

“No! It’s not like that at all.”

“Ah, I’m glad then.”

Alice laughed softly.

* * *

A lamp lit using a magic stone suddenly turned on on the podium in the banquet hall.

‘I think Nicholas is coming!’

At the same time as I thought so, Nicholas really appeared in the hall.

“Greetings, Crown Prince!”

“Your Highness! I…….”

There were a lot of lords and ladies, who had just made their debut, trying to have a conversation with Nicholas at least once.

If it wasn’t for a banquet where all the nobles were invited to the imperial palace like this, there was hardly any chance to meet Nicholas without any personal acquaintance.

Of course I didn’t mix or get anywhere between them.

It was because I was afraid of tripping on the wrong foot or falling over on the crowd.

Above all, I may not see him as often as Ninaina, but I did meet Nicholas once a month to say hello.

So there was no need to greet him now.

‘By the way…… Nicholas is really cool today too.’

However, looking at Nicholas from a distance, he only smiled faintly.

The figure of the bookworm model student more than 10 years ago has gone and now he has become a full-fledged prince of the empire, showing only a dignified and attractive appearance.

‘Hey, did we just make eye contact?’

At that time, it seemed that my eyes met with Nicholas, who had just climbed onto the podium and stared at people with a charismatic gaze.

‘No, I may be mistaken! Yes, I am clearly mistaken… … .’

Nicholas immediately looked elsewhere.

It seems that it was only my misunderstanding that our eyes met.

“Hoo….”

As I dispelled vain thoughts, I quietly listened to Nicholas’ congratulatory speech to those who made their first social debut.

‘A speech like this is usually boring, but it’s not at all because Nicholas’ voice is so soft and nice.’

As if I wasn’t the only one who thought so, I could see lords and ladies of my age listening to his speech with their eyes lit up.

Eventually, when Nicholas came down from the podium after finishing his congratulatory speech, the inside of the banquet hall began to become noisy again.

‘Everyone is talking quietly in a civilized tone, but maybe it’s because there are too many people attending.’

Once again, I thought it was a good decision to follow Alice’s words.

Staying in the banquet hall for a long time seemed to be a difficult task.

It was then.

“Lady Emir Saeron.”

“Crown Prince…… ?”

Somehow, while I was immersed in my thoughts, the surroundings were getting louder and louder.

I think it was because Nicholas was approaching me.

Nicholas gave me a greeting with a slightly shy look.

“It’s a face I haven’t seen in a few weeks. How have you been?”

“Yes! Your Highness, have you been well?”

But even if I asked this question, I already knew that Nicholas wasn’t doing very well.

That’s probably because he’ll be busy studying to become the next Emperor as the Crown Prince right now.

“Yes. Rather…… Congratulations on your first social debut. Lady Saeron.”

“…… !”

Then Nicholas handed something the servant brought and handed it to me.

It was a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and a gift box.