Chapter 36

“What is this?”

“An invitation to the August social gathering in two weeks. It’s a party where the immature boys and girls in this capital spend their money and socialize.”

“Ah, I know. I’ve heard of it. I’ve never been there myself.”

Lark, who was thinking for a moment, soon exclaimed and asked.

“By the way, didn’t Lissy go here last month?”

“Yes, she attended for the first time last month.”

“Did you go too? Have you seen Lissy?”

“Of course. I think we’re pretty close.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that too.”

Surprised, Lark smiled and opened the invitation.

We invite you to a social gathering in August.

‘1 silver’

– Organizer, Ricky Diollus

“One silver?”

“You need two things to attend a party. Invitations and gifts for the organizer. The one silver written there is a gift the organizers want for their guests.”

Perhaps Lisbeth had also received an invitation from Ricky.

“The princess must have also received an invitation, and I think the present she needed to prepare was Pharma Crystal.”

“What?”

Lark narrowed his brow.

“To go to a party, you must take a national treasure?”

“How can you bring a national treasure? Ricky purposely asked for a present that the princess couldn’t bring. That’s how they send invitations to guests they don’t want to invite.”

Lark stiffened.

‘He is a person who has never seen much of this side because of his political affairs, so I don’t think he knows…’

Perhaps he was aware of the existence of this social gathering but was unaware of the specific rules or subtle discriminatory practices.

After thinking for a while, Lark asked with a darkened look.

“… Is Lissy being bullied by the nobles?”

“Umm, no. It’s not bullying. Great noblemen usually leave the imperial family alone, but it’s just…”

I scratched my cheek, contemplating, then said subtly.

“… things might be a little difficult.”

“…”

Of course, the truth was a little different.

Lisbeth fell in love with Ricky at first sight and showed her affection for him all the time, and Ricky felt burdened because of it. Still, Lisbeth continued to pursue Ricky.

‘She wants to go to the party because she’s crazy about Ricky.’

That was the truth…

But there was no need to tell Lark about this, so I shut my mouth.

“Anyway, Her Highness’ purpose would’ve been to attend the party, not the national treasure, so you could give her the invitation.”

“But Princess…”

“Yes?”

“Did you know I was going to talk about Lissy? How did you know you needed to bring this? You— Ahh!”

Lark laughed and grabbed his head.

“Right, you must have looked into the future.”

“Mm…”

It wasn’t like that.

It was just good timing.

“Well, that’s true. But more than that, I want Her Highness to attend this social gathering. I was preparing to give her my invitation on purpose.”

“Oh. Is this your share? Can you go with someone else’s invitation?”

“It doesn’t matter because they don’t write the recipient on the original invitation. They often ask for excessive gifts, so they don’t want it to become a problem later. The delivery is also transferred directly to the organizer.”

“Mm, that’s right.”

Lark’s eyes, staring at the invitation, slightly cooled.

He had only heard of how guests were screened and invited, and he had had a sneak peek of the dark side of this aristocratic party.

“First of all, thank you. But if you give it to Lissy, you will be unable to attend the party, won’t you?”

“Oh well, the organizer is Ricky, so it’s not a big deal to rip out another invitation.”

I smiled at him, who looked apologetic, telling him not to worry.

***

As soon as I got home, I headed straight to the twins, and Wishit, who was next to me, sent me a message.

{Can you see the future? How did you know the crown prince would be flustered because of his sister?}

{How am I supposed to know that? I just remembered that Lisbeth wasn’t initially at the social gathering in August of this year when she should have gotten an invitation to meet Ricky…}

I added with a shrug.

{If she didn’t come, the reason is obvious. She didn’t prepare a present for him. I just guessed that Ricky must have asked for it because Lisbeth suddenly asked the crown prince to come up with Pharma Crystal.}

{Oho. So you were trying to help because you felt sorry for the princess who couldn’t make it to the party. You’re so kind.}

{Mm? Does it seem like that?}

I snorted.

My memories of the fifth princess, Lisbeth, were not very good.

‘Just as Rubette followed Kedrick, the fifth princess followed Ricky.’

Good-natured Rubette felt a strange fellowship with Lisbeth, the same hard-working person who wanted to reach her crush. But little did Rubette know.

Lisbeth wanted Rubette to come whenever there was a social gathering of nobles, and she clung to her.

The reason?

‘Well, it’s because she looks less plump when Rubette is next to her.’

Lisbeth, who was chubby, was not confident in her body, but she was relieved when Rubette was next to her.

She even used Rubette as her postman to deliver her love letters to Ricky.

Anyway, I clearly remembered that she had continued to act like an immature girl even after growing to some extent.

{I’m sorry, but I have no intention of acting as a postman for love as I did in my last life. It’s just that Lisbeth has a reason to come to this social gathering.}

{A reason?}

{Yes. For this August social gathering, Ricky is inviting the Roland Theater Company. Our great actress Sarah Hugo is coming. Fufu…}

As far as I remember, at this August social gathering, Ricky would invite the hottest troupe in the capital, Roland Theater Company, and they would perform the play The Death of Helga.

Even though Sarah had already retired by this time in the past, Ricky poured out huge sums of money on her and eventually put her on stage once again.

‘Brother Viego, who had never said bad things to the twins, actually scolded Ricky that time. That’s why I remember it clearly.’

This time Sarah wasn’t retiring, so he wouldn’t have to spend too much money.

It was a shame that Ricky wouldn’t get scolded this time, but…

{Not only to the nobles who come to the party but also to Lisbeth, who will spread the word to other princesses in the imperial family! It will be a great stage for all the people who spend a lot of money to watch the dress I designed with their mouths open!}

Knock, knock.

Swallowing my laughter, I cleared my throat and knocked in front of Ricky’s room, where I had just arrived.

“Ricky, it’s me, Rubette. Are you in there? Can I come in?”

I could hear the voices of the chattering twins inside. As expected, the two seemed to be together.

When I opened the door, the brother and sister sitting opposite each other in front of the table piled up with invitations glared at me.

“What is it?”

Lillia asked aggressively first.

“Well, I just wanted to ask you something.”

I rolled my eyes and scratched my cheek as if hesitant to speak.

“That… the August social gathering. Kedrick, of course… will be coming, right?”

“Kedrick?”

Lillia’s eyes twinkled.

“Why are you looking for Kedrick? Didn’t you say you hate Kedrick now?”

“Oh! I don’t like Kedrick anymore.”

After sniveling and speaking coyly, I looked at Lillia’s expression…

“Pfft. That’s what you do.”

As expected, she seemed to have fallen for my acting.

She got up from her seat and quickly approached me with a smile.

“Hey, what were you doing out of town with the crown prince? What did you talk about with His Highness?”

“We didn’t talk much.”

“Don’t lie. Tell me the truth. Just thinking about it, His Highness has no reason to walk around with something like you.”

“Hey, pig. Who is the crown prince interested in? Is it Lilly?”

Ricky, who sat listening to our conversation, interrupted and asked.

Then Lillia’s eyes shone.

“You talked about me, didn’t you? He asked about me, didn’t he?”

“… Mm, I don’t know!”

I pouted my lips and turned my head.

Although she didn’t get the answer she wanted, Lillia shut her mouth and giggled as if she was satisfied enough with my reaction.

“Okay. I get it, Rubette. Our poor Ruby still has a crush on Kedrick.”

“I told you it’s not like that.”

“Yes, yes. It’s not like that. Anyway, are you here only to ask if Kedrick is going to the gathering?”

Pretending to be friendly, Lillia smiled and nodded.

“Of course he’s going. You should come and have fun with Kedrick.”

“Ah, that’s…”

“What?”

“I don’t think I can go.”

“What? Why?”

“I lost my invitation.”

Ricky frowned at my words.

“Hey! Why did you lose it? I’d be in trouble if the invitation went somewhere else!”

“I never took it out. I think I lost it in my room. No matter how much I search, I can’t find it…”

I became gloomy and looked at the two of them.

“You can’t go without the invitation, right? I can’t help it…”

When I was about to leave the room…

“Wait a moment!”

These devils couldn’t hold a meeting without me.

They were the ones who would be most disappointed if they didn’t have a fun toy that could stand in the middle like a zoo monkey to tease, bully, and embarrass to their heart’s content.

‘That’s why I was able to receive an invitation as the priority whenever it was the twins’ or their close aristocratic friends’ turn to host the gathering.’

I felt anger rising again, but I held it in and looked back with shining eyes as if I were expecting it.

“I think our Ruby is excited to play with Kedrick.”

Lillia pouted her lips like a benevolent one.

“I can’t help it. Ricky?”

“Ugh, seriously. If you lose it again, you’ll die, you pig.”

Ricky muttered and grabbed an invitation from the table, and fluttered cheekily.

Pretending to be thrilled, I quickly approached him and accepted it, then said timidly.

“Hmmm. And sorry for the last few days. To be honest, what I had been putting up with for so long broke out, but now that I think about it, it seems that I have been too harsh on you. I hope you have fun at this gathering.”

At my apology, the twins stopped and looked at each other.

Even if they try to hide it, they can’t hide it, even the softly rising corners of their lips and their slyly shining eyes…

‘Oh. They’re so excited about bullying me again. Very excited.’

The twins, who held back their laughter, looked at me and said softly.

“Yeah, well. It is not polite not to accept an apology.”

“Okay, pig. I’m glad that you’ve come to your senses now.”

Idiots.

I smiled and nodded, turning my body round and round with the invitation on my finger.

“Thank you for the invitation.”