Chapter 164

Then he slightly bowed and looked at me instead of turning around. His pure white robe fluttered in white waves.

“Lady Monique.”

“Please go ahead, Your Eminence.”

“Don’t forget what I said. Then, until the day I see you again, may God protect you.”

His white robe fluttered again in a wave.

I watched him for a long time as he walked through the people with his long gray hair rustling above the carpet. I couldn’t figure out what he was up to.

Why is he trying to leave the empire at this critical time? And what is it that I may hear soon? Why did he wish me God’s protection repeatedly?

“He’s interesting, isn’t he?”

When Frincia said that, I finally woke up from my idle thoughts. Lady Genoa said after looking at the entrance of the banquet hall.

“… I don’t like people like him because I can’t figure out what he is thinking.”

“Oh, Ilya, how radical your remarks are!”

“Besides, he is from the temple, right? I just don’t know why he has approached us instead of the noble faction. The way he deals with Lady Monique is very suspicious, too.”

“You bet. The way he is dealing with Aristia was certainly a bit suspicious, but she alone received his blessings anyway. Let’s try to think about the positive side of him.”

“Okay.”

As the former princess, Frincia was in a different class from the other ladies.

I regretted that she was a married woman.

‘There is no better candidate for the crown prince’s concubine than Frincia.”

I admired her ability to control the situation by judging rationally and be gentle.. Of course, it was rude for me to think of her as the crown prince’s concubine because she was living happily with Sir Lars after getting married.

Compared to her, Lady Genoa was smart, but she was a little lacking in dealing with people and controlling her emotions. If she would fulfill her job as the crown prince’s concubine, she would need to block Jiun’s actions while controlling all the people at the palace, but I felt somewhat uneasy about it. Anyway, as she was destined to get married to Duke Verita’s eldest son, I couldn’t recommend her, either.

“By the way, I don’t know what the crown prince is thinking. How come he hosted the ball to celebrate Lady Jena’s adoption as the daughter into the duke’s family?” Entea asked.

“Well, that’s good for us anyway, it’s good for us. If the ball had been held at the duke’s mansion, we would have been forced to see her holding her head high,” said Lady Genoa.

“You’re right. Besides, as we had no legitimate reason to avoid going there, we would have to go and play second fiddle to her. Thanks to the crown prince’s hosting the ball, we could enjoy it like this,” said Frincia.

They were right. If the party had been hosted by Duke Jenna, the noble faction would not have been as quiet as they are now. So, the situation is much better for the pro-emperor faction now, although it was painful that Jiun was a bit undermined by this.

“Tia, you’re here!”

When I looked back at the familiar voice, I saw a silver-haired knight dressed up nicely in the uniform of the 2nd Knights. The crest of the spear and shield embroidered with silver threads, the three silver straps on the shoulder, and all kinds of medals glowed under the light of the chandelier.

I broke into a bright smile in spite of myself.

“Spear of the Empire”, the head of the Monique family, he was my beloved father.

“Daddy!”

“Hello, sir, This is Frincia de Lars. ”

“I’m Ilya se Genoa. It is an honor to see you. ”

“It’s been a while, sir.”

My father returned their greetings bluntly by nodding and said with a deep low voice, “I’m sorry to interrupt your delightful conversation, but can I talk to my daughter for a minute?”

“Of course, sir.”

“Thank you.”

When I tilted my head, wondering if he had something important for me, he looked at me warmly, reaching out to me.

“Beautiful lady, would you give me the pleasure of dancing with you?”

“Dad… ”

Forgetting there were many around me, I clung to him unconsciously. I was thrilled when I saw his affectionate gaze.

After carefully placing my hand in his warm hand, I headed to the dance floor, with lots of people watching us curiously.

“I think it’s my first time dancing with you, Daddy.”

“I guess so. It has already been three years since you made a debut in social circles, but it seems that I haven’t taken care of you. I’m sorry. ”

“No, Daddy. I know you don’t like to go to social events.”

After politely bowing to him, I stood hand in hand, facing him. Luckily, the tune this time was slow and grand, so I danced in a big circle, held in his arms.

His silver hair, like the moonlight reflected the light of the chandelier, was waving, and his navy blue uniform that fit him perfectly also fluttered beautifully. His blue eyes fixed on me, his hand that stretched toward me, and his warm yet sturdy chest.

My empty heart was elated with happiness. My tired body and mind were refreshed.

“I heard something a little while ago.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“I mean your deal with Arkint, Duke Lars. That makes sense. I think you wanted me to get reassurances from him one more time, right?”

“Yes, Daddy. That’s right.”

“Good job. Unless he is ready to make the Monique family his enemy, he can’t retract his promise. I’m so proud of you because you are becoming more and more mature. I was impressed with your outstanding argument at the meeting with the emperor. I think I am blessed because of you.”

I let go of his hand as the tune was changing to its peak. Lightly turning two turns to the right, I gracefully walked back to his arms, with the hem of my dress fluttering gracefully.

Pulling me with his arm hard, he said, “Are you okay now?”

“Pardon?”

“At first glance, your face looked gloomy.”

“Ah… I’m fine, Dad. Thank you for caring about me.”

Did he ask me to dance with him for that?

As I looked in surprise, he turned his head as if he was embarrassed.

Then, the last part of the tune was played. I bowed politely, lifting the hem of my dress slightly, then walked out of the dance floor with him.

When I returned to my place amid many women’s envious gaze, I found Entea already left.

Smiling up at me, Frincia said to my father and me, “Your dancing was indeed a picturesque scene. I got carried away with the glittering of your hair reflected by the light …”

“Thank you, Frincia.”

“Come to think of it, I hear that silver hair appears only in the people of the Monique family.”

“Ah…yes.”

“It’s a rare color, but it’s still amazing. Thanks to this, when I first saw Aristia, I recognized you at first glance. ”

Ilya seconded, “Besides, as you know, the Monique family is a prestigious family boasting of one thousand years of history. There might be some exceptions, but I hear all the previous people of the family were all silver-haired. Isn’t it really amazing? ”

“Oh, is that true, Aristia?”

‘Well, there is a reason for that.’

When I was smiling bitterly deep down, a young man approached and bowed to me.

“Hello, Marquis Monique, high ladies!”

His skin looked pale, giving the impression that he was sick. He was Duke Verita’s eldest son.

When I saw him, Allendis came to my mind, who was my precious friend and used to look at me warmly with emerald eyes.

“My father wants to see you urgently, sir. It seems he has something to tell you urgently.

“Okay. Tia, I may have a long conversation with him. If you are tired, go home first and take a rest.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Mrs. Lars and Lady Genoa, it was a pleasure to meet you. Goodbye.”

I watched the duke’s son talking with Ilya, his fiancee. He had dark hair and chocolate eyes while Ilya had dark green eyes and light brown hair. A man who looked weak and a woman who looked calm. They seemed a good match, but at the same time they looked like a disharmony.

I had some ominous feelings, but I said hello to him, trying to smile nonchalantly.

“It’s been a while, Alexis.”

“Oh hi, how are you?”

” I heard that you’re going to wed Ilya sooner or later. Congratulations!”

“Thank you. Ah, I must thank you, too. ”

“Pardon?”