Chapter 55
A cold sweat ran down her forehead.
“‘He’s probably just saying that… right?’”
Laria had never met someone as hard to read as the Crown Prince.
He had no sense of authority, his behavior was casual, yet at times he was piercingly sharp.
And on top of that, he even had prophetic abilities.
Whether he was joking or serious, it was impossible to tell.
“…I guess you were worried because of the place,” Laria said, unable to meet Xenox’s eyes, and fixed her gaze on Ishuel instead.
“I’m sorry for leaving without a word back then.”
“I wasn’t expecting an apology,” Ishuel said, shaking his head in mild embarrassment.
Trying to change the mood, he gave a small smile.
“Anyway, I’m glad the two of you could come together.”
“Your Highness sent the invitation personally, so of course we must come,” Xenox replied after a long silence.
To Laria, it sounded like, “You didn’t want to come, but you invited me, didn’t you?” — a sarcastic remark.
To Ishuel, it sounded like, “Thank you for inviting me.”
It was all a matter of interpretation.
Ishuel, quietly pleased, glanced around the room.
“It seems today’s stars of the banquet are the two of you,” he whispered.
Everyone’s attention was on them, Ishuel said softly.
“Well, neither of you attends banquets often anyway,” he muttered to himself, raising Laria’s eyebrows.
Of course, if an engagement announcement were made at the banquet, she would naturally become the center of attention.
‘I almost got blindsided again.’
She had attended the meeting completely unaware, never expecting the engagement announcement to unfold like this.
As Laria’s expression turned combative, Ishuel instinctively looked at Xenox, silently asking, Is she angry? Did I do something wrong?
Xenox ignored Ishuel’s look.
‘I won’t get blindsided again,’ Laria thought, slightly lifting her head to glance at Xenox.
When their eyes met, Xenox slowly closed and opened his eyes like a cat acknowledging her.
Sensing that Laria had something to say, he tightened his crossed arms slightly.
Gaining courage, Laria spoke up.
“Your Highness, I have something I wish to say.”
“What is it?”
She wanted to say that she intended to cancel the engagement announcement and postpone the ceremony… but there were too many eyes and ears around.
“Could we speak after moving to another place?”
“Shall we go to the lounge or the terrace? Xenox, you’ll come too, right?”
Xenox looked at him as if to say, Isn’t that obvious?
Just as they were about to step forward, the banquet hall buzzed with whispers.
“Oh my. What family could they be from?”
“They say it’s the Rohan family.”
“Everyone from that family is quite good-looking.”
The noblewomen fanned themselves eagerly.
Theo, Semela, and Herdin had gathered nearby, though no one knew when they had arrived.
Though usually uninterested in banquets, they had shown up just because Laria was attending.
The noblewomen’s attention turned red as they glanced at Herdin.
Even if his character was unknown, his appearance was quite attractive, drawing the ladies’ gaze naturally.
Herdin, however, ignored all the attention as if it were nothing.
The three who had been looking straight ahead immediately approached Laria, as if Xenox didn’t even exist, focusing solely on her.
“We were worried you’d be late,” Semela said.
“There was a slight problem with the carriage, so we’re a bit late. I hope nothing happened,” she added gently, while Herdin grumbled beside her.
“What a hassle. It’s not like we’re in a market.”
At that moment, Herdin and Ishuel’s eyes met.
Herdin’s expression, like a crumpled dead leaf, reflected the discomfort of encountering a superior at work during a holiday.
Ishuel, on the other hand, looked crushed like wet paper.
He seemed to have been scolded repeatedly by Herdin after the matchmaking incident.
Looking at Xenox, Ishuel exclaimed awkwardly, “Ah! I have something urgent to say. Can we step outside for a moment?”
Xenox tried to ignore him, but Ishuel grabbed his arm, refusing to let go.
Finally, with a reluctant nod, Xenox agreed.
“Shall we go?”
“…Go ahead.”
Yes, Xenox would speak on her behalf — to ask for the engagement announcement to be postponed.
Ishuel and Xenox disappeared into the crowd.
Herdin clicked his tongue softly at Ishuel’s frog-like fleeing posture, evading the snake.
From the situation, it was hard to tell who was the Crown Prince and who was the personal physician.
Yet it seemed his skills were recognized; otherwise, he wouldn’t have kept his position despite his personality.
‘He did heal my burn scar flawlessly.’
The burn marks from the fire incident were completely gone, thanks to Herdin.
“Well, he brought the Grand Duke along. He’s not completely oblivious, it seems.”
“Can you say it like that?”
Laria glanced around as Herdin spoke, giving him a cautionary look.
Herdin scoffed.
“He says worse things in private.”
Just how low had the Crown Prince’s authority fallen…
“You’re completely out of your mind.”
“Perhaps it’s best to return home quickly…”
Semela and Theo clung to her, urging her to leave.
‘I want to go home too… seriously.’
Even with Xenox gone, all eyes turned to her when her family joined in.
Laria hushed them as one would a child.
“It’s been a while since I’ve attended a banquet. Why not chat with others a bit…?”
But most seemed uninterested, especially Herdin, who shook his head in refusal.
“Work colleagues are everywhere. Why bother?”
The men who met Herdin’s gaze flinched.
From their build and short hair, they seemed to be knights, avoiding eye contact nervously.
“What on earth are you doing at the palace?”
“Why do you think it’s my problem? Maybe they’re the problem.”
‘Still, they’re way too confident.’
“Stop this and go mingle with your colleagues.”
“What? How insane! You’d only understand my feelings if you actually worked!”
“You’d oppose me if I worked!”
“Of course!”
The siblings raised their voices, arguing loudly.
Theo and Semela were too busy keeping watch to intervene. Semela believed pests must be eradicated early.
After finishing the verbal sparring with Herdin, Laria finally glanced around.
Everyone was watching her with intrigued eyes.
‘I got too excited…’
With all eyes on her, she felt like an animal in a zoo enclosure.
Just as she was about to look away, she noticed red hair among the strangers.
‘Siena?’
Next to Siena stood a middle-aged man she had never seen before.
Judging by the fiery red hair, he must be her father, Marquis Hashir.
Siena, who had been addressing those speaking to her, glanced at Laria.
When their eyes met, Siena’s eyes widened.
She parted her lips as if to say something, then quickly turned away.
Marquis Hashir looked at Siena curiously, then turned his gaze to Laria.
‘Why are they coming this way?’
Siena and Marquis Hashir approached Laria.
Except for the Crown Prince, no one else had come near, only whispering from afar, making this approach unusual.
Laria wasn’t particularly close with Siena, and had no dealings with the Marquis at all.
She noticed Theo, her face pale and stiff, shoulders trembling slightly.
By the time the Marquis reached them, he greeted Theo.
“It’s been a while, Count Rohan.”
