episode_0052

I sat next to Pia, watching the noble ladies sipping tea.

“Oh, did you hear what that lady said?”

“Really?”

They chatted and gossiped about the noble ladies while enjoying their tea.

“Is the tea not to your liking?”

Pia asked me as I sat quietly.

“It’s fine, really.”

“By the way, Lady Quel is quite late.”

Pia glanced towards the entrance and took another sip of her tea.

“She said she would attend today, but she hasn’t arrived yet.”

Another lady responded to Pia’s comment.

“She’s been busy with family matters recently, but she said she would come today, so let’s wait.”

Everyone nodded in agreement with Pia’s words.

The ladies who were chatting turned to look at me.

“Lady Roang, where did you learn your swordsmanship?”

“My swordsmanship?”

“Yes! You were with the paladins at the banquet, cutting down assassins!”

I felt slightly uncomfortable under their admiring gazes, which seemed almost excessive.

Still, there was something pleasing about being the focus of their attention.

“It’s nothing special… I’ve been on the battlefield for nearly ten years, so it just happened.”

“Wow…”

As I chuckled, the ladies covered their mouths with fans, impressed.

“You’re truly amazing.”

While the ladies at the tea party praised me, it seemed that not everyone was pleased with it.

“You’ve been on the battlefield for ten years, so how old are you this year, Lady Roang?”

An lady at the end of the table asked me with a smirk.

“I’m twenty-seven.”

“Oh my…”

The lady’s sarcastic exclamation drew the ire of the ladies who had taken a liking to me.

“Your skills are so honed that you might have to become a concubine soon, right?”

The other ladies laughed at her comment.

‘Why is she saying that?’

I raised an eyebrow, looking at the lady who seemed to be trying to belittle me.

Whether she was being genuine or deliberately provocative, it seemed like she was crossing a line, and I felt the need to give her a warning.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Lamina of the Ex family.”

“Well… Lady Ex, it’s not nice to mock someone based on their age.”

“Huh…!”

Lamina snorted at my words.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Lady…”

Pia, who had noticed the change in my tone, grabbed my arm.

She shook her head slightly.

‘Just ignore her.’

I nodded at Pia.

“Enough, I’ll handle my marriage on my own, so don’t worry about it.”

I took a deep breath, inhaling the fragrant tea.

I had been invited to the tea party, so ruining it wouldn’t be ideal.

“To be honest, you must be quite envious.”

“…”

When Lamina saw that I didn’t respond to her taunts, she seemed to think she had won and continued to push harder.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Could it be that it’s actually true?”

“If you’re really concerned, my uncle is looking for a new concubine…”

I stood up and approached Lamina, step by step.

“Lady Roang…!”

Pia tried to stop me, but I had already walked too far for her hand to reach me.

“Excuse me!”

A man who appeared to be Lamina’s bodyguard stepped forward and blocked my path.

“If you get any closer to the lady, I won’t be able to hold back.”

He glared at me with a stern expression.

“Hey.”

Lorong grabbed the bodyguard’s shoulder and pulled him back.

“Let go of him!”

“If you want to live, just come with me!”

The man, now being held by Lorong, struggled as he was dragged back.

“What… what…?!”

Lamina reached out her hand while looking at her escort being dragged along.

“Exte, my dear?”

I smiled mischievously and placed my hand on her shoulder.

She looked up at me, her face turning pale.

“Don’t you think it would be offensive to say such things, even if the other person is older?”

“Hmph… Isn’t it more embarrassing for a lady to not even have a proper marriage?”

Lamina tried to hide her trembling voice while putting on a bold front.

“If people from the same royal faction keep getting on each other’s nerves like this, it won’t end well.”

“Well… I’ll let it slide this time, but next time… you’ll know better.”

I grabbed Lamina’s ear.

“Listen to Roang, there’s no need for us to fight amongst ourselves when we see the nobles acting all high and mighty.”

“Agreed.”

Everyone nodded at Pia’s words.

“Uh… Lamina and Pia.”

“Call me Pia again.”

“Oh, sorry. I’ll correct myself.”

I scratched my head and approached Pia.

“I feel like I shouldn’t have come here.”

I whispered, and Pia shook her head in response.

“Understood.”

It seemed inappropriate for me, a mere stone rolling in, to be there.

I decided to let it go, as such incidents were common even during my time in the military.

As the chaotic party continued, a young man resembling Count Rajulang appeared at the party venue.

He walked towards the party with his flashy silver hair fluttering in the wind.

“Oh, isn’t that Tristan?”

One of the ladies pointed at Tristan, and the others started whispering among themselves.

“Tsk!”

Pia frowned as soon as she saw Tristan.

Tristan, with a wide smile on his face, approached the open area of the party where Pia was standing.

“Are you all enjoying the party?”

At Tristan’s question, the ladies blushed and fidgeted.

I glanced at Tristan, who looked quite robust despite his mage-like appearance.

“Marie, are you interested in our second brother?”

“Not so much interested… he seems quite well-trained.”

“Oh, that. Father told him to join the administrative officials, but he ended up joining the Royal Guard.”

“He must be quite skilled.”

“Of course, he became the head of the Royal Guard.”

I glanced at Laurent, who was chatting with the escorts of another family in the distance.

“He seems similar to Laurent, even though I’ve never seen him use aura.”

I chuckled and looked at Tristan.

“If Rotos and Aramis were to attack him at the same time, he would win.”

“Rotos and Aramis, the one with the shaved head and the one with the mustache, right?”

“Ahaha!”

Shaved-headed Rotos and mustached Aramis…

I burst into laughter at Pia’s amusing comparison.

“Pia? What did you say earlier?”

Tristan approached Pia from behind and placed his hand on her head.

“Eek?!”

“What did our youngest sister just say?”

“Uh… Yes?”

“Yes?”

“No… I mean, yes?”

Tristan smiled at Pia’s response and started massaging her head with his fingertips.

“Ouch! That hurts!”

“Oh…! Don’t address your brother so casually!”

“No…! There are others around too!”

Tristan chuckled and removed his hand from Pia’s head.

“Every time I see you, you only seem to bother me. Was there ever a reason for me to like you?”

Pia grumbled as she tidied up her messy hair.

Suddenly, our eyes met, and I slightly bowed my head and greeted him.

“It’s nice to meet you. Are you the noble Tristan who saved my younger sister?”

“That’s correct.”

“It’s an honor to see the one who ruthlessly dealt with assassins in person.”

“You flatter me.”

I shook Tristan’s outstretched hand and we both gripped each other’s hands firmly, assessing each other’s strength.

“Ahem!”

When our handshake seemed to drag on too long, Pia stepped in and forcibly broke the handshake between Tristan and me.

“Brother, have you developed another strange habit?”

“No, what did I do…”

“How many times have I told you it’s improper to hold someone’s hand tightly?”

“I’m not the only one who does that, though.”

“You started it, and now Roan Young-ae is following suit because of you.”

Tristan pursed his lips at Pia’s nagging.

“As Pia’s brother, I apologize on her behalf.”

Tristan patted Pia’s head and bowed to me at the same time.

“Why are you dragging me into this?”

“It’s fine, it looks harmonious.”

“If it looks harmonious, then I’m glad.”

Tristan smiled, looking amiable.

“By the way, it seems like someone is missing?”

Tristan, looking around, pointed to an empty seat with his finger.

“Oh… Quell Young-ae was supposed to come today, but he’s quite late.”

“Quell’s carriage has already arrived though?”

“When did you see it?”

“I saw it earlier today when I left the mansion, the Quell family’s carriage was entering the mansion.”

“That’s strange. If it’s arrived, why hasn’t he come yet?”

“Well… I’ll go check again.”

“Yes, please do.”

“I’ll come with you…”

I followed Tristan out, intending to briefly leave the tea party.

“Roan Young-ae should come with us, shouldn’t she?”

But Pia was holding onto my dress tightly, so I had no choice but to sit still.

After some time, Tristan and the Earl’s butler brought Quell Young-ae into the tea party venue.

A girl with red hair and freckles on her cheeks stood hunched over between the two men.

“What did you do to Quell Young-ae, brother?”

Pia looked suspiciously at Tristan as she observed the hunched-over girl.

“Am I being accused?!”

As Pia and Tristan exchanged words, I couldn’t help but feel a sinister aura emanating from Quell Young-ae as I looked at her.

Laurent seemed to be doing the same, staring at Quell Young-ae like I was.