Ch.6060. Adelheid Aisilia (2)

Adelheid and my eyes met.

My reflection formed in her jewel-like, beautiful purple eyes.

For a moment, she seemed intent on taking in my entire appearance, trying to see through me.

‘What on earth is there to see?’

She wasn’t staring at me simply because my face was worth looking at.

While my face isn’t one to be ashamed of anywhere, it’s certainly not handsome enough to capture the attention of a princess.

It’s just my intuition, but.

Adelheid seemed to want to look at something more essential, rather than just my external appearance.

The princess’s intense interest.

For minor nobles from the kingdom’s periphery, or central nobles who want to curry her favor,

They would be honored and delighted.

‘I can hardly breathe.’

At least for me, such a burning gaze is nothing but radiation that shortens my life.

‘Isn’t she staring too long?’

What might be a fleeting moment for others felt like an eternity to me.

It’s already burdensome to make eye contact with Ainel, the head of the County, not even the Marquisate.

Beyond a marquis, beyond even a duke, this is a princess’s attention. And it’s focused entirely on me as the sole object.

What lowly person in the world could experience such a spine-chilling encounter?

And moreover.

‘…Why is she making that expression?’

The princess was frowning while looking at me.

Since I’m attending her coming-of-age ceremony with Sione, I’ve heard rumors about her reputation.

A woman like a sage who has seen through the world.

Serene, no, beyond that—someone who carries profound boredom toward everything on her face.

A princess who maintains an unwavering expression even when her mother tests her in thousands of complex ways.

Such stories are widely known about Adelheid, and now she was frowning at me.

‘Talk about bad luck.’

Even Feira Feiosha was glaring at Sione and me as if she regretted not being able to devour us.

The fervent interest of the Marquis’s daughter alone felt like a massive stone had been placed on me, weighing down my body and mind.

To think the princess would also become my ardent fan.

‘Ah… I feel sick…’

I forcibly held up the corners of my mouth that kept trying to droop.

No matter how awful the situation, it would be madness to openly show “I’m dying here” in front of a kingdom’s princess.

If there’s any consolation…

“Phew…”

In that brief moment, her purple eyes that had been fixed on me finally took in someone else’s appearance.

Somehow, I thought I detected a sense of lingering attachment as she finally released me from her gaze.

What mattered was that this princess’s interest had shifted from me to other nobles.

Just as I was sighing in relief at that thought.

Sione, who had somehow quietly approached me, carefully spoke.

“Um, Ray. Don’t you think we’re drawing a bit of attention?”

Drawing attention?

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. Some nobles seem to be watching us. Like… that lady over there.”

I looked at the noble lady Sione mentioned.

Indeed, as she said, the lady was glancing at Sione and me repeatedly.

And she wasn’t the only one.

The perceptive ones had all noticed the princess’s momentary change in expression and were now observing me while pretending not to.

“…You’re right. I should be more careful with my words and actions.”

“Yes… we should.”

Sione cautiously observed those showing interest in us.

She looked like a lioness protecting her prey.

“Is it alright if you don’t continue your conversation with Young Master Noah?”

“Noah said he would speak with his mother for a moment. Since the princess has arrived, it seems he wants to create some connection with the Count of Velleia.”

“I see… then shall we move as well?”

“Move? What do you mean by that?”

“Lady Ainel gave me a list of people she thought Sione should establish connections with. They’re all individuals worth building relationships with, both for the family and personally, so it would be good for you to speak with all of them.”

“Hmm… if Mother said so…”

After a moment of silence, Sione nodded.

“Alright, can you tell me who they are?”

“Of course.”

I looked around at Sione’s words.

Among the people visible in the banquet hall, those Sione should meet are…

Ah, found them.

“From the northern kingdom, Lady Aria Allenar, the second daughter of the Marquisate of Allenar.”

A beauty with a slender figure and ash-gray hair reaching her shoulders. Cold, fierce, and with an appealingly detached impression.

The lance knight of the cold north, Aria Allenar.

“From the central nobility, Lady Leona Lephelia, the eldest daughter of the Duchy of Lephelia.”

Her every movement exuded elegance.

A noble with beautiful golden hair and a benevolent aura.

The magician who swore loyalty to the radiant royal family, Leona Lephelia.

“And… Lady Feira Feiosha of the Marquisate of Feiosha.”

Earlier, and even now, for whatever reason displeases her,

Feira Feiosha keeps stealing glances at us with disapproving eyes.

There were a total of three noble ladies in the banquet hall.

“The Marquisate of Allenar, the Marquisate of Feiosha, and the Duchy of Lephelia… Not a single county like mine? Isn’t that a bit much?”

“Don’t forget that while the Sianella family is a county, it’s comparable to a marquisate. Besides, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to speak with people from other counties later, so don’t worry about that.”

“Hmm…”

Sione exhaled a breath already heavy with fatigue.

Well, Sione’s relationships consisted only of me, Siabel, and Noah, who had serious misconceptions about her.

For Sione, who had lost her social skills from being cooped up at home, this task would be neither easy nor welcome.

But what can she do? Ainel ordered it.

And our bet is at stake.

Sione has nowhere to run.

“So, who would you like to meet first?”

“Then… wouldn’t it be better to meet the lady from the Feiosha Marquisate first?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Moreover, regardless of my relationship with Feiosha… the relationship between Sianella and Feiosha isn’t bad.”

“Hmm…”

Despite that, Feira Feiosha’s reaction seemed concerning.

From the moment she entered, she had shown nothing but negative emotions, not a hint of goodwill. I wanted to suggest postponing the conversation with Feira, but

Seeing Sione’s expression, she seemed to have already made up her mind, so I quietly nodded.

Well, whatever. Sione’s the one who’ll suffer, not me.

I just need to watch from behind.

If Sione seems about to make a mistake, I can quietly approach and give her a poke or a pinch.

“As you wish, Lady Sione.”

Sione nodded at my words.

As she was trying to figure out when to approach and start a conversation,

Feira approached Sione first.

I stepped back appropriately and began to observe their conversation.

“You are… Sione Sianella, the second daughter of the Sianella family, correct?”

“…Yes. Pleased to meet you, Lady Feira Feiosha.”

Feira, who resembled Yulia, narrowed her brow and took a sip of wine.

Gulp.

While maintaining direct eye contact with Sione, she continued speaking in a monotone.

“…I’ve heard a lot about you from Evan, my only brother.”

Though Feira’s expression was calm, the weight in her words and the atmosphere were heavy.

“Even though it was an arranged marriage, for several years, he sent letters every season, but you never replied to a single one.”

Feira tilted her wine glass, watching the purple grape wine ripple.

“And with what nerve, not Evan but you came to our Feiosha Marquisate and grandly announced the cancellation of the engagement in the garden.”

Feira, seemingly burning with anger inside, downed all the remaining wine.

“Moreover, you, who showed nothing but indifference to Evan, seem to be having quite an enjoyable conversation with other men here.”

Feira turned toward me, who was standing quietly behind Sione.

I bowed my head to Feira, and at the same time, realized why she had been glaring at Sione, me, and even Noah.

The terrible fiancée who left only wounds on her brother before kicking him to the curb.

Furthermore, as if she didn’t even remember his brother, she was happily chatting with handsome men like me and Noah on either side of her.

That was probably Feira’s image of Sione.

“Sione Sianella. Don’t we have things to discuss?”

The situation was starting to unfold like a morning drama.

Sione, hearing Feira’s words, seemed to realize the situation was deteriorating in real-time and began to sweat.

As I watched their confrontation,

Having apparently finished his conversation with the head of the Velleia family,

“Sione, who is this…?”

Noah also ended up between Sione and Feira.

Feira’s smile deepened.

‘This is going to be difficult.’

The situation had become too complicated.

At this point,

It would be better to give up on building a close relationship with Feira Feiosha and focus on relationships with ladies from other families.

For now, I decided to watch and see how things unfolded,

Like watching a morning drama.

“…She’s going to have a hard time.”

“Indeed. Feira Feiosha was never one to smile easily at social gatherings. This is quite an interesting situation.”

“Isn’t it?”

There’s a saying that from a distance it’s comedy, up close it’s tragedy.

That fits perfectly.

I suppose she who responded to my comment also thinks…

Wait? Response?

I turned around to where the voice came from, trying my best to hide my surprise.

And there stood.

“I have something to discuss with you too. Could you spare me a moment?”

“Princess…?”

The First Princess, Adelheid Aisilia, was looking at me with her eyes shining.