Chapter 33
“I see the Herolds twins have both arrived safely.”
Duke Nor, who had greeted both Ares and Aveline, turned back to Count Herolds and furrowed his brow.
“But what happened to your forehead?”
“Ah… I carelessly fell.”
“Haha. So even you can fall.”
As Count Herolds, unable to admit he was hit by a stone thrown by his daughter, fumbled for words, Duke Nor laughed it off lightly.
‘I feel so guilty.’
Aveline felt uncomfortable listening to the conversation between the two.
But just then,
“Ares, did you get home safely yesterday?”
Crown Prince Serio, who had been standing next to Duke Nor, had somehow approached and addressed them.
‘Gasp. Edward…’
Although it was only the second time seeing him, she still couldn’t get used to his appearance, identical to her favorite character.
The intimidating presence of the handsome man with blonde hair, blood-red eyes, and slightly tanned skin was palpable.
“We are honored to meet Your Highness, the future light of the Listoria Empire.”
“We are honored to meet Your Highness, the future light of the Listoria Empire.”
“…honored to meet you.”
Aveline mumbled her greeting, squeezing in between Count Herolds and Ares as they hurriedly greeted the prince.
Her long period of seclusion meant the greeting wasn’t yet familiar on her tongue, and she was flustered by Serio’s sudden appearance.
“I like conciseness.”
Aveline had hoped it would go unnoticed, but Serio seemed to have heard her messy greeting in full.
‘I’ve messed up.’
She had tried her best not to stand out, but she had caught his attention right from the start.
To make matters worse, as the Crown Prince addressed Aveline, people around pretended not to look but were all glancing this way.
“I’m sorry.”
Aveline apologized, still keeping her head bowed.
‘Please go away now.’
She hoped Serio would quickly move on, but her expectations were lightly dashed.
“I heard from Ares yesterday that you’re quite skilled. Can we spar sometime?”
Serio showed no signs of moving on.
What’s more, he was even extending a sparring invitation to Aveline.
A murmur could be heard from the people around.
Not only had Serio never directly addressed a young lady or proposed anything before, but it wasn’t the kind of line typically offered to a young lady.
Aveline was equally flustered.
To think the first words out of his mouth would be a challenge to a match.
‘Oh no.’
Sure enough.
Everyone seemed to think Aveline must have offended the Crown Prince somehow, as they sent her pitying glances.
Since it was rare for young ladies to train, to those who didn’t know Aveline trained, it would have sounded like Serio was picking a fight with her.
“Your Highness, I actually have something to discuss with you, if you could spare a moment…”
“Count, I’m not finished talking with your daughter yet.”
Count Herolds tried to quickly intervene to carry out his duty, but Serio brushed him off again.
“Young lady, would you raise your head?”
At the Crown Prince’s command, Aveline had no choice but to lift her lowered face.
“And open your eyes too.”
‘Did he notice?’
She had been keeping her eyes closed, pretending to lower them as much as possible, unable to face him directly.
“Now you’re looking at me.”
As their eyes met, Serio grinned.
It was indeed a smile befitting one of the empire’s three great beauties, causing quite an impact.
“Gasp.”
Perhaps because she had seen Edward in her dream recently, even though she knew Serio and Edward were different people, she couldn’t stop her heart from racing.
“You’re not crying today?”
Serio, who had been observing Aveline as she tried her best to manage her expression, spoke up.
“Pardon?”
“You cried last time. Saying I looked like someone you knew.”
“Ah…”
To think he still remembered that.
As Aveline became flustered, Ares looked at her with an expression that seemed to say, “Didn’t I tell you so?”
“I’ve been so curious ever since. Who exactly is this person who resembles me?”
“That’s…”
“Yes?”
Aveline started to speak, feeling like she should say something, but nothing came to mind.
“Well, if it’s difficult, you can tell me next time.”
As Aveline just opened and closed her mouth, Serio took a step back first.
‘That’s unusual.’
Aveline wasn’t the only one surprised by the unexpected behavior of the Crown Prince, who typically wouldn’t rest until his curiosity was satisfied.
“The Crown Prince is compromising?”
“What is the world coming to?”
Ares and Count Herolds each muttered in surprise.
“It’s a reprieve. So I can see you again.”
At Serio’s following words, Count Herolds’ expression immediately hardened.
‘But why has Father been reacting like this since yesterday?’
Last time, he had tried to pair her with Duke Nor’s illegitimate son, telling her to make herself useful, but now he seemed worried about her possibly connecting with the Crown Prince.
‘Wouldn’t it be better for Father if I were to be with the Crown Prince?’
As a supporter of the Emperor, there could be no greater honor than forming a direct connection with the imperial family.
‘Hmm. It’s strange. And suspicious.’
As Aveline was tilting her head at her father’s suspicious overreaction, a voice was heard from behind.
“I’m sorry, but I have a prior engagement with her that day.”
Another figure appeared, causing Count Herolds to overreact.
Turning around, she saw the culprit who had sent the flower basket.
Perhaps due to the party, Theron’s handsome forehead was clearly visible with his hair swept back.
Although he always showed off his handsome face, with his features fully exposed, his handsomeness was doubled.
“I haven’t mentioned when yet.”
“Ah.”
Despite Serio’s response that seemed to say “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Theron just shrugged his shoulders halfheartedly.
It was an extremely disrespectful attitude in others’ eyes, but because he was already notorious as a madman, even this behavior seemed natural.
“By the way.”
Theron turned his head towards Aveline.
As their eyes met, Theron’s blue eyes curved prettily.
Facing this sight up close, Aveline was gripped by a familiar anxiety.
‘No. Don’t open your mouth.’
However, Aveline’s telepathy failed.
“Did you receive the flowers well?”
Thud.
“Father!”
She heard Count Herolds stumble and be supported by Ares beside her.
“Was it Duke Ribes who sent the flower basket to Aveline?”
Count Herolds, barely standing with Ares’ support, asked Theron.
“Ah.”
Theron turned towards Count Herolds as if he had been waiting for that question.
“That’s correct.”
Then he readily admitted it before Aveline could stop him.
“Flowers?”
Serio, standing nearby, tilted his head.
“So it was you who sent them?”
Serio’s tone suggested he already knew that Aveline had received flowers from someone.
“I was just wondering about the rumor that an enormous flower basket had been delivered to the Herolds mansion, and it turns out it was you.”
“As expected, your information is quick.”
“Haha. Didn’t you send such a large one deliberately to spread rumors? So it couldn’t be hidden anywhere.”
Theron smiled instead of answering.
It was an attitude of not denying it.
‘What’s going on with these two?’
Suddenly caught between the two of them, Aveline found the current situation very awkward.
The people around looked at Aveline as if asking what was going on, but Aveline couldn’t explain either.
Because she didn’t know.
That’s when Theron turned to Aveline and asked.
“By the way, did you like the flowers?”
A curved line slid across his skin, smooth as marble.
Even knowing his personality, it was an extremely seductive smile.
Gulp.
Aveline belatedly realized she had swallowed and was startled.
‘Come to think of it, he seems to use his looks to his advantage quite often.’
Not considering the fact that she was easily swayed, Aveline quickly shook her head.
“No.”
“Oh my. Next time, I’ll try to consider the young lady’s tastes more.”
However, Theron was smiling as if he hadn’t been affected at all.
“She seems to dislike it.”
Serio, who had been watching from the side, interjected in a cheerful voice.
He seemed quite pleased with Aveline’s answer.
“Miss Herolds, then how about if I give you flowers?”
“I’m sorry about that too.”
Aveline shook her head again and carefully took a step back to avoid being caught by anyone.
“I have no desire to receive flowers, but since you both seem to want to give them, why don’t you give them to each other instead? Wow, that would be great!”
Aveline clapped her hands, putting on an act, as she slowly retreated.
‘I leave the rest to you.’
Aveline sent a solemn look to her twin brother and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
“Ah, come to think of it…”
Ares, having read his sister’s look, quickly stepped forward to catch the attention of the two men.
Meanwhile, Aveline safely burrowed into the crowd.
Aveline, who had pressed herself against the wall in a corner of the reception hall, let out the breath she had been holding.
“Haa. Haa. I thought my heart was going to burst.”
Being caught in the middle of the tension between Serio and Theron had taken quite a toll on her mental strength.
‘Do people with high status somehow become more energetic?’
She remembered that the Emperor, whom she had seen last time, also had an incredible aura.
“I knew you’d be hiding here.”
Just then, a gentle voice was heard.
“Logan?”
As she turned her head, Logan was standing there with an even paler face than before.
