Chapter 94

For Patrizia, today’s banquet was the worst of the worst.  

Lia’s very existence was enough to drive her mad, but what truly made her crazy was the terrible quality of the men who asked her to dance because of Lia.  

‘How dare they, not knowing their place, ask me to dance!’  

All the decent men were just staring blankly at Lia, who was dancing with Johann, looking for a chance to ask her for a dance.  

Because of that, Patrizia could only dance once and had to sit like a stone statue in her seat.  

‘I’m the flower of the social world!’  

“What’s so special about that woman that everyone’s making such a fuss?”  

Patrizia muttered, glaring at Lia.  

“Why? I can’t take my eyes off her either.”  

Florian, sitting next to her, teased as he spun his wine glass.  

His gaze hadn’t left Lia for a while now.  

“…I knew that kind of dress would suit her.”  

He watched Lia with a snake’s tongue, his eyes sticky.  

“Isn’t that right, Sister?”  

“What’s so right about it? I’m so annoyed I can’t stay here any longer!”  

Unable to contain her anger, Patrizia tried to get up from her chair.  

“…Patrizia.”  

At that moment, Narcissa grabbed her daughter’s hand.  

“You can’t leave now.”  

“…Mother!”  

Tears of resentment welled up in Patrizia’s eyes.  

‘Why has Mother been stopping me since earlier!’  

“If you make such a scene over something like this, what you’ve been so worried about will happen.”  

“……”  

“Everyone will laugh at you.”  

“But if I stay here, I’ll have to keep seeing that woman…!”  

“You’re part of the Imperial Family. Even if that woman bothers you, endure it and bear it.”  

Narcissa spoke to her daughter in a cold voice, devoid of warmth.  

“Don’t forget that your disgrace is also your mother’s disgrace.”  

At Narcissa’s last words, Patrizia’s body trembled slightly.  

Her mother was angry.  

At times like this, she should stay quiet.  

“…Yes, Mother. I’ll keep that in mind.”  

Patrizia bit her lip tightly and sat back down.  

She gripped the armrests of her chair with trembling hands.  

Rage boiled inside her.  

‘…I will never let this humiliation pass.’  

Patrizia glared fiercely at Lia, making up her mind.  

Let’s see how long you can keep smiling after disgracing me like this.  

‘You’ll pay dearly for humiliating me.’  

Patrizia downed the wine she’d received from her maid in one go.  

At the sound of her grinding teeth, Florian shook his head.

* * *

Flinch.  

While resting at a table with Johann, Lia suddenly looked around.  

“Lia, what’s wrong?”  

Johann asked in a worried tone.  

“…It’s nothing.”  

Lia touched the back of her cold neck with her hand and shook her head.  

‘…I don’t know why I suddenly got goosebumps.’  

She sipped the champagne Johann handed her and glanced at where the Imperial Family was seated.  

Was it because of Carmen?  

Just thinking of Carmen’s gaze from earlier, she was sure Carmen was ready to cause trouble again.  

If so, would she try to use perfume this time too?  

That would be easy to handle.  

If she tried to spray it in front of her again, she’d just grab it and run.  

“Duke of Blumhart, here you are.”  

A middle-aged man with an impressive, stylish moustache approached Johann at a brisk pace.  

“What brings you here, Earl Kessler?”  

Johann looked at him, puzzled by his urgency.  

“I’m terribly sorry to bother you at such a pleasant banquet, but…”  

He lowered his voice, conscious of the people around.  

“There’s been interference in carrying out the proposal passed at the last council meeting.”  

“…We should discuss this in the lounge.”  

Understanding, Johann’s eyes darkened.  

“Then, shall we move over there for a moment…”  

“Let’s do that. Lia, will you be all right alone for a bit?”  

Johann signaled Earl Kessler to go ahead and turned to Lia.  

“Of course, don’t worry.”  

Lia was a little worried about being alone, but she didn’t want to get in the way of the two men who seemed to be dealing with something serious.  

‘It’ll be fine for a little while.’  

The Interim Empress, Carmen, and the Princess wouldn’t dare harm her with so many people around.  

“…Hello, Miss Lia.”  

A few young men, noticing Johann had completely left, approached her.  

This was something Lia hadn’t expected at all.  

“I’m the second son of Marquis Westin…”  

“I’m the eldest son of Earl Landsberg…”  

Before she knew it, three or four men had surrounded her.  

Some wanted to ask her to dance, some were just curious, and some were openly observing her.  

“You’ve already danced with the Duke of Blumhart, so how about a dance with me this time?”  

“Ah, I…”  

She still wasn’t confident dancing with anyone other than Johann.  

“I was surprised at how well you danced.”  

There were awkward compliments.  

“You’re the most beautiful here tonight. Honestly, I used to think all commoners were the same. Oh, but you’re not a commoner anymore, are you?”  

And unpleasant words filled with a sense of superiority.  

“I was so curious when I heard the Duke of Blumhart broke off his engagement with Princess Patrizia. Now I see why.”  

And blatant curiosity suffocated Lia.  

“……”  

It was so uncomfortable.  

Lia unconsciously took a step back.  

‘What do I do. I should use the response method the Duchess Dowager taught me, but I can’t get the words out…’  

On top of that, she saw Florian coming over from afar, making her mind go even blanker.  

“I’m sorry, but I…”  

Lia opened her mouth to say something, anything.  

“Miss Lia, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”  

Just then, Matthias appeared from somewhere.  

“…Your Highness the Crown Prince.”  

“We agreed to dance this next song, so I came to fetch you. Gentlemen, I see you’re here too.”  

“…Dance?”  

Matthias winked at her so only she could see.  

“…Yes.”  

Could I dance well with His Highness the Crown Prince?  

“Well then, we’ll excuse ourselves.”  

The Crown Prince glared at the men who had surrounded Lia and placed her hand on his arm.  

Lia walked with the Crown Prince to the dance floor.  

“Miss Lia, there’s no need to be nervous. I came here to help you escape, so just relax and dance.”  

A light melody began to flow in the ballroom.  

“This song is so easy even children can dance it. If you’re really nervous, you can just let your body follow.”  

“…Yes.”  

The nobles’ eyes widened as they saw the Crown Prince dancing with Lia.  

For the Crown Prince to dance with a woman who had been a commoner just days ago—it meant he truly acknowledged her as the Duke of Blumhart’s fiancée.  

“From now on, you’ll often find yourself in uncomfortable situations like this at balls.”  

Matthias said in a gentle tone.  

“Johann won’t always be able to stay by your side.”  

“……”  

“Don’t think too hard about those who approach you. If you look at them comfortably, it’ll be much easier to deal with them.”  

“…But.”  

“They all look fancy on the outside, but once you peel back the layers, there’s nothing special.”  

Matthias whispered softly.  

“They’re all hollow inside, just full of pride.”  

He curled up one corner of his mouth.  

“If you want to refuse a dance in the future, just say you’re not feeling well or you have a headache.”  

It was similar to the advice Isabella had given her.  

“If someone says something rude, you can tell them it’s not very gentlemanly. Usually, their faces turn red and they insist they’re not that kind of person, then leave.”  

His tone was warm, as if explaining to a young lady new to society.  

She felt as if she’d heard a voice like this before, somewhere.  

“…They care a lot about their honor.”  

“Your Highness, thank you very much for your advice.”  

Lia lowered her eyes slightly.  

“Though we met for the first time today, I like you.”  

“…I’m honored, Your Highness.”  

“Not because you’re Johann’s fiancée, but because you remind me so much of someone I miss.”  

Huh?  

“May I ask who I remind you of?”  

Lia asked cautiously.  

“…Hmm, my cousin.”  

Matthias’s face twisted slightly as he answered.  

“She died young, but as soon as I saw you, I thought of her…”  

Matthias muttered softly, almost as if to himself, with a bitter smile.  

“……”  

For some reason, Lia’s heart ached as well.  

“There’s a terrace over there where you can rest comfortably. When Johann comes, go there.”  

When the song ended, Matthias pointed out the terrace to Lia.  

“I’ll make sure no one bothers you, so rest until Johann arrives.”  

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.”  

She had been exhausted by people’s gazes all day.  

She was glad to finally have a place to catch her breath alone for a moment.  

“…Phew.”  

Lia leaned her arms on the terrace railing and sighed.  

She was holding the glass of wine she had received on the way.  

She normally didn’t drink, but for several reasons, she had tonight.  

‘…He said I look like the Crown Prince’s cousin who died.’  

Was it just a coincidence?  

The fact that both of them felt a strange familiarity with each other.  

Whenever she saw the Crown Prince, she felt oddly nostalgic and sad.  

On top of that, something in her mind felt like it was just on the verge of coming back to her.  

‘What is it that I’ve forgotten?’