While I fumed alone, cheerful screams rang out beyond the wall. I sprang up from the sofa and pressed my ear against the wall.

“Just you wait. I’ll make the Duke mine no matter what.”

I heard Evelyn’s determined voice. I couldn’t stand by and watch this any longer. I immediately stepped out onto the terrace and walked over to the next room.

Slam.

When the door opened, the young ladies startled like they’d been caught whispering secrets.

“Kyaa!”

Once they confirmed it was me, their faces immediately twisted into scowls. That’s because everyone gathered there was one of Evelyn’s followers. And those followers hated ‘Charlotte.’

“Lady Charlotte.”

Evelyn, sitting in the center like a queen bee, greeted me with a bright smile.

“Did you have a pleasant time with the Duke? You’re quite talented, aren’t you? Abandoning His Highness the Crown Prince to switch to the Duke?”

Evelyn’s followers giggled at her teasing.

“But shouldn’t you pick a side? It’s not good to have a foot in both camps.”

“Lady Evelyn, saying ‘both camps’ is a bit…”

Kate tried to stop Evelyn with an uncomfortable expression.

“Oh my, forgive me. I’m just jealous.”

Evelyn playfully covered her mouth with her hand.

I really can’t get used to this. Her face is the same as my old one, but her speech and actions are different. The way she seems to be forcing it all is also strange.

“Anyway, what brings you here so suddenly?”

“I have something to confirm.”

“What could it possibly be that you’d open the door and barge in without any manners?”

“That Lady Evelyn likes Duke Medvez.”

“Of course I do.”

Evelyn lifted her chin.

Seeing that look, she certainly seemed like the confident and straightforward Evelyn.

“Since when have you liked him?”

“For a long time. But where did you hear that I like the Duke?”

“From next door.”

I pointed at the wall connecting to the adjacent room.

“You were eavesdropping. How unladylike.”

Evelyn clicked her tongue softly.

“Weren’t you the one talking loudly enough for others to hear, Lady Evelyn? So out of courtesy, I should acknowledge it.”

“…”

“Is that story true?”

“Yes. Of course, from your position as someone who likes the Duke, it’s not welcome, but liking someone is a freedom, isn’t it?”

“You’re quite different from the Lady Evelyn I know.”

Evelyn hesitated for a moment, seemingly at a loss for words. I also wondered what I was doing. She was spouting words that the old me would never have been able to say, so I couldn’t hold back and barged in.

However.

Wouldn’t it be good if Evelyn liked Clayton?

I had planned to pair the two of them from the start. When Evelyn was voluntarily saying she’d like him, why was I getting so upset instead of supporting her? I’m no longer Evelyn. Whatever the current Evelyn does has nothing to do with me.

That fact struck me belatedly.

Moreover, if she helps my plan, I shouldn’t question why she’s different from the usual Evelyn. I took a deep breath and spoke to Evelyn.

“Have a beautiful romance with Duke Medvez.”

I turned around and left through the terrace. Evelyn and the young ladies wore bewildered expressions, but I didn’t care.

“Phew. Now I just hope Clayton changes his mind.”

I wandered around the ballroom looking for Crown Prince Leon. I spotted Leon in the distance with Queen Christine. The close mother and son were dancing together. The Queen laughed brightly, seemingly at a joke he made.

I smiled along with them and was about to head their way when suddenly the surroundings stirred. At the same time, a hearty laugh rang out.

What’s going on?

I turned around with a curious expression.

The source of the commotion was Bastian III, King of Serhart. He was raising one hand in response to the nobles paying their respects. Tall and dressed in splendid clothes, Bastian dominated his surroundings just by standing there.

With his ash-gray hair slicked back to reveal his forehead, he was a man who exuded a decadent atmosphere despite his ascetic face. The noblewomen gazed at Bastian with entranced eyes.

However, my eyes were more drawn to Clayton standing beside the King. He stood with his body slightly twisted, his gaze fixed on Bastian. His expressionless face seemed bored at a glance.

“Oh, aren’t you Lady Charlotte Fraxon?”

The booming voice snapped me to attention. I’d been staring only at Clayton and hadn’t even noticed Bastian had arrived in front of me.

King Bastian was accompanied by high-ranking nobles. I saw my father among them. Marquis Jake Eric Lorenfort.

Though not now, he had been my father before the regression, so my gaze naturally went to him. I deliberately didn’t look at Vern Fraxon standing beside him.

Noticing I was staring at him, Marquis Lorenfort raised one eyebrow. His stern features looked even more fierce.

Father… I used to nag you not to raise your eyebrows like that. I told you it frightens the ladies.

I smiled bitterly.

The Marquis, who had lost his wife early, had several remarriage opportunities. However, his naturally stern and fierce atmosphere frightened potential partners, so no marriage ever came to fruition.

“Charlotte, what are you doing instead of greeting him?”

Vern stepped forward with a smile. However, the look he shot me was cold. His eyes reproached me for delaying while lost in old memories.

If this were home instead of the royal palace, he would have slammed the table and spewed curses.

“I greet Your Majesty the King. My heart trembled at seeing Your Majesty, and I felt dizzy for a moment. Please forgive me.”

I gracefully spread my dress skirts and gently bent my knees.

At that moment, Clayton frowned. A shadow fell between his deep-set eyes, creating an ambiguous expression.

“Hahaha, she’s just as lovely as Count Fraxon dotes on her. No wonder he cherishes her so.”

Bastian looked me over from head to toe.

I feel this every time, but the King’s gaze made me uncomfortable. Countless noblewomen respected and admired Bastian as King. His handsome appearance and strangely decadent atmosphere played a part in that. Of course, he was also evaluated as an outstanding figure among past kings.

However, strangely enough, I couldn’t like the King. How should I put it—he made me uneasy.

My feelings were probably influenced by the last regression. Clayton and I didn’t have a normal married life. Because of Clayton’s blind loyalty to the King.

The center of his life seemed to be only the King. Not his own wife.

Moreover, whenever we tried to build a relationship as a normal couple, the King’s clever interference ruined it more than once or twice. Perhaps because of those memories, I couldn’t view the King favorably.

However, I’m not foolish enough to show such feelings. I stood demurely, pulling up my small lips tinted pink. So that anyone would mistake me for an innocent young lady.

“You flatter me, Your Majesty. My foolish daughter made a mistake.”

Vern bowed his head respectfully.

“Flatter? You’ve raised your daughter splendidly. Isn’t that right, Clayton?”

Bastian sought Clayton’s agreement. I glanced at Clayton. He stood exactly one step back to the King’s right.

His gaze fixed on the King was expressionless, and he seemed like someone completely uninterested in whatever conversation was happening around him.

“You are correct, Your Majesty.”

He answered in a low voice.

Then and now, he’s an obedient dog. It’s the same unchanged appearance, yet strangely I felt bitter.

At that moment, his gaze that had been fixed on the King turned to me.

Why is he looking at me?

Just as I was wondering.

“By the way, Count Vern, I heard the story. Duke Clayton met Lady Charlotte, didn’t he?”

“Pardon?”

Vern asked back with a bewildered face.

“Didn’t Duke Clayton visit the Count’s estate recently? I heard he met Lady Charlotte then.”

“Who told you such a story…”

“Who else? The person in question said so.”

“Whaaat?”

Flustered, Vern looked back and forth between Clayton and the King, then interrogated me with eyes that said, ‘What is the meaning of this!’

I shrugged my shoulders.

Seeing that, Vern ground his teeth. However, he soon composed his expression and spoke.

“I did hear such rumors, but I thought they were just rumors. I didn’t know he actually met our Charlotte.”

“Oho, Count Vern didn’t know? How could that be?”

“Our Charlotte is such a shy child that she probably couldn’t bring herself to tell me.”

Our Charlotte, our Charlotte, at the end of every sentence…

It was so uncomfortable to listen to that I couldn’t help but frown.

Then Clayton’s gaze toward me deepened.

“Then this must be the first you’re hearing of it too.”

“What do you mean…”

“Duke Clayton is quite taken with Lady Charlotte.”

“Is, is that true?”

Vern’s eyes widened like they might pop out.

The King’s statement caused the surroundings to stir. I glared at Clayton silently, and he slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.

Ha!

I was dumbfounded. He was enjoying this situation right now! I wondered if this was really the same indifferent and utterly cold man I used to know.

More than anything, what made me absurd was the premonition that this somehow wasn’t the end.

Normally, he should have just received greetings and passed by someone who was merely a count’s daughter, but the King deliberately conversed with me. Something definitely unfavorable to me was about to happen.

“She shook the heart of Duke Clayton, who is indifferent to women. So she must be a charming young lady indeed!”

“You, you flatter me.”

“Your Majesty the King, I wish to ask one permission in this place.”

As soon as Vern finished speaking, Clayton stepped forward.

“Haha, how unexpected. For you to ask permission. Well then, let’s hear it.”

“I would like to spend more time with Lady Charlotte.”

“Look at this. Wasn’t I right? Duke Clayton is taken with Lady Charlotte.”

The King looked around once, then continued.

“Clayton, you don’t need to ask permission for such things. You should act as your heart desires.”

“I meant I would like to stay at the Fraxon Count’s estate and spend time there.”

“Hmm?”

The King’s eyes sparkled with interest. On the other hand, Vern’s mouth fell open in surprise.

Others listening to their conversation were equally shocked. Gasps and sharp intakes of breath could be heard from all around.

No! Absolutely not!

I screamed inwardly in horror.

At the same time, something came to mind. What he had said while we were dancing earlier.

From now on, I will spend a great deal of time with Lady Charlotte. Because soon…

The chamberlain had interrupted, so I didn’t hear the rest, but he probably intended to say this. He had already been planning it. To politely request permission in a place where many people gathered, and under the King’s mediation no less.

He intended this!

This was why he’d been so confident. That no matter how much I refused, I would end up courting him in the end.

“Hahahaha!”

Amidst the commotion, the King’s hearty laughter burst out.