Chapter 49: The beginning of the change (unedited)

Most of the attention of the people in the hall was on Sigren. Many people also tried to get closer to him. So, there were many people gathered around him. However, sometimes, there were also those who showed interest in me as I was with Abel. Which, of course, whenever people asked about me, Abel only showed them his indifferent face and answered, “It would be revealed at the five families meeting.”

The five families meeting was the regular meeting held by the representative of the five founding families of the empire. In other meaning, it was a gathering of five very influential families in aristocratic society. 

Therefore, no doubt, Abel’s answer just made those people’s curiosity increase. Some even whispered that I was Abel’s hidden illegitimate child. Fortunately, people’s interest faded a bit as the dance progressed. However, this unfamiliar attention was definitely not to my liking. It was very tiring being stared at. So I sneaked out, went away from the hall, trying to find a quiet space in the corner of the terrace. A rest. I just needed a rest. 

“Livvy, why don’t you stop playing hard to get and just come over here?”

“It’s Lady Priscilla, Your Highness. I hope you don’t mind calling me in that way instead of using my nickname.”

As I walked, I heard a man and woman’s voices conversing on one of the terraces. Well, of course, I had to stop for a moment. I took a peek through the gap of the curtain to see what was going on. As expected, there were a man and a woman standing, and I knew who they were.

“It’s good to be arrogant, but being too stiff is no fun.”

“I see you’re talking too much.”

That man was the crown prince I saw earlier, and the woman was Livya Priscilla.

“….”

I held my breath involuntarily. Livya’s attitude was very cold to say that the two were close. It was obvious that the crown prince tried to hit on her. For a moment, I contemplated whether I should leave and make a U-turn or stay.

“Your Highness, I’m going back to the hall,” Livya said in a cold tone. 

The crown prince grinned seeing her attitude. “Where are you going without this prince’s permission?”

“You have no right to force me, the daughter of the Priscilla family.”

“Do you think it’s okay to look down on me like this?”

What Livya said was not wrong by any means. Even if they were part of the royal family, they could not speak so arbitrability to the bloodline of the Duke of Priscilla. However, I forgot how stupid the crown prince was when he opened his mouth. 

Livya turned around as if she had not heard him. 

Seeing her turning around, I stepped back so she would not see me. But before I could go away. I saw the Crown Prince grab Livya’s arm and pull her closer.

Livya was shocked and shouted in a rather loud voice.

“Let me go!”

“I’ve always thought you look pretty.”

The use of force and threatening someone with power was truly abhorrent. At this point, I couldn’t just ignore it. I opened the curtains and hurriedly walked into the situation. Now that it was like this, it was time to use the improvisation skill that has forged by being with Abel in those times.

“Oh my, Lady Livya. You’re here!”

Livya and the Crown Prince were startled by my unexpected appearance, their bodies stiffened instantly. 

First thing first, it was the ‘I don’t know anything’ operation.

“Since a while ago, Duke Priscilla have been trying to find you, Lady Livya. It seemed something important came up. So I was just helping the Duke to find you.”

Then, the Crown Prince widened his eyes, surprised, seeing me only notice him a beat later. 

“Oh, the Crown Prince is also here. I’ve met the little sun of the Empire. My name is Fiona Heilon. I see that I made an impolite mistake here.”

Hearing the surname ‘Heilon’, the Crown Prince who was about to get angry paused for a moment. Then he replied with an authoritative tone of voice. “Tell the Duke that Livy is having a close conversatio with me.”

“But the Duke is looking for Lady Livya in such a hurry.” I responded naturally.”

The moment the Crown Prince frowned and was about to say something, Livya freed her hand from his grip. “Oh right, I remembered my father said he has something to tell me. I forgot.”

Livya was renowned for her great acting skill. Even though it was her first time seeing me, she hooked her arm to mine as if I were her close friend. She then smiled at me with eyes that were enough to mesmerize both men and women.

“Thank you for coming to find me, Lady Fiona.”

‘Ugh.. beautiful, really beautiful. I would come to find you a hundred and a thousand times, sister.’

I think I slightly understood the feelings of the knights in fairy tales who went to save the princess. 

Livya looked back at the crown prince with a hardened expression.

“Excuse me for this reason, Your Highness.”

No matter how noble the Crown Prince was, he could not continue to block her while the Duke was looking for his daughter. 

“….”

That way, we got out of place safely.