Chapter 88: The Choice is yours

This time, my partner was Sigren. I was dating him now, and it would be weird if I were to partner with another man. The atmosphere from last time was nonexistent due to both of us tacitly dismissing what happened previously. 

Sigren kissed the back of my hand lightly. 

“You’re pretty today too, Fiona.”

“….”

I looked at him with a subtle gaze. 

He tilted his head lightly. “Do you prefer beautiful?”

It was not that I didn’t like compliments. It was just awkward hearing that from him. 

“You put your hair down again today.” Sigren fiddled with my hair with satisfaction. He seemed to like removing tangles from my hair. 

“It’s because of you.”

“Me?”

Having said that, I glanced at the nape of his neck. The traces I left behind were already gone. I should bite him very hard next time. And he better get embarrassed about it.

I shook my hair off his hand. Sigren opened his eyes wide. 

“Ah.”

“I’m fortunate that my maid is still young and naive.” [PR note: she is referring to the hickies he gave her squeeeee!)

Otherwise, I would have died of embarrassment. 

Unexpectedly, there was a slight blush on Sigren’s face. Seeing him having this kind of naive side was a bit weird, to be honest. Because he touched me in a casual way.  

Sigren put his fingers on the nape of my neck.

Ugh, it tickled.

“I’ll be careful next time.”

“I didn’t know that you’re someone who likes to say something you don’t mean it.”

I replied back with an indifferent look. Up until now, I thought that I had raised a grumpy little boy, but oh my, it turned out he was like the usual wolf. 

“Sorry, I really didn’t know it was so obvious.”

“…”

That frank remark left me speechless for a moment. 

Wah, I got it! It was his first time putting a kiss mark on a girl, I got it!

I looked up at Sigren’s handsome face. Ah, really, what’s up with that look on his face? With that kind of face, I really wondered why did women in Heilon leave him alone?

“Please be careful from now on. It’s so hot recently, I prefer to have my hair up.”

I took his hand. Rather than I didn’t know what to say, it was more like I had nothing to say anymore. For some reason, Sigren smirked and nodded his head as if he was happy hearing my words. 

“Alright, I’ll be careful in the future.”

“….?”

What the hell? Why was he that happy? Which part of my sentence was that good of a thing?

I entered the hall with a sense of confusion. 

***

Like the usual prestigious family, the ballroom of the Priscilla Mansion was crowded. And most of the crowd were nobles. 

But it seemed like Livya had sharp eyes. She quickly found me among the crowd and approached me as soon as she saw me. 

“Your Highness Prince Sigren, Lady Fiona. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

“Thank you for inviting me.”

Sigren also greeted her lightly.

Livya was a beautiful woman who could make people’s eyes sparkle, but currently, her face seemingly had a gloomy look.

“Does Lady Fiona enjoy drinking?”

“Actually, I don’t really enjoy drinking, but .. I like sweet things.”

Livya grinned and gracefully grabbed two glasses from a nearby tray.

“Then, this drink should suit your taste.”

She handed the glasses to Sigren and me. The color of the drink was beautiful and the scent was sweet. I couldn’t help but be a bit intrigued, so I drank it slowly. Rather than the usual bitter characteristic of alcohol, this drink had a strong refreshing taste.

“It’s delicious.”

“Right?”

I grabbed a second glass after quickly emptying the first glass.

“You, drink…”

Sigren looked at me with a face full of things to say.

“What?”

Sigren was going to say something, but he closed his lips, then quietly put down his glass and changed his glass to another drink. It was probably a non-alcoholic drink. 

“Do you not enjoy drinking, Your Highness?”

It was Livya who asked, but Sigren’s eyes were still on me.

“It’s not like that, but I think it would be better not to drink today. But the sentiment is appreciated, Lady Priscilla.”

Apparently, Sigren seemed to believe that at least one of us should stay sober. Well, he and I weren’t strong drinkers. Abel was a great drinker. 

Livya smiled softly, but her face seemingly found something funny. 

“Oh right, then could I talk to your partner for a moment? Your highness?”

It was such a pretty expression that the men passing by looked back. She must have known how best to make herself look attractive. 

“….”

However, Sigren, the actual person to whom that smile was directed towards, looked uneasy. 

In the end, I quickly replied. “Sure.”

I didn’t think Livya would request something like this just to talk about useless things. There must be an important reason. 

Livya smiled and linked her arm to mine. This intimacy must be calculated, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. Whether it was calculated or not, there was no way I would openly reject her. Well, not many people could openly reject such a beautiful young lady, and I was definitely not one of them. 

I looked at Sigren. His face looked dissatisfied. 

Please, straighten your face.

“Your Highness, I’ll be back.”

“Come back soon.”

He was like a dog who was tied up and whining when the owner went to the mart.

Suddenly, I felt sorry for no apparent reason. 

Livya chuckled, maybe she had a similar thought.