Dale stared at the bag Enya had left him with a month's wages from the contract.
“Maybe it's time, then, that you stop communicating it through others and meet it in person.”
“Do you mean for me to go to her now that she's home and has nowhere else to run to?”
Dale was skeptical.
“She is not the type of woman who can fall under pressure.”
“You're right, and I'm not suggesting that we force our position on her, but I think there is a way to approach her gently while showing the strength she possesses.”
“What are you thinking?”
Suho was Dale's assistant for some time.
He had enough confidence in the man to know that he wouldn't talk nonsense.
Dale stared at him, and Suho took a step closer.
“The Lockhart family held a charity event every year to promote the socialization of the rising aristocracy.”
"actually."
“This year's charity event is also a Duke of Lockhart event, and there will be a bazaar*, so why not come and help raise the profile of the Lockhart family?”
*: A bazaar is a place, market or street where there is constant trade, where goods and services are exchanged.
The market may be outside or inside the building.
The description of the market varies in terms of its nature according to place and from one spot to another in different parts of the world.
Dale's eyebrows rose at his words.
“It is a well-known story that Princess Lockhart ran away from home.
Everyone knows that His Majesty the Emperor wants to make her empress.
But there has been no news of the marriage being consummated.
It has been a long time.”
“…….”
Dale understood that, but he didn't feel like pressuring Enya any further.
“Even those who were initially uninterested are expressing concern, and some speculate that the bond between His Majesty and the Lockhart family may have weakened.”
“…….”
“So, for the sake of the royal family and Duke Lockhart’s goodwill, I suggest that you go there.
If that happens!”
“It will take less than an hour, and everyone in the country will know.”
Other calm aides joined him and urged him to continue.
"Besides, it will be difficult for Miss Lockhart to reject the Emperor.
What would happen if she rejected the Emperor's proposal, even though he has made it clear by his public displays of affection that this is not just an arranged marriage?"
“It would not be an insult to His Majesty, but it would be up to Princess Lockhart.”
“In this case, the Duke of Lockhart will support this marriage, if only to protect her.”
“If you have befriended Princess Lockhart on your own initiative, then you, as Emperor, must now befriend the Lockhart people, and I dare say this is the path you should take.”
Dale narrowed his eyes at the ferocity in his assistants' voices.
It was a stubborn way of saying it wasn't the right way.
No confrontation with Enya.
Not now, not yet.
“I can't show my face, so I'll reject that idea.”
“Isn’t this why there is such a thing as literature?”
Getty, who had reentered the room with a smirk on his face, pulled something out from one side of the room.
"mask?"
“Why do you feel the need to show your face right away?”
It was a mask he sometimes wore when in a position of public importance.
Getty shook his head.
“It's fast, safe and simple.
Your Majesty.”
* * *
"It was completed!"
The final invitation was sealed with wax and sealed with the Lockhart House seal.
The logo was in the shape of a greenhouse, with a huge tree in the middle and vines climbing the tree.
On the back was the ancient Lockhart family logo of crossed swords.
I opened the window wide to let out the smoke rising from the melting wax.
“Ahh!!!”
Finally it was done. the end!
I had written 200 handwritten letters to send out invitations to my family's bazaar.
These were not invitations I was happy to write, they were punishment.
A punishment imposed on me by the lady.
I used to call my mom Mrs. just because she was the scariest person in our house.
“Miss, are you finished?”
“Look at my finger.”
Emma laughed as I showed her my finger.
“Congratulations.”
Since my return to the Duchy, everyone has welcomed me, but their poisonous eyes have been following me everywhere.
I had to.
“Everyone was watching me to see when I would run away.
Am I overreacting?”
“I think you are, actually.”
Emma shook her head.
“It's just that my lady was very strict that I report everything you do, and that I don't leave anything out.”
“Does this include you?”
“Unfortunately, because she already knew that I was the one who helped you escape.”
“I thought my father would know.”
I sighed.
It was the Duke of Lockhart.
Duke Lockhart, the Emperor's famous right-hand man and prosecutor of his time.
I knew the original story and planned my escape, but I also knew there was part of the story that my father had overlooked.
In the original novel, he is such a favorite of the Emperor that he is called the Emperor's loyal dog, but in the end, the entire Lockhart family is executed.
In other words, in the end, the father is beheaded for siding with his daughter.
She took Emma's hand and patted it.
“Emma, you've been through a lot, haven't you?”
“Yes, I've been through a lot.”
“I will make up for it with money.”
“Hyuk Imma just needs Miss!……But I won’t say no because it’s a great gesture from Miss!
Thank you.
Miss!
Hehe.”
“…….”
Emma was a facilitator who knew many problems money could solve.
“He must come.”
I have extended an invitation to Viscount Fortnum.
Viscount Fortnum was the owner of the Memory Herb.
Emma said that the Memory Herb was a special flower grown from the poison of the last dragon that died a long time ago.
“You'll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
"…… maybe?"
“Your smile is suspicious.”
But it's hard to get my memories back even with magic
“Most importantly, Miss, the bazaar is your social debut!”
“That's right.
My mom is trying to make me show my face so she can keep me locked up.”
“Actually your mother is the scariest.”
“Haa…….”
It's been about two weeks since I've seen Dale.
Time has passed very quickly.
"Dale's going to be worried.
Emma, have you heard anything from him?"
“Nothing yet.
As hard as it is for you not to see him, I'm sure it's hard for him too and I'm sure he's busy with household chores right now.”
"This is correct……."
I nodded feeling uncomfortable.
"But, Emma.
I think you like Dale."
"truly?"
“Yes.
You used honorifics, as you do with my family.”
“Emma is a polite maid, after all, he is your husband and it would be rude of me to call him otherwise!”
Emma smiled and collected the invitations.
“Then I will go and send out the invitations.”
Click.
The door closed and I was alone in the room.
“Haaa…….”
It was a nice, spacious room, but I felt strange.
Was it simply because I hadn't been here for a long time, or because Dale wasn't here?
“Isn't that weird, Dale?”