I lay down on the bed, turned around, and talked to Dale as if I was actually talking to him.
Dale was my regular conversation partner.
“…….”
I was expecting Dale to come in any minute with milk tea, but he wasn't there.
The place was quiet.
I was more familiar with Dale's routine than I thought.
We were together for half a year.
I couldn't help but think of Dale's face.
Or did I miss his handsome face?
"……What?"
I sat stiffly, hugging my pillow.
Dale and I are just a contract couple sharing the same house.
Why do I miss him so much?
I frowned, feeling a strange emotional feeling, probably because of the bright moon outside my window.
I shook my head as I sipped the milk tea Emma had left.
Dale poured me a milk tea which was fine for my taste, but this tea was a bit astringent and bitter.
'Maybe I'm used to Dale too much.'
I think so.
Dale was kind and simple, like a big brother but also a friend.
'I wonder how my friend Dale is doing?'
I stared into my cup.
He shouldn't eat badly and sleep poorly without me…….
What if something bad happened to him?
I'm very worried.
* * *
“Hmm!”
I held my breath and put on my newly designed dress.
“I've eaten a lot of cake in the meantime!”
“Girl, cheer up!”
I finally managed to get into the dress, but I was exhausted, so I lay down on the couch.
“Miss.
Get up, our guests will be arriving soon.”
“Arghh…….”
“I've been given permission to take you anywhere you want once this is over.”
My mother had made a deal: permission to go out only if I showed my face at the bazaar.
“You know that showing my face would restrict my behavior anyway.”
“I think it's a miracle that she was willing to compromise that much.”
“That's what I said.”
She stood, supported by Emma and the other maids.
I looked at myself in the mirror which now looked even stranger.
I was dressed nicely.
Silver hair that sparkles with every step, and jeweled accessories around my neck, ears, and wrists.
With a fan in my hand, I felt uncomfortable……!
“Did I always look like this?”
“Before you ran away, these were your usual clothes, even if you were just at home.”
“Did you?”
The memory was already blurry.
I looked in the mirror, and the memory seemed to come back to me.
"But what about this bracelet, ring, and earrings?
Did I have any of those things?"
“You got them as a birthday present, I think they are beautiful and expensive.”
Emma smiled and looked at me in the mirror.
She was right, they were very colorful accessories.
She was surprised to see me wearing it, as it screamed “I'm expensive” at first glance.
“It's your day, my dear, and you should be dressed in the nicest things.”
"Yes.
Emma."
I turned and looked at Emma.
“Today is bazaar day, where every family sells their favorite items.”
This was the Lockhart family's annual event, where each family brought an item to sell and the proceeds went back into the community.
It was a charity event for a good cause, but as always, the aristocrats who attended had a purpose.
It was a place of communication for the rising aristocracy, a gathering of the most prominent families, and many considered it an honor to simply be invited.
This year's event was unique, as it was the first time that I, Princess Enya Lockhart, had made an official social appearance.
So, of course, I had to gift some of my favorites.
“So, how about I sell these jewelry today?!”
“……?!”
“Well, if it's jewelry like this, it must have been a gift from my mother, father, or grandfather, right?
I'm sure I'll get a lot of money if I put it up for sale as Princess Lockhart is rumored to have worn it on her first social appearance.”
I thought about it seriously.
“Then I can make a lot of money, and it will all go to charity, right?”
“Oh, no, dear!”
“Why?”
“I was told it was not a gift from the Duke.”
“So who gave me this expensive gift?”
My father was in no mood to accept such an expensive gift from a stranger.
He would return it immediately without accepting it, because it could easily turn into a bribe.
"Tell me who gave me this gift.
Emma.
I think you already know."
But Emma stumbled, skillfully avoiding my eyes.
“Did you buy it?”
“No?
Emma loves you, but she can’t afford it, it’s too expensive……!”
"truly?"
“Is it from my brother?”
“No, I don’t think the young master can afford it.”
“Well, since he didn’t inherit the family name……?”
I had a ridiculous but ominous idea.
“……Empra?”
Emma avoided my eyes awkwardly.
No, no, no.
“Emperor?”
* * *
“Why should I keep doing this now that Princess Lockhart is back!”
Nicola said nervously, biting her nails.
The carriage had just arrived.
Nicola Fortnum, who was lucky enough to be invited to attend Duke Lockhart's Bazaar, stomped her foot and did not want to get off.
“A man called the Marquis saw me in the boutique a few days ago, and Princess Lockhart is the Emperor’s fiancée.
The Marquis must be Marquis Schulz, one of his Majesty’s courtiers, so why would he invite me, when he knew I was pretending to be a princess!”
“That's enough, now go.”
"no!"
“Nicola”
The man who called for Nicola opened the carriage door very sternly as she groaned and defied him.
“Can’t you stop complaining and hurry up!”
"Do you want me to be the only one locked in Duke Lockhart's cell?
No!
It's all because of Hexagon!"
“You immature bitch!”
Her uncle scolded her as the words came out of Nicola's mouth.
"You've been paid well, and it's good for you that the real Princess Lockhart is showing up, right?
Like you said, you won't have to pretend to be a princess anymore.
What's wrong with just showing up this once?"
“…….”
“That's enough, just go.”
"but!"
“You're not the only one invited to the bazaar today.
They've contacted most of the nobles in the capital now, and we're lucky.”
Duke Lockhart's Bazaar.
They have been invited to join the gathering of nobles.
Viscount Fortnum was a member of the Old Peerage, a faction that was not on good terms with Lockhart.
He had been taking care of the latest errands since Duke Hexagon's disappearance, when he was suddenly invited to the bazaar.
Hexagon asked him to come, and for unknown reasons, they were trying to discredit Princess Lockhart.
That was all they had to do, and they did it, and were rewarded with the promised reward, and saved the house from immediate fall.
The only way to discredit Miss Lockhart, who was past the age of making her debut in society, was to pretend Nicola was a princess and go on a rampage.
But now it's time to stop.
“This is the last time.
Duke Hexagon has asked us to meet Princess Lockhart and see how she is doing.
That is all we need to do without further ado.”
Duke Hexagon gave an unusual order.