'Ah, I really am dying... My waist hurts... I'm going to make Madam Lila go bankrupt for trying to have me killed. Ugh, it hurts way too much. Didn't I wrap the wound securely?'
I looked down at my waist to see a tiny amount of blood seeping through my dress. 'Shit!'
I quickly fixed my expression and looked up calmly. I slowly took out my handkerchief and pressed it lightly over the dress where I was bleeding. It wasn't like I could suddenly excuse myself without giving a reason. But I couldn't show anyone the wound either.
I thought for a while before swallowing my shame and was about to excuse myself to go to the restroom when there was a sudden commotion at the table. All the ladies were looking at the entrance to the garden. I turned as well and saw a particular reddish brown-haired rogue make his way towards the Duchess.
"Ah, I was very bored in the hall so I came to accompany the birthday girl." He said as he placed an empty chair next to the Duchess and sat on it.
One of the ladies giggled and said, "This is a girls' tea party, your Highness."
'Ah, so many people suck up to royalty... It didn't matter if it's the unfavored prince, he still is one of the richest people in the kingdom... '
Luis turned to that girl and glared at her. "This prince will go where he wants to go. Why do you care?" 'Ah, he's so good at acting arrogant...'
"Of course, you can go wherever you want. Don't get mad at a girl." The Duchess coaxed him.
He humphs. "So I wanted to spend some time with Aunty because everybody in the hall was badmouthing this prince. I'm not the crown prince, so why do they care about what I do? They were scolding me for fighting with some noble's son! They dare to bother this prince with such pointless things!"
'So that's how he acts in public... I see.'
"If you don't like it there, come sit with me. You don't need to listen to their nonsense." The Duchess said.
"Aunty is the best!" He exclaimed.
Everyone at the table frowned. No matter how rich a person was, they wouldn't want to suck up to someone so arrogant.
While I was admiring his acting skills, he glanced at me from the corner of his eyes and slowly secretly pointed at his waist, exactly where I was stabbed.
I was surprised, but I quickly covered it up and fixed my expression.
'How did he know? No wait, he said to me before that he had an informant work at 'Der Rosengarten', so he does have the means to find out... Did he come here because of that...?'
The Duchess and the Prince were whispering amongst each other and the Duchess glanced at me in surprise for a bit. She then smiled.
"Aster, dear?" She called out to me.
"Yes, Aunty?" I asked.
"Last time, didn't you tell me that you wanted to see the blueprints that my husband collects? Why don't you go see them now with Luis? He wants to see them too."
'Blueprints... I never talked about those. Is this an excuse for me to leave?'
I smiled at her. "Thank you very much, Aunty. I want to see them very much. If his Highness is okay with it, can I accompany you?"
He looked at me and smiled slyly. 'I have a bad feeling...'
"This prince has a name, Aster." He said as if he was sulking.