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From the high platform, both the father and son burst into laughter because of the Marquis' blushing face, and they couldn't help but to let out their laughter because of this matter.
"R-royal Father… Pffft! T-the Marquis is already shooting hearts at Scarlette… Hahaha!"
The Crown Prince said as he held his stomach because of laughter and the Emperor snickered while looking at the young Marquis with laughter.
"There are countless noble ladies lining up for him, but he never got interested in any of them but right now, it seems like our revered Marquis had experienced something that is akin to love at first sight. Ha!"
The Emperor commented as he watched how the Marquis grabbed Scarlette's arm to stop her from leaving the stage.
"This is the first time that the Marquis made such a bold move to a woman, but not just an ordinary woman but Scarlette Overland herself."
'What could be his reaction when he learned that woman's identity?'
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Back at the center stage, after he withdraw his hand from stopping the mysterious woman to leave the stage, Jeffrey cleared his throat to regain himself and to catch the woman's attention as well.
"Since you're not going to fight anymore, may I know at least your name? As you already know who I am, I want to know yours."
The mysterious woman, Scarlette, on the other hand, heard what the Marquis said, as she didn't want to be disturbed by this person any longer if she just said her name then, turned around to face the Marquis, but she didn't show her face as her hood is still intact as she sighed and said; "Just call me Letty."
After that, she walked away through the stage, and she disappeared into the crowd, without waiting for the other person's response but she heard the Marquis call her name, but she chose to ignore it as she immediately left that place.
'What a troublesome matter…'
[END OF FLASHBACK]
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***PRESENT***
That's how she met the revered Marquis of Silveria Empire that she didn't expect would happen to her life.
That's how things right now and she also remember from that time, after she left the center stage, she was approached by the Emperor's trusted aide and said that the Emperor and the Crown Prince would like to invite her to have a dinner with the Empress and since she didn't have anything to do after the she left that place then, she just complied without hesitation.
'First, the Emperor and now, this guy who keeps on pestering me right now. I never wanted to be acquainted with these people in the first place, but I guess this could benefit me in the long run…'
"Hey, Scarlette! Don't just ignore your best buddy! How about a rematch this time? I have been training for this day so that I can defeat you at last!"
She looked at this retarded b*stard who keeps on pestering her to fight with a blank expression and after that, she sighed in exhaustion.
"Not now, Zenon. Important mission."
Even though the crimson-haired woman said only a few words, there are also a few people around her that could understand what she said, and Jeffrey is one of them as the Marquis raised an eyebrow at her when the word "mission" came through her mouth and the Marquis knew that Scarlette is the type of person who is serious on his job as an Adventurer.
"Again? Are you not feeling tired or something? You know, you should take a break sometimes, at least once, Scarlette!"
The crimson-haired woman raised an eyebrow at him and although this man keeps on pestering her whenever he had the chance, but the crimson-haired woman knew that he cared for her as a friend.
She won't admit it but there are times that the crimson-haired woman is grateful that she met this man.
The crimson-haired woman isn't fond of making friends as she prefers to be left alone, but Jeffrey managed to enter her life and because of that, Scarlette regarded him as one of the few people that she cherished the most.
She also remembered from that time three years ago after she left that competition and a week passed after that event, since she gave a false identity, it took that long for this man to find her and when he learned about her true identity back then…
< …. "Y-YOU'RE SCARLETTE OVERLAND?!" ….. >
She couldn't help but chuckled at that memory from three years ago.
"Hey, don't laugh around, Scarlette! What is that mission you took? Maybe I can help."
Scarlette snapped from her thoughts when Jeffrey called out for her and then she heard what he said, and the crimson-haired woman thought that she needs this man's help with this matter.
Since that village seems suspicious to her and she needs to gather some information that wasn't stated by the guild.
"Forden Village. A month ago, there was a report having a flood and the villagers saw something beneath there. Additionally, the report about that village was once a mass graveyard during the war years ago. Do you have any idea about this?"
Scarlette might not be fond of speaking that much because for her, it's just another waste of time to talk and first and foremost, she didn't like it at all.
However, there are times that Scarlette would talk longer than her usual when the topic is regarding her job missions or if it's something worth of her time to talk about it.
When Jeffrey heard the mission quest that Scarlette took in, his hyperactive expression changed into a serious one and the crimson-haired woman raised an eyebrow because of the sudden change of mood.
"You're the one who took up the Fordel Village mission?"
Jeffrey asked her and Scarlette looked at him, perplexed and all of a sudden, she remembered something else.
"Why are you in Mirken city in the first place? What about your duties at Crown Capital city?"
She almost forgot to ask him on why he is here in the first place and now that she looked at it, this young man didn't wear his usual commander outfit but rather, he dressed like some sort of a commoner or something that is akin to a mercenary's outfit.
'Is he on a special mission or something?'
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