Entering the end of summer, Ozera Capital was gradually left by the nobles. The nobles, who were originally going to attend and celebrate the Crown Princess's birthday, one by one began to return to their respective territories–back to their routines and work.
Unfortunately, that's not the case for Chas. He still lives in the capital, in his father's townhouse.
They were forced to split up because it would be too suspicious if Duke Colton stayed in the capital for too long. So instead, Chas remained in the capital to oversee the movement of the Palace.
Besides, Dad still has a job as the duchy district head, Chas thought as he read the letter from his father.
He reported that his sister and Axelle had met and that Rheannon had arrived in Paiton safely. Duke Colton added that Hadrian's entourage had an unexpected attack from Pyrs.
Well, what did the Pyrenees want?
Rheannon, of course.
But in his letter, Duke Colton suspected something else.
"The Palace couldn't be that stupid to cooperate with Pyrs, could it?" Chas muttered, then burned the letter from his father.
He moved from his father's desk to the wide window of his study. Chas stood in front of it, looked out and saw someone had just come out of his townhouse.
The person was wearing a uniform from the Palace.
For a split second, their eyes met.
Chas snorted loudly when he heard a knock on his door not long after.
"Lord Chas, I would like to inform you that you have received an invitation from Her Highness the Princess," the servant reported as soon as he was ushered in.
"Please just put the invitation on the table. I will read it myself after this."
"Yes, My Lord. Then, please excuse me."
Hah! As expected, the knight just now was Luciell's messenger!
"Either she's so persistent or shameless," Chas muttered as he began to read his invitation.
It contained an invitation to equestrian, one of the regular events organized so that young male and female nobles could meet and assess each other's abilities. Can bring a partner, said the invitation. But Chas had no partner. Even if he had, he wouldn't have brought it with him in the invitation. Luciell might kill his partner.
Chas took a deep breath. He brushed his hair back in frustration. This was why he was reluctant to stay in the Ozera Capital: he knew he would receive many invitations from Luciell that he would find difficult to refuse.
"Damn it," Chas hissed. He started writing replies to the invitation.
***
In the evening, Chas himself sent the reply to the Palace. At the same time warn and threaten Luciell, if possible and if he had have time. After all, he didn't have much to do in here apart from keeping an eye on the situation. When else could he come to the Palace just for fun?
"Whoa, whoa. Look who this is. What is Lord Chas Colton coming here for?"
A young man his age greeted him. The son of the Earl-he-doesn't-know only Chas remembers his face. Well, Chas rarely hangs out with other young people. What he memorized and remembered were his father's colleagues.
Looks like he wants to find a thing with me, Chas thought with a smile. "Good evening, Sir," he greeted back. "It's a coincidence that we can meet here. I have some business to attend to and it looks like you're done with your business here. So I'll excuse myself first." It's better to be quick to escape than to get angry.
"Looks like the Coltons are bankrupt to the point where they have to deliver the letter themselves," said the man, then chuckled. "You must get to work, Lord Chas. I heard that there will be a selection of Palace Knights at the end of the fall. You can give it a try–well, that is if you pass the initial selection."
As expected, Chas thought angrily. "Thank you for your concern, Sir. Unfortunately, I'm not interested in becoming a Palace Knight, although I'm sure I can pass the selection process easily," he said. He pulled out a letter under his robes, showing Luciell's personal seal. "I am more interested in sitting in one of the Palace chairs. For example, sitting next to Princess Luciell."
"W-what did you say?!"
Chas waved his hand, leaving the man. "Her Highness is already waiting for me inside, so I'll go first."
"H–hey! Chas Colton?!"
Damn it. Chas didn't expect Luciell to commit adultery at a time like this.
"Oh, I see. Lord Chas wants to sit beside me?" suddenly, Luciell appeared from behind a pillar.
"Chas Colton greets Her Highness Princess Luciell," Chas greeted halfheartedly.
Luciell laughed sweetly in response. "Duke Colton's upbringing must have been very harsh, but it's obvious you want to smack me."
"I'm glad Your Highness noticed it," Chas replied without hesitation. "That will expedite my business here. I just wanted to reply to your letter." He handed Luciell his reply. "Well, I'll say goodbye then."
"Don't want to have some tea first?" offered Luciell.
"I prefer coffee."
"Alright, I don't seem to be holding you back any longer." Luciell kiss the letter from Chas. "See you later, Lord Chas."
Chas didn't expect a princess to be as vulgar as Luciell.
***
The Princess Palace was an almost deserted place. Unlike most princesses or princesses of other kings, Luciell didn't keep many people by her side. In her palace, only a few servants and even fewer maids served her. Most of Luciell likes to be alone – which is considered natural by many because she is the king's daughter.
However, Luciell regularly opened her personal salon and her palace to hold small parties. The goal, of course, is to get together with girls and boys her age and get to know them. Sometimes Luciell will also attend invitations from other people just so that she looks active in social circles.
Luciell's behavior was indeed a little unusual. While other princesses would put many maids and ladies by her side, Luciell would do the exact opposite. She prefers to do her own work without being disturbed by incompetent people.
Well, who dares to protest Luciell's decision? The current king's daughter, the rightful successor of the Rexton Kingdom, was Luciell. She is free to do whatever she wants as long as it is with the permission of His Majesty the King.
"Be careful up front, Lord Chas."
Chas gasped. He hastily pulled the reins of his horse to stop the horse. Not far in front of him lies the lake at the Princess Palace.
"Thank you..." Chas said. He noticed the lady beside him who had reprimanded him just now. Well, sorry if Chas didn't know the names of everyone in today's gathering. He is indeed a noble's son who is not updated. But if you look at the characteristics… Chas thought. Blonde hair, green eyes, the sweet smell of flowers… "Lady Wynton."
The woman chuckled at Chas. "Please just call Chloe, Lord Chas," she said. "I just came back from outside the kingdom. So it's only natural that you don't know me."
Chas smiled. "My apologies, Lady Chloe. Usually I only meet with Marquess Wynton."
"My father preferred to travel alone without bringing his family with him," said Chloe. "He's a little overprotective."
Chas knows that.
Marquess Wynton was another noble guarding the border on the north side of Rexton. There, his territory tended to be safer than Paiton's, but his wife was sick and passed on her talents to several of her children. So it was no wonder that Marquess Wynton was protective of his family.
"Then how did Lady Chloe get here?" Chas asked in surprise.
Chloe looked ahead in the direction where Luciell was riding leisurely while surrounded by other nobles. "Because I already feel healthier after undergoing treatment outside. Besides that, I… want to be close to the others," she replied. "I've been away for too long, to the point where I don't have any friends. I've never even greeted Her Highness Princess Luciell either."
Don't befriend Princess Luciell, Chloe, Chas thought. "Regardless of that, Lady Chloe dared to say hello and chat with me. So please don't be sad like that. Later you will definitely make a lot of friends."
Chloe smiled at that. "Thank you for the consolation, Lord Chas," she said sincerely. "Honestly, so many eyes have looked at me with doubt. It must be because I'm a stranger to them. But… at least you know my father and me."
"Well, I must admit Marquess Wynton has beautiful honey-colored hair." Chas glanced at Chloe briefly. "You have hair as beautiful as Marquess Wynton–that's how I recognized you."
"Wow, my goodness. My father will be delighted to hear that."
Chas and Chloe laughed together.
At the end of the equestrian session, Chas and Chloe continued to be together at the banquet because—obviously—they had no one to talk to. Chas looked scary and was highly respected by many, while Chloe didn't know anyone there. So whenever someone passed in front of them, Chas would whisper their surname to Chloe so she at least recognized important family names.
Actually that's good too, Chas looks so busy. He had his reasons for not greeting Luciell.
"Her Highness Princess Luciell has already begun to show herself. Do you think it's time for me to say hello to her?" Chloe asked excitedly.
Chas glanced at Luciell, who happened to be glancing at him as well. Their eyes meet. "Yes, this is a good time," he sighed. "You can go now and say hello."
Before Luciell greeted Chloe's greeting with super hospitality, Chas and Luciell's eyes meet again.
It just makes me uncomfortable, Chas thought.