"Prince."
Eustaf greeted him sharply and Label swallowed a bitter smile.
'No doubt.'
Now I was not ashamed of being confused that he was a black leopard.
"He is Eustaf Laban de Lazia. He's my younger brother. And he is the Prince Label Monia de Martel."
"I have heard about your name, Sir Eustaf."
"It's not much of a rumor."
Label was impressed by Eustaf's answer. Normally, that was a word of humility.
'But I can't believe someone can say that so arrogant.'
Such nuance that gossip has no effect on him.
"Would you like to walk with me if you don't mind?"
At Label's suggestion, Eustaf answered while looking at him.
"That's all right. I hope you have a great time in Lazia. Prince."
After bowing Eustaf strode away. Ran said, "Ah," looking back at Label.
"My apologize."
"That's very much. I've recommended it out of courtesy."
Label said so and Ran smiled lightly again. While looking at him, Label continued.
"The Duchess of Lazia."
"Yes."
"It'll be hard for you to get married."
Ran opened her eyes round and nodded at the words.
"I'm sure it is. The Lazian family is in a special situation, no matter what."
"No."
It's not that.
Label was trying to explain something, but when she looked up with a suspicious eye, he felt the need to explain disappeared. So, I turned the word around.
"You have such a wonderful little brother."
"Ah."
Ran laughed and said as if she had realized something.
"That's right. Eus is cool."
'But.'
Label thought for a moment. She was temporary, but she had a lot of influence. If Eustaf, who became the next Duke, wanted to stabilize his power, the first thing to do would be to take away all her rights and then kick her out.
She wasn't even a stupid woman who didn't know that.
'If so.'
"The Duchess of Lazia."
Ran looked up at him. Label spoke quietly.
"If there's no place for you to rely on, the door to my palace is always open."
Ran was really surprised and opened her eyes wide and smiled.
"Thank you, but if that happens..."
Ran's green eyes sank deeper.
"My apologize but you won't be my choice."
I'm sure I'll enjoy my new life with my new identity.
Ran thought so and said, and Label laughed awkwardly.
"That's too bad."
"What do you mean. You said you don't like loud things."
Ran answered cheerfully and continued to show the garden.
*******
"The second prince. I like him."
"I fully understand."
At Eustaf's words, Ran looked back at him and laughed. She was now dressing up for the evening ball. Tighten the corset as hard as you can, and put a fancy dress on it, and lay your head on it and draw on your lips.
Eustaf sat with his legs stretched out like a hound in the chair next to her, watching her dress up.
Soda and Kara glanced at Eustaf, but their hands moved steadily.
The hair was carefully fixed with a thick sapphire-bite hair decoration and earrings of the same color were attached.
"How was it?"
"It suits you."
Leaning heavily on the armrest, Eustaf replied. Ran grinned. Holding on to her chin, Kara said.
"Come on, Lord. Look this way."
Don't move when you put on makeup. Then Kara painted her lips red with a brush.
After painting it over, Kara nodded after picking up the oil paper and being bitten by her a few times.
"All right."
At her words, Ran looked back in the mirror. Even to herself, she looked amazingly beautiful in the mirror.
'The magic of makeup.'
Ran glanced back at Eustaf. It was his birthday soon.
'What would be a good birthday present?'
But it's not surprising who asks directly.
Ran got up from her seat, thinking that she should think of a present.
"Lord, you are so beautiful."
Soda and Kara sighed and enjoyed their work.
The sapphire decoration and the elegant dark blue dress, like a jewel crown, boasted a beauty that would never be outdone.
Even though I could see the feeling of dissatisfaction like a girl who has just turned 20, the atmosphere changed like eight colors depending on her attitude and expression.
"Today is the last day."
With her hands, she could see Eustaf through a mirror.
"I'll take a break for a while after the party today. I'm so tired of it."
"What are you talking about?"
Soda said, fixing her dress.
"Everyone wants to see the Lord on sight!"
An average 20-year-old lady would be busy enjoying the flowery life of society.
But she said that she was already saying that she was tired of it, and Soda seemed hurt.
"But."
Ran sighed.
It would have been fun enough if you were in a group of girls of your age and were just talking about nice men, new dresses or interior designs, without any worries like ordinary girls.
'Just thinking about it makes me happy.'
But she is the Duke of Lazia. Her social circle was an ice sheet, a push-and-pull with prominent opponents, a political dialogue and diplomatic arena.
Ran sat next to politicians 'This is Lee Young-nam, the chief of staff. His wife's name is Kim Do-hyun, and she has two daughters. Each of them has a name...' I could see if there was an aide whispering.
The conversation of aristocrats varied in the order and title of introduction according to genealogy, and it was the nobles' knowledge to memorize it.
'But I'm glad the Empire inherited the title.'
Otherwise, I would have had a headache because of the overflowing aristocracy.
'The Duke's sons are all dukes. Did Lazia planned that?'
Maybe that's why there was a system called the noble spirit.
Fortunately, the empire was a one-man inheritance, so marrying a low-ranking woman was not a problem. It's just that the brothers have to make their own living.
'That's what happens to baron Lindbergh.'
"Noonim."
Eustaf's distinct voice broke her thoughts.
"Huh?"
"What do you think? You'll be late for the party."
"Oh, Yes."
He nodded and Ran moved. The sound of a smooth cloth dragging on the marble floor was cheerful.
"Right, the Marquis of Cyrus suggested we go on a picnic together"
He nodded as she peeked at Eustaf's.
"All right."
"Yes!"
Ran smiled broadly. Her picnic with a congenial friend was also expected of her.
Today's ball was a royal ball at the Golden Swan Palace. Eustaf said to her in the carriage.
"Take care of yourself."
"Yes, I'll be back."
Ran smiled and waved her hand.
The carriage ran out leaving a long shadow along the setting sun.
The ball starts at night.
*******
The subtle lighting reflected soft light everywhere. All the lights were changed from candles to magic lights, and among them, what people liked the most was the long cylindrical lighting.
The cylindrical light shone with the Mana Stone on the top and gradually fell down over time.
When the light fell on the floor, it was the end of the ball.
It was the same principle as the ball ended when the candle light went out. But this light clearly showed the position of the light, - They'll meet in the garden when the light is halfway up.
- They arrived when the light was about a quarter down.
The same conversation was possible, so this light was soon used in every dance.
'It's turning on the cooler.'
Ran leaned against the wall and sipped the champagne in a thin glass.
"The Duke of Lazia has not come to become the flower of the wall."
When I looked up, I saw silver hair first. Ran said with a smile.
"I'm from the Duke of Miro"
Duke of Miro.
Ran bowed lightly with her knees bent.
"Nice to meet you."
You don't have to say hello first, but as a good impression is important in the first meeting, and that doesn't mean you'll lose the level of Lazia.
The Duke of Miro was the eldest brother of the Crown Princess, in his early thirties.
"It's an honor to meet you. The Duke of Lazia. I'm Devan Derk Ra Miro. Please call me Devan."
"Ran Romia de Lazia. Please call me Ran, too."
"The Duke of Lazia's authority is even heard in the Miro."
Devan's purple eyes had a soft glow, but Ran never fell for it and smiled modestly.
"That's the only way to do 'the Miro of silver.'"
Devan laughed lightly at the remark.
"Well, I'd be happy to trade our platinum mine with your ice crystal mine."
This was the second reason why the Duke Miro was called the Miro of white silver. The vast platinum mine belongs to them.
"Oh, my God?"
Ran opened her eyes wide and passed the conversation by bursting into laughter as if she had heard a funny joke.
If Lazia was to the north and the Duke of Usla was to the south, the Duke of Miro was to the center and was traditionally close to the Imperial House.
This was one of the reasons why Olivia was adopted as the Crown Princess.
A strong Duchy in central politics.
'Besides, the platinum mine has strong capital, and I don't want to bump into it.'
"I never thought I'd see the Duke in this place like this."
Ran spoke lightly.
"Oh, yes. I don't like the royal ball that much, but because the Duke of Lazia is coming."
"That's..."
Ran opened her mouth slightly and closed her mouth and raised the corners of her mouth clearly.
"You had to come to the ball because of me, so you could have sent me an invitation."
"I'm not going to go that far."
Mumbling, Devan bowed lightly and whispered.
"The Crown Princess is my sister."
Ran opened her mouth wide. No, I was smiling on the outside, but I opened my mouth on the inside anyway.
'Did you just warn me not to touch your sister's husband?'
No...
Ran uttered a curse inside. I don't need him. I don't need the Crown Prince!
With a big smile on her face, Ran said.
"Yes, the two are a perfect match."
The last word came out with a slight shrew, and Devan nodded.
"Thank you for thinking so. That's what I think."
Then, as if he had timed it, the Crown Prince came to Ran. He hesitated to see Devan, and soon greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Isn't this the Duke of Miro?"
"Your Highness."
Devan nodded lightly and Ruth said with a smile.
"It seems like the future of the Empire is bright to see the two dukes together."
"The Duke of Miro is always with the Imperial Palace."
At Devan's greeting, Ruth nodded and glanced at Ran.
When their eyes met, Ran lightly bent her knees and straightened them. Ruth pressed his lips. It seemed like she's getting more beautiful day by day.
Not being able to get her hands on it made him more impatient.
She was about the same age as the debut lady who had just had an adult ceremony, but she was not like such innocent girls, nor was she like the married women who were ripe to the fullest.
What kind of face would she make if I put her down in bed as the Duke of Lazia at the age of nineteen and became the center of society?
Just thinking about it, Ruth seemed to felt hot and stiffening from his lower body.
"Would you like to dance to a song?"
Ruth reached out to Ran with a grin.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to remain the flower of the wall today. I have bad legs."
"Don't do that..."
Devan cleverly stopped Ruth from reaching out by pulling her.
"You haven't even danced with my sister for the first time, Your Highness."