"Happy birthday, Selene Aventus. You've grown significantly taller and stronger since the last time I saw you. Truly, the Aventus family is blessed"
"Thank you, Duke Ryan Campbell." Selene coldly said with a face that was on the verge of raging.
I don't want to talk to you, you f*cking old coot! Go away! I was so preoccupied with the other guest, that I forgot about this annoying event.
Selene obviously knew that saying that in public would ruin all the effort she just made, so she cursed the man who approached her in her mind with imaginations of her feeding the petty old man to a bunch of goblins in a dungeon.
Duke Campbell, noticed a hint of hostility that radiated from Selene, it was an easy observation as he was already used to people directing their hostility towards him.
He had seen worse, so Selene's glare was nothing but a kitten's glare to him
"Well, well, I see that you have some kind of enmity towards me. I hope I can clear up that misunderstanding if possible. I am, a man of change after all"
How shameless can this old rat snake be? His ten thousand times worse than that stupid Theo. He's also clearly emitting enmity towards me, bro thinks I'm stupid.
Selene took a step back in disgust towards the snake in front of her, trying her best not to curse at the hypocrite that kept spouting nonsense directly to her face and instead Linda stepped forward in front of Selene, to defend her from getting harassed by the old coot.
"How do we leave this kind of meeting in more private terms? The princess clearly does not want to talk to you, Duke Ryan'' Linda said with a cold and straight face, opposite to how she treated Selene with familiarity.
"I don't recall calling out to you Duchess Linda. I was speaking to her highness and had a few questions that might interest her."
"Hah, Sorry, she's currently busy talking with me, Duke Campbell. You can go back to your corner and wallow with those old decrepit men with you"
Linda's clearly hostile words, made the spectators gasp in horror. The elders behind Duke Campbell trembled in anger, trying their best to rein in their voices from insulting and shouting at the Duchess, but the Duke didn't seem to take offence to that and simply smiled in silence for a few seconds before speaking.
"..... I do not understand why you, of all people, find me unpleasant. Your father was one of my benefactors. I can't believe her daughter was such a disappointment, he would be rolling in his grave in horror just knowing that her daughter was a mannerless brat"
Linda, who heard the Duke's underhanded taunt simply scoffed at his words.
"Hah, I'm not the same child that I was before, Duke Campbell. I happen to have more patience now that I have a wonderful son."
"Tsk, I'll remember this, Duke Lorraine. Campbells never forget."
"..... I know, you that's the problem with your household"
Duchess Linda turned away from Duke Campbell who was retreating back into his corner and turned her gaze back to her son and Selene.
"Thanks for defending me Aunt Linda"
"This was the only time he could harass you after all. Your father will probably never invite that man again when I tell him about what that Ryan was trying to pull. His intentions spoke louder than his snake like words." Linda said to Selene in a whisper.
Selene nodded at Linda's intentions before hearing his half brother's voice greeting someone.
"Oh Duke Rosenberg, have you come to greet Her imperial highness, Selene as well?"
Linda releases Selene from her embrace and walks towards Duke Rosenberg for a handshake.
"You look beautiful as always, Duchess Linda" said, politely by Duke Florian
"You look stunning as well, Duke Rosenberg. I've said this in the past and I will say it again. You look more beautiful than most women I've ever seen"
"Hahaha, Thank you Duchess Lorraine and I greet the imperial princess, Selene Aventus, Happy birthday, we the Rosenberg family shall always be at your service" The Duke politely bowed towards Selene as he greeted her.
"Thank you, Duke Rosenberg. I shall take your words to heart, but I hope you can talk more casually. I am, after all, great friends with your dau-!"
"BOO!"
"Kyaa!"
Selene suddenly felt hands touching her ticklish sides, making her squeal cutely and jolt in shock. Selene could easily guess, who the culprit was so she swung her palm with great force like swatter
Clap!*
"Oh, nice high-five, Selene! As expected of my fiance"
Theo who caught Selene's hand giggled at the tomato faced Selene
.
Selene
<'Try'!? just don't ever do it again!> Selene
While Selene and Theo were having a banter in their heads, Linda approached them and greeted Theo with a soft smile.
"Greetings to you, Theodore Ignatius, I am Linda Lorraine and this is my son and heir, Plato Lorraine. It is an honour to finally meet you" Linda politely bowed her head towards me with a comfortable smile, Plato on the other hand, had a frown on his face, hinting that he didn't like Theo's mischievous actions he enacted towards Selene.
Theo turned his attention to Linda and bowed as well in respect towards the Duchess and her son.
"It is also an honour to meet the Duchess of the North, Linda Lorraine." Theo in turn, bowed his head politely towards the Duchess.
She's way taller standing up.
Theo noticed that the Duchess was a little bit taller than him who stood at the height of 180cm, which was exceedingly tall for a lady.
Linda rubbed her chin with sophisticated movement with eyes that glinted mischief and interest.
"So, you're the prince that has stolen the heart of our princess."
""....""
Selene and Theo looked and pointed at each other in the same exact time
"Oh, both of you reacted at the same time. Your compatibility is indeed good. I still don't know a lot about you Mr. Prince of Virtus, but with Selene being this close to you when you only had a month of getting to know one another is clearly a sign of destined love"
<..... He'll no> Selene
<.....I wish I was strong enough to stop her> Theo
Theo was reminded again that power was something he needed more than ever, not only for battles but to escape embarrassing situations like this.
Selene and Theo simply had their heads lowered in silence after Linda finished talking.
"Cute aren't they, Duke Rosenberg? Doesn't it remind you of our youth." The Duchess nudged The Duke with a jesting smile
"Haha, indeed, it reminds me of my wife when we were young. It is rare for two people arranged in marriage to be so close to each other and here they are, a proof that it could work when the stars align."
<....Should we just run?> Selene
<.... Yeah maybe we should> Theo
Though that would make the already strained atmosphere more weird than it was already. Most of the spectators saw the Duke Campbell and Duchess Lorraine clash in a heated argument briefly, having the two limelight of tonight's show scurry away from the Duchess Lorraine would further make the rumours more convoluted and complex.
"Mother, I think you've had your fun. They're clearly uncomfortable with you mentioning this out in public"
Like a saviour brought down from the heavens, Linda's son saved Selene and Theo from further embarrassment, pulling her back by the shoulder away from the two teenagers.
Selene and Theo visibly brightened, seeing that they wouldn't be further shamed by the Duchess.
"Fine, but I am rooting for both of you. I shall now go and dance with my son, I'll meet you on the dance floor, children. Escort me my son" Linda said while raising her arm towards her son
Plato simply sighed in resignation.
He already stepped in to stop his mother, so it was only right for him to give her this favour.
Selene and Theo sighed in relief as the Duchess stepped on the dancefloor with her son.
"Hahaha, Linda was always a direct and straightforward person. She makes it clear when she loves something she loves and hates what she clearly hates. There was one time where she destroyed a noble's household once after they attempted to kidnap her son, overnight mind you. Another time when she was still in the academy she quite literally paid all the debts of one student because they were friends of the Duchess. This makes her the most predictable, yet unpredictable person I've ever met. Though, her wild tendencies have dimmed down, it's still clear when I saw her argue with Duke Ryan''
Selene and Theo nodded to Duke Florian's detailed explanation, impressed by his range of information even reaching the north of Vitoten.
Well, It's only expected of a merchant and the status of his degree to at least know this much information about other Dukes and Duchesses.
Theo thought while thinking that it was a good play that he made a deal with such a person and he believed that he won't regret this decision.
"Ehem! Anyways, how about you guys go to the dance floor? I believe that many of the spectators here today are looking forward with your performance"
"Ah" Selene as she froze once more in place
Theo on the other hand placed his arms in a cross and smiled seeing another cute reaction from Selene.
She definitely hasn't practised dancing.
Theo had been forced by his mother to practise dancing every single day after training since he arrived in Vitoten.
His mother told him that he must take Selena to the dance floor to strengthen the thoughts of the visitors that Vitoten and Virtus are really in peaceful terms with each other.
She also said that I'll make a better impression on Selene If I showed off my dancing prowess.
But, Theo didn't have that kind of intention.
Theo looked at Selene, and knelt on one knee, offering his hand towards Selene with a dignified pose, making many of the ladies, spectating the duo, squeal in delight at the gentlemanly appearance of Theo
Selene on the other saw it differently, She saw through the mask of Theo.
It was a face filled with mischief and evil intent.
"Would you care for a dance?"