The main event started without a hitch.
"Now, then ladies. Enjoy the night!!" The Empress dowager raised her hand that held a cup of champagne.
"To the empire!!" The ladies responded to her initiation energetically.
Now, it was the official start of the Spring Garden's first phase.
The Duke will still be introduced later, so that means that the ladies must first catch his eyes while he pretends to be someone anonymous.
Or the ladies must show how much they excel from other ladies.
In this hall filled with people,
On my right was Lady Austen, I was just sure of it. She was surrounded by men and females.
On the other side was another lady with flowing pink hair, she had a voluptuous body and features that were domineering, very similar to Milady. Her approach however was more soft which I also believe fits her quite well because of her hair color. She was wearing a mint-green long gown, with balloon sleeves and white roses.
And also another contender that was very pretty. This time, a girl with soft brown hair and brown eyes... two undistinct features that somehow made me wonder if she was the 'Black Card' contender this time, as it was only a common feature among us commoners.
I'm guessing that what's making people drawn toward her is their comfortable aura.
"She's a bit like you mummy."
"Like me?"
"Just a bit. I know Mum very well."
Is that so?
"I'm happy that Lucas still knows me even when I look the same as others." I complimented my son.
"Everyone is really pretty," Clora whispered beside us. Right, she hasn't left yet.
"You can go and explore Clora." I smiled at her. It looks like she's thinking I contracted her as Luke's maid, so she doesn't go unless otherwise her employer tells her to. "I'll be with Luke from now."
"Thank you milady!" She bowed happily. "O-Oh, I mean Sister. Hehe." She shyly scratched her neck. "You're really really pretty one would think that you're really a princess."
"How could I be?" I just chuckled at Clora.
"Then bye..." She nodded at me and then looked at Luke. "Be good to sister okay?"
"Yes, big sis!!"
We waved at Clora's back as she disappeared into the pool of people. I am glad that she's not afraid to go alone even when the place is unfamiliar.
What a lovely youth.
I know that they will be safe since there are cameras placed everywhere, it was impossible for someone to break security with an event this well known.
"Now then baby, should we try the chocolate fountain?"
"Yes, mum!!"
*****
"Here Luke!" I fetched the second plate of cookies to the table of my little guy.
I'm letting him taste all the sweets that he wants to try tonight.
I used to have a fairly sweet childhood, there were no shortages of sweets because our family could afford sugar.
As for little Luke, it was his first time to experience these things.
Too much is too much, but experiencing it every once in a while is not bad at all.
"Mum, you look so natural." Lucas giggled.
"Am I?"
"Uhm.. I feel shy. What if I act wrong? There are many princes and princesses here."
Oh.
It looks like even at such an age, Luke is already worried.
"Nothing is wrong Lucas." I grabbed a cookie and fed it to him. "It's alright to make faults, as long as you're not hurting anyone, you can do anything."
"Can I really?" I nodded, ruffling his head. Maybe me telling him that he should call Lady Austen 'Lady' rather than 'Princess' weighed him down. I still really need to learn a lot more about raising a child... "Oh! It's dad!"
"Dad??" I followed his gaze.
He was looking and pointing at the door leading to the castle's back garden.
But I only caught a glimpse of the man's tailcoat in the air.
Was it the man who helped my baby Lucas the other day?
"Yes! The big man, who's my friend."
"Oh! I see!" I clapped my hands. It looks like the one who helped my Lucas might be a knight then.
"Come, Mom! We should meet him!!"
"Huh?"
Right.. we should thank him but...
I looked around.
I was still keeping watch for the lady.
But..
"Luke!" I muffled my shout as my energetic Lucas was already able to run away.
Aiiz, kids.
Nothing will go wrong during the night, right?
*****
"What do you mean he's gone?" Kailus asked Klein who came running to the guest room that he was in.
The Emperor Kailus was yet to show himself, he was meant to reveal that even the emperor attended once Erden was introduced.
It would be hard if the ladies knew that one of the men was the emperor himself. He can just imagine the horror of them flying to him and then fangirling at Erden who was supposed to be the star of the show.
"I thought the Duke was with you, Emperor." Klein heaved a sigh.
The Duke suddenly went missing in the hall, thinking that the Duke came to greet his friend, Klein came to fetch Erden from the Emperor.
Only to know that the Emperor was alone and hadn't moved a finger.
Even at such an event, Erden was the only one who could give headaches to the emperor without an ounce of guilt.
"I don't know anymore." Kailus joined Klein with the repeated breathing that he had been doing.
"Is a lady also missing in the hall? Maybe he found someone he liked."
"Are you suggesting a tryst, your majesty?"
"It's not so far off."
It was not a problem since the aim of the Spring Garden was to observe the ladies and their families. But... Erden not showing up is one of the vital things to keep the event going.
"Ugh. I guess I'll clean up after him today too." Kailus flicked his finger. A man dressed in white robes appeared behind him. "Kaureus, do me a favor and change my hair and eye color."
"Will you be pretending as the Duke, your Majesty?"
"Not yet. Klein, do your best to find Erden. As for me... well someone needs to play the part of the noblest gentleman right?"
"As you order."
Klein nodded at his majesty's response.
He had confidence in the Emperor that people would not notice even the disappearance of his master. After all, the Emperor was a man of many abilities.
This time, he needs to find his master again.
The Dukedom didn't have many events to host, which was why such a situation where the Duke runs away is unfamiliar.
Now then, where should he start?
*****
"Dad!!!" Lucas happily chased after the man who sat beside the fountain.
Lucas kept running and I, as his mum had no choice but to follow my little boy.
Children are always this curious, I don't want to get angry because I want Lucas to not be afraid of the world by trying.
"Lucas... you left your mask."
*huff*
I haven't run around that quick for a while... it's using all the energy in my lungs.
"Mom! He's dad! My big friend!! At the lake!"
"Are you okay, ma'am?" The man reached his hand to me, and guided me to sit.
Oh and to be helped by a stranger.
"Thank you, kind sir." I tried to catch my breath. I hugged Luke gently in front of me. "Lucas, please don't run so fast next time, baby, you might fall." I held his cheeks.
Look at him without even an ounce of tiredness.
He was just looking at the man he kept calling 'Dad'
Ah really! Children are on a different level!!
"It looks like Lucas loves running away." The man in front of us chuckled.
Hearing this baritone voice, my heart shook up heavily.
It can't be.
My grip on Luke's arms became tighter. I raised my head a little bit to see his face.
This...
"I presume you're Mr. Lucas's mother?"
Erden Abaddon?