CHAPTER 010
Lewis, who had casually given me goosebumps, extended his hand to me as if to recharge.
I'm glad I'm at least useful for something...
Feeling a strange sense of relief, I placed my hand on his palm.
Lewis's hand was warm, as always.
"Are you attending the Imperial Palace banquet this time, Marquis?"
Invitations to the Imperial Palace gatherings always came to the Croft estate, unlike other gatherings.
Lewis would probably attend. He did in the original story, after all.
I hadn't been paying attention, but it was already time for the original story to begin.
Would Charlotte be at the banquet?
The first meeting of the sub-male lead and the heroine!
If they build rapport at the imperial banquet, Charlotte will completely remove Lewis's noise.
She'll seal his overflowing magic.
And by then, the Crown Prince and Charlotte will already have connected their hearts.
In the story, Lewis blesses Charlotte's happiness and disappears before them, stepping down from his position as the Tower Master and leaving for his territory.
Perhaps he didn't want to see the happy couple?
Well, at least he didn't flip the table over, given his personality.
"It's bothersome, but I'm planning to attend this banquet. What about you?"
I wasn't sure.
Even if the invitation was sent to the Elsner Count's residence, I hadn't received it.
"Belle and Michael said I could go with them, so I'm thinking about it."
But it was awkward.
I decided to cut ties with my family, yet I still carried the surname 'Elsner.'
If I were to meet my family there, it would be incredibly awkward.
"I think it's better if I stay at the mansion."
"Of course, you should come with us."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Your entire family has gone to the territory."
What? What did you say?
* * *
Lewis was telling the truth.
My family had quietly left the capital without my knowledge.
'Did they leave on their own, or were they pressured?'
I'd bet on the latter.
I was worried that rumors of my conflict with my parents would spread, but society viewed our family this way:
'The Elsner family has decided to spend their remaining years quietly in their territory' and 'The only Elsner lady who decided to stay in the capital.'
It was really swept under the rug without a trace.
It wouldn't have been possible without someone's intervention.
Power is truly amazing. I realized once again the influence of the Croft family.
Anyway, I decided to attend the banquet. There were no worries about running into family, and Belle persuaded me.
And today was the day of the banquet.
I entered the banquet hall holding Michael's hand. Lewis was escorting Belle.
When we entered with the attendant's announcement, many people had already arrived.
Charlotte must be here among them.
I looked around diligently for where she might be.
It wasn't hard to find Charlotte, who appeared exactly as described in the original story.
A woman in a shimmering green dress with her brown hair elegantly styled.
She was the protagonist of this world, Charlotte.
Here, Lewis would meet Charlotte for the first time and fall for her. He would transform into a devoted man.
Although he would remain an unfulfilled sub-male lead...
I glanced at Lewis standing next to me.
She's over there!
But Lewis didn't even look in that direction. He simply looked at the nobles staring at us and said,
"What's the big deal? Why are they staring?"
Swoosh.
The sound of blood draining from their faces was almost audible as the nobles quickly averted their gazes.
As expected of the formidable Tower Master.
Although a marquis by title, there was no one with more power than the Tower Master in the absence of royalty.
I noticed one person who didn't avert their gaze.
'As expected of the heroine!'
Charlotte had been staring intently at Lewis.
It was a curious gaze, like that of a predator.
If it were me, I would have looked away immediately, but she truly had the boldness of a heroine.
There was no way Lewis wouldn't notice that gaze. Now, if Lewis saw Charlotte...
Just then, Lewis noticed Charlotte.
I stepped back to observe his expression.
His gaze reached Charlotte, and his face...
Looked unimpressed.
Wait, unimpressed?
Lewis gave a slight nod towards Charlotte and spoke to me.
"Who is that woman? She's been staring at me."
Could it be that he didn't feel anything?
That can't be right!
"Marquis, do you feel nothing?"
"What should I be feeling?"
Even when I directly asked, Lewis seemed genuinely unfazed.
Strange? He should be falling for her here to build a close relationship later...
That's how Charlotte learns about Lewis's chronic problem and finds a way to help.
When Charlotte first met Lewis, she didn't immediately think she could help him.
It's still early in the original story. Charlotte wouldn't even think she could do anything for Lewis yet.
Later, she becomes the key to sealing his magic.
Though she wasn't treated as a saint, Charlotte had a bit of divine power.
In the original story, Charlotte tried to find a way to alleviate Lewis's noise, discovering that it was his magic causing the issue. She then used her power to cover Lewis's magic.
You might wonder how she could cover such powerful magic with such a small amount of divine power, but that's how it was in the original story.
'It must have been a miracle born from her earnest prayer to heal Lewis.'
It was a one-time power that vanished after sealing Lewis's magic.
But clearly, Lewis should have fallen for the heroine at first sight, yet he seemed utterly indifferent.
Judging by his apathetic look at her.
Soon, the royal family appeared with the loud announcement of the attendants.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince, the main character, seemed to be following the original storyline.
'He acknowledges Charlotte with a nod?'
They must have met already. The main male lead always appears before the sub-male lead.
After the Emperor's opening speech, the banquet hall turned into a more relaxed atmosphere.
"You're here too, Duke Croft."
"Michael, I have something to discuss with you..."
The only somewhat normal Croft, Michael, went off with the people who greeted him.
Leaving me with Belle and Lewis.
Lewis asked curiously,
"Why isn't anyone coming to talk to you?"
Do you really not know? It's because of you, Marquis!
The noble ladies I usually mingled with were only exchanging glances from a distance, but someone finally approached us.
"It's been a while, Marquis and Lady."
A handsome man with black hair and blue eyes, the Crown Prince, Philip.
As expected of the main male lead!
With his status, he didn't shrink in front of these two.
'Now I understand why everyone talks about Philip.'
I thought Lewis was the most handsome man I had seen, but Philip was just as attractive.
Their images were quite different.
Philip had a much more upright feel.
With a calm face and a relaxed smile, he exuded elegance.
He was the epitome of a Crown Prince.
It was my first time seeing him in person, so I stared for a moment, and his gaze moved to me.
"And who might this be?"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Selina Elsner."
"Ah, Lady Elsner. I've heard you're staying at the Duke's residence."
Philip greeted me kindly and then invited Lewis to join their conversation.
"My companions are over there, why don't we join them? Everyone is delighted to see you after such a long time."
There's no way they are delighted to see him!
I watched in shock as Philip led Lewis away, while Belle spoke to me.
"Selina, do I smell?"
"Of course not!"
"Then why is no one coming to talk to me? Michael is chatting away with others!"
Well, it's...
Instead of answering, I led the puzzled Belle to where some familiar noble ladies were gathered.
"Long time no see, Lady Elsner. Are you close to the Marquis?"
I expected them to ask about my family, but the ladies started talking about Lewis instead.
As the conversation lengthened, we ended up greeting Charlotte.
"Let me introduce you. This is Lady Charlotte from the Yanils family!"
Wow, she's really pretty...
I was momentarily in awe of Charlotte's beauty.
No wonder Lewis should have fallen in love at first sight - oh, but he didn't, did he?
Anyway, why had Charlotte been staring at Lewis so intently? Curious, I asked, and she blushed.
"He was so handsome... There are many handsome men in the capital."
Oh, that was why?
In response, Lady Horse gestured towards Philip, Lewis, and Michael in turn.
"Except for those three, everyone else is a troll."
"Excuse me?"
"I mean, there aren't many. Those three are the only ones. The rest are all trolls!"
Her genuinely repulsed expression showed she was serious.
'As expected of Lady Horse, she is quite frank.'
I chuckled as Belle laughed heartily and downed my wine.
* * *
Philip had led Lewis to a table where they sat drinking.
"Now that the introductions are over, may I leave?"
"How cold of you. After half a year, you only want to say hello and leave?"
Not that they were close anyway.
Philip, who had guided Lewis to the table, handed him a wine glass with a warm smile.
"Let's have a drink before you go. It's been a while, and it would be nice to chat over a drink."
Philip was a well-known drinker.
A light drink was his daily vitality boost, and his tolerance was strong.
"Everyone here is happy to see you."
Philip indicated four young nobles trembling as they looked at Lewis.
There was no sign of joy, but Philip ignored that.
"Is it okay to sit with the Marquis of Bloomberg?"
"Of course, Your Highness!"
The nobles exclaimed with determination.
They
really seemed to think they could handle it. The crazy Tower Master was scary, but they had the Crown Prince as a shield.
Surely nothing would happen with the Crown Prince present.
"We'll endure it!"
Their resolve was evident.
Philip smiled gently and was the first to raise his glass.
"Then, let's have a drink. Cheers."
Glasses clinked lightly.
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