CHAPTER 058
Before realizing my past life, and thus before knowing that Phillip was the male lead, he felt distant as the Crown Prince.
However, becoming friends with Charlotte and seeing Phillip with her showed a different side of him, far from the authoritative image.
Talking comfortably in such a setting also felt different.
"Lady Yaniels, have you tried it? The wine was quite good."
"I've had it. I tasted it at the Croft Duke's residence."
"Lady Yaniels really liked it!"
An hour passed like that.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, ladies."
Phillip stood up first, signaling that it was time to leave.
Before leaving, Phillip even expressed concern for our safety.
"I hope we won't have to meet in dangerous situations again."
With those words of concern, Phillip left.
Would we meet again at the Cliff Duke's residence?
Contrary to my expectations, I met Phillip again before the Duke's birthday party.
He contacted me to ask for help in choosing a birthday present for Charlotte.
I set up a meeting with Phillip, and he explained his purpose again.
"I'm not sure what to get Lady Yaniels for her birthday. Could you help me choose a gift?"
Can't you just pick something appropriate?
"I know she likes flowers, but I'm not sure about other gifts."
It seemed he had already figured out Charlotte's preference for flowers.
"I want to give her something she likes. Can you help me?"
"Sure, I can do that."
Receiving something you like is better than something you don't need.
I shared what I knew about Charlotte's preferences.
"Lady Yaniels likes sky-blue gemstones. She prefers aquamarine."
Phillip listened attentively. He seemed very focused, likely because it was about Charlotte's tastes.
After a while, we chose a gift for Charlotte.
It was a pair of teardrop-shaped aquamarine earrings.
"Lady Yaniels will like this!"
Phillip paid for the gift, but I felt proud.
"Thank you, Lady Elsner."
Seeing Phillip so pleased made me feel good too.
"Thank you for agreeing to my rather burdensome request."
"It's a birthday gift, after all."
Phillip smiled gently at my words.
"You are very understanding. People close to Marquis Bloomberg are indeed different."
Such high praise!
I couldn't help but feel a bit proud.
"I am close to the Marquis."
We're even friends with matching rings!
As we left the shop, Phillip asked me,
"If you're close, you must know a lot about him. Do you know what he likes and dislikes?"
"Well... to some extent."
"Even his dislikes?"
"There are too many dislikes to count. He hates almost everything."
Oh, and one of them is the Crown Prince!
Of course, I would never say that. I just smiled silently, and Phillip smiled along.
"You have a funny way of speaking."
"I'm not joking. It's true."
He must be laughing because he doesn't know what I'm thinking.
Phillip, with a gentle smile, said,
"I think it would be quite enjoyable to get to know you better, Lady Elsner."
* * *
Time passed, and the day of the Cliff Duke's party arrived.
The party seemed grand, with the Cliff Duke's ballroom filled with people.
"Is the Marquis not coming?"
Charlotte asked, and I relayed what Lewis had told me.
"No, he is coming, but he has some work to finish first and will be arriving later."
Lewis did say he would come since I was attending.
He's always deciding whether to attend events based on whether I'm going...
"By the way, the Crown Prince isn't here yet either?"
"That's right."
Charlotte's words reminded me of Phillip.
He had said he would come to his cousin's birthday, but he wasn't here yet.
Although the ballroom doors were closed, indicating that everyone had arrived.
"Since he said he would come, he will probably arrive later."
At that moment, a servant approached the door, and the closed ballroom doors were opening again.
Ah, he's arriving now?
"The Crown Prince must be entering."
But my prediction was wrong. The servant called a different name.
"Marquis Bloomberg enters!"
As the servant announced, Lewis appeared in the ballroom. The nobles murmured quietly.
However, the door remained open even after Lewis entered.
"The Crown Prince enters!"
Phillip had arrived.
Usually, the highest-ranking person enters last. But isn't this timing almost impossible unless they met just outside?
With Lewis and Phillip entering one after the other, all the nobles were focused on the entrance.
Their gazes soon dispersed as Lewis and Phillip went in different directions.
Lewis approached us, while Phillip headed towards Duke Cliff.
"It's been a while, Duke Cliff."
"Welcome, Your Highness."
The ballroom became so quiet that even the greetings between Phillip and the Duke were audible despite the distance.
Bella asked Lewis,
"Did you plan to enter together?"
"Of course not! We just met outside."
His annoyed expression confirmed my suspicion.
The person Marquis Bloomberg dislikes the most is you!
After a while, Phillip came over to us.
He stopped in front of Charlotte.
"Sorry for the delay. I wanted to come earlier."
With Lewis standing in front of me, Phillip and Lewis ended up standing side by side.
What an awkward pair...
It had been some time since they appeared, and now the nobles were chatting freely among themselves.
Perhaps because of this, Phillip spoke confidently.
"I wanted to meet you separately on your birthday, but I'm glad to see you here."
"On my birthday?"
"I wanted to wish you a happy birthday, even if it's not on the exact day. I feel more inclined to celebrate Lady Yaniels' birthday than Lord Cliff's."
How bold!
It felt like he was determined to win Charlotte's heart.
Next to him, Lewis said to Charlotte,
"I also want to celebrate your birthday more than Lord Cliff's."
"Oh, um, thank you."
Charlotte answered, looking back and forth between Phillip and Lewis, a bit bewildered.
Well, I would be too. Hearing someone say they want to celebrate your birthday more than the party host's at their own party...
Phillip smiled at Charlotte.
"You look particularly beautiful today."
"You look especially pretty today."
Lewis said to me this time.
"Oh... thank you."
As I answered, I realized.
Marquis, why are you doing this? Why are you copying Phillip?
Phillip must have noticed too. He looked at Lewis.
"It seems the Marquis and I are saying the same things."
"Is that so? At events like this, people tend to say similar things."
Lewis shrugged nonchalantly, looking annoyingly carefree.
Phillip seemed to want to steer us away from this spot.
If that was his intention, it worked, as he said to Charlotte,
"I would like to speak with you privately. Is that alright?"
"Oh, of course."
Phillip and Charlotte left.
As soon as they were gone, I whispered to Lewis,
"Marquis, you're making the Crown Prince uncomfortable!"
"That was the point."
Lewis chuckled. Still, his expression turned serious suddenly.
"And I wasn't lying. You look particularly pretty today."
"Oh..."
He wasn't lying?
It wasn't his usual playful look. I knew what he looked like when he was joking.
Now, he had a soft smile but serious eyes.
He seemed genuinely sincere, which was quite surprising.
Why would he suddenly compliment me...?
"Do you really think I look pretty? Truly?"
I asked a hint of doubt in my voice, lacking confidence.
Lewis looked at me with the same soft smile.
Why isn't he answering? His unusual compliment and the peculiar atmosphere made me increasingly uneasy.
What is Lewis thinking...?
As our eyes met, I felt more and more tense.
Then, in a lighter tone, he replied,
"Yes. You chose your dress well. You look pretty today."
"Oh."
So when he said I was pretty, he meant the dress?
The tension I felt a moment ago dissipated, leaving me feeling a bit foolish. Why did he make it sound so confusing?
I quickly responded to hide my embarrassment.
"I put some effort into it today. I'm even wearing the pin you gave me!"
"That's why you look prettier. I have a good eye, don't I?"
But I had forgotten about Bella.
Her incredulous voice came from beside me.
"What's with you two? What are you doing?"
Oh no. She had been watching.
"Were you still here? Have you always had such little presence?"
"What?"
I decided to stay quiet.
While Lewis and Bella bickered, I showcased my talent of quietly blending into the background.
Phillip and Charlotte returned after a short while.
Phillip escorted Charlotte back before rejoining the other guests.
During this time, Bella asked Charlotte,
"What did the Crown Prince say?"
Charlotte hesitated a bit, her face reddening slightly.
Could it be that he confessed?
"He gave me a birthday present and told me to have a good time with my family."
So it wasn't a confession.
Charlotte lifted her long, brown hair to show the earrings Phillip had bought with me.
"Wow, they're beautiful!"
Bella exclaimed, admiring the earrings.
Charlotte nodded shyly.
"I didn't expect him to give me a birthday present. I'm touched."
A little later, people gathered in the center to dance. To make space, some of us, including me, moved to the side.
Lewis couldn't stay by my side all the time.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Marquis!"
Duke Cliff took Lewis away.
With Lewis gone and Bella and Charlotte also moving away, I was left alone for a moment.
Just then, Phillip approached me.
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