CHAPTER 068
"There's a letter for Selina."
Bella called Michael.
"Why didn't I get one?"
"Yeah, why?"
There wasn't anything that should be coming just to me. I tilted my head and opened the letter.
"Gasp."
The letter contained words I never expected.
[Miss Selina Elsner, you have passed the test.]
That was the first sentence that stood out.
How did I…? Really?
"Selina, you made it!"
"How did I make it?"
Charlotte took the test, so how did I?
"This can't be possible."
"Look. It says the ceremony preparation is next week at the cathedral."
So, I have to go back to Airace again.
It’s not far, so going back and forth isn’t a big problem, but… is it really me?
"I just took the test with an empty mind."
I thought Charlotte would be chosen anyway.
"Selina, you did well on the test. Congratulations, Selina!"
Even with Michael's praise, I was still in a daze. What on earth is going on?
That day, Lewis visited the duchy. As soon as he saw me, he asked,
"You wanted to see a play, right?"
"A play? I did."
"Want to go see it together?"
Lewis held up two tickets. The title of the play was familiar.
"Oh! It's 'The Countess'? It's the one I wanted to see last time!"
It was the very performance I saw on a poster on Ceylon Island.
It was also performed at the hotel theater and in the city's theater, the very same show!
"The tickets are for next week. How about it?"
"Ah…"
I was excited but then deflated. Next week of all times…
"I can't next week."
"Got plans?"
"I have to go to Airace. I have to prepare for the memorial ceremony."
Lewis's eyes widened slightly.
"You were chosen among the applicants?"
"Yes. You don't believe it either, right?"
I can't believe it either.
Lewis, who seemed surprised, spoke his thoughts frankly.
"The days you spent at the cathedral paid off."
His eyes seemed to say, 'Quite impressive,' and I shrugged.
"I don't know how I was chosen. Did they pick randomly?"
I applied just for the experience, not expecting to be the representative.
"You were chosen because you're better than the others. Take it positively."
Lewis spoke clearly. Then he looked at the tickets he was holding.
"Then, the play is going to be difficult."
"Can't we change the date?"
"They said it could be changed until the day before the performance…"
Looking at the tickets, the schedule for the play was listed on the back.
Of all times, the play's schedule ended next week.
"Oh… All performances for this week are over. The only chance is next week, but I can't go then."
What a shame.
Lewis went out of his way to get the tickets, so why does the schedule have to overlap?
"It can't be helped."
Lewis spoke calmly, then looked at my expression and asked,
"Are you disappointed?"
"Of course. Marquis, you went through the trouble to get these tickets for me."
Lewis had thoughtfully gotten the tickets for the play I wanted to see, making me feel even more disappointed.
"I guess I'll give the tickets to the Yaniels. Don't worry about it."
I fiddled with the tickets, feeling regretful.
"If there's another chance like this, let's go see it together. I'll get the tickets next time!"
"That sounds good."
Lewis smiled contentedly.
"Oh, next week's last day is Raphael's Day. Can you come then?"
"I'll try. I'll come after work."
Lewis answered as if it was natural.
* * *
He said he'd come. On Raphael's Day, Lewis couldn't make it. Something urgent came up.
There were so many attendees, but Lewis couldn't come!
I felt even more disappointed remembering he said he'd come.
Today, many nobles were present for the memorial ceremony. It was an event for a revered saint of the empire, so it was expected.
I can't make any mistakes.
"You can do it, Miss Elsner!"
Charlotte cheered for me as I tried to calm my nerves when Philip approached us.
"Crown Prince?"
I hadn’t seen him since we encountered him on the street. He must have shown up since Charlotte was here.
After exchanging glances with Charlotte, Philip spoke to me.
"I heard the news. Miss Elsner was chosen as the representative for this ceremony."
His polite tone was the same as always, but it didn't carry the same friendliness as before.
Lewis's words about people being two-faced came to mind… but I saw it myself.
How he looked at my grandmother at that scene.
To look at someone on the brink of death like that.
Even if he couldn't rescue her, his cold, indifferent gaze was…
"Congratulations, Miss Elsner."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
What kind of person is Philip? I wondered as we exchanged greetings.
He looked around and asked,
"Is the Marquis of Bloomberg not here yet?"
"He said he couldn't come due to other work."
"Not attending your event is unusual for him."
"He said he had unfinished business."
"Is work piling up? I've heard there's no one as diligent as the Marquis at the tower."
"Haha. It is indeed rare…"
It must be because of that.
The mana stones obtained from Alain the scammer! He has to investigate those while also handling the duties of the tower.
"Is there a specific reason for his sudden busyness?"
"Well… He doesn’t talk about work with me. I don’t know anything about magic."
There was no need to tell Philip about the mana stones, so I made an excuse, and he seemed to accept it without suspicion.
"Ah, I see."
Why is he looking for Lewis when he'd probably just be curt with him?
The ceremony began shortly after.
What I did in Airace this week was a kind of rehearsal. The standing position, reciting the memorial address, offering flowers, and so on.
Since the Crown Prince was attending, Lady Meyer made sure we practiced a lot!
But it was worth it.
'I haven't made any mistakes yet!'
Even though I was nervous, my body was moving exactly as practiced.
I noticed the Duke in the front row watching me with a pleased expression.
Though I took on this role unexpectedly, it didn't seem all that bad…?
There was one thing I regretted.
That Lewis couldn’t be here.
It would have been nice if he was here. If he were, he might have sat next to Michael.
My gaze kept drifting to the empty seat intermittently.
* * *
While Selina was offering flowers,
Lewis was alone in his study, engrossed in work.
He was behind on tasks that should have been done yesterday because he spent time investigating the mana stones from Ceylon.
'I hope she’s not making any mistakes.'
Lewis kept thinking of Selina despite being busy with work.
He wanted to see her, but he was stuck at the tower with work.
As he grumbled through his tasks, the communication orb activated.
-Lewis!
Michael's cheerful voice came through the orb.
"What's up? I'm busy."
-You’re busy? I was going to show you a recording of Selina on stage.
"Not busy. Show me."
Lewis changed his tune instantly.
He was busy, but anything involving Selina was an exception. He kept thinking of her anyway.
-You seemed busy, but now you're not?
"Yeah. So, show me quickly."
-Okay, hang on!
Michael fumbled to send the video at Lewis's urging.
A small whirlwind spun in the office, dropping a recording orb and then vanishing.
-Selina kept looking our way. You might feel like you're making eye contact with her.
"Got it. Hanging up."
Lewis ended the communication quickly. Michael's purpose was to give him this anyway, right?
He stopped working and activated the recording orb.
The small orb emitted light, displaying Selina’s image.
She was reciting the memorial address in front of the people.
"She's not shaking as much as I thought."
Lewis muttered.
Wasn't she most nervous when she was at the grave? Compared to that day, this wasn't even shaking.
"Impressive."
I should have seen this in person.
It was frustrating to settle for just part of the recorded video.
"Still not satisfied."
Because of you, I couldn't go.
Lewis glared coldly at the mana stone he kept next to his desk.
* * *
All done! My mission was finally over.
After the ceremony ended, the nobles gradually left the venue.
"Selina, you were amazing today!"
"As expected from my friend!"
The Yaniels congratulated me, and the Duke suggested we unwind together afterward.
"I’d like that!"
An after-party sounds great!
I agreed with the Duke and glanced around the venue before leaving. I wanted to take in the sight one last time.
"It would’ve been nice if the Marquis were here too."
Lewis couldn’t make it until the end.
I knew he wouldn't come, but still, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
How often do I get to represent something? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment missed!
I mentally shouted at Lewis.
At that moment, my communication orb suddenly chimed from my bag.
When I connected, Lewis's voice came through.
-What are you doing?
"We just finished and are getting ready to leave. What about you?"
-I'm behind you.
Behind me? I turned around instinctively and was startled.
"Lewis, you said you couldn’t come?"
Lewis was standing right behind me!
"I have to go back. I just stopped by for a bit."
Ah, he has to go back.
"If you’d come a little earlier, you could’ve seen me reading the memorial address."
I mumbled, feeling regretful, and Lewis said something unexpected.
"I’ve
already seen it."
"…Really? How?"
"Michael sent me a recording orb."
"A recording orb?"
So, that thing next to Michael was a recording orb?
Lewis had a slight smirk as if he found something amusing.
"You kept looking in my direction?"
"In your direction?"
When I looked puzzled, Michael explained.
"I told Lewis. The spot next to me where I placed the recording orb was supposed to be his seat."
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