Chapter 75

"What happened?"

When the Duke appeared, the people quickly dispersed.

But some quickly changed the color of their faces and spoke up.

"This servant here has been acting rudely and has soiled the princess's clothes."

At someone's taunts, the servant became even paler. She was completely drained of blood and looked like she was about to collapse.

"She ruined the banquet on this happy day, so you should not pass it up and punish it heavily."

The Duke ignored the people and turned his gaze to me.

"Roxana, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I'm fine. I'll go to the lounge for a while."

"The stain on your clothes..."

Joan opened her mouth carefully.

"Actually, I brought another dress from her just in case, how about changing into it?"

I had to keep my seat, but I couldn't keep the messy dress on.

I nodded right away.

"It would be better to do what Joan said. I'll go."

"Alright. Go ahead."

Before heading to the lounge, I looked at the servant, who was still lying in front of me, and said,

"Go now. Don't get in the way like that..."

"Yes?"

At my words, the servant raised her head with a bewildered face.

Her eyes were still full of fear.

"Go to a place where I can't see you. Can't you hear me?"

When I threatened once more with a frown on my face, the servant finally straightened her knees and stood up.

Then she bowed down to me, apologized, and left as if running away.

I also took a step.

"Young Master Frein."

Instead of heading straight for the lounge, I approached Count Frein's son, who was standing at the entrance.

He looked surprised when I approached him and spoke to him.

His gaze on me was full of hostility.

"I have something to talk to you, can you spare me a moment?"

"I don't know."

"Come with me for a little while."

I moved to a less crowded place.

At the words that sounded like my orders, Young Master Frein followed me with dissatisfaction.

"Does the Princess have something to do with me?"

It was a voice full of annoyance.

I also didn't want to talk to him for a long time, so I brought up the subject right away.

"Are you the one who made the servant tripped?"

"I don't know why you're saying this to me, but it has nothing to do with me. Don't accuse the wrong person."

"My maid said earlier that she saw you with Baron Dana's daughter. What did you talk about?"

"Am I obligated to answer you?"

At first, I thought he was a little perplexed, but then Young Master Frein answered blatantly.

I was convinced of his hostility the more we talked.

"Recently, the Count's financial condition has deteriorated a lot, right? I heard that the Count is in a lot of trouble because his new business is suffering from financial difficulties. What would happen if someone stepped up and interrupted at a time like this?"

My words must have pierced his sore corner.

His expression deteriorated rapidly.

"When your family falls, you will never be as proud as you are now. Don't you think so?"

I took a glass of wine from a passing servant.

Then I slowly reached out and poured it on him.

He opened his eyes in surprise and shouted at me.

"Now what is this...!"

"You better stand in line. I am not as nice as Lady Dana, but I have a pretty good memory."

Young Master Frein looked at me with his mouth tightly shut.

But he said nothing more.

I left him like that and headed straight to the break room.

"Lady, are you okay?"

"What kind of person is he? He can't say anything in front of you, and rudely from behind......"

"I know. How childish. He's only at that level, so he's probably chasing after Lady Dana. It's really pathetic."

Joan and Tien spoke in anger-filled voices.

"Joan, where's the dress you brought as a spare?"

"Ah... Wait a minute. I left it in the carriage, if you rest for a moment, I'll get it right away."

Joan ran out to get the dress.

While I was looking at her, someone stopped in front of me.

"Princess..."

I frowned and slowly lifted my head.

There stood a completely unexpected figure.

"Your Highness, Second Prince."

"Wipe it with this."

The 2nd Prince handed me a handkerchief.

I hesitated a little, then took his handkerchief.

The handkerchief smelled the same as the perfume from him.

I wiped the wine off the dress with the handkerchief.

"By the way, what happened a while ago? Just like last time...Incidents and accidents keep happening."

"Being branded as a villain who torments innocent people, some people with a sense of justice just can't let it go."

The second Prince looked at me with a puzzled face.

"Why? I don't think so?"

I tried to wipe the stain on my dress, but the liquid had already soaked in, so I couldn't wipe it off.

There were red stains left on the brightly colored dress, which was unsightly.

I said I was going to change the dress anyway, but I still didn't feel very good.

"If Your Highness had seen it, you would know. Even if they swear behind my back, there's nothing I can do about it."

"Of course I know that the Princess is not like that."

It was a voice full of confidence.

As I became puzzled, I raised my head and met his eyes.

It was then.

I saw the Crown Prince approaching from afar.

"Roxana."

He frowned when he saw me and the second Prince together.

"Brother.."

"Why are you with Roxana?"

"We met by chance and were talking to each other."

"If you're done, go ahead."

The Crown Prince said rudely like he did with Elvin.

He looked at the second Prince up and down with a very displeased face.

It was arrogant and overbearing.

Nevertheless, the 2nd Prince nodded his head without a hint of displeasure, as if familiar with this situation.

"Yes, I'll go. Have a good time."

Before the second Prince walked away, he looked at me and said.

"Princess, happy birthday."

At those words, the Crown Prince's face became cold.

He clenched his teeth as he looked at the back of the second Prince.

Then he felt my gaze and turned to me.

"From Elvin to Payne. You two seemed pretty friendly, huh?" (*Payne is the second Prince's name.)

"He's not even close enough to be called friendly."

"You are not telling the truth again? Now it seems that my fiancée has a lot of secrets."

It felt like there were thorns in his words.

I pretended I didn't hear and walked without a word, looking straight ahead.

"What are you going to do with that outfit? Come to my palace and rest while waiting for the courtiers to bring your new clothes."

"I appreciate your kindness, but it's fine. My maid went to get my spare dress, so she'll be back soon."

"Is that so?"

At last I reached the front of the lounge.

I looked at the Crown Prince and asked.

"I am going to rest for a while in the break room and then go back. what are you going to do, Your Highness?"

It was lengthy the way I said it, but it was basically telling him to go away.

He couldn't have not understood, but the Crown Prince spoke with a calm face.

"I'm tired too, so I'm going to take a little rest and go back, so I think we can go back together later."

"Please."

"It's too much. You even make such a tired expression. Do you hate me and feel uncomfortable while talking casually with Elvin and Payne?"

The Crown Prince made a sad face.

Without realizing it, my emotions seemed to show on my face.

But I didn't feel the need to hide anything, so I asked him.

"Are you going to go if I tell you I'm uncomfortable?"

"No."

The Crown Prince answered nonchalantly and pulled the doorknob.

Then, naturally, he went inside.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the lounge was empty.

He sat on the sofa and I sat opposite him.

Tien, who followed, looked at me and the Crown Prince with an anxious face.

I looked at the watch with an uncomfortable face.

The Crown Prince, on the other hand, leaned on the sofa in a very comfortable position and closed his eyes.

"I've been suffering a lot too, so I'll take a little rest and go back. So don't show your dislike. I'm hurt too."

"I'll try."

The Crown Prince's attitude toward me was sweeter and more friendly than before. Sometimes he was considerate, but sometimes he was sly. It was even more terrifying to think that he had killed the nanny who raised Roxana behind her back.

Does he really feel no guilt?

Perhaps he felt my gaze and the Crown Prince opened his eyes. Then his gaze touched my wrist.

"But what is that bracelet? It's definitely something I haven't seen before, but who gave it to you?"

"I got it from a friend."

"A friend?"

His lips hardened.

But he didn't seem to want to ask any more questions.

"I see."

The Crown Prince nodded his head with an unknown expression.

For a while his gaze stayed on the bracelet on my wrist, not letting go.

It was an uncomfortable time.

Fortunately, Joan was back soon after.

When she entered the room, she was surprised when she saw the Crown Prince with me.

"I see you, Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince nodded his head lightly.

I said to him,

"I have to change clothes, so would you please leave?"

"Sure."

The Crown Prince got up and went outside.

Joan placed the box on the table and opened the lid.

Inside was a purple dress.

I was momentarily stunned.

This dress was given to me by Hermes's owner a while back.

"Why did you bring this?"

I asked Joan.

"The young lady has white skin and a mature atmosphere, so I think dark colors like this would suit you well."

Joan answered with a puzzled face.

"If you don't like it, would you like to get some other clothes to change into?"

"No. It's okay. It didn't mean that I didn't like it. Help me take off this dress."

"Yes, Miss."

The dress sent by the imperial family was as glamorous as it was difficult to put on and take off.

With Joan and Tien's help, I got changed and stood in front of the mirror in one corner of the room.

"Oh my gosh... Miss, it looks so good on you. The clothes were changed but you look like a different person.

you get along really well. My clothes have changed, but I feel like a different person. How long have you been spoiling such pretty clothes?"

"The Hermes's owner definitely has a great eye. I definitely remember seeing it last time."

"I'll be buying the Lady's clothes from the Hermes from now on. I think it suits you better than tailor-made clothes."

I looked in the mirror with admiration. It blended well with the gorgeous features and created a noble atmosphere.

Dark purple was a color that could make a person look aged. However, it suited Roxana's white skin and overwhelming atmosphere very well.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Then, a knock was heard outside.

"Is it much longer? I think it would be better to go back now."

Hearing the words of the Crown Prince from outside the door, I looked at the clock and it was true that I was absent for a long time.

Anyway, as long as I was with the Crown Prince, I couldn't rest comfortably. When I opened the door and went outside, the Crown Prince was waiting in front of the door. He looked at me and widened his eyes as if surprised.