Chapter 57 - Confusion and Anger

Act 5. As Planned?

The young man was standing in a tower next to Madam Fresia’s salon with a confused expression. ‘That woman. What in the world is she planning?’ Max neither understood why she looked at him with those eyes nor why she was so kind to him. ‘What does she want me to do…’ Max recalled Jubelian’s face, then sighed. He was discomfited by her caring eyes, which were devoid of expectations, and suddenly felt distressed. 

‘This is pathetic. I have no reason to see that woman anymore, so why am I always thinking about her?’ Max tried to erase her existence from his mind, but he was strangely reminded of her smiling expression and friendly eyes time and time again. ‘Dang it!’ When Max’s expression twisted violently, the door swung open. 

“Oh, dear. Why do you look so irritated, my lord?” 

“If you have something to report, say it and leave,” Max replied coldly.  

‘He doesn’t need to be so hostile when I’m simply worried about him.’ Although Fresia was displeased, she managed to control her expression. “It’s nothing much. Your stand-in Victor has sent a letter.” 

“Concerning?”

“Ah, it seems like the emperor’s envoys are refusing to return to the imperial palace because Your Highness keeps delaying your return to the capital.”

Simply put, he was now under surveillance. A bloodthirsty smile appeared on Max’s face. “He was the one who delayed my return indefinitely when I wanted to go back before. Why can’t he wait a little longer now?” he wondered out loud, then continued with a cold voice. “Tell Victor that his actions must be flawless.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Fresia was about to leave the room, but she suddenly turned around as if she just remembered something. “Ah, about Lady Floyen. It seems like she will be ignored by many people at the banquet since there are rumors that she doesn’t get along with her father.” 

Max had barely managed to forget about her, but now he was reminded of her again. He twisted his expression and said angrily, “You don’t have to report anything about her from now on.” 

‘He was so curious about her until now. What caused this change of heart?’ Fresia was puzzled, but she nodded, knowing how capricious her lord could be.

“Yes, Your Highness.” She tried to leave again, but a soft voice stopped her.

“Where are you going?”

“Huh?” she asked, dumbfounded.

“Shouldn’t you at least finish the work you’ve started?” Max asked coldly. 

No matter how hard she tried, Fresia couldn’t keep up with her lord. ‘What on earth is he talking about?’

* * *

“Have you decided to attend Count Arlo’s banquet this week, Lady Daffodil?”

“Of course. And you, Lady Cosmos?”

“Yes, I will be attending as well.” 

In Madam Fresia’s salon, nobles concealed their identity with masks and aliases. Now they were busy talking about Count Arlo’s banquet, which would take place over the weekend. This was natural, given that the person at the very center of the rumor mill these days had unexpectedly decided to attend the banquet. 

“I’m really curious about who Lady Floyen’s partner is going to be. What do you think, Madam?”

Fresia was quietly drinking a glass of expensive liquor in the corner. When all the attention turned on her, she smiled as if she indeed knew something. “I’m not sure. She might attend with her relative, Sir Ronel… or she might come alone.” 

“Oh my! What makes you think that?”

Fresia took another sip of the amber drink and parted her red lips. “If she enters with another man after breaking up with Sir Mikhail, she will only be adding fuel to the fire. But if she enters with a relative such as Sir Ronel, or even alone, she will be able to avoid criticism.” 

Everyone admired her speculations.

“Now that I think about it, it’s not a bad idea for her to enter alone,” someone said.

“Although there is a lot of talk regarding her behavior, many noblemen have long admired her beauty.”

“As expected of Madam Fresia! How wise!” 

Fresia laughed at the compliments, and the corner of her eyes wrinkled. “No, no, it’s all uncertain. I just made a guess.”

“Even so, your insights are amazing!”

Fresia’s smile became more prominent. ‘What’s amazing is that you people can’t even think this far.” Even so, it felt nice to be at the center of attention, even if the target of the people’s admiration was not her but the character she was playing. Fresia slightly raised the corner of her lips as she continued to drink out of her glass. 

“Will you be attending the banquet as well, Madam?”

When someone asked her this question, Fresia recalled what her lord had said.

“Fresia, attend the banquet and approach Lady Floyen. If she gets into trouble, help her. I’m asking you to do this because she might be useful in the future, not because I like her.’

She had been ordered to take care of Lady Floyen, as well keep watch on her. And as if that wasn’t enough…

“Just in case, I will also attend the banquet and keep an eye on her.”

Her unpredictable lord was also going to follow her to the banquet! ‘Why does he give me so many tedious tasks? I’ll have to assist the rumored lady and selfish master all by myself!’ Fresia sighed, brooding over her lord’s command. Then she gathered herself and met the noblewoman’s curious gazes.