Chapter 53 - The Doll Master

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Duchess Siccain. My name is Marina von Harrant from the Operations department of Internal Affairs.”

“Greetings, my dear. I heard a lot from Rian and my husband. You really are a beautiful lady,” said the Duchess with a smooth voice that almost felt like a marble rolling on a silver tray.

To my greeting, a gentle voice, like marbles being rolled on a silver tray, answered. I felt very embarrassed to hear that I’m beautiful from a truly gorgeous lady. She had such a beautiful voice and heart. The Chancellor is so blessed to have her.

“I, too, had heard of good words about you, my lady. But I see that your reputation was underestimated. You don’t look like someone who has a son this mature.”

“Oh, you speak beautifully, just like your own beauty. I can see why my husband has praised you so highly.”

She surely seemed very different from my mother. If it were my mother, she would have fallen into narcissism with a smile as if it was natural to receive such compliments.

“I believe he had deemed me highly because I’m a new recruit. In reality, I’m immature and only indebted to the Chancellor.”

I smiled shyly in response to her compliment, and she looked at me with fond eyes. Then she replied, “And you are also humble. We should have tea together in the future. I hope to see you more often.”

“I am flattered, my lady.”

After talking with her about various things, she said that she had something to do and left urgently. Left alone again, I saw Adrian approaching. Hmm, do I have to spend time with him again? At that moment, Chelleno stood in the way.

“Sir! It’s my turn now! I was looking forward to this day too!” shouted Chelleno.

At that, Adrian walked up to him and whispered something with a laugh. Chelleno then turned pale and began to hesitate as he stood still. Meanwhile, someone boldly asked me to dance.

“Hey, my assistant! Are you free? Let’s dance!”

Rave. It was him. Damn, I don’t really want to dance with that flirty a*sh*le. Oh, that’s right! I had an idea!

“Of course. It is an honor, sir.”

As I answered with a smile and gently grabbed the outstretched hand, I saw him looking at me with an awkward face. It was as if he was asking why I accepted his offer. Heh heh heh. Why did I accept it?

The music started, and as he grabbed my waist and gave me a flirtatious smile, I smiled too, stepping on his foot, pretending it was a mistake. At that moment, his disgusting face was slightly distorted, but he hid the pain. It was the rule of a gentleman to pretend nothing happened when a lady steps on you. Rascal, I’m going to make a hole in your shoe today. I was eager about my plan when he suddenly smiled and spoke softly.

“Dear, do what you want to do. I’m just glad that I can dance with my pretty assistant like this.”

What? You rascal, don’t you think I’m going to feel guilty if you say that? I stepped on him a few more times but got annoyed by his smiling face and gave up. I tried to part ways with him, trying to get away from him as soon as possible, but Rave grabbed my hand tightly with a smile on his slick face and laughed.

“Are you only going to dance once? My feet are strong. I can do this for 10 more songs.”

This drew a lot of attention to us. Damn a*sh*le, harassing me like this! He sure is smart, worthy of being an officer of Internal Affairs. I had to question his taste as I looked at him, enjoying the pain. Does he have any masochistic tendencies?

‘Damn, why are there so many weirdos around me?’

“I’m tired, and I want to rest for a while.”

Contrary to what I was thinking, I smiled and refused him politely. Rave made a disappointed look and smiled, “That’s a shame, but what can I do? Let’s dance again later, my assistant.”

“Sure will,” I replied.

Sure, I won’t! Do you think I’m crazy? I would rather dance with my cousin, Chelleno, than you!

After giving an answer that contradicted my heart, I moved to the terrace, and people’s eyes seemed to follow me. Is this what attention feels like? Eyes that used to look at me with ridicule and badmouth me now seemed to have a bit of admiration and jealousy mixed.

As I was out on the terrace to catch my breath, someone called, “Marina.”

Damn, doesn’t that rascal ever become tired? Sick a*sh*le! What caught my eye was Kyles, who seemed to have followed me to the terrace.

“Would you please leave? I came here first,” I said as I coldly looked at him.

But he ignored my words and approached me at once. Then he asked, “Why are you being so cruel? You used to be much more kind-”

As I interrupted him, I retorted, “You’re being clingy on things that are over. You and I are over. Wasn’t it you who made that happen?”

Hearing my cold voice, he immediately approached me, knelt, and said, “I was only trying to test you… I was wrong. Please come back.”

“Test me?” I responded in astonishment at the words he had just spitted out.

He quickly added, “Yes, test. Lady Schuteiner. She gave me the idea. She told me to test your faith toward me.”

Insane douche. The Crown Prince, the most extraordinarily crazy man I know, wasn’t as insane as you. A freaking test? Is that an excuse you came up with now? It was so ridiculous that I thought I was going crazy. I thought he at least knew when to stop before. This is really annoying.