Your Highness, The Lady You’ve Abandoned IS the Saintess!

The party was about to start, so we moved towards the venue’s assembly hall.

There’s a table prepared for the royal family, but Maynard followed Sir Berland and me into the venue through the guest’s entrance, drawing a lot of attention.

Sir Berland laughed it off, saying that the first prince and a young master of the House Jenner, one of the three mighty dukedoms, should serve me as an excellent insect repellant. I replied I see, only then remembering that I am a saintess, and slight negligence on my part comes with a risk of being encircled by gentlemen.

As only a few individuals have the boldness to shove a prince and ducal lord—who is also the vice-captain of the second brigade of knights at that— aside, I was able to go to the dinning area without any hindrance.

They offered me a glass of champagne to start things with, but drinking was never my strong suit. I prefer to keep things non-alcohol. Besides, I’m also hungry. I wouldn’t be able to eat anymore when the dancing starts, so I want to take the opportunity to have my fill.

‘They have the smoked meat that you like, Aileen.’

Maynard genially offers me a plate of my favorites that he brought with him. That’s just what you would expect out of eighteen years of dating. The wonderful plate of delights he produced out of his broad knowledge of my preference is dazzling brightly.

As I was eating in such a good mood, Brother Orpheus approached us together with Caroline.

‘The saintess heading to the dining area fast on her legs was quite a sight.’

Caroline said with a smile as she placed heaps of sweets atop her plate. Well, I am a gluttonous saintess. Rather, shouldn’t you look at yourself, Caroline? Be more reserved with desserts and start eating proper food.

Brother Orpheus is staring daggers at Maynard, who, perhaps daunted by it, is hiding behind me. Sir Berland wryly smiles at the sight of us while Caroline minds her business, stuffing her cheeks with sweet cakes. Is it only me, or are we looking quite out of place here.

‘Brother, won’t you reconcile with his highness already?’

As dearest brother took offense of the prince for my sake, his grudge won’t settle until I do something about it.

I still feel a little irritated whenever I think about our engagement’s annulment, but I have a slight feeling that there were some special circumstances behind it. So watching brother Orpheus lash out at Maynard makes me slightly pitiful for the prince. Besides, he already had his just desserts with father’s daily harassments.

Brother muttered ‘good grief,’ and shrugged his shoulders, following with a violent threat that if Maynard ever makes me cry again, he’d clobber the prince’s head to a different shape and bury him in the royal castle’s courtyard after. But brother! How did you even know that I cried!? Mind you, it’s not so much of a cry than just a slight leaking of tears, but I did it in my room alone with no witness!

‘Aileen… you cried?’

Ah, for goodness’ sake! Now Maynard is making such a deeply moved face!

‘I’m sorry, Aileen. I will never let you go ever a—’

Stooop!

Don’t hold my hands!

I don’t even have the slightest intention of being engaged with you again!

If we weren’t in the party’s assembly hall, I would have shoved your hand away even if I had to hit you for it.

Maynard took my involuntary obedience as an affirmation and grasped my hand more tightly.

‘Highness, I cannot eat this way.’

‘Then, I’ll help you.’

Don’t bother!

Irritated, I stomped on his highness feet with my heel.

His face frowned as he let go of my hand, and I stuck my tongue out his way in response.

Bleh! That’s what you get for getting carried away!