Chapter 10

‘What’s with this annoying situation?’

I felt terrible because the invitation arrived as if it had been set up.

The law of fiction must have been applied.

You are forced to connect with the main character.

I declared that I would never see him again.

In less than a month, I would meet Prince Luciano.

Just thinking of him naturally reminded me of that incident.

My sense of shame pierced the sky and soared into space.

‘How on earth could I face him?’

Why do we have to meet?

I didn’t have the confidence to face Prince Luciano.

However how could I refuse the Empress’ invitation?

I felt like I got more frustrated.

I sighed as if I were a man of the world.

When my parents found out that I had been invited by Empress Isabelle, they came to visit one evening.

“Dear, I heard you were invited by Empress Isabelle.”

“Yes.”

After reading the invitation I gave them, the two became serious.

“Mom doesn’t want you to go to the Imperial Palace.”

“Right, Aesvin. Why don’t you refuse this invitation?”

We were at a loss if I didn’t come, but my father suggested that I didn’t have to attend.

“May I?”

“I guess it’s safe to say that you haven’t gotten better yet. You were taken from the Imperial Palace the other day. It won’t seem like an excuse.”

I wasn’t going to make a fuss about me who was sick.

However we could consider that reason.

“Then, could father refuse it please?”

“Of course, father will take care of it.”

Both of them rejoiced at my answer.

It seemed that they were more traumatized by the Imperial Palace than I did.

Unexpectedly, the invitation problem seemed to be solved quickly.

If only it weren’t for the correspondence that came back.

“My lady, we got another letter.”

My nanny handed the letter with a serious expression on her face.

I received the letter in an insignificant manner, but as soon as I saw the seal, I couldn’t help to be as nervous as my nanny.

“Why is the Imperial Palace sending a letter?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

“I’m not the only one who’s anxious, am I?”

“Please open it.”

My nanny sighed and urged me to open it.

Just because you’re ignorant doesn’t mean you won’t be able to see this letter for the rest of your life.

I opened the letter with a heavy heart and was shocked by the content.

[Dear Aesvin Samuel.

The reply you sent was well received.

I am very sorry to hear that you are not feeling well.

I can’t help but worry about how bad it is that you can’t even able to attend the tea party.

May I know how sick you are?

And I don’t think we’re having a tea party after hearing this bad news.

I’ll postpone the tea party until the Aesvin is all healed.

Let’s all have a good time together then.

So, until then, take good care of yourself.

P.S. Tell me when is the best time for the next tea party for Aesvin.

I will hold a tea party again at that time.

Isabelle Frederick]

In any case, this meant that the tea party would be postponed according to my condition.

I couldn’t believe that the Imperial Palace event would be tailored to a mere noble’s schedule.

I didn’t expect such a radical decision.

I could feel her determination to meet me.

“It looks like she have a strong determination,” said my nanny after I showed the letter to her.

It seems that Empress Isabelle had a lot to do with me last year.

“That’s what I’m saying!”

“So, what are you going to do?”

It wasn’t an easy decision to make.

“I’ll talk to my parents.”

“That’s a wise choice.”

That evening I had a conversation with her parents.

My parents’ expressions hardened when I handed the letter.

“You got a letter like this? Don’t worry, father will take care of it.”

My father spoke firmly and took the letter.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll take care of it myself.”

Without a clear explanation, he moved as if he were leaving.

I grabbed my father’s hand in a hurry.

“Is there no way?”

Only then did my father’s expression darkened slightly.

But he soon cleared up his expression and spoke affectionately.

“Aesvin, don’t worry and just wait.”

He told me not to worry, but I could read an awkward vibe from my father.

Again, there was no clear explanation.

I knew it. There is no way.

That was the truth.

In this world, the mighty people’s power were the greatest.

It was difficult for an aristocrat to refute the imperial family’s words.

It was a world where requests were forced.

I didn’t want to make my parents suffer just to avoid my shame.

In fact, surprisingly nothing has ever happened to my family so far.

I thought Empress Isabelle would punish me because I became Prince Luciano’s friend.

But after a year, nothing happened.

Instead, my family’s external affairs were on the rise recently.

I was worried because I couldn’t figure out what Empress Isabelle up to.

Just because I was okay now, there was no guarantee that I would be fine in the future.

I couldn’t think positively because Empress Isabelle was a person who didn’t hesitate to use poison.

It might be bad for my parents.

“Don’t do that. I’ll go.”

“Father can handle it, Aesvin.”

“I’ll just come and sit quietly.”

“Why don’t you trust your father, my dear?”

Both of them reacted immediately to my decision.

Seeing these two busy worrying about me made my will stronger.

“I’ll make sure everything’s all right. Can’t you two trust me?”

As I looked up eagerly, they finally surrendered and nagging me to be careful.

***

Having agreed to accept the invitation, the first thing I did was write a letter.

I sent a letter to Empress Isabelle saying that there was no need to postpone the tea party because I would attend after feeling better.

Naturally, she returned a sarcastic reply saying she was glad that my body suddenly got better.

There was also talk that a tea party would be held on the original scheduled day.

After the tea party was decided, the next thing I did was to gather my mind.

I kept making suggestions to myself.

I’m fine.

I’ve never made a mistake.

Even if I have to face Prince Luciano, I could make a casual expression.

A man must be able to overcome his shame.

I controlled my mind so close to brainwashing.

“Aesvin Samuel?”

“Yes.”

“This way, please.”

I sat down at a table under the guidance of a servant.

The servant who guided me left immediately.

I looked around slowly.

This was my second official meeting, so I was a little nervous and awkward.

The atmosphere was no different from last year.

I thought it would decorated differently every year, but it was almost the same whether it lacked sense or budget.

There was one difference from last year.

There were no adults in this space except the servants who carry food.

Originally, adults were together as guardians of children, but it was changed from this year.

When my parents found out about this, they once again opposed me attending this tea party, but my stubbornness won.

I felt strange sitting alone at a table slightly off the center.

Except for me, everyone was sitting at the table, talking among themselves.

‘I really don’t have any friends.’

I came to realize that my friendship was cramped.

In order to live here as myself in the future, I felt the need to manage my network now.

Just then, my eyes met a girl with red hair.

I didn’t know his name, but she looked similar in age as me.

“An–”

I raised my hand to pretend I know, but before I finished speaking, the girl turned her head away.

“By the way, it was yesterday….”

I was stunned to see her talking to the person next to me pretending not to see my actions.

I wish this wasn’t intentional.

I wanted to believe this wasn’t the case.

I looked around and noticed several children who glanced at me, avoided my gaze the moment our eyes met.

I guessed what was going on here, but I still had to confirm it.

‘It’s unlikely, but it’s sad if it’s my misunderstanding.’

I jumped to my feet.

I pretended not to see it, but some of them shrugged their shoulders to see if there were people watching.

I happened to know one of them.

I’m not close, but at the tea party last year, there was Betty from Count Leuranc who came up to me and asked me what I was doing.

“Hey, Betty–”

“Sharon! I have something to tell you!”

As soon as I spoke to her, Betty jumped up and disappeared to a table far away.

The one who was suddenly called acted recklessly after she found me and greeted Betty warmly.

“You’re just in time, Betty. I also had something to tell you.”

“Really? It seems that our heart connected.”

The two had a heated conversation like best friends who hasn’t meet for a decade.

It was amazing.

Just in case, I spoke to the blonde girl sitting next to her.

“Hey, I want to ask–”

“Clara! Did you call me?”

“Huh? Oh, I did. I called you. Come here, Catherine.”

Clara, who was called from afar, reacted unexpectedly, but as expected she looked at me and welcomed Catherine.

Catherine, whom I spoke to, ran quickly toward Clara, fearing that I might talk to her again.

Seeing them laughed and talked among themselves, I got frustrated and returned to my place.

I sat in the seat where the servant had shown me before, and waited for a while.

A glance struck me, but no one pretended to know me.

No one spoke to me.

At this rate, I couldn’t help but know.

That not only Prince Luciano but I was included in the subject of bullying.

I was stunned for a moment, soon I couldn’t help but laugh.

It meant that there was a mastermind for them to act so bluntly.

At present, there was only one person who could integrated everyone.

That was Empress Isabelle.

‘This is why you excluded all of the parents from this place.’

The goal was for me to be completely isolated.

A child who suddenly becomes alone will be embarrassed.

Because she can wield such a child at will.

A grown-up did such a dirty job to a child.

If I was a nine-years-old Aesvin, I would have been so ashamed and sad that I wanted to run away.

However, my life was not that easy to be shaken by such bullying.

It was just ridiculous to ignore it.

If you didn’t have friends, you could play alone.

I laughed at the situation.

“What’s so funny?”

The insensitive voice shook my heart.

The children’s behavior was so funny that I had forgotten about it.

Of course we would meet.

At that moment, my heart raced.

I forced my creaky head to turn around.

Prince Luciano approached the table where I sat and looked down with an emotionless face.