The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 98

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“To enter the banquet hall, you must undergo inspection. Before the inspection, if you have any magical artifacts on your person, please submit them along with your luggage. We will keep them safe and return them when you depart.”

 

Ailren, who had stopped at the entrance to the banquet hall, asked.

 

Thinking of my sword made me feel slightly guilty, but I shook my head.

 

‘If they catch me, I’ll submit it then. For now, let’s say I don’t have any.’

 

“Here, just this bag.”

 

When the attendant took my luggage, a knight approached and swept over my body with the usual rod-shaped detector.

 

I was waiting with some tension.

 

The knight looked at the detector and tilted his head.

 

“It seems to be broken. Please wait a moment. Normally it should glow black when detecting magical artifacts…”

 

Once again, the detector was glowing pink.

 

Was it because of the sword after all?

 

Just as I was about to reluctantly take out my sword, thinking I had no choice, Ailren briefly stopped me.

 

“This is a guest invited by Princess.”

 

“Ah, yes! My apologies.”

 

In the corridor leading to the banquet hall, I glanced at Ailren.

 

Did Ailren still think the detector malfunction was due to his mana poisoning?

 

As I was thinking, Ailren suddenly spoke to me.

 

“If it’s not a magical artifact, are you perhaps carrying a holy relic?”

 

I felt guilty after all.

 

Thinking I should be honest with Ailren at least, I spoke carefully.

 

“No, I don’t have any holy relics. But…”

 

“I see.”

 

However, Ailren, who rarely interrupted me, had a thoughtful expression.

 

Eventually, he added quietly.

 

“The failure to properly maintain the detector is the knights’ responsibility. You need not worry about being held accountable just because the procedure was simplified.”

 

Since he said that much, it became awkward to suddenly confess ‘Actually, I was hiding a sword.’

 

As I rolled my eyes around, we arrived at the end of the empty corridor.

 

With no watching eyes, Ailren’s tone, which had been ceremonial throughout, softened slightly.

 

“After the eve festival party ends, a private audience with Princess is scheduled. Please remain in the banquet hall for a while instead of heading to the annex quarters where party attendees stay.”

 

“Yes, I’ll do that. But I thought you’d be protecting Lina—I mean, Princess Katarina. Is it okay for you to come out?”

 

“It’s Princess’s command. There was an order to greet you with all my heart and courtesy in Princess’s stead.”

 

“Wow… It’s truly an honor. Please tell her I’m grateful.”

 

To send the Captain of the Royal Knights to me—Lina really seemed to care about me.

 

I was touched and moved when, just before the banquet hall doors opened, Ailren turned to me.

 

“I as well.”

 

He smiled faintly.

 

“It’s an honor to escort you. Please forgive the discourtesy of not being able to kiss your hand.”

 

Thinking about the hidden meaning in Ailren’s words, I smiled back at him.

 

“Of course. I gladly forgive you.”

 

Since he couldn’t very well send me flying into the middle of the banquet hall.

 

At my playful answer, Ailren’s sea-colored eyes curved briefly before returning to normal.

 

The doors opened.

 

‘Wow, I thought the exterior was impressive, but the banquet hall is even more beautiful…’

 

I looked around the banquet hall in fascination.

 

I had thought the gardens and exterior were splendid, but the banquet hall was decorated so luxuriously that even the word ‘splendid’ seemed insufficient.

 

As I was looking at the banquet hall while suppressing my exclamations, Ailren caught my eye.

 

Following his steps with my gaze, on the dais he reached was.

 

‘Lina!’

 

There was Lina, so dazzlingly beautiful and dignified.

 

Was it because of the aura from the emerald pendant around her neck?

 

She seemed to be enveloped in an elegant green light.

 

When Ailren whispered something, my eyes met with Lina’s as she looked down at the banquet hall.

 

‘So, so cool! As expected of my friend!’

 

When I pretended to clap and gave her a thumbs up, she smiled shyly, perhaps embarrassed.

 

‘I missed her speech at tonight’s eve festival party, but tomorrow I’ll be able to see Lina magnificently conducting the event, right? I’m looking forward to it.’

 

I was smiling because she looked cute when I suddenly felt gazes.

 

No, it wasn’t just gazes I was feeling.

 

“What’s with that girl?”

 

“Do you know who she is? Who is she to enter with the Captain of the Royal Knights?”

 

“Is she daring to act familiar with Princess right now? Who does she think she is? Is she crazy?”

 

‘I can hear everything, you people…’

 

Words dripping with blatant envy and jealousy pierced my ears.

 

I looked over the nobles whispering behind their fans and shook my head.

 

‘As if I’d be intimidated by such words.’

 

In my previous life, I heard things like beggar, rat, germ and such.

 

‘Is she crazy?’ is just background music level, isn’t it?

 

I shrugged my shoulders and headed toward the table with finger foods while looking around.

 

I didn’t care whether the small fry chattered or not.

 

My interest was in…

 

‘So that guy is Crodil.’

 

Big fish like Crodil.

 

Somehow dressed in formal wear more splendid than Lina’s, he was in a corner of the banquet hall.

 

Considering what he’d been doing, I thought he’d be receiving protagonist treatment in the center, which was quite unexpected.

 

As I was thinking, I bit my lip.

 

‘He’s exactly like Rosaline who sent divorce papers to Nicholas.’

 

He was trying to cut off his tail.

 

‘Since it’s not an event he hosted, he’s trying to appeal that whatever happens isn’t his responsibility!’

 

This was the first time I was actually seeing Crodil, and he had quite a good impression.

 

That point felt even more chilling.

 

Watching him smile like a good person while hiding his black heart made my blood boil.

 

‘Ugh, he has the same red hair as Lina? What right does he have to have the same hair color as Lina’s pretty hair?!’

 

If he had any conscience, he should at least dye it!

 

‘Oh right. That person has no conscience.’

 

As I was fuming and gulping down juice, I paused at the eerie atmosphere I suddenly felt.

 

‘Huh, this is…’

 

“So. We meet again?”

 

It was a similar sensation to when I had that strange dream.

 

‘No way.’

 

I quickly turned around and put down my glass.

 

There was.

 

‘Right. It wouldn’t be complete without you two.’

 

Rosaline and Hugo were there.

 

Hugo looked like he was breaking out in cold sweat, and Rosaline, who had clearly been glaring at me.

 

Was curling up her bright red lips in a smile.

 

Was the eerie atmosphere because of her?

 

Her neck veins were bulging as she smiled ominously, making my hair stand on end, but I didn’t back down and met her gaze.

 

‘Rosaline and the other Crocodile’s Tea Time members are all separated as if they made a promise. They don’t realize that makes it even more suspicious, do they?’

 

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Hugo disgracefully wiping away sweat.

 

Yesterday, I met him.

 

After persuading and coaxing Hugo, who came to me looking like a drowned rat, saying he had something important to tell Uncle.

 

Hugo’s mouth opened.

 

Unfortunately, he still seemed to be marked as untrustworthy by Rosaline, so he said he didn’t know exactly what Rosaline was planning to do at the Founding Festival.

 

However.

 

“B-but I heard sister muttering. She said she would use the treasures from the treasury…”

 

“Treasures? You don’t know exactly what, do you?”

 

“Y-yeah. And, you know, sister has a list of guests invited to the Founding Festival. I saw her smiling while looking at the list…”

 

There were two clues.

 

Treasures, and the guest list.

 

‘Rosaline must have gotten the guest list through Crodil. But how is she planning to use the treasures?’

 

Treasures in the Imperial Palace.

 

I was thinking quickly when.

 

“Appraiser Elisha, fancy meeting you here!”

 

Someone who blocked the space between Rosaline and me cut off both my thoughts and gaze simultaneously.

 

This person who seemed so delighted to see me was…?

 

“Oh my, hello!”

 

“Yes, it’s me. The conch pearl.”

 

It was the woman who had come to the seminar, the one who owned the conch pearl.

 

She extended her hand warmly.

 

“We meet again like this, I’m Valerie.”

 

As it turned out, Valerie was the youngest daughter of a baronial family.

 

She said she had also come alone and suggested we chat together.

 

‘There’s no need to antagonize Rosaline here.’

 

I naturally headed to a corner of the banquet hall with Valerie.

 

It was a position where I could observe Crodil and Rosaline’s movements while they couldn’t see me.

 

“Following your advice on pearl care, the clarity is definitely different. I was thinking about how to repay this kindness and wanted to visit you, but I never expected to run into you here.”

 

“Oh no, not at all. What kindness?”

 

“Ah, I run a small dressmaking shop. Would you like to visit sometime? The cocktail dress you’re wearing now is beautiful, but I’ll make you something even prettier.”

 

No wonder Valerie’s outfit looked exceptional…

 

Thanks to running a custom dress shop for nobles, she was able to receive an invitation despite being from a somewhat humble family.

 

As I was chatting and laughing with her, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze.

 

When I turned around.

 

‘Hm? Lina?’

 

Lina had been staring at me intently, but when our eyes met, she quickly turned away.

 

‘She looks somewhat upset…’

 

Was it just my imagination?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————