Chapter 9
Felix looked at me with a playful expression, lingering for a moment before suddenly standing up.
“I’ll tell you next time.”
“Huh? Just tell me now….”
“See you again, Leticia.”
With that frustratingly vague answer, Felix calmly left the mansion.
I stared blankly at the Marquis Gray’s carriage as it disappeared down the road.
Next time…? Was he saying he’d come again?
It would’ve been better if he had just taken the money and ended it there.
Just thinking about dealing with that troublesome Felix again made my head hurt.
“Anything I want, huh…”
What on earth was he planning to ask for?
He was the kind of person whose thoughts were completely impossible to predict.
“Seriously, he’s such a strange guy.”
I collapsed onto the sofa and let out a long sigh.
“…Who’s strange?”
As I muttered to myself, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind me, making me shoot up in shock.
“Aiden!”
I reached out to hug him in excitement, but Aiden stopped me with his long arm.
“Stay back. I came on horseback—I’m covered in sweat.”
“What are you talking about? Since when do we care about that? We’re basically family.”
“Since when did we become family?”
“I decided it myself. Want some cold water?”
Aiden shook his head lightly and sat on the sofa.
“I’m fine. I already stopped by the kitchen and had a drink. But…”
His eyes landed on the two teacups on the table.
“Who was here?”
“Uh…?”
I paused.
If I told him Felix had been here, he would definitely get angry.
For some reason, Aiden and Felix didn’t seem to get along.
I was curious about why there was such tension between them, but for now I decided not to bring it up.
Aiden had only just calmed down recently—I didn’t want to upset him again.
“No one. What guest? I just had tea with my dad.”
I casually lied.
“With your teacher? The tea is still warm. He must’ve just left. Where did he go?”
Aiden glanced out the window.
Annoyingly sharp as always.
“Uh… he suddenly had some urgent matter.”
I quickly changed the subject before he could ask more.
“Did we only meet when something happens?”
Aiden replied bluntly.
“No, not at all.”
I smiled brightly and shook my head.
Aiden let out a small laugh.
“So, you’re not mad anymore?”
“I wasn’t even mad. You know I can’t stay mad at you.”
We spent time together as usual—playing chess, joking around, imitating my father, and eating apple pie generously sprinkled with cinnamon.
I secretly observed Aiden while taking a bite of pie.
Now that he was in a good mood, this might be the right time.
Since I had the grand goal of not letting him become a regretful male lead, I decided to carefully bring it up.
“Hey, Aiden. You got it too, right?”
“Got what?”
“The garden party invitation.”
Aiden looked at me like he had no idea what I was talking about.
No way.
There was no way Agnes wouldn’t have sent him an invitation too.
“What garden party?”
“The Carnarvon Count family garden party. Didn’t you get an invitation?”
“Oh, that.”
Aiden nodded as if he finally understood.
“I threw it away.”
“…What?”
I raised my voice without realizing it.
“Why would you throw it away?!”
At his cold, indifferent attitude, I got genuinely upset.
“Why? Because I’m not going anyway.”
“That’s not the point! It’s basic manners to at least show up for a bit!”
Aiden looked at me like I was being unreasonable.
“You were the one who said you didn’t want to go. That garden party would just be full of bugs and insects, you said it wasn’t worth it.”
“T-That was…”
That was before I regained my memories.
“I changed my mind.”
“Suddenly?”
Knowing I couldn’t force him, I switched tactics and tried to persuade him gently.
“The Carnarvon family’s garden party! Aren’t you curious? It’s peony season right now.”
“I don’t really like flowers. And you have pollen allergies, don’t you?”
“I’ll take medicine.”
“You said standing around watching others dance doesn’t suit your personality.”
“I might try dancing this time.”
“You? Dance?”
Aiden sighed and closed his eyes.
“You should really reconsider that. Don’t you remember when we first practiced for your debutante?”
…Of course I remembered.
Even now, it was crystal clear.
The day we first learned the basic waltz.
I stepped on Aiden’s feet twelve times.
I lost my balance and sat on him eight times.
I accidentally hit his forehead and gave him a huge bump five times.
And countless other mistakes.
Yes. I was hopelessly bad at dancing.
“But you can improve with practice. Nothing is impossible if you try.”
“Leticia… I used to believe that too. But then I met you.”
I puffed out my cheeks at his uncooperative attitude.
But then—
“Still…”
Aiden’s expression turned serious.
“Something feels off.”
“Huh?”
“It’s similar to last time. You suddenly acting out of character.”
He studied me carefully.
“You’re not planning something weird again under the excuse of some ridiculous novel like last time at the library, are you?”
“P-Planning? Wh-what are you talking about…”
Caught off guard, I started stuttering.
“See? I knew it. Your face shows everything you’re thinking.”
Ugh. Getting him to go to a party is harder than I thought.
In the end, I decided to use my final strategy.
“Even so…!”
I decided to appeal to friendship.
“Your friend just wants to go to a garden party! What’s the harm in going with me?!”
Aiden smiled gently.
“Yeah. There is harm.”
That bastard.
Who said I actually wanted to go to that stupid party?
I hated it too.
It was all because of him, and he didn’t even realize it.
Just as I was glaring at him in frustration—
“Miss!!!”
“Lucy…?”
Lucy rushed into the reception room in a hurry, holding a golden envelope.
“Oh! I almost forgot to bring this! Here you go!”
“You’re going to run out of breath like that. It’s just one letter.”
“Just one?! Miss, look!”
This is…
As Lucy said, it wasn’t just any letter.
The shimmering golden envelope had the imperial lily seal stamped on it.
“See the seal? It’s an important letter, Miss!”
Ah… maybe heaven really was on my side.
Sending this at just the right moment.
“Yes. It’s a very important letter.”
What Lucy brought was an invitation to the Imperial Princess’s birthday party.
With this, Aiden wouldn’t be able to refuse.
It was personally sent by the Imperial Family.
I smiled victoriously, shaking the envelope in front of him so he could see the seal.
“Well, what do you know? It’s the Princess’s birthday. No matter how much you dislike it… you’ll definitely have to attend this one, right?”
