I tried to give him some face, but His was too honest, and it was a failure.

“You must have worked hard.”

King Ksia seemed to trust his son’s words more than mine.

“Haha, I just did my best……”

I awkwardly repeated the same words like a parrot.

“Yes. I’ll watch today.”

Not ‘I’m looking forward to it,’ but ‘I’ll watch.’ It was indeed a meaningful phrase.

I pondered over my conversation with King Ksia for a while after it ended.

“You were quite flustered.”

His looked at me worriedly.

“He’s a blunt person, so don’t worry too much.”

“Haha. I’m fine. I think it was a good decision to proceed with the King’s interest in education. He seemed genuinely interested in it.”

His hesitated for a moment, then narrowed his brow and spoke.

“Does that mean you hosted the party to show me your father?”

“Yes, of course.”

I smiled slyly.

“As an official activity for the fiancée, it must be successful.”

However, the crease between His’s brows deepened.

“Is that why you said that the party planning was my idea?”

“Ah, that? I was trying to give you some face, but how could you deny it so honestly?”

I patted His’s arm.

“People should know how to act a bit cleverly.”

His was busy mumbling, showing no intention of heeding my advice.

“Then, being so busy without seeing each other recently also……”

“Haha, I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know planning a party would be so handson. We should have met sooner to plan the strategy.”

I looked at His’s face.

“Are you uncomfortable with me planning the party without discussing it?”

I belatedly realized that from His’s position, it might have been displeasing for me to proceed with the first activity as a contractual fiancée without consultation.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think of discussing it with His because it was the party I was in charge of.”

“No.”

His quickly shook his head in response to my apology.

“Why would that be uncomfortable? It’s something you’re doing for me.”

Even though he said that, His wore a bitter smile.

“But, even if it’s for me, you don’t need to work without rest.”

His tightly grasped my hand, resting on his arm.

“No, please don’t.”

Before I could guess the intention of his firm words, His spoke again.

“I don’t want to be work to Reina.”

Caught in his warm gaze, I unknowingly nodded. To shake off the awkward atmosphere seeping between us, I forced a smile.

“Work for Reina? You’re the best partner.”

“Partner.”

His, trailing off, gave a faint smile. Suddenly feeling like I couldn’t meet His’s eyes, I turned mine away, pretending to be distracted by something else.
Just then, the young lady Ramira, who was wandering around Douglas Youngae waiting for Anna’s announcement order, caught her eye.

(This is a time delimiter.)

Douglas Youngae repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fist. Her palm was full of red marks, so tightly had she clenched her fist.

“Teacher, are you nervous?”

The perceptive child Anna looked up at Douglas Youngae. Her eyes, looking at her, were full of pure concern.

“It’s okay, Teacher. We will do well in the presentation.”

Douglas Youngae smiled awkwardly.

Her role was merely to ask a few questions; most of the presentation was actually to be handled by Anna, yet it was Anna who was worried for her.

“Yeah.”

Douglas Youngae’s mouth began to dry up as she glanced in the direction where Ramira Youngae was standing, talking with a maid known for her bad habit of talking back. She was gasping for breath.

Quickly noticing Douglas Youngae’s condition, Anna scanned the banquet hall.

“That person?”

Anna subtly pointed to Ramira Youngae.

“The person who spoke ill and filthy of you.”

At Anna’s outrageous conclusion, Douglas Youngae let out a hollow laugh.

“No.”

But Anna already seemed to believe her hypothesis was solid as steel.

“She even looks like she’d say something bad.”

Anna suddenly grabbed Douglas Youngae’s hand.

“Don’t worry, Teacher. I am here.”

Anna looked up at her with a bold face, holding Douglas Youngae’s hand tightly.

“I will protect you, Teacher.”

For a long while, Douglas Youngae met Anna’s eyes and slowly held the girl’s small hand.

“Yes. That’s what we should do.”

(This is a time delimiter.)

Ramira Youngae approached Douglas Youngae, who was standing by the terrace while Anna went to eat snacks.

“Are you ready?”

Diamonds secretly sparkled inside her flamboyantly puffed sleeves. Ramira Youngae first handed out a small letter knife.

“Don’t forget to pick the pocket when the time is right, without anyone noticing.”

Startledly receiving the letter knife, Douglas Youngae’s face became cold.

Lastly, Ramira Youngae discreetly lifted her sleeve and handed over a diamond necklace.

“You can do it, right?”

Douglas stared for a moment at the dizzying, sparkling necklace and then stepped back.

“No. I can’t.”

At the unexpected answer, Ramira Youngae’s eyebrows twisted in anger.

“What are you talking about?”

“Exactly what I said. I can’t.”

Douglas Youngae did not back down from Ramira Youngae’s sudden berating.

“What? Are you crazy?”

Douglas Youngae stared at Ramira Youngae with unwavering eyes.

“Just try some nonsense. I won’t leave you alone.”

With those words, she turned coldly and walked away. Watching her receding figure, Ramira Youngae only flapped her mouth like a fish.

“You, you, you! That’s…!”

But all she could do was sputter, watching Douglas Youngae’s retreating figure.

Then a voice smoother than silk came from behind.

“Was there any trouble?”

It was the Marquis of Majine.