Rumors about Sigren spread quickly. To some extent, the nobles even knocked on the door of Heilon mansion out of curiosity. Which of course, all of them were rejected right away.

Seeing these people’s conduct, Sigren often grumbled. “They treat a person like seeing a very rare monster.”

Well, for some reason, I could not blame them. This was a special circumstance. Moreover, as the date written on the invitation of the imperial family banquet was getting closer, the gossips, rumors, and stories were spread more in the society.

That’s it.

The imperial banquet was the beginning of the original plot.

Somehow, I felt an unexpected excitement like a child the day before going to a picnic. Different than me, Sigren seemed very relaxed, weirdly relaxed for someone who grabbed me a while ago and told me to stay by his side because he was scared. I really can’t tell whether he was really relaxed or just faking it.

“Pretty.”

That was what Sigren said when he saw me dressed up for the banquet.

He slightly touched the tip of my hair and smiled satisfactorily. “It’s definitely better than what you wear in Heilon.”

I smirked. “In Heilon, I always wore cotton-padded clothes.”

In the capital, the off-shoulders dresses, backless dresses, and any other dresses that revealed quite some skin were in vogue. The dress I wore did not reveal too much, but my shoulders and the neck area were slightly exposed. And definitely, this kind of dress was not something I would wear in the northern weather. I was not that brave.

“Fiona, is Abel going to formally introduce you today?”

I wanted to point out that he should call Abel ‘master’, but I swallowed my words. Besides, when SIgren officially became a prince, that title had no meaning.

“I don’t think so. I asked him to do it next time.”

“Yeah.. then you could enjoy it comfortably. Heilon’s banquet is binge drinking and getting drunk, so you’ve never had any fun.”

Compared to the people in Heilon, I was not a strong drinker, so I usually went back to my room early. Well, it wasn’t that I hated it, I just didn’t want to drink.

Sigren suddenly fiddled with the beautiful red jewel of the necklace that hanging from my neck.

“Don’t tell me, these jewels and dresses are prepared by Abel himself? Recently I’ve heard strange things him asking you calling him Father.”

“It’s Celine.”

“Indeed.”

Sigren grinned. He usually didn’t really smile. It seemed his mood was good today.

I’ve been worrying that he would have an expression when he hunted those monsters in front of the nobles. But now I was a little relieved. Honestly, he should have the lively face of a young man often. His beauty shone when he was loosening up his expression.

“I want to escort you. What a bummer.”

I smiled slightly. “You’ve done a lot in Heilon.”

Actually, I wasn’t very popular in Heilon. No one had asked to escort me, even I’ve never been asked to dance. Because of that, I’ve always been with Sigren, or Abel, and sometimes with Zeron. Sometimes I thought, it was a bummer…. Because I didn’t think Fiona’s face was on the ugly side.

“If I escort you today, you’ll be too noticeable.”

“That’s true. The rumored prince have already made a noise, then if suddenly he brought partner…”

“I’m not yet a prince.”

“It would happen soon.” I looked up at Sigren and smiled. “Didn’t I tell you before? You would have it all.”

“Everything, you say…” Sigren made a strange expression. “Fiona, maybe I—”

“Children, playtime is over.”

Sigren and I turned around, looking in the direction of the voice that suddenly interrupted. There Abel stood leaning against the door frame. He then flicked his finger at Sigren.

“Especially you, stop fooling around and quickly get into carriage.”

Sigren muttered in a voice that only I could hear. “I don’t know about anything else, but when I become officially a prince, I would make sure I would hear Abel call me with the honorific.”

It seemed like Sigren had deep-rooted grudges.

Abel raised one eyebrow. “I hear everything, you second pebble.”

“….”

Sigren quickly shut his mouth and I managed to swallow a sigh.

“By the way, the first pebble goes with me.”

“Alright, alright.. The first pebble’s now rolling..”

I approached Abel while grumbling. He must be sulking I didn’t call him father, looking at the way he called me with a nickname I haven’t heard in a long time. He was surely such a guy.

Because the high heels I wore were thinner and higher than usual, I staggered and almost fall down. Luckily I didn’t kiss the ground. Sigren and Abel seemed to notice that I had almost fallen, quickly supported me.

“Second pebble, keep rolling.” Abel glanced at Sigren.

“…”

Sigren walked away after staring at Abel with a dissatisfied look.

“Duke, what are you doing if after Sigren became a prince he takes a revenge later?”

Abel snorted. “Let’s see how he does it. And you, you should practive walking first.”

“Yeees..”

The shoes I used to wear didn’t match the dress I was wearing, so I tried a new pair of shoes. As expected, it was too much. However, thanks to Abel skillfully holding me, it wasn’t too hard. I just had to keep him by my side. Also, fortunately, by the time we were arrived at the Imperial Palace and got off the carriage, I was able to walk like a human being.

I looked up at the castle in front of me. It was beautiful. With the light of the sun was setting, it even dazzled my eyes.

“What a show off.” Abel who was beside me murmured cynically.

I hold onto Abel’s arm and walked carefully.

“Fiona, once we are in, you don’t have to deal with those annoying things.”

It was really Abel-like advice.

“Sigren, you could only act as annoying as when you’re with me. Don’t go beyond that.”

Sigren scoffed as hard as he could. “I do my best, Master.”

I couldn’t help but laugh hearing the conversation. Where the hell was the friend who asked me to stay with him because he was alone? No matter how I look at it, all I could see was a young man with a burning desire to kill all the children who annoyed him.

Looking at Sigren and Abel, I sighed. “Stop fighting, let’s go.”

There would be many twists and turns, but finally, I stepped on the first part where the story began.