When Marionette saw her act like that all high and mighty, she was certain now that she didn’t know the identity of the little thief.

She regained some of her confidence and challenged her on as she put up her own arrogant air. “Hump! Since it doesn’t look like you know, I will tell you. That girl is Leila Hearts, the one who keeps flirting with his highness!”

It was over. She was doomed! Leila became gloomier and gloomier. She just wanted everything to finish already and be done with it.

Charlotte’s frown deepened. She really felt like she was getting a headache!

Seeing her frown like that, she knew that it was already over for that girl and began to chuckle gleefully. Her laugh irritated Charlotte even further, to the point where if it weren’t for her status, she would have long ago shut her up and thrown her out for good.

“Honestly, it seems like you fail to understand my words. I pity those around you.”

Her words not only shocked Marionette, even the prince who had remained where he was almost laughed out loud.

“And you” she pointed the tip of her fan at Leila “You want to stay by his side, but you aren’t even able to keep up your head? To you, I pity the people who will have you as their future queen. If you cannot even stand up for yourself when faced with a group of little girls, how do you intend to stand up for the people? It’s laughable!”

“Also,” she turned back towards the three girls who stood with their mouths agape and their eyes filled with puzzlement “Whoever the prince chooses to marry is none of your concern. Moreover, you moronic bunch of brats actually dared to disturb me at my own party? It seems that in the time I haven’t seen you, you have grown quite bold!”

Their legs began to shake until they slumped onto the ground like jelly. Their eyes still locked onto hers. In their eyes, she was frightening. To the point where if they forgot their status, they would have already wet themselves.

“You’ve ruined my mood. Scram!”

“Eeeeekkkk!!!”

They forgot about their pride and even though she used such rude words. The only thing on their minds right now was to get out of here as fast as they could!

Since she was with her back turned to Leila, she felt less pressure compared to the other three. Nonetheless, even though the girl in front of her was smaller and younger, she felt helpless.

“Tsk. And how long are you two going to keep standing there?” she glanced at the two hiding behind the bushes.

Leo and Terence involuntarily gulped and stepped forward.

“My my, your fiancé sure is scary~”

Terence said with both hands raised as if in surrender with a joking smile on his face.

When she heard a familiar voice, Leila finally looked up, a flash of relief in her eyes.

“How long did you know we were there?” Leo asked as he stood between Leila and Charlotte with caution.

Charlotte acted as if she didn’t notice the hostility coming from him and sat down on the fountain’s edge while fanning herself “And who wouldn’t? With you breathing so loud, even the ants could hear you.”

They were speechless.

Charlotte kept fanning herself, a frown stuck on her face. While Terence was still as carefree as ever, Leo tried to come up with words “Aren’t you…going to ask me something?”

Charlotte finally turned her head to him. She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. The next moment she opened her eyes, they returned to its former calmness “What would you like me to ask?”

“Um…well…”

“If it’s about your little sweetheart, then I know a lot more than you yourself probably know.”

She was utterly pissed. But, the years of training had made it so that she could calm down within a blink. Anger leads to rash decisions and rash decisions can lead one to one’s own downfall.

“So you don’t have any problems?” he was still cautious of her even now.

“Did you not hear me? I already said that whoever you choose to marry is your choice, not mine. Also, I have no intentions of going through with this engagement; you and I both know this. So you can stop being so reserved on the matter.”

Hearing her say it with her own mouth, he finally let out a sigh. So he was right after all.

“By the way, when are you going to introduce me to your friends? Or do you not wish to?”

The anger she previously had had already vanished. With a charming yet playful smile she tried to tease the three flustered kids.

“Sorry. This is Terence, my child hood friend and also my guard. This is Leila Hearts…well; you know the details I assume.”

“I must say, Lady Charlotte, you are quite frightening, in a lot of ways.”

“Fufufu~ I’ll take that as a compliment.” She returned Terence with another joke of her own.

“Um, Lady Charlotte” Leila finally stepped forward, still a little shaky in front of Charlotte, but this time she met her gaze “Thank you for your help earlier. I am truly grateful.” She bowed.

“You’re welcome. Although, I feel rather offended by you.” Charlotte frowned.

When she heart that, her heart trembled. She hesitantly looked up, but the words she spoke next left her stunned

“Even though you say you are grateful, you keep looking at me as if I were a wolf or demon? Am I that frightening?”

“E-eh!? N-no!” Leila began to anxiously shake her head and hands “Not at all! You’re beautiful and I couldn’t even begin to compare! I was just afraid that you would be angry at me going behind your back about that matter!”

Charlotte stared at the uneasy girl with her brow raised “Strange words, in a way. But I’ll gladly take your compliment. Fufufu~”

Her carefree attitude finally made the girl relax somewhat. Behind her, the two boys sighed as they shrugged their shoulders.