[A couple of weeks later]

Aderi was getting ready to attend the hunting event with her father. she was wearing a royal blue dress that represents the . in the end, Leni decided to come with them

"So the day has come, I'm pretty sure my father will win this one, he always comes victorious in this event," Aderi thought while the maids are preparing her.

"The downside is I'll see Cael...seriously, I was trying to avoid the 'Crown prince' but ended up being friends with him without me knowing just because I forgot a chapter," Aderi thought as she clenched her fists.

"M'lady, which jewelry would you like to wear?" One of the maids asked, Aderi looked at the option and saw the necklace Cael gave her in her debutante.

"I'll choose the blue one," Aderi said looking at the other necklace.

"Got it, m'lady," The maid said as she carefully took the necklace out from the box.

"m'lady, do you know whose gift is that from?" One of the maids asked.

"No, I cannot remember every single one of the presents" Aderi replied.

"the only gift I remember are those gifts given by people who I'm close to," Aderi thought looking at the necklace that was in the maid's hands.

"This necklace is from the prince of bisoplain," The maid said revealing the sender of the present.

"Ah, I see..." Aderi replied not knowing how to react.

"Why did you ask me who gave this to me?" Aderi asked confused.

"The prince of bisoplain will be attending this year's hunting festival, I just thought the prince will see it as a respect for him and his country," the maid said smiling.

"I see.." Aderi replied, but she was still confused by how the maids reacted.

°

°

"Ah Aderi, are you finally ready?" Thomas asked after seeing her going down the stairs.

"Yes I am, father" Aderi replied with a smile.

"Seriously...why gotta bring her with us, couldn't you just bring her like before?!" Leni asked thomas while fanning herself with her fan.

"Now, now, Leni...Aderi needs to attend these kinds of events since she needs to be cultured, and if I'm being real with you, I wished I'd taken her sooner in these kinds of events" Thomas replied. Leni didn't like the answer and she rolled her eyes.

"Enough chit-chat, let's go," Thomas said. Leni was the first one to go out of the door, while Aderi and her father stayed for a little.

"Don't mind her" Thomas said to Aderi reassuring her that she will be fine.

"Don't worry father, I'm used to her looking down on me" Aderi replied.

"I hope her behavior towards you changes," Thomas said patting Aderi on her shoulder.

"Father...do you love her?" Aderi asked.

"Well if I'm being honest...no," Thomas responded whispering so no one will hear. Leni was already in the carriage but her maids were a little closer to Aderi and Thomas.

"Then...why bother on staying?" Aderi asked with a frown.

"Well...divorcing her will lead the position of duchess vacant, and it will lead to another crisis...when your mother died people were trying to take advantage of that to make the Callista's fall" Thomas replied.

"I still don't get how leaving the duchess position vacant is a weakness in their eyes" Aderi replied with a frown due to confusion.

"Well...that's because people want their daughter to be married off to a family with a great background like ours, they are after money and fame...and the other thing is that others will criticize the Callista's if that position is vacant...it will lead our reputation to doom" Thomas explained.

"But why did you choose her?" Aderi asked referring to Leni.

"I'll explain it to you next time...for now we have a hunting event to attend," Thomas said smiling at Aderi. Aderi nodded thinking it was also for the best since Leni was already waiting in the carriage.

°

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°

"Lady Aderi!" Ari yelled seeing Aderi in the crowd along with her father and stepmother.

"Lady Ari! Good morning" Aderi said greeting Ari as sped up her walk.

"Good morning to you too!" Ari replied as they hugged each other.

"I'll go sit down with the ladies," Leni said to Thomas as she walked away.

"Good morning to you, Lady Callista," Baron duncan said greeting Aderi.

"Good morning, Baron Duncan, it's great upon seeing you again," Aderi said greeting the baron as she did a curtsy.

"A-ah, and good morning to you too, Duke Callista," Baron Duncan said as he bowed.

"Good morning to you too, Baron Duncan" Thomas greeted back.

"Forgive me for not noticing you sooner," Baron Duncan said apologizing.

"It's fine, no need to be nervous," Thomas said reassuring the baron.

"How can you say it's fine without even smiling, he looks scary..." Aderi thought while looking at her father who has his usual poker face.

"Well...he does have a reputation to maintain," Aderi thought again.

"The competition still starts in an hour...you can go around if you like," Thomas said to Aderi after noticing she was looking at him.

"Well then...if you don't mind father, I'll go look around" Aderi replied.

"Would you like to accompany me, Lady Ari?" Aderi asked.

Ari smiled happily.

"Yes!" Ari answered with a wide smile.

"Well then, have fun you two," Baron Duncan said with a smile.

"See you later father!" Aderi said smiling.

"See you later" Thomas replied with a smile.

"I'll be going now, father," Ari said with a smile.

"Go on now, be careful not to get lost in the crowd," Baron Duncan said with a smile.

"Let's go lady Ari!" Aderi said with a smile. With that, the two left.

"I've never seen you smile before, Duke Callista, I've only seen you smile when you are with your daughter," Baron Duncan said.

"Is that so? Well...Aderi is indeed someone who brings a smile to my face" Thomas replied.

"Lady Callista also brings a smile to others, including my daughter, I'm glad that Lady Callista is taking care of my daughter, thank you for raising your daughter well," Baron Duncan said thanking Thomas.

"Your daughter is also a great friend to my daughter, thank you for raising her as well...but I don't deserve credit for her good heart, I'm not a great father at all," Thomas said with a frown facing his mistakes.

"By the way Lady Callista talks about you doesn't seem like you are not a great father, she talks highly about you," Baron Duncan said, Thomas just stood there stunned as he relaxed.

"Do I deserve this praise from her?" Thomas asked himself through his thoughts.

°

"Ah! Lady Aderi!" Ari said as she stopped.

"Hmm? What is it?" Aderi asked as she looked back at Ari who was behind her.

"I forgot my fan!" Ari responded.

"Ah, then let's go back," Aderi said with a smile.

"No, I can handle it...would you please wait for me there, I'll be quick!" Ari said suggesting Aderi stay.

"Sure...but please be quick," Aderi responded to Ari. Ari nodded with a smile.

"Will do!" Ari said smiling as she turned back and left.

Aderi then went to the corner to wait for Ari to come back.

"Hey, nice seeing you here," someone said. Aderi looked to her side and saw Jake. Aderi's jaw dropped.

"W-wait-- why are you here? Aren't you a commoner?" Aderi asked Jake whispering so nobody will hear.

"Hmm...are you worried about me?" Jake asked.

"Of course! If you get caught it can lead you to your death! It's one of the kingdom rules" Aderi said almost in a panic voice. Jake chuckled which made Aderi confused.

"I'm a noble now...a viscount as a matter of fact" Jake smiled.

"So your font as a commoner was a lie?" Aderi asked.

"No, I recently got my title, Caelias personally recommended me to his father, I know you are wondering why...but it's because I will become his knight who will protect him day and night," Jake said explaining the situation.

"I didn't hear about this..." Aderi responded.

"You didn't read the newspaper?" Jake asked. Aderi went silent.

"Well, silence is already enough to get the answer," Jake said chuckling.

"So you will be protecting him not from the shadows anymore?" Aderi asked changing the topic.

"Well...sometimes I will be that" Jake responded.

"Why did you agree?" Aderi asked.

"Hmm...I just feel like it" Jake responded with a cheeky smile.

"It's for Lady Ari, no need to hide it from me when your motive is very clear," Aderi said rolling her eyes.

"Eck! Who knew you were good at guessing" Jake said scratching the back of his neck as he avoided Aderi's eyes.

"I have to go, she's coming," Jake said as he hurriedly walked away from Aderi.

"Sorry if I took long! There were a lot of people who were stopping me along the way" Ari said as she went back to Aderi.

"Welcome back!" Aderi greeted with a smile, but Ari's attention was somewhere else. She was looking in a certain direction.

"Hmm? Lady Ari?" Aderi called out to the spacing out Ari.

"Do you perhaps know him?" Ari asked. Aderi looked in that direction and it was Jake.

"Hm? Si- Viscount Jake?" Aderi asked Ari. Ari nodded.

"Yeah, were friends for a little while now" Aderi replied.

"I see..." Ari replied.

"Why did you ask?" Aderi asked curiously.

"He was the person I bumped into when we were shopping...the one I told you about," Ari said explaining it to Aderi.

"So it was Jake?" Aderi thought.

"I-i see" Aderi replied.

"He asked a lot of questions about you, and I saw the two of you talk...Lady Aderi, I think he likes you!" Ari said as she looked at Aderi with a smile.

"Huh?" Aderi asked confused.

"W-wait-- why would you assume that!?" Aderi asked in a panic.

"Well...he was asking a lot of questions about you that day I bumped into him," Ari answered.

"L-lady Ari...please don't misunderstand, remember that person I told you about that day? The friend of mine who looks like you..." Aderi asked. Ari nodded.

"He is a friend of that person, and he was asking about me throughout Viscount Jake" Aderi explained even though it was a half lie. Ari covered her mouth.

"I'm sorry Lady Aderi that assumed that! I'm sorry!" Ari said apologizing.

"It's okay...you didn't know so it's fine," Aderi said smiling.

"I'm glad this misunderstanding is resolved...cause the person Jake like is non-other than Lady Ari," Aderi thought while looking at Ari.

"Why don't we join the others for tea?" Ari asked Aderi pointing at the other ladies and gentlemen who are drinking tea while waiting for the event to start.

"sure let's go!" Aderi said agreeing.