"Your Highness, did you call? The secretary, Mason Fren, greets Your Highness the Prince."
"Where did Louis go, that you're the one who came?"
"Secretary Louis Daniel is on vacation today So I came."
Theon frowned slightly at Mason's words.
Louis' vacation date, which seemed to coincide with the day Ayla left the palace, was strangely unpleasant.
Seeing Theon's upset-looking expression, Mason caressed his thick hands, seemingly nervous.
"How many distinguished guests have gathered?"
"The majority of the distinguished guests in the Kingdom are present. Princess Ariel of the Libert Kingdom sent a letter saying that she would be a little late But she said she will definitely attend today's banquet."
"That's understandable, as the King will also come."
Theon quietly lowered his head and pressed his temples firmly.
Mason swallowed dry at his appearance and remained silent, with an anxious gaze.
"And His Majesty?"
"His Majesty has transmitted through his secretary that he will be joining for a moment, in the middle of the banquet. I think you can go to the banquet hall in time for His Majesty's appearance."
"And the guests that are looking for me?"
"The time for Your Highness to enter has been announced in advance."
Since he has been working for so long that he understood that Theon did not enjoy going to the banquet hall, Mason arranged the time with the distinguished guests in advance so that he doesn't feel uncomfortable as much as possible.
Theon smiled lightly at Mason's consideration for him and beckoned at him to go out.
***
Claire, who attended the banquet, looked around with a rather nervous expression, taking a sip of the champagne that had been prepared.
Today too she showed off her shocking outfits.
Her body-tight blue dress was studded with pearls.
The blue feathers attached to the neatly curled-up hair as a point were peacock feathers, difficult to find in the Stellen Kingdom.
Her outfit, which had both a gorgeous color and revealed her cleavage, was enough to attract the attention of the people around her.
Everyone came to her first and praised her for being beautiful today too, but the cute nickname of Happy' that was heard behind Claire's back haunted her throughout the banquet.
Claire couldn't understand why on earth she was like that towards Owen.
Claire couldn't even imagine being seduced by Owen; so she thought the person who made this happen was Owen, who ignored her and trampled over her in the first place.
Claire, who was keeping her anxious look while biting her lips, saw Owen entering the banquet hall.
"!"
Seeing Claire, Owen stopped at the entrance of the banquet hall, surprised.
It was the first time they met since the delusion had cleared up, so he couldn't assess her condition.
As if he were nervous, Owen's olive-colored eyes shook a little.
"Long time no see. Grand Duke Arrot."
"It's really been a long time. Miss Claire. I heard you had a bad cold in the last few days. It is quite cold even though it is a spring breeze, so you must be careful."
Owen casually asking after her with a light smile didn't sit well with Claire.
She didn't come here on her own to happily greet him in the first place.
Claire stared at Owen with an ill-intentioned smile.
"Would you like a glass of champagne?"
It seems like the delusion has cleared up, but'
Contrary to Owen's expectation, who thought that she would, of course, avoid him, Claire kept her composure and even handed him a glass of champagne.
The rumors about her that circulated within the Kingdom were terrible.
Rumors of her pulling the strings to marry Owen began to snowball, starting with the ridiculous rumor that she had entered his bedroom naked to in order to seduce him.
However, seeing her confident attitude, Owen was dumbfounded, thinking that the high-ranking aristocrats of the Kingdom are indeed different.
Owen forcibly smiled as he accepted the champagne Claire handed him.
He wanted to get out of this awkward place right now, but he couldn't take one step as he felt sorry for Claire.
As Claire approached Owen, narrowing the distance between them, she stumbled in front of him as if she had lost her balance and she lost the grip on the glass of champagne she was holding.
"Huh?!"
A short shriek burst out of Owen's mouth when he saw that.
Right away, the glass fell down from Claire's hand and spilled champagne all over her voluptuous chest.
As the embarrassed Owen's hand touched Claire's skin to wipe off the spilled champagne, she turned around, with her eyes filled with tears.
"Grand Duke No matter how much affection I have for the Grand Duke How How can you do this in a public place like this!!"
"N-No, I didn't"
"You really went too far. I cannot believe you offended me like that How could you touch the skin of an aristocratic lady?!"
The people that gathered at the sudden commotion started whispering among themselves.
Claire, glaring at Owen with tears in her eyes and a shameful expression on her face, was undoubtedly a victim.
The provocative words she blurted were enough to ruin Owen's favorable reputation.
Soon after, sympathetic looks ensued as Claire left the banquet hall with both hands covering her face, as if she were overwhelmed by emotions.
Although the corners of Claire's mouth went up, very brightly.
***