Annie turned her face in confusion, her eyes seeking her father’s.
"The head of the delegation from A Country."
Annie’s face fell in disappointment. She had thought it was someone else, only to find out it was just the head of a delegation. She really couldn’t muster any interest.
The old Marquis teased with a smile, "What, does it have to be that handsome Duke to make my daughter happy?"
Teased by her father, Annie’s face flushed red, "I do not!"
The old Marquis laughed heartily.
Annie swung his arm coquettishly, "Daddy!"
"Alright, I won’t tease you anymore!" the old Marquis stopped laughing, "Tonight, you will see your Prince Charming!"
Annie was startled and looked at her father with disbelief.
"You... you mean the Duke is coming to the banquet?"
"What I mean to say is that this time, the delegation from A Country is led by the Duke himself!" the old Marquis said with a laugh.
"Really... really!" Annie’s voice trembled with excitement, "Oh... my God, he... he’s really coming!"
Seeing the smile on her father’s face, she turned back, a little uncertain, "You... you’re not lying to me, are you?"
Footsteps sounded in the hallway, then Annie’s door was knocked.
She turned to see the butler entering.
"Marquis, Duchess Teresa has arrived!"
"I... I’ll be right down!" Annie, holding her dress, rushed toward the door, then paused after a couple of steps, turned back to the mirror to check her attire, "Daddy, you go down first... I’ll just touch up my makeup and follow!"
The Marquis, smiling, stood up and walked to his daughter’s side, "Tonight, my girl will be the most enchanting one at the banquet."
Annie smiled at the mirror, "I... I need to touch up my makeup!"
Huangfu Jue had been engaged to Gan Yuan, and although Annie was seething with jealousy, she had to tell herself to give up.
But now, Huangfu Jue had annulled the engagement with Gan Yuan, which meant she had another chance. Thinking of the man she had long yearned for being downstairs, Annie’s heart was already pounding with excitement.
The Marquis went downstairs to greet the guests, and she turned and dashed to the dressing table.
"Mary... hurry, help me with the makeup, and my hair... oh my, hurry..."
The maid came running in to help her fix her makeup and arrange her hair.
Annie turned several times in the mirror, making sure her dress was proper and yet lavish, and her makeup flawless. Only then did she head towards the door, pausing briefly before rushing back.
"Spray some perfume on me!"
The maid fetched the perfume, which she snatched away, spraying it into the air before walking into the mist, twirling around. She sniffed her wrist, and then, lifting her skirt, she hurried out the door.
As she reached the stairs, she slowed her pace, suppressing the excitement in her heart, and stepped elegantly onto the staircase.
Downstairs in the hall, the old Marquis was welcoming Huangfu Jue in from the outside.
"I did not expect the Duke himself to lead the delegation. It seems your country places high importance on this cooperation project; it is truly an honor for our country."
"You are too kind," replied Huangfu Jue with an even tone. "This cooperation benefits both our nations greatly, and as a party involved, we naturally take it seriously."
While responding politely, Huangfu Jue glanced around.
He was never interested in banquets, and an ordinary one didn’t capture his attention.
Had Will not found out that Gan Yuan would also be attending, he wouldn’t have bothered showing up here.