14 – staggered

After that, the town’s reconstruction went smoothly.

The food provided by the Theseus family was steadily distributed along with the elixir Nadia made.

Building materials wanted from the capital arrived, and civil engineers started building the house.

The exorbitant taxes that Altane has been accruing to the residents have temporarily stopped.

Even after writing that it was a prestigious family, there were still assets left, but half of this was lost due to this reconstruction.

I need to figure out a source of income for the village.

“The question is, can the village go back to normal after I enter the school? .”

There was quite a distance between the capital and Mene, where the academy is located, so I plan to move into the dormitory when I enroll.

That’s why I was thinking of recruiting Risha and other attendants to manage the estate, but honestly, the deadline was too tight.

It is impossible to pour the money of the Altyn family forever.

The village itself must also generate income.

That way there will be an influx of people into the village itself.

‘Should I look for the village chief?’

Wouldn’t the villagers’ impression of me have changed from worst to worst now?

In fact, Risha said that the frequency of gossiping about me on the street has also decreased. It wouldn’t hurt to go bare face sometime soon.

“Lord, Master. letter… .”

At that time, Risha entered the room waving the letter.

She approached me with a subtle smile and handed out a letter.

After that day, Risha’s attitude changed 180 degrees.

First, he still had the habit of stuttering, but he never distanced himself from me without reason.

If I had been full of vigilance before, it felt like it had disappeared now.

The second one now made eye contact.

Risha used to get scared every time she made eye contact with me, but now she knew how to make eye contact and even talk.

If it was a feral cat before, should I say it is a domestic cat now?

As Risha’s attitude changed, I naturally became more comfortable with Risha.

To be honest, with such a cute kid approaching, is there anyone who would push him away?

“Correspondence?”

“Ah, this is a letter from the Aisten family.”

“Reina?”

What happened to Reina, who won’t have a kite anymore?

I opened the letter I received from Risha.

The content was an invitation to a banquet hosted by the Eisteen family.

“… A banquet suddenly?”

As I read further, it turned out to be a banquet to celebrate Reina’s birthday ahead of the entrance ceremony.

No, by the way, before the game even starts, why are there so many events?

And.

“Why did you send it to me?”

Raina and I were no longer engaged. If things went as they were, the time to meet again would be after entering the academy.

In the game, that was also our first official meeting.

And since Reina almost hated the Altyn family, this letter made it all the more difficult to understand.

“Hey, did you ever change your mind… .”

“No way. If he had changed his mind, he would have sent another letter.”

Due to Reina’s upright personality, there’s no way she’ll change her mind.

There would have been a contact with the Theseus family that was better than Altyn, so there would be no need for Altyn to come into sight.

“Still, I don’t think he sent it for a bad purpose… do.”

“why?”

“Every time you come to the mansion, we… I even asked them if they were okay. In addition… .”

Lisa showed a moment of hesitation.

I put my chin on my chin and waited for Risha’s next words.

“Before the engagement broke up, he came every day to convince the master… You did.”

My head was dizzy.

Is it Raina?

Altein too?

If what Risha said is true, it makes sense why Reina hated Altane so much.

But that raises more questions.

Why did Altyn break off his engagement to Reina because he felt sorry for him?

Family and socially, the engagement to the Aistin family must have been an overwhelmingly good opportunity for the Altyn family.

‘At least I’m sure I’m not insane.’

The more I got to know him, the more questions I had about Lian Altane.

But knowing this doesn’t change anything.

I returned the letter to Lisa and said.

“Dispose of it in an appropriate place.”

“Lord, master?”

“It doesn’t seem like a place for me to go. Burn it later with the rest.”

“ah… .”

In the first place, Rayna, as her ex-fiance, must have sent it out of courtesy.

Seriously attending a banquet would only spoil the atmosphere, but there is no reason to go.

Do you have anything to be ashamed of?

Risha asked back in disbelief.

“Jung, are you really not attending?”

“Reina, no, the princess must have been sent as a courtesy. Even if you are absent, the duke will understand.”

“still… .”

“Whatever. Mene reconstruction is in full swing, but we can’t look elsewhere.”

I wonder if he was expecting a banquet in his heart.

Since she was the only maid left in the mansion, Risha, if I were to attend the banquet, she would have accompanied her as well.

You probably thought of that.

Unlike other girls of her age, she is Lisa, who has spent her entire life in the Altean family.

Perhaps, in her own way, she longs for the outside life.

In that respect, it was surprising that Risha was left at the mansion.

The maids who left such a kind and cute child were also surprised.

“And since the banquet is not only held this time, there will be opportunities to attend later. Lisa.”

“I… I don’t care!”

“You can’t pretend you didn’t know when you look so disappointed.”

“Oh… .”

Lisa hurriedly turned her back.

The distance is close, but I still can’t hide my feelings.

*

Near the capital, Lacre, a city in charge of the empire’s trade.

This city, characterized by the expansive jewel-colored sea and white buildings, was a place that played a pivotal role in the empire.

It was also famous as a tourist city because of its excellent urban exterior and scenery.

Recently, they were known as an up-and-coming family that received a plaque of appreciation from the emperor for pioneering trade routes with the western continent.

The mansion of the Eisteen family was now full of nobles.

“It is an honor to meet you, Princess. Thank you so much for inviting me to this banquet-”

“Thank you for coming. Count of trends. Have a good time and go.”

“You are still beautiful, Princess Iceteen. If you don’t mind-“

“I’m rude now, so why don’t you go in first.”

Dressed in a purple dress that matched her hair color, Reina was in charge of responding to the arrivals of nobles at the main gate of the mansion.

Despite her openly cold attitude, the men did not care.

The banquet held along with Reina’s broken engagement was not only to celebrate her birthday, but also to find a partner for Reina’s engagement.

As a result, most of the guests were those who were aiming for an engagement with Reina.

Receiving and responding to such people was not an easy task.

“… under.”

“thank you for your effort. princess.”

As Rayna was resting on one side, Jed approached her.

Read at noblemtl.com

Jed, like the others, was on his way to get engaged to Rayna.

“Ah, Prince Theseus.”

Seeing Zed, Reina smiled softly and stood up.

It was a different expression from the one he used to respond to the nobles with a cold face.

Because he was at least a little one-sided, Reina was able to treat him more comfortably.

Read at noblemtl.com

Jed also responded with a smile to Reina.

“Your hair tied up differently than usual is impressive.”

“ah… thank you.”

Reina smiled shyly and said.

Since Reina wore her hair loose every time, just tying it up was a significant image transformation.

Since childhood, she has preferred to wear her hair tied up.

It was none other than his favorite hair.

‘What am I thinking.’

Reina shook her head.

It was a banquet for her new start.

It is no longer possible to be bound by the past.

The relationship with him is now over.

A relationship that will completely end today.

“Princess. How about going in and resting?”

“I am okay. There is still one person left.”

“Hmm… It seems to have been standing still for quite some time. Can I greet you inside?”

“Because they are the ones who came for me. This much is fine.”

All 20 sons of nobles to whom invitations were sent attended.

Now there is only one left.

‘… Lian Altane.’

It was questionable whether his ex-fiancé would attend, but anyway, as a host, you have to welcome guests.

“Then I will be here too.”

“Confucius doesn’t have to… .”

“But I can’t leave the princess here. The sun is setting and it will be chilly.”

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Jed guided Rayna to a suitable bench.

He really looked like he was waiting with Reina, so he left his luggage with the employee who had followed him and sat down next to Reina.

“Actually, there are still some things I couldn’t tell you when we last met.”

“… is that so?”

“Yes… Originally, more stories come and go in the second meeting than the first. hahahaha.”

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Jed laughed.

He continued talking while looking at the sea in the distance.

“Well, I don’t think I can win the princess’s heart with just one meeting. That’s why I came to this banquet. But the fact that you gave me an invitation… It means there are still opportunities.”

“… .”

Reina put on a bitter expression.

Even while listening to Jed’s words, her gaze was focused only on the front door of the mansion.

Even though the banquet start time has passed for a long time, it is still waiting for one person who does not come.

Why are you waiting for him?

I know you won’t come

It’s a relationship that’s over now. At that time, even if she saw such a ‘light’ once, her gaze toward Lian did not change.

Come to think of it, the last time I met Prince Theseus, I heard that Altean had asked him for food support.

Confucius said that Altane finally started to take an interest in managing the territory.

-It’s going to turn the world upside down. I never thought that Altane would act properly.

―I heard that even the houses of the residents are being rebuilt. Even with family money. Like breaking off the engagement with the princess, what kind of affair did he suddenly have?

If you listen closely, it is said that Lian Altane has changed a lot since the breakup of the engagement.

Mene, the territory of Altane, known as hell, was a village where the current head of the Altyn family, Lian, and the previous head of the family had lost their hands.

As a result, there are even rumors that it is the last village that homeless nomads go to reluctantly.

The fact that such a town is changing came as a big shock to Reina as well.

However, this banquet was just a simple place for a clean farewell.

No matter how much he changed, it might just end on a whim. Reina, who had been by his side for a long time, knew this.

Therefore, Rayna’s feelings for Lian Altane were nothing more than her ex-fiancé, and nothing less.

So, what is she feeling right now?

“A princess?”

“… Shall we go in?”

never sad