Chapter 70: Complicated Feelings (1)

30 minutes ago, when Emily first entered the banquet hall, she immediately looked for Rachel.

She expected her to be in a corner, so it wasn’t too difficult to find her.

But the problem was the situation she was in.

Count Hayeom, who is known for his trashy personality in the social circles and is rising up these days. He had stopped her and was creating a threatening atmosphere.

Until then, she just wanted to push him away with authority. No matter how much she could crush him with the authority of the Duchy, this was a banquet hosted by the Emperor himself.

If she caused a commotion for no reason, it could harm Rachel.

But as she got closer, Emily could see.

Rachel’s busted lips.

At that moment, a sticky anger came out from deep in her chest.

The concentration of anger was so thick that she had rarely felt it in her life.

It was so intense that the mask of a smile that she had habitually worn since she came out of the mansion was shattered.

Nevertheless, she didn’t know that her mask was broken.

Rachel’s busted lips and cheeks, which had turned red like a blush, were visible like slow motion. Naturally, her fists clenched.

If she were an ordinary criminal, she would have immediately approached the count and used violence.

One second is a very short time. During that time, all the information about Count Hayeom flashed through her mind.

Based on the information that came to mind, she began to educate Count Hayeom.

She crushed him with the difference in rank, and under the pretext of rank, she called his superior, the Marquis, and gave him disgrace.

Eventually, he was completely ostracized from the social circles and trudged out of the banquet hall.

And then she looked at Rachel again. Emily, who had been in politics for a long time, could read Rachel’s emotions just by looking at her expression.

‘Is she afraid of me?’

At the same time, there is gratitude and relief in half.

Surprisingly, Emily felt that look was cute.

‘What? What is this feeling?’

She was embarrassed by the feeling she had never felt before, but only for a moment. Emily treated Rachel’s lips with an artifact containing a healing function.

A white light permeated, and fortunately the wound disappeared. There were no scars.

Relieved, Emily looked around. Only then did the surrounding situation come into view.

“Who is that woman that the Muelia family stepped in for?”

“Ah. The Muelia family appointed her as a baronet. It’s really lucky. A commoner caught the eye of the Muelia family.”

“Shall I talk to her later?”

“How presumptuous.”

Inadvertently, a lot of attention was focused on Rachel.

It’s a matter of course.

A baronet is a title that feels like it’s in the middle of a commoner and a noble. She is higher than a knight, but she cannot enter the five ranks.

In other words, the same nobles treat her as a commoner and think she is vulgar.

On the other hand, Count Hayeom is a rising new noble. He even has the backing of Marquis Zeg, who is considered to be a part of the Argon and Tarnerus forces.

Even though Rachel was appointed by the Muelia family, most nobles would choose the count.

But Emily chose Rachel, and it’s natural for interest to be drawn to Rachel.

Emily held out her hand to Rachel. A lot of attention always leads to bad things.

Emily knew the jealousy of nobles better than anyone.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

The three people, who held hands together, went and sat at a table full of Muelia’s forces.

While chatting for a while, the imperial family came in.

Emily contained the imperial family with blonde hair in her white eyes. Emily’s eyes looking at them were by no means good.

Think about it. Her father almost died a while ago, and they colluded with the elders to try to bring down the Muelia family.

The imperial family cut it off as a solo crime by the 2nd Prince Chris, but well. How many people would believe that?

So I just turned my gaze and looked at Rachel and Yona.

But Rachel kept her eyes on the imperial family, specifically the 1st Prince Heimer.

Emily’s eyes narrowed.

Of course, Rachel wasn’t looking at Heimer because she liked him.

She was just looking at Heimer to prevent him from approaching Emily, true to the original work.

But Emily, who doesn’t know that fact, spoke to turn Rachel’s gaze.

“Rachel.”

“Yes?”

“Were you looking at His Highness the Prince?”

“Well. That’s right. I was originally a commoner. Even if I just became a noble, I’m a baronet. What chance would I have to see a member of the imperial family?”

“I see.”

“I looked at him because I was curious.”

Emily nodded for now.

But she couldn’t tell if she was looking at him because she was really curious, or if she had fallen in love.

Why?

Because she has never fallen in love. It’s natural that she can’t read other people’s emotions.

While she was thinking such thoughts, the emperor’s declaration began.

After that, many nobles gathered their attention on her.

In the old days, Emily would have given them attention to use them politically.

But not now.

She didn’t want to be disturbed while spending time with Rachel.

‘Why? Why am I like this?’

She couldn’t understand herself.

From earlier until now, an unknown emotion was boiling up inside.

No matter how much I think about it, I don’t know what kind of emotion it is.

Anger? Sadness? Joy? No matter how much I search for the source of the emotion, no matter how much I look back at my memories, this is the first time I’ve felt this emotion.

‘Sigh.’

Emily sighed and shook off her emotions. At the same time, she pushed away most of the people who came to her.

Fortunately, this emotion disappeared while talking with the two.

But the problem happened not long after.

“I’ll go get some wine.”

“Yes. Come back.”

Emily, who went to get wine, ran into the 1st Prince. The two, who were supposed to return soon, talked to each other.

Rachel’s back was facing her, so I couldn’t see her expression, but the prince’s expression was good.

“Sister, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

Yona asked. Emily touched her mouth with her hand. She realized late that her expression was stiff.

“No. I was thinking about this and that. I’m not sick, so I’m fine.”

Yona nodded and started eating dessert and juice again. The way she was munching was cute.

No matter how much eating dessert at a banquet is said to be lacking in dignity, it is not so strict as to be applied to a child.

While Emily was looking at Yona, Rachel came back.

Emily subtly asked about what happened just now.

“Emily. Did you talk to the prince?”

“It’s nothing, we just decided to dance together later.”

“Huh? With the prince?”

“Yes”

An unknown emotion soared again. This time, the concentration of the emotion was even thicker.

Especially, the phrase ‘It’s nothing’ in Emily’s words just now was very irritating.

I was confused.

Dancing with a prince is an honor for a noble.

Dancing with a prince itself serves as a medal.

After the banquet, many capitalists will flock. Her reputation will also increase.

No matter how much I don’t like the imperial family due to the previous incident, if my friend grabs such an opportunity, I should definitely like it.

Many young ladies rushed to dance with the prince once, but she will have a greater effect because the prince came himself.

But Emily was not happy.

Then does Emily not cherish Rachel?

That wasn’t it either.

‘I definitely cherish Emily. I hope she does much better, and I hope she laughs more.’

Emily sincerely wished for Rachel’s happiness.

So it was even more strange.

If I hated Rachel, I wouldn’t even have these worries.

“Emily. Are you sick?”

“No. No.”

I answered bluntly without realizing it.

That’s not what her heart wants, but she couldn’t help it because of the emotions that have been making her head complicated since earlier.

Rachel slowly lowered the hand she was about to place on Emily’s head.

She had spent a lot of time with her, so she noticed that Emily was not feeling well.

‘Why is that? She was in a good mood just a moment ago.’

There must be some reason.

Rachel guessed the reason.

‘Is it because I decided to dance with the 1st Prince?’

Nothing else has changed. She asked me as usual until I came back after talking to the 1st Prince.

‘This is a little disappointing.’

It’s not like I’m trying to dance with the 1st Prince because I like it. It’s all for Emily.

I’m trying to prevent Emily from falling in love because I know how much of a jerk he is.

She’s disappointed that I don’t know that.

‘But on the other hand, doesn’t that mean that she also wants to dance with the 1st Prince?’

That can’t be.

Emily is definitely pretty. So much so that I’m in love with her myself. The 1st Prince might also be attracted to Emily.

Then all the plans I’ve made so far will go to waste.

‘There’s no other way.’

There is only one way to prevent the 1st Prince from looking at Emily.

To make him look at herself more instead of Emily.

‘I have to dance harder.’

Rachel made up her mind.