I’m Not Doing This With A Friend – Chapter 156

Author: Nikss

Scared to look back, she turns and disappears in a flash.

…Did I see the wrong person?

The person I saw was clearly dressed as a maid.

No self-respecting noblewoman would be working as a maid alongside commoners.

Besides, she was still a noblewoman even if she was exiled from Lagras.

She was probably receiving financial support from her family, so why would she take a job as a maid?

I felt a twinge of suspicion, but I shook it off.

Even if it really was her, no harm would come to Carson unless I let him slip away from my side.

With that reassurance, I tightened my grip on Carson’s hand. He looks at me, puzzled.

“Leen, what’s wrong?”

“I saw someone who looked like Sera.”

In an instant, Carson’s face crumples.

His eyes flashed open and he scanned his surroundings.

“Where?”

“She disappeared as soon as I noticed her.”

“How did that bastard get here?”

With a shrug.

“She was dressed in a maid’s outfit. Maybe it was just a look-alike.”

“Do you want me to search for her?”

“No. I think you’d better stay with me, just in case there’s a skirmish, or she brandishes a weapon like she did then.”

“You’ll be safe with the Grand Duke.”

I raised an eyebrow at the unexpected comment.

He didn’t seem to be on good terms with the Grand Duke.

Of course, as Carson had said, if I didn’t leave his side, I’d be safe from harm’s way.

But I shook my head and insisted, “Still, I don’t want you to leave my side.”

Then Carson silently covered his mouth with his free hand I wasn’t holding.

He seemed to like it, judging by the redness in his ears.

Perhaps the demons would come if I told them to.

Just then, the Grand Duke approached me and Carson. He offers me his hand politely, a broad smile on his face.

“Will you dance the second dance with me?”

It was an unspoken rule that the first dance was with one’s partner, so he seemed to be making a reservation here.

A quick glance at Carson revealed a mildly disgruntled expression, but he was in no mood to interrupt.

Reassured, I was about to accept the Grand Duke’s request for a dance.

“Alas, I’ve missed my second chance to dance with Leen.”

Kun, who had come up behind me, stepped casually between us and offered me his hand.

“Well, do you mind if I reserve a third one for myself?”

“Get lost.”

Carson flicked Kun’s hand away, blocking his path.

I heard a few of the nobles around me suck in their breaths, wondering if they’d heard him.

The atmosphere seems unnerving.

I poked Carson in the side and whispered, “Caon, it’s a free-for-all, respect it.”

He nods slightly, as if he understands. It was a good thing he’d listened to me, even if he was being a jerk…

“Please leave, Second Prince.”

Taking back the word ‘good’.

Kun gave Carson a sour look, as if he’d expected it.

“I asked Leen, Duke Carson.”

“Leen said no, didn’t she?”

Again, I gazed up at Carson in disbelief.

When did I?

Kun returned his attention to me and shook his head.

“Leen never said anything like that.”

“Can’t you tell? The look on her face like something’s on her mind is proof.”

“That’s ridiculous, she’s the kind of person who would just say no if she didn’t like it, and besides…”

Kun’s gaze lingered briefly on me and the hand Carson held.

Perhaps I was mistaken if I saw a glimpse of regret in his eyes.

“Are you that jealous because you know I was Leen’s partner in dance class, back at the Academy?”

“I know you didn’t last a day, so what do you mean, partner?”

Kun’s lashes fluttered at Carson’s statement. It was like he needed magnesium.

“Still, the dance partner was no small feat.”

“Oh, that.”

Carson spat out a smirk, his demeanor casual.

“That partner, I believe it was me.”

“What?!”

“What?”

What the hell are you talking about?

Both I and Kun looked at Carson, demanding an explanation.

He glared at Kun, his eyes narrowing as if he’d remembered something unpleasant.

“So, Prince, you think I’m going to sit here with my eyes open and watch someone grope Leen’s waist?”

Not groping, but placing.

‘…Is that why Simon was so shy, when normally nothing would?’

“Wait. If you were my partner, what about your class? We were in different classes, and also, what happened to the real Simon during dance class?”

Carson’s eyes rolled back and forth, then closed in silence. Quite handsomely, by the way.

It looked like he intended to move the situation into the realm of beauty.

“…Maybe it was just a matter of keeping good grades?”

Of course not. So what did the real Simon do?

Kun frowned and focused back on the topic at hand.

“In any case, you should know that the claims made by Duke Carson are absurd.”

“Why should I know that? Are you saying I’m wrong to protect my lover from another scoundrel?”

“I’m saying that you don’t need to overreact to a mere dance.”

I watched the two of them argue and decided to take drastic measures.

“Maybe if I don’t dance with anyone, we can work this out.”

The Grand Duke’s mouth gaped open as he was struck by a blow.

When he regains his composure, he asks pleadingly, “I’ll see if I can convince Lord Kun to reconsider…”

Carson and Kun also began to struggle with me, their faces full of despair.

“You’re not going to do anything while dressed so beautifully, Leen…!”

“I, I’ve never danced with Leen before, not even at the Academy, not even at the graduation party.”

To which I dismissed them resolutely.

“I won’t let grown men hang around like that.”

We didn’t want to start a fight between countries in the banquet hall over a dance.

They should have made concessions or compromises from the start.

I glanced around, shielding my face with my fan, and saw the nobles staring at us in disbelief.

My lips twitched upward.

Part of the reason I came on strong was to break up the scuffle, but there was another reason as well.

To inscribe my presence in the retinas of the other nobles.

I wonder what the nobles thought when they saw Carson, the prince, Kun, and the Grand Duke cowering before me.

I don’t know, but I’m sure they’ve given it a boost.

As I was smiling to myself, I heard the voice of a servant announce the emperor’s arrival.

“Taureto Edgar Abascanthus is here, His Majesty the Emperor!”

The doors opened, and the Emperor entered, and all the nobles in the banquet hall bowed.

They were equally surprised by his unexpected appearance.

This banquet was nothing more than a casual quarterly party.

Normally, neither the Emperor nor the Grand Duke and Kun would be here, let alone the Duke.

The Emperor looked around the banquet hall for a moment, then came straight to where we were.

His gaze was fixed on the Grand Duke, and he seemed to have a certain purpose.

“Grand Duke, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you in the palace, and I wonder why you didn’t appear when I called you.”

“Hehe, I’m afraid someone might misunderstand if you say that. If you had called me formally, I would have dropped everything and come running.”

“Hmph, surely you know that a letter has been sent requesting you to come and have a chat with me?”

“Yes, I’m aware of that, and your summons has been nothing more than a rant.”

The two men’s lack of dignity reminded me that the Grand Duke was indeed a formidable man.

Who else could call the Emperor’s words a rant in public?

“Hmm. I hear a rumored lady from Lagras is staying at the Grand Duke’s residence.”

“Aye. We’ve had a personal interaction before, so that’s how it came to be. This is her, Your Majesty.”

As the Grand Duke introduced me, I let go of Carson’s hand and lifted my dress slightly.

“I am Leen.”

“Oho, a child of uncommon color.”

The Emperor gazes at me with interest. His gaze lingers unusually long on my hair and eyes.

“… I see you have much to do, so let’s get to the point. Did you say, Leen?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I want to thank you for saving the people of Abascanthus. Many lives were saved because of you.”

“You are too kind.”

“By the way, you were also the one who cured Kun of his long-standing ailments of hyperhidrosis.”

The Emperor’s eyes softened even more as he looked at me.

“What do you want?”

If I hadn’t been under contract to the Grand Duke, I might have asked for the promise of a steady supply of quill.

But as it was, I needed nothing.

“I don’t need anything.”

“You need no pretense. All you want is to be compensated fairly, so be honest.”

“I did what I had to do as a herbalist, and as for the mosquito repellent and mana relaxant, I actually got lucky.”

“Lucky?”

“Because I didn’t know they’d be used like this.”

“But it is true that your potions have helped.”

I raised my bowed head and asked apologetically.

“May I dare to tell Your Majesty of my situation?”

“Speak.”

I straightened my back and shoulders, my face showing a hint of composure.

“I am a soon-to-be member of House Lysianthus, and do you think I lack something?”

“Hahaha, you’re quite the dashing young lady, a coveted talent in more ways than one.”

The chuckling Emperor playfully suggested, “How about this? Judging by your appearance, you are a citizen of Abascanthus, but do you really intend to become a citizen of this country?”

“I appreciate your kind words, but I have no intention of abandoning the land of my birth and upbringing.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue in disappointment and said to himself, but not to his son.

“What a waste. If you weren’t engaged to Lysianthus, I would have paired you with Kun.”

“…I am a commoner.”

“Who do you think appoints nobles?”

The Emperor before me, His Majesty.

I had to admit, at this point, that I was a free pass for the meeting.

Carson’s parents, as well as his. Kun’s parents. Even Fjord’s brother wanted me involved.

It was then.

A shrieking cry came from one side of the banquet hall.

“Your Majesty, stay away from that peculiar witch at once, it’s dangerous!”

All eyes, not just mine, turned to where the voice came from.