SACBD

64

Marianne seemed to have seen too many strange things today.

"What was that?"

The Duke of Sentoren, known as the Cold Blooded Duke, was smiling at his wife. They walked as one, and hugged each other affectionately. It seemed like they had no intention of staying long from the beginning. Marianne didn't even care. Marianne found Lionel's change as strange as Riv's.

"Lionel... How could that cold blooded man laugh like that? Really?"

Why were those two happy? How were they able to look at each other and smile? He was her ex-fiancé, (abandoned by Marianne), and the ugly maid she wanted to kill. Why were they happy? Marianne couldn't understand.

"Why did Princess Marianne call the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren?"

"Does she really want to interfere with their marriage?"

The noble women who watched the commotion in the break room gossiped. They seemed to look at Marianne strangely.

'Why are you looking at me like that? What did I do?'

Marianne couldn't stand the gazes, so she ran out of the palace and hid in the garden. She was only relieved after she avoided the gaze of others. Those in the garden who didn't see Marianne hiding behind a tree chatted.

"Isn't Princess Marianne really strange? Madame Katana, no, Duchess Sentoren, didn't she seem envious of the Duchess of Sentoren?"

"No way."

They then stopped talking about Marianne and chatted about the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren.

"Have you seen the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren before?"

"They said they left before I arrived. What a shame. Why did they leave so early?"

"They said someone spilled wine on the Duchess' dress. It was a beautiful and delicate dress, and Madame Ezerca said it was made without following the trends."

Everyone considered the Duke and his wife to be a well-matched pair. They talked for a long time about how romantic they were and how happy they looked.

'Why is the main character Riv and not me? Why?'

Why did Riv get more attention and not her? After a while, Marianne went to visit the Queen. As she looked down at the banquet hall, the Queen looked dignified, befitting of her status. She didn't look behind her even when she knew that Marianne had come.

"Marianne, your groom candidates are waiting for you. Don't be vulgar and childish."

"Mother, I don't feel good right now."

"Don't worry about Madame Katana. Just do your role. Riv, that b*tch, is a Duchess at best."

She said this even though the Queen had tried to make Princess Marianne a Duchess.

"You will become the queen of another country. Don't dwell on past relationships."

Queen Selina said no more. Marianne's maid whispered to her.

"If you dance, you might feel better."

"..."

"Forget about Riv. Today's star is Princess Marianne."

At the words of her maid, Marianne danced with the men who wanted to be her fiancé. Tomorrow, her fiancé candidates would come. And soon, Marianne's new husband would also be decided. The first day of the Royal Ball was successful. The quarrel with the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren was soon forgotten. Still, Marianne's resentment was not resolved.