RETURN OF THE FEMALE KNIGHT

64. Trash

This party was strikingly different from all the ones Lalisa had been to. She had attended many social events, large and small, but never one with this much decadence and deviancy.

Normally, gatherings usually had a large hall in the center for people to stand around and talk. However, there were more places for sitting than standing here. Dozens of tables and sofas scattered the room, with small groups of people already mingling around them. By one table, a masked man and woman were openly indulging in affection to each other, much to Lalisa's embarrassment. It was a place where only young people gathered, and it felt much less constrained than an official event.

'Is it because everyone is wearing masks?'

The lighting was dim as well, unlike the brightly lit chandeliers of the halls. This was new to Lalisa, but everyone else seemed familiar to this arrangement.

'But...what is this smell?'

Ever since she walked in, a peculiar scent hovered in her nose. It prodded at some buried memory, and Lalisa turned her head to look for the source of the smell, but before she could investigate, the sounds of a man's footsteps approached her.

She turned her head, and a man with fiery red hair came into view. He was masked like everyone else, but she knew immediately who it was.

It was Mingyu. He seemed to recognize Lalisa immediately as well, by the mask he had given her.

"Ah, you have arrived."

Lalisa had spoken in informal language at court dances in the past, but now she was more aware of her position of crown princess in the future. The corners of her mouth lifted.

"You were very earnest in your invitation towards me, and I couldn't refuse."

She made no mention of the wedding planning, and Mingyu responded with a faint smile.

"Welcome. I would have been very disappointed if you turned me down again."

It sounded like he would've continued to sabotage the wedding, as she suspected. Outwardly, the pair greeted each other with amiable smiles, but inwardly they were testing each other, keeping their true thoughts hidden.

"Shall I show you where I was at? I feel terrible keeping my future sister-in-law standing here like this."

"Please."

"This way..."

Mingyu stepped forward first, a smile beneath his mask. She followed, noting his golden tongue and the way he called her "sister-in-law." While Jungkook was occasionally mischievous, he was generally straightforward and said only what he wanted to say. Mingyu was nothing like him.

Mingyu led her to a large private room, not to one of the tables in the common space like she expected. There were a variety of rare dishes spread out on the table, but there was no one else there.

"Please have a seat."

Lalisa settled herself onto a chair.

"Didn't you say you would take me to where you were, Second Prince? But it looks like there's no else here for the party."

Lalisa didn't hesitate to use Mingyu's title when they were alone. The masks were meaningless when they already knew each other's identity. Mingyu gave a crooked grin, pulling away his mask and revealing his handsome face. He fixed her with a burning gaze.

"I've arranged a private table with my sister-in-law. No one else needs to be here, don't you think?"

She didn't agree. However, Lalisa answered calmly, schooling her roiling emotions.