I Will Avoid The Death Flag [It's Published]
44. Second Prize

Amidst the onslaught of me who was busy consulting and healing the people, there was Axel's birthday party waiting to be attended by me.

To be honest, I felt that the birthday party would be the biggest burden for me. Wh why? That's because Etrill and Kallistar have been found, of course, the discussion in the party will not be far to discuss about them.

I let out a breath.

"Is the dress not to your liking, Princess?" ask Jelena who is fixing the complicated accessories in my dress.

Regina and Melanie looked at me with a sad look because I looked so uninspired.

"No. I love her dress and makeup," I replied with a small smile on my lips.

"Lantas, what makes the Princess feel disturbed?" melanie asked with a sad look on her face.

I smiled stiffly. Do I look that clear?

"It's nothing" I replied calmly. "Not to think about."

"Is this because of Young Master Axel?" regina asked with her round eyes directed at me.

"Yes? What's wrong with Young Master Axel?" askaku.

"Young Master never visited the palace or saw the Princess again after Miss Clare's execution. Does that bother Princess?"

I let out a soft laugh. How could I possibly be bothered by that bastard's absence. Well, although lately his absence has left me a little dazed. The reason is, the child is always wandering around me, as if never absent to follow me like a chick on the mother. Of course, it makes me feel a little strange.

We completely lost contact after Clare was convicted. Is there something wrong with Clare's punishment? Shouldn't Axel be happy that the only person who tortured Sorena Krone in the past has now been rewarded? Was he dissatisfied that it wasn't his own hand that took Clare's life?

I'm hissing little. Thinking about useless things when I was being hit by various kinds of problems gave me a headache.

"Absolutely unobtrusive," I replied to Regina's question. "After all, I'm sure Young Master Axel has his own busy life. Isn't Young Master the future Marquis?"

"That's right, anyway," muttered Melanie. "However, usually Young Master Axel is very sticky with the Princess!"

"So, it feels strange when it's been almost three weeks Young Master Axel is not around the Princess," Regina continued.

"That's it you two. Quickly finish your work, the Princess must hurry to go to the party," interrupted Jelena who was still busy arranging complicated accessories in my dress.

Melanie and Regina pout. "Boo, Sister Jelena is not cool!" Even so, the two continued their work to dress me up.

I just chuckled a little, then looked at the pretty figure of Serethy in the mirror.

Yeah, nothing bothers me at all about Axel's absence. There aren't.

...***...

Viten reached out his hand as we both got out of the horse carriage with the Asher Kingdom emblem in front of the Krone residence.

All the nobles who attended the birthday event immediately showed their attention to the two of us.

I got off the magnificent horse-drawn carriage, then received a helping hand from Viten.

The two of us then tracked down the floor of the party, where the entire nobility had gathered in political guise.

The orchestra stopped the chant, the nobles stopped talking, and everyone in the party hall bowed their bodies towards us.

"Greetings to the sun and the moon Asher, may happiness continue to accompany you both."

Viten raised his hand. "Don't mind me, just enjoy the party."

As if the sentence had a big effect, the party atmosphere returned to how it was. All the nobles regrouped with his social group and gossiped with each other. Even whispering to me and Viten blatantly. Fortunately, the contents of the gossip was a good talk, otherwise, this Viten must have beheaded them.

"I'm melting! Why do His Majesty and the Princess look so suitable?!"

"Really! Your Majesty is so sweet to the Princess!"

"How could I not realize there was such a perfect partner?!"

But, thankfully, it was good.

I don't care about the whispers that lead to us. Instead, we both set foot on the same destination, on the star of this feast, which was now being mobbed by nobles from all walks of life.

Upon realizing our presence, the crowd split apart, and all of them retreated. Leave the party star in the most luxurious outfit I've ever seen. Because, before Axel prefers simple clothes that are easy for him to move.

"Greetings to the sun and the moon Asher." Axel lowered his body with perfect etiquette, then commented on the gentle smile on his lips. Absolutely no trace of Axel the troublemaker on his face.

"Happy birthday to you, Young Master Axel," I said. "We're giving you a gift, I hope you like it."

The waiter Viten, who had actually been following the two of us while bowing his head deeply, now came forward and handed over the gift box.

Axel accepted it with pleasure. "Thank you very much for the gift you two, I feel that this is the best party for the twenty years I have lived."

"Sure," Viten replied calmly.

I just glared at him. He had absolutely no role in the selection of the prize. However, he insisted on wanting the gift I chose also on his behalf.

"I'll open it." Axel then opened the velvet box. Inside, a stunning gold-colored diamond brooch was plastered. "I like it, thanks again."

Axel gave the waiter a gift box naturally.

"Of course, it's quite expensive" Viten replied.

Oh my goodness, this guy.

Axel just put on a soft smile, completely unaffected by Viten's sarcastic sentence.

"Sorry when I'm sassy. Can I ask for a second gift from both of you?" axel asked without showing a different look on his face. He still put on a gentle smile that was getting more charming.

"What's that?" ask Viten.

"I'd like to ask the Princess to dance on the second song with me."

"You!" Viten hastily refuted, he clenched his teeth. "No. If you're smart enough, Young Master Axel. Serethy is the King's fiancee, the future Queen, why are you so eager to ask Serethy to dance with you?"

Axel slightly lowered his body. "I know very well that when my request is so presumptuous, I am self-conscious, Your Majesty. But I really don't know what else to do."

Vitem stared at Axel with an undefined look on his face.

"I'm really desperate" Axel said. "To be honest, the feeling that was blowing inside me was hard to control. I am very presumptuous, but if the Princess approves my request, then His Majesty's opinion will definitely be set aside."

"It's not how, Young Master Axel," Viten replied, as if he had not given up. "Everyone here already knows that Serethy is my fiancee, of course other men can't touch Serethy at will. Serethy is not just any woman, she is the future Queen Asher. Take that, Young Master Axel."

I could see Axel's pitiful look in his eyes, as well as how Axel was biting his lips hard.

"Pardon my presumptuous request, Your Majesty." Axel bent his body. "Please enjoy the party."

Then, Axel turned his body without even glancing at me the item once.

I know for a fact that if I was the king's fiancee, for Axel to touch me in the dance of course make other people's opinions of me decrease. It can affect the support I get hard-earned.

However, there were various strange feelings when he saw the disappointed look in his charming golden eyes. There is something that evokes feelings of guilt in me, making me feel restless.

Not only that, Axel did not argue with Viten. It is a miracle that when the two meet, there is always endless debate when there is no situation that forces them to stop.

Not only that, Axel even looked at me with a different highlight. Usually, the expressive Axel will always express his heart and mind. This time, however, he was so stiff.

Axel forced himself to display the role of a worthy noble. And it doesn't look like Axel at all.

In the end, my daydream was cut off by the sound of the orchestra at the first dance.

I danced with Viten on the first half song. Then conversed with the head of the noble family, business partner of Viten, noble lady and mistress, and, as well as those who thank me for opening a free consultation service without any fees or compulsion. They flattered me so much, if I hadn't trained myself not to fall asleep, I would have gone mad with praise.

Later, there are also mentions of Etrill and Kallistar. I just answered their questions with what I wrote in the gossip paper. They then nodded with satisfaction at my answer. And fortunately, there was nothing annoying about Etrill and Kallistar forcing me to say nonsense about them.

The party is almost over, but I can't help but feel uneasy.

Axel doesn't look anywhere. The party star seemed to disappear after his dance invitation was firmly rejected by Viten.

I'm concerned.

...***...

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december 20th, 2022