“I, I… I…!”

Under everyone’s attention, Flory stuttered and couldn’t continue speaking.

Wendy, who had been harshly treated along with her at the boutique by Luna, had left the place long ago, afraid of being implicated.

Even the friendly nobles didn’t readily stand up for her. No one was there to help Flory in a situation where even Seira had fled.

In the midst of hostile and mocking eyes, a trembling Flory suddenly burst into tears and yelled.

“I really haven’t done anything wrong! I only told the truth! Because young lord had a friendly conversation with me and then left!”

“When on earth did I have a conversation with you, and how can you say we had such a friendly conversation when you don’t even know my name?”

Antes interrupted her and asked.

Naturally, thinking she would shut up since there wasn’t such a fact, but Flory yelled again, seemingly very wronged.

“At the coming-of-age ceremony! That day young lord even apologized to me…!”

Only then did Antes realize who she was. The owner of the carriage that had cut in line when he was in a hurry to meet Luna.

Flory’s words that there really was something, and Antes’s expression prompted Luna to poke his side for an answer.

If by any chance he had had a friendly conversation with Flory, they couldn’t entirely blame Seira and Flory for this incident. However.

“Ha…! Didn’t the conversation we had back then consist of just two or three words? I think it ended when the young lady got angry at me for cutting in line, and I apologized for it.”

“But still, young lord smiled at me!”

“Then do you get angry when I made a mistake and apologized? Like this?”

Rubbing his forehead as if genuinely bothered, Antes sighed. It had been a while since he met such a frustrating person. Not as much as Fersen, but quite on a similar level.

“Oh my goodness…”

“This is the first time I’ve heard such a ridiculous excuse.”

Everyone couldn’t help but chuckle at Flory’s absurd response. So – she was arguing about being wronged and stolen from by another woman over exchanging just a couple of words.

But contrary to their mockery, they found it quite interesting. Attending the party to witness such comical scenes was the reason.

Now they had something to talk and enjoy for a few years, everyone was happy while Flory, unable to bear the shame, started crying loudly.

It was very disgraceful. It would have been better for her to blush and run away.

Then.

“Fl-Flory?!”

Appearing belatedly, Viscount Flora called out to his daughter who was crying out loud.

“Ah, Father…!”

At this, Flory, who had been crying with her face buried in her hands, hurried over to the Viscount and hugged him. The Viscount and Viscountess couldn’t hide their bewildered expressions.

She said she would greet acquaintances before the party started, but now, Flora was sobbing in front of everyone.

“I wonder if Viscount Flora knew about the accident concerning his daughter?”

“Well, from what I see, I don’t think they have grasped the situation yet.”

“That’s true, if they knew, they would have apologized right away.”

But with the ensuing criticism, the Viscount and Viscountess realized that Flora had done something wrong.

They had been on good terms with Karen, but after her refusing to visit dozens of times, they felt something was amiss, as if she had been behaving wrongly outside.

It seemed better to check what exactly happened once they got back.

With the harsh glances coming their way, the Viscount hurriedly took Flora and left the spot. The Viscountess, who had been stiff with contemplation all along, bowed to apologize and followed the Viscount.

“It seems the parents are decent people.”

It seemed more like they heard roughly what happened, felt embarrassed, and ran away. Nonetheless, they weren’t as odd as their daughter.

Once the situation was sorted out, the nobles dispersed each with their commentary and mocking laughter.

Finally, it’s over, Luna thought as she let out a small sigh.

They had been the spectacle for a while, but it wasn’t unpleasant, as the ridicule and criticism shifted to Seira and Flory.

It indeed seemed better to clarify things upfront than being slandered and hiding behind.

If she had clarified it earlier, the nasty rumors wouldn’t have spread. While Luna had a moment of regret, Antes, with an unpleasant expression, asked:

“Has the Lady’s suspicion been cleared?”

It seemed he was upset about being nudged about what had happened, but Luna explained that wasn’t the case.

“It wasn’t a suspicion, but a plea to clarify quickly. What suspicion?”

She had doubted a bit, but not about him being friendly with other nobles, but whether he had forgotten about discussing things with Flory.

Of course, it was a reasonable doubt. No matter how brief, had he not forgotten Flory? Besides, they had a good conversation using a beauty.

But hiding such feelings, when Antes retorted with the beauty account he often used, he stared at Luna for a moment, then sighed shortly and extended his hand.

“What is it?”

“We need to go to the main banquet hall. The party is about to start.”

Now that she thought about it, the party hadn’t even started yet.

Though a sudden event had made it a bit tiresome, as it was the first New Year’s party she’d attend, she was curious about what it was like.

“Moreover.”

Antes gestured around. It meant, considering they had become the monkeys of the zoo, it was time to move.

With that, Luna, without saying anything, held Antes’ hand and headed to the main banquet hall with him.

* * *

“Lady Peils?”

As they entered the main banquet hall, Marchioness Vincent spoke to Luna. The Marquis was with her.

Whether it was about matching the design and color, the Marquis couple dressed in navy looked at Antes with startled rabbit eyes, then greeted Luna.

“My, you’re very beautiful. What did you sprinkle on your hair? It sparkles so I couldn’t help but look. Have you been well?”

“Ah, yes, thank you. I have been well. Your dress is very beautiful too, Madam. Did you match it with the Marquis?”

“That’s right. Oh, thanks for the greeting card. I didn’t expect a reply but you kindly gave one, it made me so happy.”

Though Marchioness Vincent lied like this, as if she hadn’t pestered Rosemary to get a reply, she smiled brightly.

At that, Luna expressed her gratitude sincerely.

“It’s nothing. I was really happy to receive a greeting card from you. Thank you very much.”

As if making sure they were a couple, the Marquis also didn’t reveal the truth. And he was more interested in something else than such trivial matter.

“…Antes.”

It was Antes, his son, whom he met after about ten years.

The Marquis, who hadn’t been able to see his eldest son’s face properly as he would go somewhere whenever visited, called him with mixed emotions.

“It seems like you’ve been doing well.”

“…”

Upon this, Antes looked at the Marquis for a moment without any particular response, then turned his gaze away. Thanks to this, only Luna, who was next to him, felt embarrassed.

“It seems like it’s embarrassing to see you after a long time. Young lord seems to be very shy.”

“…Oh, Lady.”

So, when Luna smiled brightly and made a joke, Antes gave her a straight face.

Normally, he would have responded to the joke with a smile and a joke.

He really disliked the mood so Luna shut her mouth. Since it was a family story that wasn’t shown well in the original work, she couldn’t just say things carelessly.

She couldn’t mess up the atmosphere like this, so when she smiled awkwardly, the Marchioness, reading Luna’s heart, started to talk about the weather pointlessly.

“It’s a relief that the weather is good. I was worried about what if it rains as it’s warm for winter.”

“Oh, indeed. If it had rained, the dress, which I wear after a long time, would have been ruined.”

Upon this, Luna hastily responded.

Fortunately, neither the Marchioness nor the Marquis seemed to mind Antes’ cold response. On the contrary, they seemed relieved seeing Antes looking physically healthy.

They seemed like quite good parents, so she wondered why they were so twisted. It was a very curious moment.

“Young lady Luna!”

Rosemary, who hurriedly entered the main banquet hall, looked very serious, it seemed like she had heard about the whole situation.

“Are you okay?”

Sure enough, she hurried to Luna and immediately checked on Luna’s condition.

She was pretty worried because of the ridiculous accusation. Upon this, the Marchioness asked the reason in confusion.

“What happened?”

“Young lady Luna was falsely accused! Although it seems that she has smartly and perfectly resolved it, while I was away, a big incident had happened.”

Rosemary, who responded so, pushed away Antes’ hand and held Luna’s arm.

“From what I heard, it seems like my brother caused the problem. He not only cannot make people happy but can cause trouble, right?”

Then, she separated Luna from Antes.

“If you’ve heard the whole situation, you should know it was a misunderstanding.”

Antes got irritated, asking what she was doing, but Rosemary retorted as if she had been choked.

“You shouldn’t have created room for misunderstanding! Like me! I have never caused any trouble to Lady Luna, right?”

“It’s questionable if Lady Luna would think the same. She looks very uncomfortable right now.”

Under Antes’ harsh words, Rosemary stared at Luna. Her puppy-like eyes were begging to say no.

“No, I’m not uncomfortable.”

So when she responded like that, Rosemary sneered and stood up against Antes.

“Did you hear that? So from now on, Lady Luna will be with me.”

“…What?”

Antes reacted as if that was nonsense, but Rosemary, who didn’t care, pulled Luna’s arm and suggested while taking her somewhere,

“Lady Luna. Shall we drink the juice we had last time? Or how about wine? It seemed like you liked wine.”

After them, Antes followed with annoyance all over him. He really didn’t want to accompany them, but the only reason he attended the party was Luna.

Unexpectedly, thanks to Rosemary’s tantrum, an opportunity arose to observe Antes a little more, so the Marquis and Marchioness quietly followed behind.