Chapter 331: The Liora Palace Incident [3]
Irene too has noticed the Ghouls in human skin.
What she must be deducing was why those ghouls are here?
Irene and Vivy had done their pre-investigation related to matters which may harm Lillian, so it was clear to her that they didn’t come to attack Lillian. That much she can tell by observing all of them.
So, there must be something else they must be after.
For the first, Irene thought of how they even got inside the kingdom of Liora, and that too so far away from the border.
Irene soon approaches the conclusion that they all must be brought here deliberately by someone who lives in the kingdom itself. Someone of high status among all the aristocrats.
As Irene walked, her white military coat swayed by her movement. The boots she was wearing made a clicking sound even though the music was loud.
She attracted a hell lotta attention from all the families here.
Surely she both looked alluring and charming to the point one couldn’t get their eyes off of her.
"Uhh, hey... see that girl?"
"From the clothing, it looks like she is Princess’s personal knight...?"
"...Huh? Are you sure she is a knight? Just look at her face!"
"Yeah, that’s what I am telling you. Hmm... do you think I may have a chance?"
"Hah, in your dream."
"...Hey, quiet down you three, you are disrupting the banquet."
Several noble kids who were gathered at the banquet murmured among each other.
Among them, a young man, probably around the age of twenty six, walked with a rather studded attitude toward the direction Irene was walking.
He greeted her politely.
Irene did not notice him at all, because she was still thinking about something far too hard to notice.
So he greeted her once again, but this time, Irene noticed.
"Oh? What do you want?" She said, glancing at him.
The noble straightened his back, cleared his throat, and flashed her what he probably assumed was his most charming smile.
"Forgive my rudeness, my lady. But from the moment you descended those stairs, I have not been able to take my eyes off of you. I have attended countless banquets in my life, met countless ladies from countless houses, and yet I can say with absolute certainty that I have never once seen a beauty quite like yours."
He then bowed slightly and extended his hand toward her.
"May I ask for a danc—"
"Abolutely not." Irene said it bluntly, cutting him off before he could even finish the word.
"Huh? Wh-what?"
Irene flashed him a small smile and shrugged her shoulders lightly.
It was a cold attitude, which even Leon was never aware of.
Lillian once told him that even in Evana, she was an unapproachable girl.
"Wow~ that was satisfying to watch."
It was Alice who said that, raising both her hands near her mouth.
She glanced at Leon and asked.
"Say, how exactly did you pull her again?"
"I did not pull anyone. If anything, she pulled me."
"Huh? Why though?"
’What is with that why...’ Leon narrowed his eyes on her.
Alice then excused herself and joined the queue to meet Lillian. Leon saw her holding a small rectangular box in her hand.
Maybe it was supposed to be a gift for Lillian?
Leon didn’t know what was inside of it, which made him curious to see what Alice was doing.
As her eyes wanted to Alice, Irene walked right up to him ignoring all the glances and stopped.
With one hand on her side and the other she adjusting her hair from her forehead swaying her bangs backward.
Leon did not speak, and neither did she.
The two of them just stood there, staring at each other.
Everyone who was watching them, especially the young nobles, and all those who had come to ask for Leon’s hand earlier that evening, raised their brows at the exact same time.
Leon has no idea what Irene would be supposed to do. And knew that she acts rather bold when it comes down to him. Even during the time when Dr. Anise invited them all for dinner, Irene just threw herself on top of Leon’s lap and declared her relationship to the whole table.
Leon did say he didn’t mind or particularly care if their relationship was exposed.
Gulp...
Irene finally spoke.
"Are you not going to praise my beauty like that guy just did?"
"...."
He blinked at what she had just demanded with such a straight face.
She had also been a bit loud when she asked it, which indeed made the others around them hear her clear as day.
"...Do you want me to praise you?"
"Yes. I do."
So straightforward.
Leon saw a slight annoyance flickering in her eyes. He wondered if it was because he had not approached her first, or because he had not praised her appearance before some random noble got to do it.
Leon glanced at her face properly this time.
Her platinum white hair was tied into a single ponytail, but there were also some loose strands falling over her eyelids. It did not make her face appear messy at all. In fact, it acted almost like a decoration.
His eyes drifted further across her face.
She was not showing it, but Leon could tell that she was feeling embarrassed as well.
’Hm? Oh, she is wearing makeup.’
Leon noticed there was a light blush tone near her eyelids and across her cheeks, and a pink lip shine resting on her lips.
And as Leon’s eyes fell on her lips, a strange sensation returned over his own.
He could still remember the warmth of her lips when they had been pressed against his.
’Hey Rumi. What do I say here?’
’....’
No reply came.
’H-hey. Stop messing—’
"Stop bothering Rumi, will ya." Irene narrowed her eyes at him.
"...What? I was not."
Damn, she was quick to catch on.
Leon thought about the right words to say but then he noticed the glances he was getting from all around him.
Those curious gazes, all of them clearly trying to identify his relation with her.
Irene saw him thinking but later she smiled.
"Hehe. I was just messing with you." She brushed it off just like that.
Was it because she felt he was getting uncomfortable?
Maybe....
Leon read her like a book.
"Haah... do you want to go somewhere more peaceful?"
Her eyes lit up.