We agreed late that day to come up with some plans together. It was because I didn't want to end it simply by winning against the opponent.

Winning against a foreign swordsman was not enough. Somehow, I'd have to dig up the opponent's weaknesses, use it, and drive them into a corner.

Of course, I was very active in devising such a scheme.

"Miss Annabelle, how can you come up with such a mean thought of hitting someone in the back of the head like this?"

Robert shook his head in admiration, and I quickly nailed it.

"See, you fell for it. I hope that you will immediately shout 'contract marriage for the throne' three times in your heart."

(tl/n: Robert's saying he couldn't believe how Annabelle could come up with an evil plan while Annabelle's saying the whole point is that he fell for it.)

"Shout it out five times."

Ian seriously spoke.

'Ha...'

I glanced at Ian with a chilly sensation.

Ian then spoke again.

"The prince is a man who acts only for the throne."

"Ian."

Robert replied with a sigh.

"You looked sour when we were planning."

I shook my head.

"It's not that he's indifferent, it's just he wouldn't have anything to say."

To be honest, Ian wasn't very helpful because he was so fair-minded that he didn't fit in with conspiracy or scheme.

"I would have thought you had to sweep everything away rather than doing things in such complicated ways."

Although the opponent had yet to show his identity to sweep and win.

In this case, I was more prominent than Ian.

It was because I was equipped with all the lowly attitudes I had been learning from Reid and Caitlyn.

"Anyway, if we make it this far, I believe the prince will do an amazing job."

"Get ready. I wish the banquet would come sooner rather than later."

"Yes."

"Soon, I will formally send an invitation to the Rainfield Mansion with the details of the partner application."

It was Ian who slowly responded to Robert's exasperated words.

"It won't be the Rainfield Mansion, it'll be the Duke of Wade's."

He kept his mouth shut the whole time with a gloomy face, and added in a low voice.

"Also, there seems to be no need for an escort that day."

"Yes?"

Startled at Ian's words, I blinked and asked.

"You're coming?"

"Then you thought I wouldn't go?"

"I thought you didn't go to places like banquets."

As far as I knew, in the original story, he didn't attend such banquets, so I thought he wouldn't come.

"What are you talking about? It's the prince's birthday banquet."

"Ian."

Robert smiled shyly.

"If you attend this time, it means you're coming to my birthday party for the first time. For your information, I'll be 22 years old."

"...And how can I not attend such an important event?" (pr/n: Shameless skdnfb)

I held back the words that there was no role for you this time.

~*~

It was quite late at night when I left and returned to Duke Wade's side mansion.

However, my family gathered together and waited for me.

"This is why..."

When I sat down while I rolled my eyes, Aaron opened his mouth.

"I solemnly declare that I can no longer sit by and watch Prince Robert and my sister's rumors."

I didn't have much to say.

It was also funny to deny more here.

Robert ran to the Rainfield mansion, but he couldn't always shout "we're just close friends" like a parrot.

"I think..."

So I mumbled looking at my family with a solemn look on my face.

"There was a crisis that the prince almost liked me."

I would have expected it, but my family looked shocked, and I quickly added.

In fact, there was something more surprising.

Just in case, if I said 'maybe Ian too...', it would be a mess.

Of course, my mind was already a mess.

"But first of all, I don't think the feeling is deep."

I told the truth.

"I honestly conveyed that the prince is not my ideal type, so it will fade away."

"Hold on a minute... Did my daughter say she rejected the prince?"

My mother said in a trembling voice, unable to stop her shaking eyes.

"Of course, I didn't want to go to the imperial family... No, but..."

Aaron also blinked and intervened.

"Then what kind of person is your ideal type? If it's Prince Robert, there would've been nothing to lose."

"I like someone who is extremely nice and common-sense and can pass by as if he were not there."

I once again told Robert about my ideal type, and my family members exchanged glances as if they were in a difficult situation.

I wanted to point out something, but it seemed like I couldn't really point it out.

"Anyway, so I hope you can relax about the rumors now. Of course..."

I felt awkward to continue talking, so I scratched my cheek and opened my mouth.

"...Even though I'm going to the upcoming banquet with Prince Robert."

Once again, there was silence.

My father, who had been taking a deep breath for a while, managed to speak out.

"Annabelle. Of course, you're very precious, but..."

My father held my hand in a trembling voice and continued to talk.

"You can't torture hope to someone you don't care about."

In a way, it was natural for my father to misunderstand.

But that didn't mean I could help it because of the duel that might happen at the banquet.

After all, my intention to not worry about my family would be over.

In the end, I spit it out with a feeling that it was going to happen.

"But it's Prince Robert's request. I've been congratulated on my birthday before from him too."

"Ah."

Aaron nodded.

"The day you came to Rainfield Restaurant back then, right? It was on sister's anniversary. Well, I can't say it's an anniversary now."

"Until then, I have spent my birthday alone every year. So I couldn't refuse."

I was very happy.

"He asked me to spend that birthday together."

I felt a little sorry for Robert, but I had no choice but to say that everything was going well for each other.

"Yes...that's right... My daughter has been... uh huh huh..."

So my father's true lecture ended in tears.

"Good."

Then my mother said bitterly.

"I had time to spare because the store was going to close anyway."

"What?"

"I have made countless banquet dresses. But now my daughter is going to a banquet."

My mother's eyes twinkled.

"It could even be the first and last banquet, so shouldn't a masterpiece be worn?"

More passionate than ever, my mother even clenched her fists.

"Yes... Then I'll just go inside."

I stood up, slowly avoiding my mother's eyes.

"I'm going to go to Leslie for training tomorrow morning."

The banquet was a banquet, and I wanted to properly evaluate the abilities I got after killing the deer.

"You must have been tired from moving today, but everyone should go to sleep."

As I spoke shyly, my father, who had been sniffing, suddenly raised his head.

"Annabelle."

"Yes?"

Father wiped away his tears.

"Think specifically about how you feel when you are together."

"Together?"

"For example, I like your mother, who keeps her focus and demonstrates her craftsmanship even in such a sad and difficult situation."

It seemed to be a story about imagining the specific behavior of a man with no character, who I had chosen as my ideal type.

I wiggled my fingers and spoke slowly.

"I am... I think it's good to have a man who takes care of me so well that it bothers me."

"Really?"

"Yes. A meticulous person who takes care of things and looks after me."

I couldn't bear to say that because I had been living a life where I wasn't taken care of until now.

"For example..."

Then, a sudden thought raised my fever, and I quickly added.

"Ah! I'll really go to bed. Have a nice sleep everyone!"

Although it was days spent as fake lovers, it reminded me of some pretty good moments.

His tone was blunt, but in those moments, he took care of everything from eating to sleeping.

It was very strange to know that the person I was thinking of at that moment was Ian.

That night, because the new bed was unfamiliar, I tossed and turned a few more times.

From the splendid imperial palace banquet to a quite intense duel, I kept thinking of other things.

"Even though I fell for you at first sight."

Not only was the confession that had been 8 years old, but also the reasonable doubts that had sprouted made my heart thump.

It wasn't difficult to notice and guess Robert's heart, but the more I thought about Ian's mind, the more it became a labyrinth.

If you were sane, you wouldn't have liked me, but aren't all people insane in front of rational liking?

'Hold on.'

I opened my eyes to a sudden thought.

'Does that mean that Ian also has a partner? I heard that you usually have a partner at a banquet.'

Ian definitely said earlier that he would escort me.

'But you would escort me?'

Even when making one plan after another, he naturally talked as if he were attending a banquet.

In the original work, Ian did not attend this banquet, so there was no mention.

'Hah, I don't know anymore.'

I forced myself to sleep with my eyes closed again.

'No matter what kind of woman Ian partners with, it has nothing to do with me.'

I didn't know, but if she were to partner with Ian, she would be a high-ranking aristocrat.

'I'm sure she would be a pretty and perfect woman. Why would I care about that?'

I tossed and turned once more while holding the blanket.

And tomorrow, if my mother caught me, I'd be measured by her for a dress all night.