"Lady Aderi another invitation has arrived," one of the maids said as they held out an envelope to Aderi.

"Thank you," Aderi said as she accepted the envelope.

"You sure are popular after your debut" Lucas said with a smile teasing Aderi.

"That's a given...I'm a daughter of a duke and duchess after all" Aderi said sighing, Lucas smiled more.

"Are you sure that's all?" Lucas asked as he leaned back on his chair.

"What else is there to me then?" Aderi asked as she looked at the envelope opening it. Lucas has a small smile on his face.

"Your beauty and personality..." Lucas mumbled as he looked away from her, Aderi looked up at Lucas.

"Huh? Sorry, I didn't hear what you said, can you repeat it?" Aderi answered as she didn't hear what Lucas said, Lucas chuckled.

"I was just thinking and said 'what else is there' well... I guess you are right that it's because you are the daughter of a Callista and Lacita" Lucas said covering up what he said earlier, Aderi just nodded taking Lucas's words without suspecting a thing.

"So have you read the invitation?" Lucas asked, Aderi shook her head.

"I was just about to read it," Aderi replied smiling, Lucas nodded.

"Oh?" Aderi said, Lucas, tilted his head curiously.

"Who is it from?" Lucas asked curiously. Aderi smiled.

"It's from miss Ari Duncan," Aderi said with a smile.

"Oh? You know her?" Lucas asked curiously, Aderi nodded.

"She is the one I bumped into in town when we chased that boy named 'Cael' I also met her at the banquet last week, we were able to chat there," Aderi said smiling.

"It's a good thing that Ari and I met, I can maintain a good friendship with her and maybe that will turn things around," Aderi thought as she read through the letter.

°

'Dear, Lady Aderi Nova Calista,

Good day to you lady Aderi. I'd like to invite you to a tea party I'll hold next week's Monday, I'm inviting all of my friends, I hope to see you their lady Aderi.

Sincerely, Ari Noelle Duncan'

°

The letter was short and friendly, Aderi smiled at the letter.

"So? What did the letter contain?" Lucas asked.

"She is inviting me to a tea party next week's Monday," Aderi said happily.

"So? Are you gonna come?" Lucas asked, Aderi nodded.

"Of course! She is a friend of mine" Aderi replied, Lucas also smiled.

"It's gonna be your first tea party!" Lucas said teasingly, Aderi's jaw dropped.

"I take that as an insult!" Aderi said standing up from her chair as she walked out of the garden pavilion.

"Hey! That was only a joke!" Lucas said as he chased after Aderi. When we were finally close to Aderi he heard her silently trying to hold in her chuckle.

"Hey! Your joke is not funny" Lucas said as he stopped walking. Aderi did the same. Aderi looked back at Lucas as she chuckled.

At the moment for Lucas, it seems like time has stopped and his heart skipped a beat.

"I'm sorry alright!? Haha, I'm sorry, alright? Now please help me pick out a flower that I can give to miss Ari" Aderi said as she turned around to continue walking, Lucas didn't say a word but just nodded as he followed Aderi.

°

°

°

"Lady Aderi, there is a festival going to the town tonight, your grandparents are one of the hosts. Would you like to come?" A maid said as she was pouring Aderi a cup of tea. Aderi who was reading on her bed looked at the maid.

"As in now?" Aderi asked, the maid nodded.

"Your grandparents are getting ready now, they didn't have time to tell you earlier due to you being busy reading invitations and replying to them," the maid said with a smile as she put the cup of tea down on Aderi's side table.

"They also said that if you don't feel comfortable going it will be alright and no need to push yourself too hard," the maid said with a warm smile.

"I've already made my high society debut...I should go out more now due to that" Aderi thought to herself as she closed the book she was reading.

"I shall go then...call the maids to help me dress," Aderi said as she picked up the cup of tea.

"Then I shall tell the others-- it will take a minute, please excuse me," the maid said bowing before going out of the room.

Aderi quickly drank her tea.

"Hm...a festival" Aderi mumbled as she looked at the book in her hands.

°

°

There was a knock on the door and one of the maids opened it.

"Aderi, dear? Are you ready to go?" Her grandmother said, Aderi looked behind her.

"Yes I am, I was just looking at the mirror," Aderi said with a smile, and her grandparents smiled.

"You look lovely dear" her grandmother complimented.

"Indeed, no wonder the two princes fell for you" her grandfather joked.

"It's not like that grandpa," Aderi replied as she followed it with a chuckle. What Aderi wanted to say was.

"Caelias will be the one to kill Aderi, and Ronan is just a nobody in the novel, they will never fall for the villainess"

"Then shall we go now?" Her grandmother asked, Aderi and her grandfather nodded.

°

°

"Aderi, dear-- if you are bored feel free to roam around, just don't get lost" her grandmother whispered in Aderi's ear as she observed that Aderi was bored by chatting and standing around at the event.

They were here for a solid 1 hour already, and all Aderi did was talk to the fellow nobles and stand. Which is boring but this was her job.

"If that's the case, please excuse me," Aderi said with a smile. Her grandmother nodded.

"Yes! Aderi's grandmother understands me a lot" Aderi said as she clenched her fist happily doing a little victory fist.

She walked away from the crowd, the event was held outside since it is a festival, commoners and nobles were all gathered, and there wasn't even a single place that is not crowded. Even the alleyways are packed.

Aderi saw a silent place, and that is the park. The park was empty and there were no lights.

"No wonder no one was around due to it being scary without a light," Aderi thought to herself.

Aderi followed the path and she stumbled on a lake after crossing a bridge, the sound of the running water was calming. There were also a lot of fireflies in the area that lit up the place. It looks so magical.

Aderi sat on the dry grassy ground, as she closed her eyes, the place was calming.

"Mind if I join?" She heard a voice from behind her, she looked behind her and saw...prince Caelias.

"Good evening your royal highness" Aderi quickly stood up and did a curtsy.

"No need for introduction, lady Aderi" Caelias answered with a smile, Aderi was now confused about why Caelias addressed her as Lady Aderi again.

Caelias sat beside Aderi, Aderi was still standing confusedly.

"Aren't you gonna join me?" Caelias asked looking up at Aderi, Aderi then came back to her senses.

"Ah! My apologies" Aderi said apologizing as she sat back down.

"May I ask what you are doing here, your highness?" Aderi asked looking at Caelias. Caelias chuckled.

"I wanted to go somewhere quiet, I didn't expect I would also see you here, lady Aderi," Caelias said with a smile, but this was a lie.

----

When the royal courage arrived he saw Aderi leaving beside her grandparents. He excused himself to his parents and followed Aderi.

----

"I see" Aderi answered.

"How about you lady Aderi?" Caelias asked. Aderi looked at the running water of the lake as she answered.

"Same excuse as yours, your highness" Aderi answered honestly, Caelias lifted his eyebrows confused.

"Do you not like people, Lady Aderi?" Caelias asked, Aderi shooked her head.

"No, it's not like that-- I just find it suffocating there when everyone is trying to judge your every move," Aderi said hugging her knees. Caelias smiled.

"I also feel the same..." Caelias said smiling, Aderi looked at Caelias, he has a smile on his face but his eyes tell something different.

"So...have you made contact with your friend? The one you mentioned at the banquet" Caelias asked switching the topic, he wants to know more about how Aderi views him.

"No, not yet..." Aderi answered.

"Do you miss him?" Caelias asked, Aderi nodded.

"Yes I do...it would be nice to have his company again," Aderi said truthfully, Caelias looked away from Aderi as he feels his face heating up.

"What if his hair color changes? His face and his voice...would you still recognize him?" Caelias asked, he was worried about how well Aderi answered this since...what if she hated that his features changed.

There was silence, Aderi still didn't answer, and Caelias braced himself for the worst.

"Yes, I would...although, it'd be hard to recognize him even more if that were the case," Aderi said with a sad smile, Caelias looked at Aderi, he felt his heart pounding.

"U-Uhm I have to go back, Lady Aderi...my parents must have been waiting for me," Caelias said standing up, Aderi did the same.

"Then you shall go, your highness-- thank you for keeping me company, but I shall stay here a little longer, farewell your highness," Aderi said with a smile as she did a curtsy, Caelias nodded.

"It was nice talking to you Lady Aderi, farewell--until next time," Caelias said as she took Aderi's right hand and placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

Aderi was stunned and just looked at Caelias. Caelias smiled before turning back and leaving.

"EH? Why? Why did he do that!? Isn't he supposed to hate me?" Aderi asked herself as she held her hands together still shocked.