I Will Seduce The Northern Duke

The Charming Crown Prince

Finally, the day arrived. The banquet was supposed to start at sunset, but preparations began early in the morning.

The whole day, the maids polished Selena's skin to the point where only her bones were left.

Thanks to the staff of Lumera and the jewelry store – who arrived early in the morning and passionately tended to her – Selena reached the peak of her shining beauty.

She evaluated that this treatment was comparatively more than enough to stand in front of the camera in her original era.

"Just standing still would be enough to start an argument, right?"

"You're beautiful. Why would you start an argument?"

"I'm not sure, but being beautiful is even more annoying."

Kalcion didn't seem to understand much.

At last, when they stood side by side in front of a large mirror to check, they looked like a plausible couple on the cover of a fairy tale book.

"The Duke didn't forget the rule that he must follow today, right?"

"Of course, not. I think I'm doing it fine."

He answered, not averting his gaze from Selena.

The rule was not to lose sight of Selena, even for a second.

The first reason was that she could not be accompanied by an escort in the palace.

She could no way be relieved to roam freely in the same gathering as the possible psychopath who sent an assassin after her inside the Duke's land. Rather than that, it could be dangerous because there would be countless visitors and places out of sight.

Selena was in more danger because it was her first time at the palace. It would be easier for her to get lost through the complicated structure and be stranded in a deserted area.

The second reason was that she had to be treated as someone very close to Kalcion like earlier. Her position would be certain only if Kalcion showed the inability to take his eyes off her even when he couldn't make silly comments by himself.

The goal was to get invited to a private party to be held later.

Most aristocratic families were invited to this 300th anniversary of the foundation of the empire. Therefore, it could be possible that some of them might leave without any gossip. Whether it was cursing or an invitation she received, she had to pounce into play.

"It's as difficult for commoners to become aristocrats as it is to reach the stars, but even when they're born as aristocrats, they have to wait in a line. It's the same for everyone to live anywhere. Irrespective of status, competition, and rank."

Kalcion agreed with a laugh at Selena's grumbling.

The carriage rattled smoothly as it took them towards the imperial palace.

This time, it was in the direction opposite to that of the market, so she got to watch an unfamiliar scenery outside the window.

"There are a lot of carriages. I suppose everyone is on their way to the palace."

"That's right. It's important to reach on time."

"Before it begins?"

"Before the royal family enters. Afterward, you aren't allowed to enter except for those who are higher than royalty."

"What if it's too late?"

"According to the principle, you will be marked absent and you'll have to write a letter for the crime of treason but in reality, they sneak in through the back door. Of course, they aren't announced when they sneak in."

"So it's okay for others to be late, but not the Duke. He will be in trouble."

The prince was searching for a way to fight him. All in all, mistakes like this – which could be marked as treason – should be avoided as much as possible.

Selena glanced outside. As they approached the palace, the number of carriages on the road increased.

"Do all those nobles gather at the same time?"

"Some arrive in the city in the morning. If they have to come from afar, they arrive a day earlier and rent a room at the palace."

"Why are we right on time?"

"What's the point of going early? It's annoying."

Neither did he care about being late nor unable to participate. If he couldn't participate because he was late, he would be glad to return home.

She glanced outside again to discover a carriage looking as grand as Kalcion's.

He said nobles would arrive a day in advance or the morning if they lived far away. Those who were on time were at least confident that they'd reach on time, right?

"Where is that carriage from?"

She asked, pointing to the nearby carriage. The carriage was red in color with flashy golden designs on the outside, and likewise, a golden family emblem on the door.

"Marquis of Renefti."

Kalcion answered as soon as he saw it. So, the family was significantly influential for him to recognize so fast.

"What about that?"

She pointed to a dark pink carriage.

"……It's from Thiolan."

It was Rosalyn's family. Selena grimaced just like Kalcion did.

She quickly turned her head to another window in disgust. This time, it was a dark navy carriage her eyes landed on.

"And that?"

"Duke of Ziond."

Selena confirmed the theory she had in her mind.

"So, there are only prominent families' carriages running beside us."

Kalcion glanced outside the window and took a careful look.

"…..It seems so."

"It may just be my guess, but doesn't the entry of each family matter? The later we arrive, the higher in a position we are, I presume?"

"That's something I've never thought about."

"If you live farther away from here, you'll have to leave earlier than those who live close by. Then, doesn't the value of the noble who lives in a mansion close to the palace increase?"

"……I guess so."

Even if there was a lot of land, the nobles who had a mansion in the Capital were limited. The land near the center of the city was difficult and expensive to buy.

Late arrival was linked to bragging about one's home and wealth.

"Even if we don't arrive late, rumors will spread about my financial situation."

"Still, I want to brag about how I feel. It's relieving."

"It's annoying."

"It's the same for me."

Selena agreed with a grin.

"But I'm not very popular yet, so I have to rush it even if it's funny, right?"

Those at the peak of social circles had the privilege of looking down on somebody without even participating in a competition.

The sharp-witted coachman drove the carriage at a speed so that she could arrive at the end without being ordered otherwise. By this point, she thought she would arrive safely.

She gazed outside the window.

However, accidents happened in the most unexpected of places.

"Ah!"

The wagon, which was running smoothly, made a severe jolt all of a sudden.

Selena was almost thrown out of the window, but thanks to Kalcion's strong arms, she was entrapped in the center of the carriage.

The wagon jolted a few more times before coming to a stop.

"What's going on?"

Dion, who was escorting the carriage on his horse, talked to the coachman and returned with the report.

"It seems there's a problem with the wheel."

"The wheel?"

The coachman hurried down to inspect the wheels. Meanwhile, about 45 carriages passed by them.

"I-I found this attached inside one of the wheels. I've never seen this before……"

The coachman stuttered, afraid that he might be punished.

It looked like a wire with cogs. The wheel broke as a result of this getting tangled in the wheel.

"Didn't the carriage go under final inspection?"

"It did! However, it was tangled in a place we don't really inspect before the ride……"

The coachman mumbled.

The object could not be spotted until someone crawled under the wagon. That place didn't need to be inspected on a regular basis.

Perhaps, someone secretly wound it up in the vehicle when the coachman parked it to take a walk around the city.

After traveling for a few days, the wheel was no longer able to withstand it.

"…..Is this a new method?"

If they failed to arrive by the beginning of the party, not only would Kalcion commit treason, but Selena's social debut would also be ruined from the start.

It was clear that someone intentionally did it.

"It's cute compared to an assassination."

A good way to stop a lady's social debut.

"Time is…. too short to bring a new wagon from the mansion."

Kalcion frowned. He was annoyed by the fact that he had to pay attention to such minor things. Getting attacked by a sharp object was a much quicker way to end it. But this… it got into his nerves. If this repeated, what was the difference between death and getting insulted by people?

Leaving Kalcion – who ran his fingers through his hair in frustration – Selena paced around the wagon.

It was dangerous to wait for a carriage now. However, if she missed today's banquet as it was, she didn't know when the next opportunity would knock on her door.

The palace entrance was seen in the distance. It wouldn't make any sense to rent another carriage.

‘Will it be any better?'

She would appear impressive, but she would most probably be teased forever for this. It'd be no different if she prayed to God.

A few seconds later, Selena's eyes discovered something.