I ran towards the two with a puzzled look on my face.

“Why is father here? You’ve been out since the morning because you had work!”

“I finished work a little early. When I got home, Lord Kardien was waiting for you. I’ve been talking to him because he looks bored.”

You’re not entertaining him, you’re torturing him!

My father looked happy because he hasn’t gotten a chance to talk for a long time.

But Lucian, who was unilaterally attacked, wouldn’t have been happy.

I turned my head in a hurry and looked at Lucian’s face.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m okay.”

Clean skin.

Clear eyes.

Pretty smile.

Fortunately, Lucian’s face looked fine as if my father’s attack didn’t go on for long.

“I’m glad.”

I lowered my relieved eyebrows.

“I’m sorry. It took longer to get ready than I thought. If I had known this would happen, I would have been more hasty.”

“Don’t be.”

Lucian, who answered softly, stared at me.

His stare was a little embarrassing, so I joked.

“I know. I’m really beautiful, aren’t I?”

“Yes.”

The answer made my father and I pause for a moment.

Silence flowed through the drawing room.

I coughed with a slightly red face.

“Who taught you to answer so boldly?”

“I didn’t learn, I just told the truth. Did I make any mistakes?”

His innocent face made me pause once again.

If we continue this conversation further, I will be hit with a bigger attack.

“Let’s go before it’s too late.”

Lucian’s carriage was waiting in front of the mansion.

I rapped out pure admiration.

This is the carriage that the Emperor offered to Lucian. It’s incredible.

The six-wheeled carriage was so huge. A regular carriage was no match for it.

The exterior decorations, which were made of ivory from white elephants, were shiny, and the rigid body had knight Kardien engraved.

Water drops, flowers and swords.

Whoever made it, it was perfect for Lucian.

Lucian reached out his hand while I was looking at the delicately carved patterns.

“Let’s get in, Lady Pernia.”

After holding his hand and getting into the carriage, I was more impressed.

The sleek and glossy leather seats were not like anything I’ve seen before. Even as the carriage began to move, it was comfortable like I was on the clouds.

It was different from my family’s carriage, which looked fine but it was worn out. My ass would burn after it moved just a little.

“This is how money tastes like.”

My eyebrows have been shaking, feeling the power of money.

Lucian, who sat opposite, asked in a worried voice.

“What’s wrong, my lady? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

“No way. No one would feel uncomfortable with this carriage. I think I could ride a carriage like this all year round.”

Lucian gently bent his eyes at my words.

“I’m glad to hear that. We’ll be at our destination soon, so make yourself at home,” said Lucian, who took out his notes and started to write something down.

<Lady Pernia’s hip muscles have developed.>

What- writing things like that…

After completing the note, Lucian turned his eyes back at me.

No matter how wide the carriage is, it was uncomfortable for the person sitting opposite to look at it.

So I gave out a little sigh.

“Excuse me, Lord Kardien.”

“Yes.”

“I think my makeup moved a millimeter after I got in the carriage.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

He turned his eyes with a puzzled look, but for a moment, his eyes faced me again.

I was reflected in the bright red eyes like a jewel.

I squinted my eyes with a troubled look.

I’ll never feel affection for you.

His eyes were too pure to say that. I feel like he really wants to know me as a person.

What the hell? Am I that attractive?

I was sure he would nod if I asked him that.

I eventually swallowed what I wanted to ask and changed my words.

“You didn’t wear the clothes I bought you. Did you not like it when you tried it on?”

Lucian shook his head with his eyes wide open.

“Not at all. I didn’t wear it because I have to go to the training camp right away after taking the lady. If you watch the men’s training, there’s a high risk of getting your clothes damaged.”

He continued with his eyes down.

“And I didn’t want that.”

It’s such a precious gift.

The hidden meaning reached the back of my ear.

I was a little reddened by the unexpected remark.

Hey. Someone might think I gave you an extremely precious gift.

It’s just a few clothes.

I couldn’t control my expression, so I bit my lips.

‘Oh, who taught you such pretty words?’ I thought, barely holding back the urge to touch his chin.

“I see. I’ll look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.”

* * *

The carriage soon arrived in front of the banquet mansion.

After receiving Lucian’s escort, I got off the carriage and said,

“Thank you for escorting me. It saved me from the embarrassment of riding in a rented carriage.’

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

I nodded.

You shouldn’t be ashamed of yourself. Rather, you should be proud of yourself.

Among the carriages that arrived at the banquet hall, Lucian’s wagon was definitely colorful and huge.

The nobles were looking this way with a mixture of envy and admiration.

That’s why you drive a Benz. That’s when I realized the power of a luxury car. (T/N: she’s talking about modern cars, Mercedes Benz)

“I’ll go then.”

“Oh, wait a minute.”

Lucian raised his hand and stroked the pin on my head.

It was a soft touch.

“The pin was a little crooked. It’s all right now.”

Ugh. Why is my chest beating from this little act?

Lucian smiled softly at me trying to hide my pounding heart.

“Then have a good time. I’ll pick you up when it’s time.”

I heard some of the people around us screaming.

Anyways, Lucian’s a very sinful man.

Today’s banquet was a regular gathering of young aristocrats to build friendship.

Around the white table in the garden with green grass, two to three finely dressed up women gathered to talk.

But I felt something was wrong the moment I entered the banquet hall.

The women who were rumbling like larks stopped talking. It’s as if someone who shouldn’t have come is here.

What’s this?

Pernia was the leader of the group.

When I appeared, countless women came to the scene, giving me a lot of praise and flattery.

What is this sudden change of attitude?

A woman walked out as she raised her eyebrows for no reason at all.

Pernia’s closest friend, her most treasured subordinate, is Lady Erica.

Instead of the flattering me, she said sarcastically.

“Oh, isn’t that Lady Pernia? Why is a commoner saint more important than nobles like us?”

At that moment I realized why they turned their backs on me.

On the day of my engagement, the aristocracy, including Erica, worked hard to put Estelle to shame.

Some of them detested of Estelle, but there must have been a great reason to ingratiate Penia. (T/N: ingratiate- bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them)

If I was the usual Pernia, I’d be happy to accept their slander.

But I let go of their expectations and cried out loud, ‘She’s the best!’

That’s why they detest me now.

I didn’t think about this.

I looked at the women standing behind Erica.

The women’s faces were all cold. It was a look of hostility. They were not pleased with me at all.

Erica, carrying them on her back, said with her chin up.

“Lady Pernia, I’ve been thinking about why she changed her behavior all of a sudden. The lady was more proud of her nobility than anyone else. But……”

Erica lowered her eyes and looked at me and burst into laughter.

“Looking at the way you’re dressed today, I think I know why. Lilac’s finances are very tight these days. That’s why you did that. You went to the commoner saint’s side to get some help from her.”

She was mocking of me wearing out-of-date dresses and accessories.

The women standing around Erica nodded.

“Yes, I’m finally convinced.”

“The saint has a disease that she must help her less fortunate neighbors. If you dress up like that, she’ll help you.”

The women giggled at me and Estelle.

Wow, these people. How can they be so mean?

I was gonna run and grab their hair, but I held it in.

Those girls who hate me to the fullest are just the same as poor supporting roles like me.

Oh, it’s because the writer wrote them like that. What the hell are you doing?

I walked forward without a single response.

At that moment, some women screeched back, startled, but it wasn’t them that I had business with.

I sat in an empty seat in a corner, avoiding where those women were gathered.

A seat that a real Pernia would never have sat down. But this seat was good enough for today.

If I try to sit at your usual central table, I’ll have a fierce battle with those women.

I didn’t want to.

What’s the point of fighting with people like them? You’re destined to go through hardships in life, so you should take good care of each other. If I stay still like a dead rat, they’ll be quiet.

To begin with, it was such a complacent idea.

The women, who were wary of Pernia’s notoriety at first, began to raise the level of their words as I gently sipped the tea.

“And, I saw that Lady Pernia came here in Lord Kardien’s carriage. You are so kind.”

“That was very shocking. No matter how much the Emperor cherishes him as a knight, you can’t ignore that he is a commoner orphan.”

“Well, it’s for the same reason why you worked to please the saint. It doesn’t matter where he’s from, you just wanted to get something from your fiancée, right?”

Erica clicked her tongue.

“Poverty is a scary thing.”

You’re scarier, you little girl.