Queen of The Scalpel - Chapter 61
A middle-aged man approached them and started speaking to the Marquis.
“It’s been a while, Marquis. I’ve been hearing many things from Wale.”
“Ah, Your Grace the Duke.”
It was Duke Harver, from the rural Wale.
“Greetings to Your Grace. My name is Chris, and I’m the second oldest in the Clarence family.”
“I heard a lot about you as well. They say you’re an important person in the Bureau.”
The two offered a separate conversation with the Duke. They realized he had something to say to them about Wale. The Marchioness was pulled away by her friend, and Elise was left alone.
She gripped her head and looked around the ballroom. ‘Is there a corner I can rest in?’ She wanted to enjoy the ball even if she was sick, but she wasn’t too interested in it right now. She wanted to sit outside, but it wasn’t polite to go back outside right as soon as she came in.
‘Oh, that corner. I can rest there.’ She moved towards somewhere that was partially hidden from view.
“Haa…”
She sighed. After the short walk, she was dizzy and her head hurt. Her body hurt like someone had hit her all over, and she wanted to lie down somewhere. ‘If only I can go back…’
But there was still a lot of time until the Emperor gave his speech. She wondered how she was going to be able to wait until then. At that moment, she heard the blaring of trumpets.
“The Crown Prince!”
“…!”
Elise was surprised. ‘The Crown Prince already?’ She knew her husband from her past life. He hated balls, so he only showed up right before it was over. But he was already here?
“Greetings to the Crown Prince!”
And that wasn’t the only thing that was different. He accepted greetings from everyone and started to look around. Like he was searching for someone.
“…?”
“Is there someone you’re looking for, Your Highness?”
Everyone around him looked at him strangely. Elise tilted her head in the corner she was in. Was he really looking for someone?
Then, his gaze slid past the crows and landed exactly in the corner she was in.
“…!”
Elise jumped meeting his gaze. ‘Is he looking at me?’ Elise thought it was weird. ‘No way.’ But she shook her head. It was a wide distance, and he couldn’t have seen it was her. Even if he did, why would he be staring at her like that?
‘Who’s around me?’She looked around her, but there were only a few servants around. ‘I don’t know.’ She looked away from him because she thought he wasn’t looking at her.
‘Now that I think about it, he’ll be at this ball as well. I wonder when he’s coming?’ Looking at the Crown Prince, she was reminded of him. ‘He always arrived early to flirt with the ladies. I didn’t see him today.’
She smiled thinking of him. Another member of the Imperial Palace. He was a complete womanizer, as well as her only friend in her past life.
‘It’s interesting. My relationship with those I should’ve been closest to ended in tragedy, but I stayed friends with him, who I should’ve stayed away from.’ She was now not related to the Imperial Palace in any way, but she still wanted to see him. It was a memory only she had, but her relationship with him was special.
“Who’s this? Oh, it’s been a while, Lady Clarence.”
Just then, a high pitched voice addressed her. She turned her head to see a noble lady who looked slightly annoyed. ‘Who was this again?’
“Um…sorry…but who are you…?”
“What? Are you saying you don’t know who I am? Ha! Outrageous!”
Elise didn’t know what to do. ‘I really don’t remember that well. What should I do?’ For the lady, it had probably only been a few months, but for Elise, it was 30 years. But she managed to remember who it was.
“Lady Vermont.”
“What an honor it is for you to remember me! Even though like you said last time, our family is really nothing compared to yours!”
Elise felt awkward. It was clear she was trying to pick a fight. ‘The Count Vermont family. One of the Noble Party families.’ They were clear enemies with the Imperial Party’s Marquis family. A family’s political stance affected the societal parties and such.
Right now, she wasn’t that well known in society, because she wasn’t announced as the Crown Prince’s fiancee. She didn’t have her debutante ball yet, and she lacked charisma. ‘What did I do to the Vermont family in the past?’
After some thought, she was able to remember. It was too bad of a mistake. Just something that was unpleasant for the other person to hear. She acknowledged her mistake.
“Lady Vermont.”
“Yes?”
“I was wrong for speaking immaturely about your family. I sincerely apologize.”
Elise bowed her head.
“…!”
Lady Vermont dropped her mouth. The immature Lady Clarence was apologizing to her?
“This probably won’t make you forget about the unpleasant past…I’m sorry. It was because I was too young. I’ll be grateful if you forgive me.”
“N-No. Since you’re saying that, I’ll look over it as well.”
The surprised Lady Vermont stuttered. ‘What happened?’