The Royal Deal

Chapter 175

“Barden, thanks again for the sword practice,” said Amethyst, “Thanks to you, I finally managed to correct my posture.”

“Pease don’t mention it,” said Barden, “You invited me to such a great dinner and gave me the opportunity to indulge in a duel with His Excellency. There is nothing that can be compared to what you have done for me.”

“It’s my way of repaying you for your help,” said Amethyst.

“It’s thanks to you that I have this honor. No everyone can dream of having a duel with the Lord,” said Barden, “It’s thanks to you that I get this opportunity!”

Barden sounds so happy, thought Amethyst, If I had known how happy this would make him, I would have helped sooner.

“Let’s have dinner together today as well!” offered Amethyst, walking at Barden’s side after swords practice.

“What? No, no, it’s okay!” said Barden hurriedly.

“Didn’t you say that he is your idol,” said Amethyst, “Let’s dine together today. You will get to meet him again.”

“No, no, really, it’s fine,” said Barden.

“Oh, come on!” insisted Amethyst, “I am fine with it. Just come.”

I don’t think Madam can become a knight one day, thought Barden. Amethyst had a remarkably low ability to read the room. Knights are supposed to understand the situation by reading the tension and people around them.

She had failed to notice the way Alexcent had stared daggers at him, yesterday. Barden couldn’t help but think that she was just too clueless to be able to be a knight.

“No. It’s really alright. Yesterday was more than enough.” Barden politely declined.

“You need to keep seeing each other to get fond of one another.”

“I don’t think there is a need to grow fond of each other.”

“Oh my, don’t say that. I’m well aware of how you feel about…” Amethyst trailed off.

Barden realized that something was wrong then. And it was necessary that he correct it before things got worse. He stopped walking and turned to Amethyst.

“What do you mean you know how I feel?” asked Barden, confused.

“I am a pretty observant person,” said Amethyst. “You mentioned about the one you like.”

“I don’t understand…” said Barden. He didn’t understand the relevance of him liking someone with the current conversation. He looked at Amethyst getting more and more confused.

“It’s Alec, isn’t it?” asked Amethyst, “The one you like.”

“What?!” He couldn’t tell if he had heard right.

“I am not that narrow-minded,” said Amethyst hurriedly, “I should have figured it out sooner…”

“Wait… wait a minute,” said Barden.

Barden took a deep breath. It was hard to keep up with her thoughts. Is that why she was trying so hard to praise me to the duke? Was she trying to get me closer to…?

Barden turned to Amethyst. “I am sorry for the misunderstanding,” said Barden, “The person I like is Lady Lohikin, not the duke!”

***

Alexcent signed the stack of documents, piled up next to him on the table, that Gen had brought in. He felt a strange presence. He set the documents aside and got up from his seat. I definitely felt her there, but also someone whom I despise.

He walked to the office window and peered out. He saw that Barden and Amethyst were engaged in an intense conversation a few paces away from the front door of the mansion.

It’s him again. Alexcent scowled.

Gen walked to where Alexcent was and followed his gaze outside wondering what had caused him to get up so abruptly in the middle of signing the documents. Isn’t that Madam… and Barden Crayson?

He looked at Alexcent to see him scowling at the two. He sighed. Seems like someone’s going to get it today. He is the heir of Marquis Crayson, so it will be troublesome if he dies. Wait… Barden Crayson!

He recalled running into Count Lohikin and Marquis Crayson in the corridor on their way to meet the empress.

“Ah!” exclaimed Gen. Gen belatedly realized he should have kept his mouth shut.

“What is it?” asked Alexcent. Nothing passed his notice.

“It’s nothing…,” said Gen.

“It doesn’t sound like ‘nothing’ to me,” said Alexcent.

“Haha,” stammered Gen, “Truly, it’s nothing.”

Seeing how Gen was adamant at avoiding his gaze and changing the subject, Alexcent cornered him. “Gen,” said Alexcent threateningly, “Tell me what it is.”

“Well…”

“Gen, I am in a very bad mood right now,” said Alexcent, “So, don’t irritate me more. For your own good.”

“It’s about Barden Crayson.”

“What about him?”

“He is the eldest son of Count Crayson.”

“So?” asked Alexcent, “I am really losing my patience here.”

“I believe that Madam had been engaged to someone else before she married you,” blurted Gen.

“What?!”

Her previous fiancé… Alexcent turned back to the window. Barden was looking at Amethyst earnestly as he spoke.

Even though Alexcent couldn’t hear what he was saying, he knew Barden had come to the mansion to meet Amethyst for sure. But why? To reclaim his fiancé? Does Amethyst feel the same way? So that’s why…