~The String of Fate~ discontinued... Well, continued on another account 😁😁

Chapter 13:

Finally. It's the day of the imperial ball. Or was it a banquet?

I honestly couldn't care less but this was the day I was going to ruin whatever was left of my reputation and break of your engagement.

"You look like you're in a good mood today, my lady." Ardeat commented as she brushed my hair.

"Of course! I'll be meeting my dear fiancé today after all!" I sent Ardeat a chilled smile, but she had already gotten used to my creepy behavior by now.

I expected the duke to send over a few more maids to get me ready since this was the imperial ball we were talking about and the first time I would be having a proper conversation with Anartis as Sovine.

But I guess not. Well, it's not like someone as beautiful as Sovine needs any of this anyway.

Plus, Ardeat seemed to already be quite skilled in this field anyway. It didn't really matter to me how I looked.

'I doubt I could look bad with this kind of face anyway.' The issue now was to get to the imperial palace without being seen by the grand duke or any of the brothers.

"My lady. It's of course fine if you do it around me but please refrain from doing that creepy smile at the imperial palace."

"..."

That too.

-----

So turns out the brothers went in a different speed carriage charged with magic so I didn't have to worry about them seeing me in this dress made with things that everyone knows Anartis despises.

What I did have to worry about now, was the fact that now I'd have to go through the same hell I went through in chapter 4 all over again.

Simply because those jerks probably couldn't be bothered enough to also prepare a proper speed carriage even though the imperial palace is so damn far from the duchy.

Or so I thought, thankfully. Turns out that Luden, the one in charge of making the preparations, did have enough decency to send me a proper carriage instead of the shabby one I had to go in last time.

Well, he wasn't exactly the one who prepared the carriage last time. The butler was.

'Hold up... Wasn't the butler one of the only servants in the grand duchy that somewhat respected Sovine?' I realized as I stepped into the carriage.

But I knew Ardeat wouldn't lie to me about something like that. However, that would be a different case if someone else lied to her about it and gave her misinformation.

"Hey, Ardeat. Who was it that you informed of our departure the day we visited the capital again?" I finally decided to ask her anyway though it didn't really matter to me all that much.

Might as well learn who my enemies are right now.

"Ah, It was- Wah!" The carriage suddenly took a tough bounce and screeched to a stop as both Ardeat and I tumbled around the carriage before finally managing to grab onto a seat and not get a concussion.

"Are you still alive, Ardeat?" I sighed managing to force myself up to my feet after spending a few moments getting over my dizziness and nausea and dusted my dress.

"Ugh... Yes... My lady..." Ardeat groaned, she hadn't managed to grab onto something and ended up tumbling about in the carriage for three more minutes than you did.

"Uh... You get some rest, I'll go in first." I mounted off the carriage as Ardeat nodded in response, I was planning on shrugging this off as an unfortunate accident even though it was strange.