CHAPTER #3:First meeting with male lead.

" Marquess and Marchioness Aiden. We are pleased to have you as our guests." Count Cassian greeted them.

They were old friends from their time in the royal academy. Marquess Russell Aiden graduated as one of the greatest commanders of the military Corps'.

His wife Marchioness Sylvia Aiden the mother of the male lead is the distant relative of my father. Though it was a marriage decided by the elders, they are the example of the ideal couple in the noble society.

Every girl dreamt to marry a man like Marquess Aiden. And their son Rowan Aiden fell for the female lead Phanessa, and formerly engaged to Luna in the novel. My eyes fell on the boy who was the same age as my brother. He looked more like the marchioness than his father except for those orange-colored eyes he inherited from him. His father had black hair which hinted at dark blue streaks at the tips of his hair.

"My you've grown a lot, Rowan." My mother's comment caused him to blush and both mothers giggled.

"I guess he is still shy lady Sylvia. Why don't you join my children? They are over there." She pointed at us where we sat with a few of my brother's acquaintances.

He nodded shyly and slowly walked towards us.

One thing which surprised me is his shyness which was nowhere hinted at in the novel.

The boys mostly talked about things they were interested in. So I had no choice but to move away from their circle. A chill ran down my spine. I figured that I was being watched by someone.

I cautiously looked around me. And met Rowan's eyes. He had been staring at me the whole time. I broke down in cold sweat. The more I avoided his gaze the more uncomfortable I was.

Thus I decided to join a group of girls who might be nearly my age. But many of them were older than me by two or three years.

So it was out of the question that they would hold a conversation with me. I wanted to avoid trouble. Though I did have an option to use my authority as the daughter of the house.

So I decided to sit on a couch where I could see the view outside the open window.

Sigh*It was boring since the party was to begin in the afternoon.

There was some time left.

"Honey, why don't you go inside? There are other girls you can chat with." I heard a woman's voice from the garden.

"I don't want to mother. They try to avoid me."

"No, they won't my dear. Try talking to someone else."

"No, I want to stay with you." The girl who was nearly about my age insisted.

She had wavy silver grey hair tied in twin high tails with ribbons. She looked like her mother.

"Viscountess Althaia. Aren't you joining us?" A noble lady called out to the elegant woman.

"Oh, I will join you shortly. Please go in without me." She smiled.

"Come on Eirlyn let's head inside." The woman sighed holding her daughter's hand.

-"Now is my chance to make a friend."I thought excited.

I got down from the couch and ran out to the doorway.

"There!" I cried delightedly to see mother and daughter enter the building.

"It's an honor to meet you, Madame. I am Luna Cassian Vanderburg." I introduced myself as any lady would.

"Oh my. It's a pleasure to meet you as well dear. So you are the birthday girl. Happy birthday." She smiled.

- "Ahh~My eyes."She was as bright as the sun.

" It's nice to meet you too Lady Eirlyn, "I said but she hid behind her mother and gestured shyly.

-" Uggh. I am bad at dealing with these types."

"Would you like to be friends with me?" I offered her eagerly.

"That would be great." Lady Althaia clapped her hands.

"Why don't you play with Lady Luna Eirlyn?"

The girl still hesitated to bury her face in her mother's skirt.

The woman sighed and bent to her daughter.

"You can't stay like this forever dear. This is your chance to make new friends. Won't you do it for mommy's sake?"

"Okay, I will try for mother's sake." She replied in a low voice.

Her mother was overwhelmed by her answer and kissed her cheek.

"Off you go then."

-"It's finally over." Looking at them made me want to cuddle in my mother's lap.

I held hands with her and took her to where I was formerly sitting.

"Viscountess Beauregard. It's been quite a while. How is your husband?" My mother and marchioness Aiden approached her.

"Why thank you for asking. He is well."

"It must be hard since he is mostly near the borders."

"It is. Eirlyn misses him often."

They carried out their conversation constantly changing topics.

I looked at the girl who didn't speak a word.

Tired I ordered some sweets from the maid who was attending to me.

"So Eirlyn what kind of sweets do you like?" I tried to start up a conversation with her.

"V-Vanilla tarts." She replied shyly.

"You like those too?" A big smile crossed my face.

"I like them too!They are one of my favorites."