5 Chapter 4 (Edited)

The banquet already started and my father let others know that me and Claudius are his sons. He's trying to look like a good father to make his image good. For me he is not a good father at all. I don't care about him anymore.

After introducing us to the guests. We are free to do as we please, not totally, but, we're free to socialize around with the guests. Today I'm wearing a black steampunk brocade waistcoat and under it was a white long sleeves polo, I also wore a red diamond brooch to match my eyes, and a black slacks pants to finish it off.

Well I don't really like socializing that much even in my past life. I looked around and saw Claudius being around a group of children our age. Looking at Claudius, he's smiling like the softy type kind of person while conversing with others. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I don't have the energy to do it anymore.

I wanted to go to my mother, but, I'm quite sure that she's with father right now, I sighed and just stood at a corner while drinking a glass of grape juice.

Looking outside the window glass, I could the night sky, I could see the full moon shining so bright. I smiled as I took a sip of my grape juice.

As if there was no others around, I couldn't help but feel relaxed while looking at the moon. When my grape juice was about to ran out, I turned around to get some more. There I saw another girl at the corner sitting alone.

I was hesitating if I should approach her or not, but my mom told me it'll be good if I made some friends so why not try? I left the glass, put it on the side and slowly approach the girl.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" I asked while smiling softly. The girl looked at me, blinked twice and nodded so I sat next to her, not that close nor far from her.

I stared at her for a while and asked "Don't you want to join the others?" I asked.

The girl was quiet for a while then she turned to look at me with her beautiful golden eyes "How about you? Don't you want to join them?"

I shook my head as I lean my back on the sofa, sighing and shrugging "Well I don't really know anyone here" I chuckled. "I prefer not to socialize that much, It's quite draining and I'm not as interesting as my brother"

"Is that so?" The girl said as she looked at the others conversing and socializing with each other. "Um yeah" I said as I looked at the others too. There's no one who spoke between us for a while.

"Me too" I looked at her sidewards. "Hm? What do you mean?" I asked.

"I also prefer not to socialize that much"

"I see" I smiled as I kept on looking at her. "By the way, Your dress suits your purple hair very much, I think it looks pretty" The girl was quiet for a while but she nodded "Thank you".

"I'm Oliver by the way, Oliver Ashford" I offered her my hand to shake hands with her. The girl looked at my hand and paused. She gave me her hand, her hand is small and soft to touch that made me amaze for a while "Meredith, Meredith Stallard".

Wait wait wait...What?! I was shocked when I Heard her name but I didn't show it on my face. Looking at her with a bright smile "It's a pleasure to meet you, lady Meredith" I slowly let go of her hand then she nodded.

From what I read before in the novel, Meredith is also a part of Claudius' harem. Well, unlike other members of the harem, Meredith is actually the only one that Claudius truly likes ever since they were just kids, but, Meredith doesn't really seem to like him back which made him more obsessed with her and want her to be his.

The reason why Meredith became part of his harem was because Claudius made Meredith's family go bankrupt. Meredith and her family doesn't have any knowledge about his scheme, but Claudius offered to Meredith that he will help her family if she became his wife or part of his harem. Meredith loves her family very much so she decided to agree.

I'm not quite sure if she fell for Claudius. Claudius gave her material things, a manor, and he even showed her love...Well I'm not sure if it's really love or just because of his crazy obsession with her. In the manor he gave her, He is the only one allowed to visit or see her. Claudius also hired an old maid to help Meredith with the cleaning and food.

Why can't Meredith escape Claudius grasp if there's only the old maid inside the estate with her? Well let's just say that her family is held hostage by Claudius.

Thinking about Meredith's miserable future, I couldn't help but pity her.

I stood up facing Meredith then I placed my left hand on my chest while I offered my other hand to Meredith "Is it okay if I ask you to dance, lady Meredith?" I looked at her while smiling softly. Meredith just stared at me without saying anything then I chuckled softly "It's also okay if you reject my offer lady Meredith".

Waiting for her response, She suddenly stood up and placed her hand on my left hand "I'm not that good at dancing. I hope you wouldn't mind, young master Oliver" even if it was just a bit, it seems like Meredith smiled for a moment.

I smiled brightly and shook my head "I'm also not a good dancer. It's okay lady Meredith. For you, I shall give my best" Meredith nodded and we started to dance on the dancefloor with the others.

She said she wasn't a good dancer but I think she dances very well. While dancing with Meredith, following the rhythm, we just both looked at each other's eyes and I can also see her long curly eyelashes that flutters every time she blinked.

In my past life I didn't have any experience in dancing. In this world, as a noble, I am required to learn how to dance. I must say, all those practices were more than worth it and I'm having fun right now dancing with Meredith.

After the song finished, we also stopped and was about to go back to our seat when Claudius suddenly appeared Infront of us. He was smiling innocently and brightly while looking at us. If ever I didn't know him before, I'd probably be deceived by him.

"Hello brother and it's been a while lady Meredith" I almost vomited when Claudius greeted me as if we're on good terms.

I smiled back at him "Hello brother. You know lady Meredith?" Claudius looked at me with his fake smile.

"Yes brother, She came on our seventh birthday, but, sadly you were not there because you're sick" I blinked twice "Oh, I see" I replied to him while smiling.

It's my first time to see Claudius treating me nicely like this. Even though it's giving me chills, I'm quite sure that he's suffering more than me so I find it quite amusing.

Meredith didn't respond to Claudius' greeting but he kept on smiling while looking at her "I saw brother and you dance lady Meredith, Is it also okay if I ask you to dance?" Meredith looked at him for five seconds without saying anything.

Claudius was bowing down with a hand on his chest while the other's offering to Meredith. Claudius just kept on smiling, she started to walk forward slowly and I can see Claudius' smile getting slightly bigger but his expectations were crushed. Meredith just walked passed by him as if she didn't see him at all.

I looked at Meredith's back that's getting further and further away from Claudius who is looking at me with resentful eyes. I ignored him and followed Meredith back to the spot where we both sit.

I'm quite curious so I asked "Lady Meredith?" she looked at me. "Is it okay if I ask you something?" Meredith nodded to my question.

"I'm just curious...Why did you reject my brother's offer?" Meredith raised one of her eyebrows.

"Can I not reject it?" She was looking at me with serious eyes and I felt like I'm being stabbed by the way she stared.

I immediately shook my head and wave both of my hands "Of course you can" I smiled apologetically "You can do whatever you want lady Meredith so I think it's fine to reject anyone's offer"

Meredith just nodded and looked at the crowd again. I sighed and slightly smiled while looking at her for a bit.

I must say, Tonight's pretty tiring but I had fun.

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