43 THE BANQUET AT THE ROYAL PALACE: PART 2

Inside the carriage, Hugh and Leticia silently watched the scenery as the Royal Palace came into view.

"By the way, can I enter with Sir Salis first?" Leticia suddenly asked.

"Why?" Hugh was confused since they already planned and discussed everything.

"I'm pretty sure there's already rumors circulating among the nobles that you have a lover"

"And so? Isn't that the purpose of all of this?" Hugh said as he crossed his arm against his chest while looking at Leticia with a scowl on his face as he leaned back on the carriage seat.

"I want to observe first and get acquainted with people Hans told me about."

"And why do you need that?"

Leticia scrunched her forehead and replied, "...huh?"

"You don't need to meet the people Hans told you about. You're going to become the Northern Duke's fiance. They will come to you themselves." Hugh commented.

'Wow…' Leticia silently exclaimed.

He's not wrong about that but...

'I didn't know he had so much pride! Does he know that the people who will come after me are only his enemies? And what I'm trying to achieve is to get myself allies that will help me after I step into the society?' Leticia asked herself.

"People will come to you eventually so, you don't need to enter with Salis like that." He added.

"Just let me do this. It's not like I'm going to run away from being your fiance! We can also observe what the Queen will do and if she proceeded to announce that you'll be given a fiance at the banquet you can always call for me,"

As Leticia looked outside the nearing view of the Royal Palace, she smirked and said, "...besides, it's more dramatic that way."

Hugh looked at her carefully and when he saw her cunning smile he realized something.

The Queen's reaction when she realizes that she thought she succeeds on her plan but actually was outwitted by him.

Hugh touched his chin, thinking 'That's also a sight to see.'

Meanwhile, Leticia who was waiting for the carriage to arrive at the palace thought of something through this conversation with Hugh.

She understands that changing the plan will be a big risk. Since, what Hugh wanted was to announce immediately that she's the lady that he's taken interest in and announce their engagement on the spot.

For Leticia, the plan was actually not a plan. It's just a rush decision. It would have a big impact and will become the topic for a while, the Queen's plan will also be put in a halt. However, that's not what Leticia wants.

Instead, what Leticia wants is to observe the nobles and mingle with them first to understand the situation better. To get acquainted with the young nobles that will debut today and get them to be her allies.

That way, she will have a better footing in high society since she's basically a nobody before this day.

As the lights started to look brighter as they came closer, Hugh began to say his last advice to Leticia before they entered the Royal Palace.

"I know Hans taught you everything you need to know and I also know that you can do it well…"

"Is that a compliment?" Leticia chimed in.

"It is. But for what is about to come at the banquet, in an instance where you find yourself in a difficult position, wait for me."

Hugh's voice had a hint of worry in them that Leticia felt like she heard wrong.

"Huh?" Leticia was confused.

"Wait for you? And not do something about it?" she asked.

Since the day that Leticia learned Hugh's position and identity, she could notice the changes and realized the attitude that Hugh was showing her.

The things that she thought before thinking he was just cool, chill, or just nonchalant about his surroundings was actually his pride and indifference in people he didn't care about.

That's why Leticia thought that she really needed to look closer and observe him more so that she could spot small differences in Hugh's attitude and act accordingly since that's her job now.

"Well… that's alright too." She heard him as he smirked while he rested his hand on the side of the carriage window and continued, "But if you really get to the point that you're in a difficult situation, get out of there immediately or find Salis or wait for me."

"But how will you know that I'm in a pinch?" She seriously asked.

"I just know…" he replied confidently as he glanced at his left sleeve where Aquila's symbol was hidden underneath.

Instead of clarifying what he meant, Hugh just vaguely answered her.

However, Leticia caught how his eyes glazed on his left arm and recalled what was under it.

So, she also replied in confidence, "...then, I'll leave you to it."

***

The Banquet Hall began to get crowded with nobles that attended the coming-of-age ceremony that comes during the Lalatua Festival, accompanied by their family members.

However, right now, the topic that should be all about the prominent young ladies and the gentlemen debutante's debut was erased with the rumors that circulated since a week ago.

"Did you hear about the rumor that the butler of the Northern Duke ordered the Mystique Boutique to come to their mansion?"

"I also heard about it!"

The ladies who got acquainted with each other said. They have been hearing rumors that someone saw the designer of the Mystique Boutique leaving the Duke Hugh's mansion in the Capital.

However, they can't confirm it because the designer herself as well as the owner, Lady Montana, had their mouths shut about it.

So, they could only wonder.

Because if the rumors were true then who is it for?

"What do you think, Lady Josephine?" One of the ladies bravely asked as she turned her head towards the lady with stunning silver-blue hair.

The Lady didn't answer so, the ladies continue to form theories around their little heads.

Since, the Mystique Boutique only made clothes for ladies. So, for them, it doesn't make sense for the Duke to order a dress from a salon.

Or is it…?

"Does the Duke have a lover?" One of the ladies unconsciously commented.

All of them, who heard the rumors, started to reach a certain conclusion. They peek glances at each other knowing that this year's Lalatua Festival has a different occasion to look forward to.

The ladies consciously glanced at Lady Josephine who's the center of this group of ladies. Their anticipation and excitement to hear her talk makes the listener's eyes sparkle with fire since if they get her to chime in, the ladies will start bitching whoever the partner of the Duke might be.

Her influence among the young noble ladies since her debut to the society last year was growing rapidly even though Lady Josephine's faction belongs to the neutral party of nobles. Still, her influence among the ladies are high.

So, whatever she say could have an impact to the weak person involve in the relationship, which will be the Lady who will be beside the Duke when he step in.

Lady Josephine opened her fan with swift movement and looked at the young ladies who wanted to hear her participation.

"We will know once we see if the Duke brought a companion… don't you think?" She smiled at them while the ladies looks away since it's them who started to blabber something that hasn't even been confirmed.

Lady Josephine closed her mouth again. She needed to watch her tongue and speech since she's from the neutral party.

"Tsk!" She clicked her tongue silently while hiding half of her face behind the fan.

And at that moment, the door opened and all heads turned back and looked at the direction of the now opened door.

Because the person who entered was the person who's been the center of the conversation ever since the news of his arrival in the Kingdom was spread.

"The Northern Duke, His Grace, Hugh Naville has entered!"