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Chapter 43: Alice’s Confrontation

“Long live the Reinhardt family, and Duke Raymond and his family will prosper forever!”

“Long live the Raymond family!”

“Long live the Reinhardt Kingdom!”

“Long live Her Highness the Princess!”

“I want to be your dog, Your Highness!”

Charlotte’s toast sent the banquet into yet another frenzy, but the cheers from the crowd had taken a rather strange turn.

From a distance, gazing at the radiant crimson princess surrounded by admirers, Roy felt a bit dazed.

He had actually just chatted and laughed with that Lionheart princess!

If it were ‘Rogue Roy,’ he wouldn’t even have dared to dream it.

While Roy thought that keeping his distance and maintaining a respectable image was effective, he didn’t expect it to work this well.

Unfortunately, he had been so distracted just now that he hadn’t heard what she had said.

After making such progress in their relationship, how could he let this little flaw ruin his grand plan?

He’d have to make up for it when it was time to dance…

Wait.

He couldn’t dance!

Isn’t that a must-learn subject for nobles? ‘Rogue Roy’ had never even studied it?!

What was he going to do?! He was the one who had invited her to dance earlier!

Just as Roy began to feel overwhelmed, his thoughts were interrupted by the host at the center of the banquet.

“Next, let the eldest son of the Raymond family toast to Duke Raymond!”

After the royal family members, it was time for the family of the banquet’s main character to give a toast.

With Lady Raymond pregnant and unable to attend, this duty naturally fell to Rian.

However, as soon as the invitation was issued, there was no sign of Rian, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall grew restless.

Based on ‘Rogue Roy’s’ impression of Rian, he probably ran off to fool around outside, right?

Roy wasn’t particularly concerned about a minor character who hadn’t appeared in the original work, but as he recalled more about Rian, a sense of unease nagged at him.

That guy was a ruthless one, bullying the weak while fearing the strong.

Just to be safe, he should go take a look outside.

With that in mind, Roy quietly slipped out.

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“My lord Rian, why did you come out?!”

“That boring banquet is just a waste of my time.”

Once outside the banquet hall, Rian finally escaped the pointless chatter.

A group of young scions who also wanted to avoid the fuss flocked to him like loyal followers.

Needless to say, these were all notorious nobles ranking just below the two main rogues, infamous for throwing their weight around and engaging in unscrupulous behavior. They were Rian’s most loyal sycophants.

However, their flattery and reverence did nothing to amuse Rian.

He looked down on these clowns.

He was the son of a duke, the future Duke of Raymond!

It was the glamorous, elegant, and lavish upper-class banquets that were meant for him!

But those bastards…

His father, Princess Charlotte, even those lousy nobles—

One by one, they all looked down on Roy, that useless piece of trash!

Just a useless nobody, who does he think he is?!

“My lord Rian, where are we going to have some fun today?”

“Get lost, I’m not in the mood…”

Rian paused, his eyes suddenly locking on something.

In the distance, at the banquet set up on the grass, the skirts of maids swayed like flowers, and among those pure, lovely maids, there was a stunning blonde girl, shining like the moon among the stars.

The maid’s short skirt made the girl’s aura seem a bit plain, but upon closer inspection, Rian realized that her elegant and exquisite features were anything but ordinary, clearly not belonging to Princess Charlotte.

He remembered that she was Roy’s maid.

The one who had dared to speak back to him just now.

A sinister smile twisted Rian’s face.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you to have some fun!”

Many nobles had personal maids; although they couldn’t enter the inner banquet, they could stay outside and still receive the host’s hospitality.

Maids generally acted more casually than nobles, and curious young girls gathered to gossip about their families, creating a lively atmosphere.

Alice was initially uncomfortable in such a noisy setting until someone mentioned Roy’s name.

The little maid perked up instantly, seriously and sincerely extolling Roy’s virtues.

He had treated her to delicacies she had never tasted before.

He had bought her a little dress she had never worn.

Even on the first night, he had kept her company to ease her loneliness (in her mind).

Her overly innocent descriptions caused the listeners’ imaginations to run wild, sketching a perfect prince in their minds, and they couldn’t help but envy her.

But just as everyone was getting excited, a sharp whistle broke the relaxed atmosphere.

A few rowdy young rogues approached with malicious smiles, causing the maids to scatter like birds.

“Damn, why them again?”

“Little Alice, hurry up and leave! Don’t get involved with them!”

“Hey, hey, hey, where do you think you’re going?”

Alice wanted to leave but found her path blocked by these guys.

They had their sights set on her.

Alice’s heart sank as she looked up and, sure enough, spotted Rian nearby.

That gaze, filled with sinister intentions and malice, was all too familiar to her.

Back when she was in taverns or near human traffickers, there were always those who protected her from being harassed, ensuring she fetched a good price.

At first, Alice was scared of that kind of look, but soon she became numb to it. But today, she felt an unprecedented wave of disgust.

More nauseating than moldy bread.

“As a maid, how can you show such an attitude in front of a noble? Guess it’s true what they say about Roy’s maid—absolutely uncouth.”

Alice quickly lifted her skirt gracefully, returning a curtsey.

“Hmph, now that’s more like it.”

Rian snorted haughtily, ready to speak, but Alice calmly interjected, “You should return the courtesy.”

That unexpected request caught Rian off guard.

But Alice stubbornly and earnestly stared at him, repeating, “I’ve made my bow; as a noble, you should nod in return.”

Even Rian and his entourage couldn’t help but laugh at her words: “You, a mere maid, dare to teach me how to…”

“Uncultured.”

Her calm yet sharp words interrupted the laughter of the crowd.

The followers fell silent.

Rian kept laughing, but his expression darkened even more.

Forget it, he wouldn’t lower himself to the level of a maid.

Rian begrudgingly nodded and returned her bow.

“Seems Roy has trained you well; you must really like that guy, huh? But…”

“Isn’t that just natural?” Alice tilted her head, appearing incomprehensible, once again cutting Rian off.

And naturally too!

Rian felt a wave of discomfort, as if he had bitten into something unexpectedly spicy while eating.

Ignoring Alice’s comment, Rian continued, “But I need to tell you the truth about Roy!”

“I don’t understand.”

The conversation finally picked up a rhythm, and a glint of malice flashed in Rian’s eyes.

“Ha, you have no idea what kind of despicable scum your master, Roy Ainbrad, truly is, do you?”