Me and Perez walked out to the other side of the banquet hall.1

  After confirming that no one was close enough to hear our conversation, I tapped Perez on the side.

  "Good job, Perez."

  Perez smiled, his lips curved quietly at my words.

  “Tia, you look in trouble.”


  "You’re catching up fast. I heard that Craney will also be entering the academy next year. I wish he could learn as well as you."

  "Craney? Oh, that little……"

  "He’s not small anymore. He’s bigger than me. He’s so excited to see you today. There must be a lot of things he wants to ask about the academy.”


  Speaking of which, Perez stared at me.

  "Why do you look at me like that?"

  “.……Tia doesn’t seem to have changed.”


  “Is that a compliment now or a curse?”


  Perez smiled with his eyes instead of answering.

  "Anyway, thanks to Perez, I was very relieved after a long time ago. Well, that’s right."

  "What were you talking about with the Empress? You didn’t look so good."

  "Oh, well, she’s suddenly said that she would find me a marriage partner. In front of everyone. So I was a little annoyed."

  Now that I’ve paid her back, it’s a lot better.

  "……What did you say?"

  Perez asked me again.

  But I didn’t think he was asking because he really didn’t hear it well.

  He was looking at the Empress with a cold face.1

  I completely reduced my voice and spoke.

  "It’s the Empress’s trick. Maintaining influence in society. Connecting the right people and making connections between the two families."

  Matchmakers aren’t hawks either. [1]

  But I have to admit that it’s obviously effective.

  "But don’t worry too much. The Prince’s marriage must have permission from the Emperor. She’s not gonna reach out to you."

  I should be careful not to bump into each other for a while.

  Empress Rabini was not a person to give up easily.

  Unfortunately, I didn’t know what else to say if I ran into her at another banquet.

  "I shouldn’t go to banquets for a while…… Perez?"

  Perez was a little strange.

  He’s much more expressionless than usual, but somehow he’s colder.

  I patted Perez on the shoulder.

  “Don’t worry too much. Even the First Prince hasn’t decided on his marriage yet. She’s not going to hook you up with any woman first."

  "Tia."

  Perez called me and took my hand off his shoulder.

  But Perez’s calloused hands, which held my hand, were full of strength.

  "What’s wrong, Perez?"

  "If the Empress ever says that again, then tell me."

  Oh, I was wrong.

  Perez was worrying about me, not himself.

  I asked, holding back my laugh.

  "Tell you? How can you help me?"

  Perez was sincere.

  I could tell by looking at his deep sinking eyes.

  If I ask him for help, Perez will sincerely try his best to help me.

  When I felt it, I felt relieved and a little emotional.

  "When did you grow up like this……"

  I momentarily lifted the handheld by Perez and tried to stroke Perez’s head like a habit, but I took it back.

  As a child, I was Perez’s childhood friend, and it was all known that Perez contributed greatly to the treatment of my father’s illness.

  However, no matter how close we were, stroking the Prince’s head was misleading in many ways.

  By the way.

  Perez came back to hold my hand again.

  And his red eyes met mine.

  Since he’s an adult now, I can see a handsome face even without a smile.

  The temperature of Perez’s hand that was holding mine felt particularly hot.

  Dugum.

  My calm heart was beating erratically.

  What’s this?

  Then an angry voice called me.

  "Tia."

  "Grandpa!"

  An angry grandfather approached as if flames were blazing in the snow.

  "I just heard the story. I heard the Empress said something useless to you."

  Perhaps when he was talking somewhere else he heard the news from someone and rushed over.

  I could see it from a strand of my grandfather’s hair flowing straight down.

  "Don’t worry. I didn’t answer, I was good at it."

  "Yes, that’s how my granddaughter……"

  My grandfather gazed at the hand Perez was holding.

  "Second Prince."

  Grandfather called Perez in a low voice.

  "What are those hands?"

  I answered quickly before my grandfather misunderstood.

  "He was comforting me a little, Grandpa."

  "……Comforting?"

  One corner of my grandfather’s mouth curled up.

  "Yes. Now that you’ve been comforted, how about letting go of that hand?"1

  Perez looked at me once and let go of my hand.

  There was a slight wrinkle on the forehead.

  So grandfather and Perez stared at each other without saying anything.

  Strange.

  Although my grandfather said to be hated by many people, but I didn’t understand why Perez set the blade like that.1

  Was there a conflict between you two without me knowing?

  Perez shouldn’t have a bad idea about Lombardy.

  After such a short but intense staring contest, my grandfather spoke in an unpleasant voice.

  "I have something to share with my granddaughter. Le’s go back to the banquet."

  It was an obvious impolite orders. [2]

  Of course, this is Lombardy’s mansion, so Perez was definitely a guest.

  Grandfather would be the only one who could speak like that to the Prince of the Empire.

  I said to Perez, pointing to where the twins and Craney had disappeared.

  "If you go over there, there’ll be twins and Craney. Go ahead and talk to them."

  "……Okay."

  Perez silently bowed to Grandpa one last time and walked in the direction I told him.

  "Hmm."

  Grandpa looked at Perez with displeasure until the end and led me to a nearby quiet terrace.

  It was a place where we could have a comfortable conversation with a thick and long curtain.

  After a while, the servant of the mansion brought two glasses of wine and a bottle of wine on a tray.

  Grandpa raised his glass and handed me one and said.

  "Now that you’re an adult, you can have a drink with this grandfather."

  Grandpa smiled deeply as if his feelings were new.

  I gratefully picked up the glass and smelled it.

  But the deep smell was unusual, so I casually checked the wine bottle.

  "Wow, it’s Vintage Mars? It’s a wine with a deep flavor and a long afterglow."

  How much does this cost?

  "Thank you for opening such a nice bottle for my birthday……"

  Seeing the bottle was a habit in my previous life to enjoy drinking.

  My grandfather, who was watching me, said.

  "……You know very well about alcohol, Tia."

  Oh, damn it.

  I just became an adult.

  "……I saw it in the book, Grandpa."

  Grandpa’s slightly narrowed eyes looked at me suspiciously in response.

  "Yes. If you are, that would be it.”


  "Haha……"

  Grandfather said so and slightly bumped his glass into my glass.

  A clear sound of glass rang the quiet night air on the terrace.

  I sneaked a sip of wine while looking at my grandfather.

  As expected, expensive wine.

  It’s a strong drink, but it’s so delicious that I want to drink it like this.

  Looking at me flattering while sipping the wine, my grandfather asked me.

  "I haven’t given you a birthday present yet. Is there anything you want?"

  The light from the banquet hall was creating deep light and shade on grandfather’s face.

  "If you have anything you want, tell me anything."

  He’s not just saying.

  My grandfather is a member of the Lombardy family.

  He’s capable of getting me everything I really want.

  Therefore, there was a lot of expectation on my grandfather’s face that could not be hidden by a deep shadow.

  What should I say?

  I had a mischievous thought for a moment.

  Shall I ask for a box of gold bars?

  Or should I ask for a small piece of land in Lombardy’s estate to live on?

  Whatever I say, maybe grandfather will listen.

  But that’s not the things I want.

  I already have enough money, and if it’s enough land to settle down, I already have my father’s Chesire estate.

  There’s only one thing I want to have.

  Only Lombardy.

  Moreover, my grandfather would be disappointed if I asked for small and ordinary things for my birthday.

  That’s what my grandfather’s interesting eyes were saying right now.

  Then I have to live up to that expectation.

  I’m a good granddaughter after all.

  I took another sip of wine and asked my grandfather.

  "I’m an adult as of today, aren’t I, Grandpa?"

  "Right, now that you’re eighteen."

  The grandfather’s face, nodding his head, was relaxed.

  Until I say the next thing.

  "Then my rights will take effect."

  "……Rights?"

  "Yes, the right to go beyond the authority of the person in charge and engage in Lombardy’s business."

  Both Shananet and Viese in their youth had the same beginnings.

  By activating the right of the direct lineage into the field of interest and confidence.

  So, to achieve good results and prove one’s abilities.

  That was how Lombardy showed themselves to the world.

  My grandfather’s eyes trembled briefly when he looked at me.

  "I don’t need anything else."

  I want Lombardy.

  The greatest and most beautiful family in history.

  So……

  I said to my grandfather with a calm smile.

  "Just once. Please support me to use my rights, Grandpa."