Chapter 50
‘No, it can’t be. Absolutely not.’
Britney held her breath as she stared at Iobet’s back.
‘He’s just going over to talk to Count Green.’
Iobet stopped in front of Keivrand and Iris.
‘Don’t ask Iris for a dance!’
Britney cried out inwardly. Some of the other ladies here were thinking the same thing.
But their thoughts couldn’t stop Iobet’s actions.
“Countess Iris Green.”
Iobet reached out, calling Iris’ full name.
The fact that he called her by her full name and not Countess Green suggested a lot.
It meant the Crown Prince was showing goodwill not just to the Green Family, but Iris as well.
“Would you please grant me the first dance?”
Gasps and exclamations echoed around the hall.
However, Iobet didn’t care and had his eyes fixed on Iris.
He was amazed by Iris’ demeanor.
Receiving the first dance from the Crown Prince was an honor that would make any Lady faint. Despite the honor, Iris’ eyes were steady. As if she had guessed it would happen, an elegant smile flowed gracefully across her lips.
Iris’ eyes were both polite and arrogant. Iobet somehow felt as if he was below her.
His palm overlapped with something small and warm.
This situation should certainly be an honor for Iris, but he got the impression that it was him who appeared honored.
“I accept your request, Your Highness.”
Iris said in a small but powerful voice. It sounded harmonious to the ears.
It didn’t matter to Iobet that Britney had left the party with tears in her eyes, or that many conversations were whispering between the nobles.
At this moment, it seemed as if Iobet and Iris were the only two at the party.
‘Ha!’
A feigned smile came out from Iobet.
‘The flower of Duke Whittle?’
It was a ridiculous nickname.
‘This woman isn’t a flower.’
He could tell just by the brief eye contact.
‘A predator capable of devouring everything.’
He can see why Keivrand became possessed by Iris.
Princess Mary’s appearance was on another level, but the air that Iris exudes, her eyes, figure, and everything else, it was different.
‘She’s not an ordinary woman. How the hell could she have been locked up in the Whittle mansion and have these eyes?’
A fighter’s eyes that has survived countless wars and deaths.
‘Whatever it is, she was a coveted woman. It’s too bad Kei had found her first.’
When the Whittle family was mentioned as a supporter, he should have declared to marry Iris, not Britney. Then he could have put this mysterious-looking woman on the throne.
“Kei, you son of a bitch. You registered your marriage before the wedding because you were afraid everyone else would want her.’
The Crown Prince cannot take away Iris anymore. Even with royal power, he couldn’t take away someone’s wife.
Of course, even if she could be taken, he wouldn’t take away the woman Keivrand had first.
Because Keivrand is his only friend.
‘It’s not just her eyes. She’s a great dancer. She’s leading me.’
Iris danced nimbly, and Iobet even forgot that they were dancing.
She was leading the dance like the flowing water, it was gentle yet firm.
“Crown Prince.”
Suddenly, Iris spoke. Even though it was a somewhat fast dance, there was no sign of her needing to catch her breath.
“Woburn isn’t good.”
At the unexpected name that came up, Iobet stood straight and stopped.
With a friendly smile, Iris whispered.
“You have to dance, Your Highness.”
“Oh, excuse me.”
Iobet pulled himself together and moved his legs again as Iris moved. But it was a mess in his head.
Bourgeoisie Woburn.
Recently, Iobet was looking to invest. Bourgeoisie Woburn, who mainly deals with Metherium, would have helped solidify the position of Crown Prince.
The problem was that the second prince also had his eyes on Woburn. He was trying to figure out a way to get his hands on Woburn so that the second prince couldn’t have his hands on him.
‘How does this woman know that name? Did I hear her wrong?’
Iris was focusing on the dance with a look as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, the song ended.
It was time to let go of her hand and ask another young lady to a dance.
But the Crown Prince couldn’t.
“One more song please, Countess Green.”
It was unusual for the Crown Prince to ask for another dance immediately after.
From Britney, who had come back after fixing her facial expression and getting ready to receive a dance request, to the other young ladies who were waiting and thinking they would have a chance, everyone couldn’t close their mouths.
“Let’s give the other young ladies a chance, Your Highness.”
Everyone was astonished by the soothing sound of Iris’ voice.
“I need to dance one more song with you, Countess. Please give me one more song.”
Far from scolding Iris for her rude refusal, the Crown Prince, who had asked her for another dance as if he was clinging to her thigh, almost caused not only the nobles but also his aide, Sydney, to faint.
Iris put her hand on the Crown Prince’s shoulder as if it couldn’t be helped, and they danced their second song.
“Your Highness, it’s difficult for me when you ask for two songs in a row. All the young ladies are waiting for the honor of dancing with you.”
“How do you know about Woburn?”
“I have a good source. Oh, don’t ask me to tell you about my informant.”
Iris said playfully.
Iobet knew it was rude to ask for other people’s sources. Even though he had requested for two consecutive dances, he would never be so rude as to ask for her informant.
“Your source makes no difference to me. But do you know what it means to dig behind me, the Crown Prince?”
“I didn’t dig behind you. When I dug up Woburn, I found your name.”
“Why isn’t Woburn good?”
“We can’t do three songs, Your Highness.”
She meant that it isn’t a conversation that can be talked about here.
“Kei, Count Green says you’re not an ordinary woman.”
“I’m nothing special. He’s just being polite.”
“I had thought so too, Countess. But I don’t think so. Treat me to a cup of tea after the party. Please.”
Iris smiled softly. There seemed to be a fragrance from her smile.
After finishing the second song, Iobet no longer danced. He just stood still in the corner and was lost in thought.
His eyes were on Iris from time to time, and the nobles who were there didn’t miss it.
They all thought, ‘He’s not possessed by Countess Green, is he?” But no one dares to bring it up.
And Britney.
‘What the hell is going on here? Why did he only dance with Iris and not with me?”
She couldn’t endure her burning insides.
“Crown Prince. Can you accompany me to one song please?”
She ended up doing something that will be talked about behind her back for a long time.
If a lady asks for a dance first, it is polite to accept no matter how much you don’t want to.
But Iobet, who had a lot to think about, showed no such courtesy.
“I’m tired, so excuse me first.”
As if Britney was not in front of him, Iobet looked around at the people talking to one another and left the party.
Britney had no choice but to stand there with her face dyed red.
* * *
“It was very good to see. Her face looked like a burning sweet potato. Does she know how much the nobles were whispering behind her back, that girl… No, Britney doesn’t know.”
Elly, who had attended the party, chatted excitedly as she helped remove Iris’ dress.
Taking off Iris’ dress, Christina spoke.
“She had asked Count Green for a dance before too. The Count accepted then, but this time she was rejected and made a fool of herself. Maybe the nobles will talk about Britney as soon as they get together.”
Iris hadn’t intended for Britney to be embarrassed at the party, but she had put her foot on the line herself.
She would have been fine with Britney doing nothing.
As Christina had said, she will be a laughing stock in high society.
Iris didn’t feel sorry for her. Britney deserved more than this for what she had done.
“No, I’ll take that dress instead of those clothes.”
“Aren’t you going to bed?”
“I have somewhere to go.”
Christina thought it was strange, but she changed Iris into the dress she had chosen.
“You worked hard today. You should get some rest.”
After sending the maids away, Iris went to Keivrand’s room to let him know she was ready.
Even if it was the request of the Crown Prince, it was better to avoid meeting him alone. She didn’t want to be talked about more than necessary.
Iobet was waiting for Iris alone in his room. He looked like he knew Keivrand would come with her.
“Countess Green.”
“Please call me Iris.”
“Okay, Iris. I’ll be straightforward. Why don’t you like Woburn?”
“He’s a fraud.”
“Fraud?”
“What he’s handling isn’t Metherium. It’s an ordinary ore disguised as Metherium.”
“No way. I checked it with my own eyes. I could use magic with it.”
“With this.”
Iris took out an ore that she had prepared for today and put it on the table.
“Magic can be used.”
When she tapped on the ore, a faint light came out.
“Isn’t this Metherium?”
“No. It’s an ordinary black stone with a small amount of Metherium embedded in it. As time goes by…”
The stone stopped glowing.
“The magic ends.”
“Ha!”
Iobet forced a laugh.
“Are you saying he swindled me?”
“Yes.”
“How would he dare?”
“The second prince is behind him. The second prince would have offered to watch his back.”
“Such a thing. I thought Lacozen was trying to invest in Woburn.”
Lacozen was the name of the second prince.
“That’s also true.”
Iris’ decisive words caused Iobet to narrow his brows.
“It’s also true that Lacozen is investing in Woburn?”
“Yes. Woburn’s operations are divided into two parts, ore and silk. Everyone wants to invest in the ore side because it’s doing well. Your Highness wanted to do the same.”
“I did.”
“The second prince will invest in the silk side.”
“The profit is limited no matter how great the silks are.”
“Woburn told the second prince that he would trade real Metherium in the second operation. He had shown the second prince Metherium. The first operation will soon be discarded, and the second operation will be propped up. It’s not uncommon for the Bourgeoisie to run multiple operations and abandon some.”
“But that’s a lie?”
“It’s a lie. The Metherium he showed to the second prince wasn’t real.”
Iobet found it hard to believe Iris’ words.
Iris was speaking as if she had watched the scene unfold before her.
“Iris. What would Woburn gain from fraud against the royal family? I think it’s you who is actually lying to me.”
“What Woburn gets from fraud is money of course. A huge investment.”
“Even if he gets the money, it’s no use if he loses his life.”
Iris opened a map she had brought. Then, her finger floated away from the continent and pointed to an island somewhere in the sea.
“Woburn has filed for asylum. After he receives the investment, he’s going to leave for this island, the Kingdom of Carboras. Half the investment is paid in return. As you know, Carboras is eager to enter the continent, and the vast amount of money invested by the royal family will be of great help to them.”
Iobet was speechless.
Not many people knew that the Kingdom of Carboras, an island nation, was raising naval forces to advance to the continent of Eleron.
“Crown Prince can choose one of two paths. Step back by yourself, or tell the second prince and step back together.”
“I guess there’s no path where I don’t believe you.”
A confident smile spread across Iris’ lips.
“You believe me.”
The bold attitude was amazing and surprising at the same time.
Looking back at Keivrand, he had the look that said, ‘See? I told you she’s an amazing woman.’
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== Translator’s Note ==
1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etc…in the comment section .
2. Ubai changed back to Iobet. It’s pronounced E-O-Bet.
3. Chapter 46 through 50 has been proofread, edited, and cleaned up.
4. Chapter 8 updated with picture. Pictures are added every Monday and Friday when they go up on Naver web novel.