Chapter 48: 26.1

26. Unexpected Guests (1)

The dawn was dark and dim.

Joshua strolled, scanning the sunrise’s faint colors through the hallway’s windows.

Light filtered through the cracks in the office door.

While arranging the documents piled up on the desk, Macon turned his head when he saw him.

“Your Highness.”

Joshua flicked his head once and sat on a dark brown leather chair.

Then, he grabbed the black fountain pen on his right side and tapped its tip lightly on the table.

It was the normal consistent rhythm.

After observing him for a long time, Macon was used to it.

The crown prince usually do this when he was worried about something.

Joshua suddenly stopped his unconscious habit and glanced at Macon organizing the documents.

“Ariad’s birthday was around the summer, right?”

“Yes. I remember you held a grand ball on her birthday last August.”

After confirming that his memory was correct, Joshua lifted his chin and continued tapping the tip of his pen again.

*TUK*

*TUK*

*TUK*

The constant beat faded away as his brain recalled the events of Ariad’s birthday last year.

Sparkling decorations surrounded the castle’s entrance.

A huge, arch-shaped door opened, and a woman with a white hat as big as her face on top of her purple hair entered.

One corner of her lips, resembling the color of her sensual red dress, slowly lifted upon seeing Joshua.

“Why? Are you here to nag at me too?”

Despite wearing a lot of colorful jewels, Ariad’s made up face still shone under the chandeliers.

Aware of her indifference, Ariad’s beautiful appearance left no impression on Joshua.

Even if his face was devoid of emotion, Ariad still smiled at him.

“Your Highness. The Empress just came to nag at me.”

“….”

“I guess you aren’t spending a lot of money on your family.”

Next to them, the maids were moving a colossal ice statue.

Ariad examined it in slow fascination and continued, “Unfortunately, my heart is wicked. I love it when I hear bad things about myself. So I finally decided that I would spend the royal family’s money until the day I die.”

Joshua gave her a polite smile.

“Yes. Please spend my family’s money to your heart’s content.”

Joshua’s walked away from the smell of terrible perfume without looking back.

A tall man passed him by and even greeted him with a bow.

Then, the man warmly hugged Ariad while she was standing at the entrance.

Ariad even kissed him.

*TUK*

*TUK*

*TUK*

When the repeated taps infiltrated his racing thoughts again, Macon’s voice rang in his head.

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“Well, I’ll put this document in this drawer.”

His blurry vision as he stared into the air began to focus.

Soon, his blood-red eyes cleared, and he finally stopped tapping the table with the pen.

He put it down and tapped his lips slowly with his fingers this time.

In that moment, the past became clear to him.

“Macon, did you recently take the Knighthood Examination at the palace?”

Macon, still organizing the documents, straightened his back and said in a low voice.

“Yes. His Majesty, the Emperor, chose me as a knight himself.”

Joshua closed his eyes, and his forefinger and thumb picked on his eyelashes.

His thoughts became clearer and clearer.

“I’m sure one of those failures was Hugh Carlywood. He was bound to use another method if he wanted to pass the Knighthood examination.”

* * *

With the long lines of eager performers and acrobatics, the palace was still noisy due to the Thanksgiving celebration.

It was a feast dedicated to the commoners living in the Imperial City.

“I’ve done a wonderful job of describing it. I wonder what it’s like in real life.”

She wanted to enjoy the fun and excitement, but Joshua firmly refused to accompany her.

Maybe, it was because she drank and flirted with someone else last night.

So-hee sighed as she glanced at Joshua’s seat.

Why did he suddenly disappear instead of joining her in such an incredible event?

“How frustrating.”

She really hoped she could finally be free to do what she wanted.

“I have a favor to ask of you, Ariad.”

Ariad didn’t expect this at all.

A  purple haired man, who looked just like her, sat in a wooden chair and  finally visited Ariad for the first time.

Dark shadows clung underneath his hollowed eyes.

He looked pensive.

“I have no shame in marrying you off, but….”

The man hesitated to continue.

She wondered if the relationship between Ariad and her father wasn’t good because he kept looking around as if he didn’t want to be there.

Even Sohee, this web novel’s author, didn’t know much about it.

“Go ahead. It’s all right.” She urged him cheerfully.

Pulling down his tie as if it was strangling him, he went on while touching his wrinkled mouth. “My… business is in trouble.”

The Pearson family’s main business was selling luxury goods.

Her father initially grew and sold strong horses to rich people who owned vast estates, and he was successful with it.

Later, he expanded his business by selling high-end perfumes, dresses, and fancy accessories.

The Pearson family had almost monopolized this market, sweeping a lot of money for themselves.

So what did he mean when he said his business was in trouble?

All of a sudden?

“I don’t know what’s going on. But Her Majesty took back all the money she invested in the business, and the amount was pretty big. And the rest of the rich families—-I don’t know if I’ve told you, but they have cut all ties with us.” He said worriedly.

Sohee clicked her tongue, and the explanation came out at once.

It appeared like someone was trying to pull Ariad down.

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