Chapter 8

"By the king's command, I humbly accept it."

Altvart quietly placed his hands on the floor and bowed deeply.

In the end, a messenger on a fast horse brought the news that His Highness the Crown Prince had suddenly fallen ill, and the graduation party was postponed to next week.

Altvart being ill...

Could it be that when things calm down, they will announce that Altvart's condition has worsened and he has become frail, and in reality, Altvart and Poala will be exiled as commoners or confined...

Scary... No, no, that can't be...

As I was lost in these thoughts, I heard a knock on the door. When Lulu opened it, Rict entered with a full smile.

"Miss, may I come in now?"

"Yes, please."

I gestured for Rict to sit on the sofa.

"Miss, the graduation party has been rescheduled for next week, but congratulations on your graduation. I really wanted to give this to you yesterday, but the atmosphere wasn't right... This is a gift for you. I saved up my allowance to buy it!"

Rict's eyes sparkled as he handed me a small, beautifully wrapped box.

"Oh, is this Chocolat Rose chocolate?"

I widened my eyes at the wrapping.

Chocolat Rose is a high-end chocolate shop in the capital, known for its superior taste, appearance, texture, and aroma, and of course, its high price.

And chocolate is my favorite!

I thanked Rict and asked Lulu to make tea, then opened the chocolate. Inside were four perfectly round, glossy chocolates, each as smooth as obsidian.

I couldn't help but sigh at their beauty.

"Here, Rict and Lulu, take one too."

We gently placed the chocolates in our mouths...

No one could speak.

Wow, it's so delicious.

I felt like crying.

The chocolate was smooth like silk, with a delicate sweetness, and inside was a slightly bitter, gooey caramel. All these flavors blended together in my mouth, ending with a faint, refreshing orange scent...

Perfect...

Divine...

"Rict, this is the best gift ever. Thank you so much!"

I thought he must have chosen this gift with me in mind...

I wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of my eyes and thanked Rict again.

Rict's bashful smile was adorable.

My brother is too cute.

In contrast, I thought about the graduation party dress sent by Eranthio.

Eranthio is very particular about appearances, so the dress for the graduation party arrived a week in advance.

It did arrive...

But the color was Eranthio's hair color.

Dark green.

As expected, it was a gift from the royal family, so the fit was excellent and the style was fashionable.

But dark green...

I think it would suit someone with a striking face.

But to be honest, it was disastrously unsuitable for me, with my modest features!

It was like we were both at the peak of being dull, enhancing each other's dullness...

"Miss Miriam, are you really going to wear this to the graduation party? Do you really have to wear it? I am truly worried..."

Lulu, who had tried on the dress, looked at me with teary eyes, and it was heartbreaking.

The dress in the color of one's fiancé is a common tradition.

But then, wouldn't it be better if it matched the color of my eyes!?

A blue color would have been much better!

As a form of resistance, I had prepared a bright yellow, rose-shaped hair ornament, which was a bit expensive but one of my favorites, but it was ruined in yesterday's incident...

With that hair ornament and other small items, my budget is now empty...

The thought of next week's graduation party, where I would have to display my dull appearance, made me feel heavy-hearted from the bottom of my heart.

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