The Crown's Seduction
Chapter 386: Avoiding

Chapter 386: Avoiding

At the Justice Hall

"So where are we celebrating?" Laura asked her newfound friend Teresa, who had apparently just been appointed as the new head of the Rossi Clan a while ago. Teresa had immediately reported to her duty after her appointment, which was a shame, but she couldn’t blame her friend for doing so.

"Hmm... My father will be throwing a banquet at our residence tonight. You’re also invited there, right? Why do you even insist on celebrating separately?" Teresa snorted with a frown. "I mean, we still have a lot of work to finish!"

Laura chuckled. She really thought that no one would beat her when it came to being a workaholic, but ever since she met and became close with Teresa, she started doubting her own routine when compared to her friend. Teresa was just insane ever since she started working under her. She was even her alarm clock whenever she found time to go out to have a drink with Lord Fritz to unwind. Every time, she found herself being scolded by the woman without pause despite doing her best to look presentable.

"Didn’t I just tell you to get out of here, huh?" Laura muttered. "This is a special day for you, so I’m dismissing you early."

"But you’re also dismissing yourself!" Teresa pointed out, making Laura chuckle as she ignored her friend’s grumpy face.

"Of course, I should celebrate as well since my friend was tasked to lead one of the most powerful clans in Valcrez," Laura remarked with a smile. "This calls for a separate celebration. The banquet your father arranged is at midnight, so we still have a lot of time to go to the market. Come now, I’ll buy you a present first. I don’t like surprises, so I’ll just bring you with me so you can choose whatever you want as a gift."

Without waiting for Teresa to respond, she quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her along as she carefully dragged her toward the carriage. In spite of this, she still had a lot of things going on in her mind to the point that she wanted to get some fresh air. She could do it alone, but she’d prefer to be with a friend. And besides, she wanted to get her hardworking colleague something really nice for a change.

"You’re more familiar with the market," Laura stated as she pushed her friend forward with a grin. "Let’s go to a store you love and I’ll let you mooch off me and buy whatever you want."

"For real?" Teresa snorted while quickly going into the carriage. "Don’t you dare complain later once I choose what I want!"

Laura shrugged even as she had a smile on her face. She was earning well in her new post anyway, not to mention how their Queen was also being generous to them, so she had a lot of disposable income. She wasn’t that much of a spender aside from going to expensive taverns to drink, but Lord Fritz would always pay for her whenever they were together anyway.

Once again, she couldn’t help but sigh as she thought of Lord Fritz. She was having weird unfamiliar feelings for him lately, and it was distracting to the point that it was affecting her work. She was having a hard time focusing, which was pretty unlike her.

Ignoring her thoughts, it didn’t take long for them to arrive in the public market, and this time, it was Teresa who held her hand as she guided Laura to her favorite shop. From there, she simply watched her friend pick out everything she wanted while she let herself get lost in her thoughts.

"How come you’re just watching her shopping? Why not get something for yourself? Are you out of money? I’ll pay for it."

Laura felt the hairs on her skin stand on their ends the moment she heard his familiar voice. It was obviously Fritz, and she felt her body freeze, afraid of turning her head knowing how close his face was to her with how close his breath felt on her ear when he whispered.

"Are you stalking me?!" Laura replied, trying her best to act nonchalant.

"Of course, not. I just happened to pass by and I saw you from the outside," Fritz defended himself. "I just wanted to make sure that it was you."

Laura inwardly let out a sigh of relief the moment she felt Fritz finally move to give her some distance. She then immediately faced him with a frown, but she gulped the moment her eyes landed on his gorgeous face. Since when did his face start becoming bright to shine before her? And that beautiful smile... She was so dumbfounded that she quickly closed her parted lips. She probably looked like she was drooling.

Without caring about her surroundings, she started patting her cheeks and shaking her head.

"What’s wrong?" Fritz asked with a worried tone.

"Oh, nothing. I’m just waking myself up since I feel a bit sleepy!" Laura lied as she gave him a fake yawn.

Fritz chuckled, "What a liar!"

"Lord Fritz!"

Before the scene could continue, Teresa immediately approached them. Her friend smiled widely as she asked, "Is it true that Prince Dave is coming back home?"

Laura rolled her eyes despite her blush. She still couldn’t fathom how an intelligent and strict woman like Teresa would swoon over a well-known playboy Prince among the Ichor princes.

"Indeed," Fritz answered. "He’s coming back soon. Well, one of these days."

"Are you done choosing?" Laura interrupted, changing the topic. "I’ll pay for them now then. Besides, you need to go back early and prepare for the banquet."

"Yes... I’m done!"

Teresa hummed out her response, and Laura quickly moved to pay for her friend’s shopping, not minding how she could feel Fritz’s eyes land on her.

"You wanna hang out?" Fritz asked her from behind.

"Yes, she’s totally free!" Teresa answered for her.

"I am most definitely not free," Laura quickly corrected. "I have a lot of work waiting for me..." Teresa was about to speak again, but Laura quickly pulled her out of the store with her. "It was nice bumping into you, Lord Fritz, but we’ll be leaving now."

Pulling her friend along with her, Laura promptly entered the carriage and closed the door, leaving Fritz behind them without a word.

"Are you avoiding him?" Teresa asked with a raised brow.

"I’m just not in the mood to get drunk with him tonight," Laura murmured. However, deep inside, she already knew that she was simply avoiding the man.

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