The Queen's Back

"Barbara, were you the one who tipped off the entertainment reporters yesterday?" Brendan asked.

Despite asking a question, his tone was certain. He played with the walnut in his hand, and it rolled again and again in his hand.

Barbara thought she had been discreet when she contacted the reporters, but she didn't expect the man in front of her to call her out directly.

For a moment, she felt a bit conflicted.

'The man in front of me doesn't look like someone to be trifled with,' she thought.

Rather than hiding and being exposed in the end, she reckoned it was better to just admit it outright. "Yes," she said.

'If this man didn't have any evidence, he wouldn't have sent someone to the hotel to fetch me,' she thought. 'All I know is that he's the man in the bathroom yesterday. I don't know anything else.' "You admit it very quickly," Brendan said.

"Since you called me over, doesn't that mean you already know?" Barbara replied with a question as she looked at Brendan with her big, innocent eyes.

Brendan warned, "Just this once. Before you do anything next time, think about your identity."

He was only doing this out of consideration for the fact that Barbara was Mona's cousin.

Barbara was still in a daze as she was led out of the villa.

She thought she would have to come up with an excuse for herself again, but unexpectedly, she ended up leaving just like that.

She had to think carefully before she did anything next time.

Six days was neither long nor short. Time passed as Maxwell counted the days on his fingers.

Noretin Design Competition was held in a lecture hall in downtown Noretin, which could accommodate over ten thousand people.

after another. They all wanted to see what this year's designs

Haley held a dress

be an

the backstage area, Mona, Haley, and Elara

from the gown. They did it very gently, afraid of

sent contestants. Excluding some cities that did not participate, there were hundreds of groups in the first showcase alone. There were two more improvisation rounds to follow, making the process quite

these people was not

to rumors Mona had heard, there seemed to be a direct mentee of Danielle participating in this competition at Noretin. Danielle was almost retired,

direct mentee participating in the competition, that mentee's skills should not be

I'm so nervous." This was the first time she had seen such a scene

many people made her

with so many spectators, someone may like our gown. We can then sell it for a good price. When we go back, we can still have a nice meal." She thought, 'If I don't win this time, I'll come back next year. After all, I have plenty of time ahead of

can still smile. Well, I'm really more concerned about the outcome than a contestant." Hearing Mona say

rang, and she guessed

and glanced. As expected, Maxwell's name appeared on the screen.

you've arrived, huh?"

I'm at

come to get you." As Mona spoke, she gestured for Elara and Haley to keep an eye on the gown. Then, she strode toward

days since Mona last saw Maxwell. Even though she did not say it out loud, she

Mona immediately saw Maxwell standing at the entrance. As usual, he was dressed in a black suit, but today,

was somewhat at odds with his

moment he saw

of roses into

keep counting the days on my fingers, I won't be able to hold on

this small space at the entrance,

when she slept. Previously, that spot was occupied by Maxwell. When she leaned there for the last few