CHAPTER 43
The boys obediently took their leave.
Richard wore a regretful expression, while Jaron couldn’t hide his sly smile.
But the person I truly wanted to come… never showed up.
“So, in the end, he didn’t come.”
I lay in bed and spoke flatly. Ilia came over and smiled kindly.
“Perhaps he was just too busy? After all, the Count of Epsilord has never answered the Imperial summons.”
“…Who knows.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t answer—it’s that he was, once again, pushed aside by the Empress’s influence.
‘It’s fine. I expected this anyway.’
That my maternal grandfather wouldn’t attend my banquet.
The Count of Epsilord—my grandfather on my mother’s side—had not once, even in my previous life, attended my banquets.
So I stopped expecting anything from him.
I wouldn’t bother scanning the endless stream of carriages beyond the Imperial walls, hoping to spot his crest.
“Sweet dreams, Princess.”
Ilia gently brushed my hair and pulled the blanket up to my chest with care. After tucking me in tightly, she straightened her knees and quietly left the room.
I stared absentmindedly at the spot she had just vacated before slowly closing my eyes.
The next morning.
I woke to an unusually noisy scene—
“Bring the dress! Hurry!”
“Would pearls suit Princess Lirien?”
“She’d look too mature! There was a beautiful necklace gifted by one of the nobles yesterday—let’s choose from those instead.”
“Oh! Ilia, don’t forget His Majesty sent hundreds of accessories just for the Princess. Maybe we should choose from those?”
It was the day of the banquet.
I sat lazily, letting Mulin dress me while watching the others busily flitting around the room.
As she gently brushed my hair, Mulin asked:
“Wouldn’t it be better to tie it into two braids rather than leave it loose today?”
“Just make sure I look neat.”
“Hmm, should we let it down or do a half-up braid from the crown? The Marquess of Iolin sent a hairpiece that would go perfectly with that.”
Mulin chattered excitedly.
A rare ripple of life had entered the normally quiet and desolate 1st Princess’s Palace, and it had clearly lifted everyone’s spirits—including Mulin.
Every time she styled me, or when Ilia and the others helped me into my dress, they showered me with praise and admiration.
Once I was fully dressed, the maids gasped and covered their mouths with both hands.
“Gasp…! Our First Princess is absolutely…!”
“So beautiful! So radiant! You’re glowing!”
“I could die happy!”
Even I, who thought they were overreacting, finally understood their response once I looked in the mirror.
I had to admit—I looked stunning.
The dress darkened gradually from top to bottom in a deep navy, like a galaxy lit with starlight. The layered skirt bloomed like a flower in full blossom.
‘…This is a first.’
I had always chosen dresses suitable to the station of a princess—nothing too extravagant.
But from head to toe, not a single detail was careless. I stared into the mirror, then flinched and looked away, snapping myself out of it.
The maids giggled and came closer.
“You can admire yourself a little longer, Princess.”
“Yes, the banquet doesn’t start for another 30 minutes.”
“Shall we bring a hand mirror?”
“…No, I’ve seen enough.”
I was thoroughly embarrassed…!
‘I got too caught up in this ridiculous glamor—how childish I must seem to them now.’
Pull yourself together, Lirien. Everything that happens from here on is a key move to secure your future.
I cleared my throat and turned to the maids.
“You said the banquet starts in about 30 minutes?”
“Yes, His Majesty has ordered that you wait in the Princess’s Palace until then. He said he would come personally.”
“His Majesty?”
Come where?
The maid giggled and said:
“Where else? To the 1st Princess’s Palace, of course—to escort his lovely daughter.”
That’s when it hit me. “Ah,” I muttered, blinking.
That explained why they were all so excited, why they dragged me up before dawn to prepare me like this.
‘His Majesty… is coming for me.’
That used to be Evgeni’s privilege.
Not anymore.
I nodded, doing my best to maintain composure.
“When His Majesty arrives, send someone for me. I’ll be walking in the garden with Sir Sesil until then. Don’t worry.”
“Understood. We’ll send a maid the moment he arrives.”
I nodded again. Mulin and Ilia opened the dressing room doors and bowed deeply.
Just as I stepped out, Sesil, who had been hiding somewhere, appeared, knelt on one knee, and smiled.
“You’re practically glowing today, Princess. If others see you, they might go blind.”
I chuckled and shrugged.
“That kind of flattery doesn’t work on me.”
“I was being honest. But I suppose it sounded like flattery to you.”
Sesil laughed heartily, tossing her head back. I poked her forehead and headed toward the garden.
She followed quietly behind, rubbing her forehead.
As we walked, she gave me details about the banquet—how it would be crowded, and that Iabel’s restriction had been lifted briefly.
‘If Iabel’s restriction is lifted, she must be attending today.’
No need to avoid her. But no need to cower either.
I decided that if I saw Iabel, I’d ignore her completely.
Just as we were about to enter the garden—
“Who goes there?!”
Sesil suddenly shouted and turned around. Startled, I did the same.
She drew her sword and pointed it toward a shadowy figure in the darkness.
Cold sweat trickled down my back as I looked at the obscured figure. Just as it moved, Sesil growled low.
“Take one more step and I’ll cut you down.”
“My apologies. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“…That voice…”
I widened my eyes in recognition. The figure smiled calmly and stepped into the moonlight.
He was dressed in dazzling white, his skin pale, his golden eyes radiant, and his brown hair slicked back neatly.
“Viscount Idrea.”
The boy—no, Jaron Idrea—drooped his eyebrows and replied with a voice full of feigned disappointment.
“Please, call me Jaron. Not Viscount.”
“But you’re heir to House Idrea. It’s only proper.”
He held out a hand toward Sesil—telling her to lower her weapon.
Sesil reluctantly sheathed her sword, then stood between us and muttered lowly toward him.
“Ten-meter radius.”
“Sesil?”
When I looked at her, she smiled sweetly.
“His Majesty’s orders. No strangers—especially biological males—are allowed near Your Highness.”
“…?”
Before I could ask, Jaron blinked in confusion, then chuckled.
“Hahaha! His Majesty gave such an order?”
“Are you mocking His Majesty’s command? Step back ten meters.”
“But Lady Blonmind, surely that rule only applies to strangers.”
Jaron looked at me.
Technically, he was right—we weren’t strangers. But some people just give off a vibe.
‘He seems… exhausting.’
Considering how he used me to provoke Richard yesterday, it was clear—he wanted to use me to get under Richard’s skin.
I looked at him without hiding my disapproval.
“If you have something to say, say it now, Viscount. I’ll listen.”
“It’s not something for other ears.”
“That’s exactly why Sir Sesil should stay beside me.”
“Ah, is that so.”
Jaron shrugged and shot Sesil a look.
His presence was so commanding that even grown men tended to flinch and avoid him.
But Jaron didn’t back down at all. Instead, he stepped closer and said,
“Do you know what’s most important at a banquet—not flashy dresses or jewelry?”
“What are you talking about…?”
“Just a riddle. I was curious if Your Highness would think the same. So—what do you think is more important than dress or jewels?”
That’s obvious.
“Your partner…?”
Jaron smiled and nodded.
“Correct.”
“….”
“Troubled?”
“Is that even a question?”
“Which is why I wanted to request a private moment.”
…What is with this kid?
If I understood him correctly, Jaron Idrea was essentially proposing to someone not yet formally debuted.
Why?
When noble youths requested someone to be their partner before their coming-of-age…
It had serious implications.
First: Let’s form friendly ties between our families.
And second—
‘…Engagement.’
So yes. A marriage proposal.
“I refuse.”
Jaron’s eyes widened at Lirien’s response.
She looked calm, but her blunt honesty caught him off guard.
‘She really has changed.’
The 1st Princess he once knew would have cowered under pressure, not stood so boldly.
Jaron narrowed his eyes.
“May I ask why?”
Lirien replied coolly.
“It’s simple. Because you seem like a playboy.”
“…Excuse me?”
“You strike me as the type who’d flutter off like a butterfly, chasing after every flower.”
“….”
“I prefer someone who stands tall beside me. You don’t fit that.”
“Aha…”
She smiled and brushed past him.
“And isn’t it a little too late?”
To be asking for a partner now.
With that, she disappeared into the garden.
Left behind, Jaron stared at the spot where she vanished and whispered quietly.
“She’s fiery now, this 1st Princess.”
He grinned.
She’ll be interesting to watch.
He decided to postpone that woman’s request—for now, he would stay close and observe Lirien until his curiosity faded.
Meanwhile, Lirien agreed wholeheartedly with Sesil’s ranting.
“With that pretty-boy face of his, who does he think he is, proposing like that?”
“His guts must be made of steel.”
“More than that! If he only knew who the Princess’s real partner was—oh!”
Sesil clamped a hand over her mouth.
She looked around nervously—and locked eyes with Lirien, who had her eyebrows raised.
Lirien spoke.
“Why such a strong reaction, Sir Sesil? Who is my partner?”
“Well… you see…”
Oh no.
Of all times, she had to ask now. And she was sharp enough to know if I tried to dodge the question.
‘But I can’t just tell her outright—it’s classified!’
Just as Sesil stammered awkwardly—
“Is it Prince Dmitri?”
“Pardon?”
“As my partner. You seem shocked, so I wondered if it was him again.”
“Uh—yes! Yes, that’s it. It’s him.”
“I see.”
Lirien nodded calmly. She seemed to believe it.
Sesil let out a silent sigh of relief.
Just then—
“Sir Sesil! Princess Lirien!”
Maids came running toward them in a panic.
‘He’s here.’
The Emperor himself had arrived to escort the 1st Princess.
Led by the maids, I entered the main palace and blinked at the sight of the Emperor standing in the lobby, surrounded by knights.
Several of my own palace maids were there too, seemingly to deliver supplies.
“Your Majesty, we’ve brought the First Princess.”
The Emperor, who had worn an expressionless face all along, finally turned to me.
I tensed up without realizing it, clenching my fists.
Our eyes met—and I could just barely detect a flicker of surprise in his golden gaze.
“….”
He said nothing. The maids around me looked nervously between us.
I was just as rattled, struggling to keep my calm mask in place.
“The First Princess greets the sun of the Empire. May Aelyridium’s blessing be upon you… Thank you for coming.”
I bowed deeply, and the Emperor stepped forward.
The knights and maids watched anxiously as he approached.
He extended a hand.
“….”
“…?”
He said nothing, so I just stared at him. Then Sesil whispered quietly next to me:
“Princess, you’re going to embarrass him.”
“…?”
“His Majesty, I mean.”
His Majesty? Why?
I looked up—and met the cold gold of his eyes. Sesil said softly:
“Forgive the deception, but… His Majesty is your partner.”
…What?
