Chapter 27
Gasping from the lack of exercise, I turned around to see two familiar faces.
Both were loyal subordinates of Michael Christener. One was Melissa, my older brother’s attendant and also my nanny, and the other was Anne, also my brother’s subordinate and the only maid in this mansion my age.
Both had been with me since I was little, originally living at our family’s Sekzan estate.
They had followed me when I was taken to the capital, so sometimes it felt like they were even closer to me than my older brother, Michael.
“Whenever those two come together, nothing good ever happens to me.”
Sure enough, whenever Melissa and Anne showed up like this, it usually meant something I didn’t want to do—like going on blind dates or attending mandatory banquets.
I tilted my head in confusion. But now… I can’t even go anywhere. With the rumors of a plague, I was supposed to stay quietly at home.
“You are to attend the Founding Festival commemorative banquet.”
Ah, right, the Founding Festival starts today. I’d completely forgotten amidst everything that had been going on.
The Founding Festival was the biggest event before Michael left for the Azalenta Desert. In the original story, it wasn’t elaborated on much since it was narrated from Jieunha’s perspective after she appeared.
I tilted my head again.
“I’m going there now?”
“Yes. Master ordered us to help you prepare for your attendance, Miss.”
My mind exploded with question marks.
No way. Could my older brother have gotten so angry he temporarily lost his senses, like me? Is that why this is happening?
No, even then, this is too much. It’s not just any noble’s party—it’s a banquet hosted by the royal family. Sprinkling ashes there would be disastrous. What if I get noticed by the royals?
“They said to show you this.”
I froze, unsure whether I should run to Michael right away, when two invitations were handed to me.
One had the official royal seal, and the other bore the seal of Empress Serena. I stared in surprise, then reached out and took them.
I first opened the invitation with the royal seal. It was just a standard notice informing the Christener family of the Founding Festival. This was expected, so I skimmed it.
The real problem was the second invitation—the one with Empress Serena’s seal.
With a tense expression, I opened it. The contents were short and simple.
This wasn’t addressed to the Christener family, but to me, Elizabeth Christener. The letter requested my attendance at the Founding Festival commemorative banquet.
I couldn’t believe it, but it was written in a graceful hand, presumably Empress Serena’s own writing.
At that moment, Rixion Luhanes’ message card, asking if I wanted to go boating, flashed through my mind.
“After the younger brother… it’s the sister now.”
Receiving letters from people I never imagined contacting me left me dumbfounded.
Empress Serena? To me? Why?
I had just barely shaken off Rixion Luhanes, and now this… It felt like a thunderclap, yet at the same time, my mind lit up.
If I played this right, I could immediately shut up all the people writing nonsense about our family.
“Is this real?” I asked.
“I heard the master just received the second invitation too,” Melissa replied, as if waiting for the question. Then, giving me a final warning, she added,
“There are only five hours left until the banquet.”
Time flew by in a blur after that.
From head to toe, I was thoroughly washed, scrubbed, and polished. I tried on one of the new dresses Michael had sent at the right moment, quickly altered it, styled my hair, applied makeup, and even helped pick accessories to match the dress.
It was a moment where Melissa and Anne’s efforts, combined with my cooperation, shone brilliantly.
Normally, I would have whined and refused to cooperate at a banquet, yet this time I let them take charge, which seemed to slightly surprise them.
Ordinarily, I’d grumble something like, “I’m not a child anymore. Why should I follow my brother like when I was little? He should hurry and marry someone to take care of this. Why drag his useless little sister along?”
Melissa would retort, “It’s because a useless little sister like you isn’t married yet and still behaves like this.”
While altering the dress, I devoured ten steak sandwiches Anne brought me, fueling my resolve.
These idiots—now that I’m personally invited by Empress Serena, they won’t dare chase me away. I’ll prove I haven’t caught the plague and that all the nonsense they’ve been talking is lies.
I’ll make sure they never dare mention my brother’s name in gossip again. And I won’t let my name be recorded as the red-rat troublemaker in the original story.
Had it not been for Empress Serena’s invitation, Michael would have attended the banquet alone. Given how I was treated like the red rat in noble society, I couldn’t possibly attend and ruin the event.
Even then, Michael attending alone wouldn’t raise much issue. Old, stubborn nobles might nag, “Hurry up and marry. Your sister still hasn’t wed?” But that was none of my concern… or rather, wait—if I go, I’d have to hear all that.
The thought made my appetite drop. I shoved the remaining sandwich into my mouth, sprang up, and shouted,
“I’m not going!”
“Yes, it’s finished,” Anne said calmly.
Finally looking in the mirror, I realized the two professional women had prepared me completely while I was lost in thought.
In the mirror, I saw Elizabeth Christener’s dazzling beauty. My golden hair was slightly waved and half-tied, my makeup highlighted my features naturally, and the dress matched my eyes perfectly. An emerald necklace I’d received last birthday adorned my neck, completing the elegance.
Even I had to admit: I was flawless. Too flawless.
I turned from the mirror and glared at the two women with dissatisfaction.
“Why make me this beautiful? If all the men at the banquet fall for me and follow me around, will you two take responsibility?”
Melissa and Anne, as always, remained expressionless. Repetition had made them bored with my antics.
“I’m glad you’re satisfied. Master is waiting, so let’s go,” Melissa said politely. Anne echoed the gesture, firmly but courteously ushering me out of my room.
Like being pushed off my bed earlier, they guided me down the corridor.
Once in the hallway, old habits crept back. I had been fired up to silence the gossiping fools, yet now a brief thought of running flitted across my mind.
But I knew I couldn’t—Michael would scold me later if I misbehaved. Most importantly, I could never ignore Empress Serena’s invitation.
“Late,” Michael called as I reached the entrance on the first floor.
He looked exceptionally well-dressed, his golden hair swept back to reveal a tall forehead, highlighting his beauty even more. No wonder the original story’s heroine Jieunha was so flustered when she first saw him—though she quickly got distracted by Rixion, who was slightly more handsome.
I shook my head at the thought of how silly Jieunha was in the story.
“Come quickly. You’re late.”
Michael gave me a glance that mixed annoyance with indifference, even seeing me all dressed up. I returned a similar look. He may be handsome, but he’s still my brother, and I felt the same.
Escorted by my brother, I stepped outside, completely unaware of what awaited me at the Founding Festival commemorative banquet I had no reason to be attending.
