Chapter 28
“Am I really allowed to go like this?”
“You’ve been personally invited by Her Majesty the Empress. You can’t exactly refuse.”
I asked as I held Michael’s hand and stepped into the carriage first, and he replied with a flat, matter-of-fact tone.
His words suggested there was no other choice, but his expression showed that he had already done all sorts of calculations in his head.
Even without speaking, I felt like I could guess what he was thinking.
Me showing up personally at the Founding Anniversary banquet today would have a far greater impact than a thousand words ever could.
How shocking would it be for people to see a woman, who they thought would be bedridden with illness and unable to leave her mansion, appear perfectly fine?
It was the perfect way to show that all the malicious rumors spread about our family and our guild were lies.
On top of that, it was an opportunity to give a taste of their own medicine to those trash spreading the rumors. And to think I had the support of Empress Serena behind me—unexpected, yet reassuring.
“Today, the Emperor and Empress will also be present, so behave yourself. Don’t go losing your mind and eating everything at the banquet again.”
Michael plopped down in the seat diagonally across from me.
Being treated like a starving bear wasn’t exactly pleasant, but I didn’t argue. My past record wasn’t exactly spotless.
I was relieved I had eaten about ten sandwiches beforehand; at least that would help me survive the next hour.
“And make sure to thank Her Majesty the Empress for the invitation.”
“I know that already,” I replied curtly, irritated at being treated like a clueless child after already being treated like a starving bear.
Even after the carriage started moving, his gaze remained piercingly fixed on my face.
“What? Did you ask your boyfriend for this?”
I frowned, puzzled at his sudden question. Seeing my confusion, Michael furrowed his brow as well.
“You didn’t ask Duke Rixion Luhanes, did you?”
I couldn’t believe it—he really didn’t trust me!
Feeling my blood pressure rise, I pinched the back of my neck.
“I told you I didn’t! I’m not dating Rixion Luhanes, we’re not close at all!”
“Then why would Empress Serena suddenly send you an invitation? That invitation clearly has a purpose.”
It was true that Empress Serena had specifically sent the invitation to me, not my family. The intent was obvious: “You seem to be in trouble with various rumors? I’ll give you a chance to prove your innocence.”
But why Empress Serena was extending this kindness, I had no idea. Perhaps Rixion Luhanes had requested it? The thought crossed my mind briefly.
But the last time we parted, the mood wasn’t exactly favorable, and I couldn’t imagine him going to such lengths for me now. There was no reason for him to.
‘Still, he did seem a bit decent in the end… if possible, I’d like to see the kids one more time…’
It was nice that he kept his distance, but it left a lingering sense of regret. I would have no way to know how Rowin and Lin, the two children, were doing.
Of course, that didn’t mean I wanted to get close to Rixion Luhanes again. The regret was just regret. My priority was to achieve my original goal safely.
“I don’t know.”
I pressed my forehead against the glass and made it obvious I didn’t want to talk about this topic anymore. Michael followed suit, turning his gaze to the window.
“Well, thanks to this, I suppose things will be in order before heading to Azalenta… but still, should I already be relying on my brother-in-law’s help like this?”
Nope. He was still overflowing with intentions to scold me.
I sighed deeply, shooting him a look that clearly said I was fed up.
“I really have nothing to do with Rixion Luhanes. I just happened to see him because of the matchmaking meeting. That day, it was purely coincidence that he helped me a bit.”
Michael glanced at me and then turned his head with an expression that seemed to say, “Fine, if you want to keep it a secret, I won’t pry.”
“Alright.”
“That’s not exactly how it looks.”
Unbelievably, Michael still suspected I might be dating Rixion Luhanes. I thought that the incident would fade away with time. Rixion wouldn’t show interest in me anymore, and Michael was busy enough to forget quickly.
But today, with Empress Serena’s invitation arriving unexpectedly in my hands, the topic resurfaced.
I turned my gaze to the window, feeling uncomfortable.
It was good that my appearance at the Founding Anniversary banquet could overshadow the unsavory rumors about our family.
But in the long run, I wasn’t so sure if this would truly be beneficial for me.
Especially since I had no idea why Empress Serena was being kind to me, for whose sake, or for what purpose.
‘Even if I knew her intentions, I wouldn’t be in a position to refuse this invitation anyway.’
I stared at my own reflection in the glass, admiring Elizabeth Christener’s dazzling beauty, and let out a long sigh.
‘First…’
I thought to myself.
‘…I’ll start by shutting the mouths of those idiots so they can’t spout nonsense anymore.’
Putting aside what I couldn’t control, I decided to do what I could, just like always.
Beneath the extravagant chandeliers, the grand hall was filled with beautifully adorned objects and people alike.
The Founding Anniversary banquet of the Kaiden Empire, which ruled the continent as a dominant power, was terrifyingly opulent, showcasing its glory and prosperity.
When Reina first entered, she was overwhelmed by the grandeur and splendor, barely able to breathe.
Her husband, Count Tercion, seemed more accustomed, likely due to frequent visits to the imperial palace, but Reina wasn’t entirely free from the pressure imposed by the palace’s aura.
Still, she couldn’t shrink into insignificance as the Countess of Tercion.
She quickly mingled with other nobles her age, chatting and laughing naturally as if nothing were wrong.
Yet Reina kept scanning the hall, hoping to spot a familiar face.
No matter how she looked, no one she expected appeared, and listening carefully near the entrance yielded no names of those she was waiting for.
She had hoped that someone would attend such a major event, but it seemed they would not appear.
They were so difficult to meet that she barely remembered seeing them properly since her seventh birthday party.
‘Well, with all the gossip and noise now, it’s natural they can’t come.’
As time passed, Reina couldn’t hide her disappointment, her expression growing increasingly bored.
In retrospect, it was natural that the person couldn’t attend, but seeing it unfold this way was still frustrating.
“Are you feeling unwell, my lady?”
One of her husband’s acquaintances noticed her tense expression and asked with concern. Reina hurriedly forced a smile.
“No, I’m sorry. I just wondered if Lizzie would be here today…”
She realized she had spoken her mind too freely. Mentioning that name here was definitely a mistake.
As she glanced around, some nobles looked visibly uncomfortable, exchanging wary glances.
“Miss Christener attending here is… a bit inappropriate, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it doesn’t make sense.”
As if waiting for someone to speak first, the nobles began one by one.
“Whatever her intentions, I think Miss Christener must bear any criticism regarding this matter.”
“I agree with that.”
“I can’t understand why anyone would protect such children.”
“Some even suggest she should be banished from the capital entirely. I somewhat agree.”
“Her reckless actions could endanger the entire Empire.”
“Does she even realize how wrong her actions were?”
“I don’t even trust the Christener family’s guild. Can anyone guarantee that their products aren’t contaminated with red rats?”
The voices criticizing Elizabeth Christener, her family, and their guild grew louder.
Reina’s face turned pale as she lowered her gaze.
Even her husband, Count Tercion, didn’t speak up, but seemed to silently agree with their opinions.
