Chapter 30
“Ah, r-really? I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
As Elizabeth watched the nobles busily chattering among themselves with disdainful eyes, Reyna turned toward her with an expression of genuine apology.
Elizabeth wiped the smirk from her lips and quickly put on the face of a kind friend.
“It’s fine. It’s easy to believe and misunderstand the nonsense that idiots spout.”
“Liz.”
But she hadn’t been careful enough with her tone—Michael immediately cut in to stop her. Elizabeth’s face stiffened briefly before she smiled again.
“Sorry, that was a joke. Guess I’m not very good at being funny.”
Elizabeth rubbed her cheek awkwardly. Reyna, who had flinched slightly at the sharp edge in her voice, hurriedly shook her head.
“No, I thought it was funny! Liz, you’re really good at jokes.”
“Right? I knew you’d get it, Reyna.”
Elizabeth smiled brightly once more. It really did seem that her brief flash of anger had been nothing more than a joke. Reyna was happy that Elizabeth once again linked arms with her in that familiar, friendly way.
Elizabeth’s sudden warmth and friendliness were a little strange, but more than anything, Reyna felt proud and thrilled to be seen laughing and chatting so closely with the beautiful Christener siblings. She didn’t think any deeper than that and simply smiled back at Elizabeth.
Just as I thought—or maybe even better—things were going perfectly.
The highlight of the day, Empress Serena, hadn’t even made her entrance yet, and already the stupid nobles were dancing to my tune. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.
When Michael and I entered the ballroom and every single one of them stared slack-jawed at us, I had to bite back laughter.
They didn’t have the guts to confront us, so they whispered behind our backs and flinched away whenever we moved.
Watching them panic after realizing that I looked perfectly fine—it was such a ridiculous farce that I wanted to clutch my stomach and laugh out loud.
They hadn’t even seen my condition or what happened back then, yet they believed every word of the gossip papers and let themselves be led by the nose. I wanted to tell them straight to their faces just how pathetic and pitiful they all were.
“Liz, how long are you planning to stay in the capital this time?”
I turned toward Reyna Bolton—no, that’s right, she was Reyna Tersion now, since she married four years ago.
Reyna had always reminded me of a little puppy wagging its tail every time it saw me. Her small frame and cute face helped, but it was mostly the way her emotions were written all over her face whenever she saw me or Michael. She absolutely adored us both, and she never hid it.
I knew Reyna Tersion was the kind of lady who couldn’t conceal her feelings to save her life.
That’s why I chose her as today’s intermediary.
Reyna Tersion was the precious only daughter of the Bolton family. The Boltons had inherited vast lands and wealth, making them one of the empire’s richest and most influential noble houses—people who even other high nobles couldn’t afford to offend.
In simpler terms: they were land and cash rich. Our family’s merchant guild, Dion, also had long-standing business ties with them, so our families had been connected since I was a child.
Naturally, I saw Reyna often, and we became something like friends.
Michael, as the Christener heir, had always been courteous to her for the sake of client relations, but I had always gone out of my way to avoid her.
Because Reyna, unintentionally, would one day become involved in the incident where Ji Eunha was abducted to the Holy Kingdom.
Reyna was pure and good-natured—not a bad person to have as a friend—but because she was a character deeply tied to the original plot, I had deliberately kept my distance.
…But today, there was no one more useful than her. So, sorry Reyna, but I had to use you—just a little.
She adored Michael and me enough to hang on every word. I figured if I treated her nicely, she’d do exactly what I wanted.
And she’d been even more helpful than I’d hoped. At this point, I could probably hug her and kiss her out of gratitude.
Well, from her point of view, she’d prefer if Michael did that instead of me.
“Hmm, I’ll probably stay a few more days.”
The reason I had been dragged from the Sekzan territory to the capital in the first place was because of that ridiculous “blind date tour.”
Michael would soon be leaving the capital for a while, so naturally, the matchmaking would be put on hold. My plan was to return to Sekzan during that time.
Still, since I intended to stay in the capital until Michael departed for Azalenta, that’s what I told her.
“Really? Then why don’t you come visit my estate tomorrow?”
Reyna had always been desperate to invite me over. Maybe she just wanted to spend time with people she liked in a place she loved—I didn’t know, but it was obvious.
Normally, I would’ve refused or ignored the invitation like always. But today… since I’d already involved her in my plans, I felt a little guilty.
“Sure, let’s meet tomorrow.”
“Really? You mean it?”
I nodded, deciding to make up for all the times I’d declined by agreeing this once—and also as a small repayment for today.
Seeing Reyna’s obvious joy made a small pang of guilt stir in my chest.
“Marquess Christener, how have you been?”
“Michael, long time no see. I know you’re busy, but do show your face more often.”
“Marquess Christener.”
“Lord Christener.”
As Reyna and I chatted naturally, the nobles who had been hesitating finally began to approach.
Not surprising—Michael was the kind of person nobles always hovered around, desperate to speak with him but never daring to make the first move.
Once they realized I wasn’t deathly ill or disfigured, they started to crowd around us again, just like before.
Standing beside Michael, who greeted them all politely without the slightest frown, I also smiled prettily like a doll.
Sometimes, as a member of society, you have to do things you don’t want to. For now, I had to smile for the sake of our family’s and Michael’s tarnished reputation.
The same people who’d once treated us like plague carriers were now scrambling to reestablish ties with the Christeners. Standing among them, smiling serenely, made me feel like my very soul was being scraped raw.
“Liz, what do you do to keep your skin like that? It’s flawless—so beautiful.”
“Eating well and sleeping well are the best skincare secrets.”
“Really? You don’t do anything else?”
“Well, making sure what I eat comes out properly helps too.”
“Haha, oh Liz, you’re too funny!”
And then there was Reyna—still glued to my side, chattering endlessly. It was kind of cute how she laughed at everything I said, but still exhausting.
Pretending and smiling like this was draining. My head hurt, my stomach churned, and I was starving.
How long could I keep this up?
At least until the Emperor and Empress arrived. I needed to greet them properly—then I could claim I wasn’t feeling well and slip away.
“His Majesty the Emperor! Her Majesty the Empress!”
Just as I was anxiously shifting my feet under my dress, the herald’s announcement rang out.
Moments later, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess entered as well, followed by the other imperial family members.
The noisy ballroom instantly quieted and grew solemn.
As the imperial couple walked across the hall toward the high table, every noble—including Michael and me—bowed deeply.
I quietly exhaled a long breath of relief. I’d kept my composure, but ever since entering the ballroom, I’d felt suffocated by all the gazes fixed on me.
Keeping a proud expression while consciously enduring all those eyes—it was exhausting.
Thankfully, once the imperial family appeared, everyone’s attention shifted entirely to them. Finally, I could breathe again.
“Everyone, raise your heads.”
The Emperor, seated beside the Empress at the head table, spoke with a kind smile.
His voice wasn’t particularly loud, yet it echoed through the vast hall like thunder. As expected of an Emperor—his presence alone was different.
“Today, as we commemorate the founding of our great empire, I wish for everyone to relax and enjoy this banquet.”
Before the gathered crowd, the Emperor lifted the glass handed to him by the chamberlain.
“Rather than a tedious speech—let us all raise our glasses.”
