“Lady Meg Klein Belmart, host of the party, has arrived!”
At the attendant’s announcement echoing through the grand hall, every gaze turned toward the entrance.
A young lady dressed in a dazzling purple gown and wearing a magnificent floral crown on her head was gracefully stepping into the hall.
In an instant, people swarmed around her.
“Oh my, Lady Meg. Your dress is absolutely stunning today.”
“Truly! When I saw you walking from a distance, I thought you were a butterfly!”
Lively laughter from the girls echoed throughout the hall.
Meg Klein offered them a leisurely smile as she looked around.
“Thank you all so much for coming to my party today.”
Her eyes sparkled as she continued.
“I wanted to hold a gathering for all the beauties of the capital before the Thanksgiving Festival. Are you enjoying yourselves?”
“Of course! How could we not, with you as the host?”
“The hall is so beautifully decorated, I couldn’t stop admiring it!”
As if on cue, polite and somewhat superficial compliments came from all around. Meg smiled serenely, enjoying the attention.
“Thank you, everyone. Actually, my grandfather put a lot of effort into this event.”
“Oh my, I’ve heard the Duke Belmart adores you! But to go this far with the decorations—how wonderful!”
“So envious!”
Meg slightly lifted her chin and smiled, her eyes crinkling with charm.
She was the only granddaughter of Duke Belmart, the Empress’s family, and a cousin to Prince Zenon himself.
“What are you saying? You all have wonderful fathers and grandfathers too!”
Meg responded cheerfully, prompting more polite laughter and tea-sipping among the ladies.
Each of them wore well-practiced smiles, carefully hiding their true intentions.
This was not only a small social gathering in the capital but also a meeting of influential families.
But then, Meg spotted someone among them and her eyes sparkled as she quickly made her way over.
“Lady Estelline, you came!”
Estelline, who had been deeply engrossed in thought, looked up.
“…Ah, Lady Meg. I’m sorry, I was a bit lost in thought and didn’t notice you coming in.”
Meg shook her head, smiling as if it were no problem at all.
Estelline was the daughter of Duke Roland, currently the Emperor’s most trusted noble.
This party had, in fact, been planned in part to grow closer to a few prominent ladies like her.
Since Estelline had frequently accompanied her mother on trips abroad, she hadn’t had many chances to form relationships within the empire.
Meg skillfully masked her excitement and spoke in a warm voice.
“It’s completely understandable when you’re deep in thought. But may I ask… why were you sitting here alone?”
Meg tilted her head. Estelline kept glancing toward the entrance.
Estelline gave a slightly awkward smile.
“Well, actually…”
Just then, the attendant’s voice rang out again.
“Lady Selenea of House Tigris has arrived!”
Meg instinctively turned toward the entrance.
Selenea?
Her brows furrowed slightly as she searched her memory.
…Ah, she remembered now.
Selenea Tigris was someone Meg had debated about whether to invite at all.
Though her family, the Tigris Dukedom, was one of the four great houses, Meg vividly remembered a conversation her parents had months ago.
“Duke Tigris has done something foolish again, hasn’t he?”
“He suddenly requested an audience with His Majesty, demanding to leave the capital.”
“Doesn’t he fear the Emperor at all?”
“Exactly. Does he think the Imperial Family is a joke?”
“Relying on his military and position like that… he won’t survive long if he keeps making enemies.”
Meg could still recall her mother shaking her head in disbelief.
And on top of that…
“Selenea Tigris rarely shows herself at social events.”
Oh right, there were a few instances. Meg sifted through her hazy memory and recalled Selenea.
“Yes. She used to constantly harass Lady Estelline…”
Just a few months ago, she’d even caused a scene at Estelline’s birthday party before fainting from anemia.
A sneer crept across Meg’s lips.
“So that’s why Estelline kept glancing at the door.”
Because she was afraid Selenea might show up to torment her again!
Meg quickly wiped the smile off her face and put on a concerned expression.
“Oh no… Lady Estelline, I wasn’t thinking. I shouldn’t have invited Lady Selenea. But don’t worry—I’ll speak with her and send her away…”
But Meg froze in shock at the next moment.
Estelline suddenly leapt from her seat and dashed past Meg toward the entrance.
“Selenea!”
Then, she wrapped her arms around Selenea Tigris.
Everyone in the hall was stunned.
Selenea paused in surprise, then gave a sheepish smile and gently pushed Estelline back, as if calming an overly excited puppy.
“W-what is this…?”
Meg stood there in disbelief, her lips slightly parted, as Selenea spoke in a warm tone.
“Estelline, have you been well?”
“Of course! Ever since your letter, I’ve been counting the days until today.”
“Letter?”
All the young ladies, including Meg, widened their eyes.
“They… exchange letters?”
“I don’t know either. I’m completely lost…”
Their reactions were understandable. Selenea’s reputation in the capital was simple:
“The mean girl who bullied Estelline,” or
“The disgrace of House Tigris.”
But now it looked more like…
“It was so hard leaving Eria behind. She cried all the way to the gate, saying she wanted to come see you too.”
“Lady Eria did that?”
“Yes! After the party, she insisted I bring you home with me—she even shouted so loud it shook the house.”
Gasps and sighs rippled through the hall.
Meg glared at Estelline and Selenea with visible displeasure as they smiled at each other.
“How… How is Selenea Tigris close with Lady Estelline…?”
Meg’s plan had been to grow close to Estelline through private conversation.
But not only had some unexpected intruder taken Estelline from her…
“Isn’t she the one involved with that temple…?”
“I heard a rumor too. Something about a strange priest brainwashing her?”
“Oh my, is that true?”
The guests had already begun gossiping about Selenea.
“What the hell is going on…!”
Meg bit her lip in frustration, glaring at Selenea.
Because of her sudden appearance, the spotlight had completely shifted away from Meg.
Still, Meg quickly hid her expression. She knew better than to show her displeasure at such a gathering.
She calmly walked over to Estelline and Selenea.
With a warm smile, she greeted her guest.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Selenea.”
Finally, those cool blue eyes turned to her. Selenea spotted Meg and smiled brightly, extending her hand.
“Ah, Lady Meg. Thank you for inviting me. The hall is lovely.”
Meg nodded awkwardly, scanning Selenea from head to toe.
With her platinum hair cascading down her back and a mysterious necklace around her neck, Selenea looked quite composed. Even her dress looked expensive.
“So she’s flaunting that she’s the only daughter of Duke Tigris.”
Meg sneered inwardly.
“Even though her relationship with the Duke is terrible.”
She didn’t believe the recent rumors about Selenea in the capital.
Why would the temple try to brainwash a powerless disgrace like her?
“Getting involved in something shady and now dragging the temple into it? How shameless.”
Meg was silently giving Selenea the coldest look she could muster when—
“Selenea?”
Someone else appeared at the entrance.
The attendant stammered.
“L-Lady of House Grimaldi…”
The young ladies turned toward the voice.
But the attendant, uncertain of the new guest’s name, stood awkwardly, his lips parted.
Selenea signaled to him with a cool expression and muttered,
“Rozettine.”
“…”
“She’s Rozettine Grimaldi.”
Startled, the attendant hurriedly called out,
“L-Lady Rozettine of House Grimaldi has arrived!”
Meg finally recognized Rozettine’s face and widened her eyes.
The Grimaldi family had many sons and daughters. They usually sent different children to the Thanksgiving Festival each year.
“But Rozettine Grimaldi…”
She had never attended before and was rumored to be a prideful fool.
Meg frowned but quickly composed herself. She was the host of this party, after all.
“I knew I shouldn’t have let that idiot Peony handle the invitations.”
Clenching her fist at the thought of the maid who had helped her, Meg smiled brightly and approached Rozettine.
She had to fulfill her duty as host.
But just as she smiled and began to speak:
“Welcome, Lady Rozettine. Thank you for coming to my—”
“Selenea! You really—!!”
Rozettine ignored Meg entirely and ran straight past her.
Meg was left standing frozen and alone.
And once again, a cold breeze swept past her in the now-empty space ahead.
