“Tigeris? Did you just say Tigeris?”
“What in the world…?”
The nobles’ faces turned pale with shock.
The person who had just entered the Great Hall was none other than Alleon Tigeris.
But there was something even more surprising than his sudden appearance.
“T-The Duke… right now…”
“Is that really Duke Tigeris?”
The Duke, who was said to be cold as ice, had his arm affectionately linked with someone else’s.
When the onlookers recognized that person as the Duke’s daughter, Selenea, sighs echoed around the hall.
Duke Tigeris was infamous for his terrible relationship with his daughter.
His daughter, Selenea Tigeris, was a notorious troublemaker in the capital, known for being uncontrollable and disgraceful.
Whenever she rarely appeared in high society, people always whispered about her behind her back:
“Look at her, sitting there stone-faced without even a hint of a smile.”
“If she’s not here to ruin the party, what else could it be?”
The noblewomen sneered and whispered as well:
“I actually feel bad for her. I mean, Tigeris doesn’t even have a Duchess…”
“Even if there had been a Duchess, would it have mattered? That girl’s temper is fiery beyond reason.”
“Exactly. The Duke supposedly doesn’t even care what she does anymore. I heard rumors that their relationship is beyond repair.”
“Goodness, then who’s going to inherit the Tigeris estate? That vast territory, all that wealth and military power…”
Though they gossiped maliciously about the Tigeris family, their eyes gleamed with greed.
Widows in the capital practically lit torches in their eyes trying to catch the Duke during any major event.
But the Duke never attended balls or social parties—only showing up at formal state occasions like the Thanksgiving Festival.
And now?
Not only had the Duke shown up to the Opening Ball of the Thanksgiving Festival, but he had come with his daughter?
Arm-in-arm, no less—as if they were the most affectionate father-daughter pair?
The nobles were too stunned to shut their gaping mouths.
Then Selenea Tigeris’s voice rang out.
“Father, let’s go over there.”
Selenea tugged Alleon’s arm cheerfully, and he followed her with a gentle, non-threatening look.
Gasps of disbelief rippled through the noble crowd again.
“What on earth is going on…?”
Amid the murmuring crowd stood Meg Klein, looking bewildered.
‘What? I thought their relationship was terrible… What’s happening here?’
She stared at the pair with a dumbfounded expression, then glanced toward the Empress beside her.
The Empress was also watching Selenea and Duke Tigeris with interest, just like everyone else in the hall.
Noticing this, Meg tried to gain favor with the Empress, muttering with a peculiar tone:
“My goodness, how rude can one be? Her Majesty is right here and they didn’t even greet her.”
But the Empress remained serene.
“No, the Duke arrived after I did. Perhaps he didn’t see me here.”
The Empress’s unexpected reply made Meg flush slightly.
“T-That’s not what I meant…”
But she fell silent quickly.
Her mother, Gloria, lightly grasped her wrist and gave her a look that clearly meant: Be quiet.
When Meg looked up again, the Empress was already walking toward Duke Tigeris and Selenea.
“Duke Tigeris. It’s been a while.”
As the Empress greeted the pair, the murmuring crowd fell silent.
Alleon gave a slight bow.
Next to him, Selenea lifted her skirt and bowed gracefully as well.
The Empress observed the father and daughter with a curious gaze.
“I didn’t expect to see you at my Thanksgiving Opening Ball.”
The Duke didn’t respond. As the silence stretched on, Grace, the Empress, smiled knowingly.
She was well aware of the Duke’s notoriously reserved nature.
But then—
“Father,”
Selenea softly shook her father’s arm.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Grace’s eyes widened in surprise. Selenea glanced at the Empress and smiled at the Duke.
“You told me, as a pillar of the Empire, attending the Thanksgiving Ball was a duty. You even made time out of your busy schedule to come, in appreciation for the royal family’s efforts in organizing this event.”
Selenea beamed brightly.
She particularly emphasized the word ‘effort.’ Grace’s lips curled in amusement.
Then Alleon gave a stiff nod.
“…Yes, I suppose I did say that.”
Grace finally burst into laughter.
Her intrigued eyes turned toward Selenea.
“My, and what might your name be, young lady?”
Selenea bowed again.
“Selenea Tigeris, Your Majesty.”
“Ah, so you’re speaking on behalf of your father, who won’t utter a word?”
Selenea paused for a second, then smiled widely.
“Oh, not at all. I was just worried that Father’s loyalty to the royal family might not come across properly.”
The Empress nodded in interest.
“Of course, I know of the Duke’s loyalty. All imperial citizens know that Tigeris has long been the shield of the Empire. But if I had to name one flaw…”
“…”
“It’s that the Duke is so quiet that he sometimes makes me feel awkward. But today, thanks to you, I’ve had quite the amusing experience.”
Selenea smiled at the playful tone.
The audience, watching this whole exchange from the sidelines, began whispering.
“I-Isn’t this a good sign?”
“Indeed. We were expecting tension after the Duke’s recent conflict with the temple…”
Grace turned to Alleon and spoke again.
“I actually came to talk about the upcoming gladiatorial event. Prince Xenon is expecting great things from your elite forces.”
“Is that so.”
The Duke replied curtly.
“Yes. I wanted to see if, like in previous years, we’d be seeing top-tier elites again. But…”
The Empress slowly turned her gaze to Selenea.
“I never knew the Duke had such a brilliant daughter.”
Her eyes shimmered strangely as she stared at Selenea. For quite a long time.
“How—How could this happen?!”
The sharp voice made Gloria turn toward her daughter, Meg.
“Mother, Lady Tigeris is awful! She humiliated me at the last party!”
Meg trembled with clenched fists.
“She stole Lady Estelline from me, and now she’s playing the innocent and acting all proper! I was so humiliated!”
Meg’s glare shot toward Selenea, who was now surrounded by nobles, chatting amiably with her ever-pleasant smile.
The Empress’s visit had only intensified the crowd around her.
“Look at that fake smile! It’s sickening! Isn’t it, Mother?!”
Meg stomped her foot and whispered furiously.
“Her Majesty, Lady Estelline, everyone—why are they all paying attention to her?!”
Just then—
“That’s enough.”
A stern voice from behind made Meg clamp her mouth shut.
Duke Belmart, who had approached unnoticed, was looking down at her coldly.
“How dare you use the Empress as an excuse for your petty emotions.”
Meg quickly looked down in shame.
“G-Grandfather…”
“Why are you wasting your energy on that nuisance girl?”
Meg blinked in surprise.
“Huh?”
Duke Belmart clicked his tongue as he stared at Selenea.
“It’s obvious. Tigeris’s power won’t last long. That house is led by a brute who knows nothing of politics and only craves blood.”
Meg’s lips parted slightly. Belmart continued:
“His army was useful during the war, but now that peace has returned, it’s meaningless. And his so-called heir…”
“…”
“She doesn’t even have a single special ability, which every noble in the Empire seems to possess.”
He sneered.
“The child’s as useless as her father. You, with Belmart’s blood, shouldn’t waste your time.”
He patted Meg’s shoulder.
“All you need to do is win the charity event. No one else is as suited for it as you are.”
After a brief pause, Meg nodded eagerly. Pleased, Belmart went on:
“Once you win, present your exhibition piece to His Majesty. As I said before, you’ll be invited to events attended by the royal family and foreign dignitaries.”
“Yes, Meg. Your father is right. Don’t waste time on trivial matters. Just focus on the charity event.”
Even her mother Gloria added her encouragement, and Meg’s expression brightened.
She turned back to glare sharply at Selenea.
‘Yes. Who else but me could possibly win the charity event?’
Who else had the status, background, and qualifications to discuss marriage with royals and nobles?
She scoffed and clenched her fists.
‘Just wait. You’ll regret stepping out of line.’
At that moment, music began to flow from the stage at the side of the hall.
It signaled the beginning of the ball’s first dance—the highlight of the evening.
Meg stepped forward, flushed with excitement, ready to accept dance invitations from eligible bachelors.
But then, she froze.
“Tatio, you’re finally here.”
Someone eye-catching had appeared next to Selenea.
“I was late because of your maid.”
His voice was low and smooth, cutting through the noise.
The man, who had been glancing around the hall, suddenly turned his gaze toward Meg. His jet-black eyes sparkled like black pearls.
Meg stared at him, forgetting to breathe.
