Chapter 37
“Yeah. He really wasn’t much.”
Then why on earth had I clung to him?
Admitting the truth made me feel lighter.
“Sisi, you really need to raise your standards.”
“Don’t worry. You already raised them all for me.”
When I answered matter-of-factly, Helares gave a low laugh, clearly pleased.
Just as the atmosphere softened and I smiled—
Someone suddenly stepped in front of me and snapped open a fan.
“Exactly. Looks like your standards have gone up, Sienna.”
It was Irene, dressed up as extravagantly as a queen bee.
“Truly, such outstanding looks. Where has a man like you been hiding until now? At least Sienna won’t be lonely anymore.”
In other words: Where did you pick up some rootless pretty boy? And at the same time: Even with Rio by your side you were practically alone, weren’t you? She was mocking me while pretending to compliment.
She came here ready to tear me apart.
She picked a fight the moment she arrived, and I wasn’t about to just sit and take it.
“You should hurry up and meet someone nice too, Irene. I’m grateful that you always worry about me and others, but what’s most important is yourself. Don’t wait too long—finding happiness like I did might be good for you.”
In other words: Keep being jealous and you’ll die a spinster. Better to have a ‘rootless’ man than still be alone like you.
Irene’s shoulders twitched and her face flushed red—so she understood me perfectly.
“Oh my, your face is red. Are you alright? Should I cover it for you?”
—Hey, can you even walk around with that embarrassment showing? Want me to cover it?
“No thanks. There’s someone else whose face should be covered.”
—Get lost. You’re the shameless one who ought to hide her face.
Invisible gunfire cracked between us, blades clashing in midair, until the people around us began to murmur.
“The devil’s party, and Lucifer herself appears.”
“The showdown of the century.”
Despite the cringe-worthy comments, neither of us flinched.
We were still trading barbs when a trumpet fanfare rang out.
The main character of today makes her entrance.
The grand doors opened to announce the arrival of the imperial family.
The Emperor and Empress entered first, followed by the Crown Prince escorting the Imperial Princess.
Estella von Rabiaz.
My goal today, and the Empire’s only princess.
With the sky-blue hair and blue eyes unique to the royal line, Estella’s presence instantly hushed the crowd.
“Let’s stop here. Time to head back to our seats… Irene?”
But Irene stood frozen, staring blankly in one direction.
Her gaze was locked on the Crown Prince—the one escorting Estella.
Still in love with him, I see.
Her lovesick eyes suddenly twisted into rage.
Because the Crown Prince’s attention had shifted—to Daphne.
“His Highness still…?”
Irene’s eyes glittered with venom as she glared at Daphne.
“I won’t forgive any of you.”
Muttering darkly, she turned her fury on me as well.
“That goes for you too, Sienna Winter.”
Then she spun on her heel so sharply her hair whipped through the air.
Helares, baffled by Irene’s wild mood swings, narrowed his eyes.
“Sisi, what’s with her?”
“She’s just taking it out on me.”
Her glare had been far more venomous than usual, but still—she was just a spoiled young lady. I switched my focus off her in an instant.
Because Irene wasn’t what mattered.
When I looked up, Estella had climbed to the head table and was sweeping her gaze across the hall.
The moment her eyes met mine, her cool expression twisted with hostility.
I knew it.
Caught by that burning stare, I quickly looked away. Cold sweat trickled down my back.
“Well, well. Even the great Sienna has someone she doesn’t dare face.”
What could I do? I had committed sins, after all.
Instead of replying to Helares’s teasing voice, I checked the state of my item.
“Heren, you brought the gift, right?”
“That’s the fifth time you’ve asked. Stop worrying.”
“I’m anxious, alright? You promised to be flawless—was that just a one-time thing?”
“…Of course not.”
My unexpected jab seemed to throw him off for a moment, but with a resigned sigh he drew it from his breast and showed me.
“Satisfied?”
“Good. Once the crowd thins, let’s go greet her.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s already coming this way.”
“…What?”
Just as Helares said, Estella was approaching us with graceful steps.
I had believed Estella would pretend I didn’t exist.
But my prediction was completely wrong.
“Lady.”
At her call, I lowered my eyes obediently.
“Your Highness.”
A proper bow, downcast gaze, and a polite tilt of the head.
Estella’s eyebrows rose at my uncharacteristically meek response.
“I thought you’d arrive decked out like a peacock. What wind blew you in like this?”
“You are the star today, Your Highness. I mustn’t outshine you. I prepared with care—what do you think? Do I look acceptable?”
“You, conceding the spotlight?”
Estella looked at me in disbelief, but I simply placed my hand to my chest and bowed deeper.
“Congratulations on your coming of age, Your Highness.”
“…Lady, did you eat something bad?”
Is this really Sienna Winter? Or someone else wearing her skin?
Her suspicion was written plainly on her face.
“Just medicine, today.”
“…Medicine?”
Her expression turned peculiar.
“Sounds like it was the wrong medicine.”
“It was only a painkiller.”
Trust our princess to imply I’d gone mad from the wrong pill, and do it with elegance.
I understood. After all, it was strange—this world’s greatest troublemaker suddenly acting meek.
“I prepared a small gift to celebrate Your Highness’s coming of age.”
Thanks to Helares’s earlier check, the gift was already in my hand. I held it out immediately.
“What is this?”
Estella reluctantly accepted the small box tied with a red ribbon.
“Please open it. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now.”
She unwrapped it with obvious reluctance. When the contents were revealed, she tilted her head.
“A magnifying glass?”
“Not an ordinary one.”
“Wait, this is…!”
Realizing its true nature, Estella’s voice rose in excitement.
The onlookers, startled by her reaction, began murmuring again.
“They’re fighting again?”
“She must’ve given something weird as a gift!”
“Really, even at a coming-of-age ceremony?”
Hmph, let them chatter. My gift was far more valuable than anything they’d prepared.
Just look at Estella’s shining eyes!
“Is this truly a Dwarf’s magnifying glass?”
“As expected of Your Highness—you recognized it instantly.”
A Dwarf’s magnifying glass.
Crafted by the now-extinct dwarves, it was the number one treasure coveted by archaeologists and aspiring scholars alike.
Unlike ordinary magnifiers, it revealed details invisible to the naked eye, making it invaluable in unearthing hidden relics.
And Estella, with her interest in archaeology, had long sought one.
A simple bit of research would reveal that fact, but carrying it out was another matter entirely.
After all, the Dwarf’s magnifying glass was a legendary artifact.
“How did you…?”
“It wasn’t easy. As you know, Your Highness, it’s an extremely rare item.”
I lied without blinking.
Not easy? The moment I asked, it was in my hands.
Helares, after bragging that I should trust him, really did bring it to me overnight.
“Where did you get it?”
“From Oel,” he’d said.
Yes, he had wrung it out of Oel, the dragon himself.
To a dragon who’d lived over five centuries, even a legendary tool was nothing more than trinkets—so he’d handed it over.
“To think you would give me something so precious…”
Her dazzled eyes soon shifted into suspicion.
“Lady, did you make some blunder?”
“No.”
“Then… are you about to?”
So she was essentially giving me permission—Do what you like, even if it’s trouble.
I chuckled softly.
“Not at all. How could I cause trouble at Your Highness’s celebration? Impossible.”
If anything, I needed her favor.
I bowed before all present.
“About that day—the matter of the dress—I truly apologize.”
“…Raise your head. I should apologize too.”
“Pardon?”
“The dress. It turns out someone deliberately tore it. It wasn’t you, Lady. So stop bowing your head.”
“…Pardon?”
All I could do was repeat “pardon” like a fool.
