Chapter 14
Was it the influence of her debut into society? Normally, she would have shrunk into herself and not spoken a word at the table.
But not only was she smiling brightly now—she even said she wanted to get involved in family affairs.
“…No, that won’t be necessary.”
“Yes, understood. Then I’ll relay your message to the retainers.”
The aide left the office.
Barun stood briefly and looked out the window.
“Belia.”
Maybe it was because it had been a while since he last saw her eyes, but they seemed so different now.
The vitality and brightness shimmering in those black eyes were unfamiliar.
She was only sixteen.
After that accident when she was eight, he had written her off, assuming she’d never bloom. But now she was in full bloom.
Just like the tulips in the garden down below.
The garden beneath the marquis’s office was vast.
As expected from a noble family long established in the empire, its scale was grand.
The water from the fountain sparkled in the sunlight.
People bustled about near it.
He could see maids cleaning, and gardeners tending to the greenery.
So many people made their livelihoods under this household.
“My possession.”
Barun spoke in his characteristically cold voice.
As a child, he had often felt lonely in this mansion.
The feeling of not quite fitting in became more intense whenever he looked at the reflection of his blue hair—a trait inherited from his mother.
His mother had never once stayed in the mansion for long.
Even at a young age, he had known that his father kept his mother at a distance.
She only began to stay in the house when her health started to deteriorate.
His father still cared for her, to some extent.
But Barun himself couldn’t do the same.
One day, he had picked flowers to bring her comfort.
But at the doorway, he overheard a shocking conversation between his mother and her personal maid.
“Barun is my child, but he’s not truly of this family.”
The mother who had given him such confusion passed away soon after.
“You’re a lot like me. Keep your claws hidden.”
That was all she left him with.
“Belia.”
Barun tapped lightly on the window.
He had lived trying not to lose affection.
And he had taken the hand extended to him.
When he brought that girl to the mansion at the age of eight, it had been the only choice.
Had he not, he would still be the blue-haired child who didn’t bear the color of the marquis’s house.
“No matter how brightly you shine, you won’t take what is mine.”
Barun murmured quietly.
“Will this really be enough, my lady?”
“Well, it’s not a ball—it’s just a meal with His Highness the Crown Prince. Dressing up too much would be overkill.”
Belia pouted at her reflection in the mirror.
Honestly, she was annoyed about this dinner with a stranger just because she’d been named the “Lady of the Year.”
And even though she hadn’t gone to the dinner yet, the gossip already spreading through society was giving her a headache.
“Why would he invite me to the Crown Prince’s palace?”
“Exactly…?”
It was unclear whether the invitation was of the prince’s own will or forced by the imperial family.
“But isn’t His Highness engaged to Lady Doltan? No matter how much they talk about ‘Lady of the Year,’ why would he call you to the Crown Prince’s palace? So far, the previous Ladies of the Year always had meals in the main palace…”
At Sue’s question, Belia sighed.
“I don’t know. It’s public knowledge that the Lady Doltan is the designated Crown Princess… but maybe there’s some hidden reason?”
“Maybe because the engagement isn’t official yet?”
“Could be.”
Belia brought a blue earring to her left ear.
Originally, it would’ve been Lady Doltan who was named Lady of the Year and dined with the Crown Prince.
“But even without the title, doesn’t Lady Doltan have dinner with him nearly every week?”
“According to the rumors, yes.”
“She’s the designated Crown Princess, but if she’s the only one dining at the Crown Prince’s palace, the noble faction might take issue with that. Maybe that’s why I’m being summoned.”
“You think so?”
“Who knows? It’s not really my concern. I just need to eat and come back. By the way, when is the Doltan family’s tea party?”
“The day after tomorrow in the afternoon! And there’s also a merchant guild meeting that morning!”
“Busy.”
Her schedule was becoming increasingly packed.
“Oh, and my lady! A reply to your letter has arrived!”
“A reply?”
When Belia held out her hand, Sue passed her the envelope.
“Ah…”
As soon as she opened it, Belia looked quite disappointed.
[Your request is denied.]
“I’ll have to go in person, then.”
She had planned to contact the Tower Master herself since he promised to come but never did.
But to reach the Magic Tower, one had to go through the imperial palace—and she’d already been rejected.
“Well, it’s not like a mere marquis’s daughter can meet the Tower Master anyway.”
Belia made a bitter face.
Sometimes, she thought back to the vision she had at her debut and wondered what it really was. Was it truly a memory from when she was eight?
The more she thought, the more tangled her mind became.
Had she lost her mind after returning to the past?
“Ugh! So confusing!”
“My lady! Please, your hair! You mustn’t mess it up!”
Sue rushed over to fix Belia’s tousled hair.
“My lady, it’s time to go.”
“Ah, right.”
Belia checked the time and nodded.
“I’ll be back.”
“Yes!”
It was unsettling, but for now, all she could do was trust the promise that he would come.
“This is it.”
She finally arrived.
The carriage the imperial family had sent was so large and ornate that her plan to eat quietly and slip away was ruined.
At the front of the golden carriage stood a sculpted eagle, the symbol of the imperial family.
So many people had whispered on her way here that even inside the carriage, her face had flushed red with embarrassment.
After arriving at the imperial palace in that carriage, the place was so vast that she had to transfer to another carriage just to reach the Crown Prince’s palace.
“Just follow this path.”
At the knight’s instruction, Belia nodded and began walking down the road.
As expected of the palace, every detail was extravagant.
The scent of fragrant flowers helped her relax as she walked on her own two feet.
At the end of the path stood a glass conservatory.
“Go on in.”
Following the attendant’s guidance, Belia entered the conservatory and gasped in awe.
Patterns drawn on the arched ceiling glittered beautifully.
The decorations and flowerbeds arranged beneath were also breathtaking.
“You came?”
Startled, Belia turned her head toward the voice.
“Ah, greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Alendo Fel—the Empire’s one and only Crown Prince.
Belia’s eyes were caught by his dazzling golden hair, and she couldn’t even meet his eyes, quickly bowing her head.
“Raise your head and sit comfortably.”
She raised her head and moved toward the seat that had already been prepared.
“Right, Lady. Thank you for accepting the invitation today.”
His casual tone made Belia meet his gaze.
Golden hair and golden eyes—this was the face of the next ruler of the Fel Empire, and it made her nervous to be so close to him for the first time.
“Ah, yes.”
Belia studied Alendo.
As the rumors said, he had inherited the Empress’s striking beauty, his face both handsome and delicately beautiful.
If not for the rumors of his being cursed, every noble lady in the empire would have at least once dreamed of him.
That thought made Belia unconsciously nod slightly.
“I usually drink tea during meals.”
Alendo reached out and poured tea into her empty cup.
“Ah…”
Belia, watching him blankly, couldn’t just accept the royal’s courtesy and reached out her hand too.
“It’s fine. This much is nothing. I find too many attendants bothersome, so I sent them away. I also don’t like multi-course meals, so no one else comes here anymore.”
Belia nodded at the table, where everything from soup to the main roasted chicken dish was already set.
“Yes.”
“Let’s eat, then.”
As Alendo picked up his utensils, Belia followed and slowly tasted the soup.
Her eyes widened for a moment.
‘Delicious!’
She’d heard the imperial palace meals were good, but she hadn’t expected this.
Planning only to nibble through the awkward dinner, her hands now moved a bit faster.
She eagerly took a bite of the chicken and quietly marveled at the flavor.
“Congratulations on becoming Lady of the Year.”
“Ah.”
So focused on eating that she momentarily forgot where she was, Belia raised her head at Alendo’s voice.
“Ah, thank you.”
“Seems like it suits your taste?”
“It’s very good.”
Belia answered honestly.
“You may not know, but I wasn’t the one who invited you today—it was the imperial family.”
“Pardon?”
“Becoming Lady of the Year put you on a list of candidates.”
“Candidates for what…?”
“To be my fiancée.”
Alendo smiled slightly.
“…What?!”
Clang.
Her fork dropped to the floor.
“No need to be so shocked…”
“Lady Doltan…”
Belia barely managed to swallow the rest of her sentence: ‘What about Lady Doltan, and why am I on that list?’
