CHAPTER 92…………………………
“…….”
Sir Oliver’s eyes widened in surprise. I spoke to him.
“How about it? I’ll try talking to him myself—Duke Hyperion, that is.”
I could feel everyone, including Sion, staring at me in disbelief. Someone muttered quietly.
“Talking won’t help. He’s not the type to fall for nonsense.”
Just then.
“Lady Aristina!”
Serene’s loud voice echoed through the guest hall.
So she came all the way here?
“Miss Serene!”
“Lady Aristina!”
We held hands for a moment, delighted to see each other.
“Sorry, Miss Serene. I promised a toast after everything was over, then disappeared.”
“No, it’s nothing! You must have been busy with family matters. We can have the time anytime, since we’ll be staying at the palace anyway.”
“I see. Did your parents come with you?”
“Of course!”
Serene turned and gestured behind her.
“Father! Mother! Over here!”
“Ah, yes.”
A middle-aged couple entered the guest hall after her.
Both had black hair and stern expressions, but seeing me, they smiled warmly in unison.
“Princess Rozen! Or may I call you Lady Aristina?”
“Of course! It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duke, Duchess.”
“Finally, we meet properly. Our Serene never introduced you, claiming she didn’t even have time to meet you.”
“I should have come earlier. Now that I see you, Duke, there’s something I’d like to say.”
I whispered to Duke Hyperion.
He listened, then turned to look at Sir Oliver. After a moment of thought, he spoke.
“Hmm……”
Once he finished thinking, Duke Hyperion strode toward Sir Oliver.
“Sir Oliver. In the past, when Duke Kanel Rozen tried to punish you, I intervened and stopped it. Yet apart from that, I had resolved never to forgive your rudeness in my lifetime. I could never forget being called a cowardly liar. But……”
He smiled warmly at the frozen Sir Oliver.
“Now, as I grow older and raise a daughter, I’ve realized something about life: ‘Anyone can make mistakes. Don’t judge others too harshly.’ Seeing you, I realize I’ve done little that’s right myself. Let’s forget the past. I no longer wish to be rude to a knight who has returned having accomplished great deeds.”
Duke Hyperion said this and extended a hand.
Sir Oliver stared at the hand in shock, then, regaining his composure, grasped it and shook it vigorously.
Everyone watched in astonishment as Duke Hyperion returned to his seat and asked me.
“How is it? All set?”
“Yes, thank you very much.”
I smiled in response.
Everyone was staring at me in surprise over this small incident.
Then, another group of noble ladies appeared at the guest hall entrance.
They froze upon seeing me in the center, drawing all attention. The lead lady shouted.
“Princess Aristina! How could you do such a thing?”
The tone of reproach immediately stiffened the hall’s atmosphere.
Next moment.
“This is outrageous! I waited impatiently, thinking you’d have my cousin’s ceremonial outfit made at our boutique!”
The noble lady, Miss Lilibeth, ran up and grabbed me, clearly upset. I smiled and apologized.
“Sorry. I planned to, but Sion had already prepared the outfit himself.”
“Is that so? It’s a relief if it wasn’t made elsewhere. I wanted to show you the feedback in person. Following your instructions, I just flipped the table, and the talk of an arranged marriage disappeared instantly.”
“That’s right!”
Other ladies chattered eagerly.
“I also managed to get a refund. I didn’t say a word for three hours, just repeated ‘refund!’ like a parrot, and eventually they gave up.”
“I successfully fired that unfaithful musician without any fuss! Truly amazing, Princess!”
I flicked my hair arrogantly with one hand.
“I’m glad I could help.”
Their gazes filled with even more curiosity.
Then.
“The Crown Prince has arrived!”
With the head steward’s booming voice, the crowd in the guest hall parted.
At the far entrance, the blonde Crown Prince appeared, dressed in splendid ceremonial attire.
His bright, neat face looked as sculpted as ever, but his unusually blue eyes blazed with intensity.
“Your Highness.”
Aldensis ignored the admiring gazes from all directions and immediately approached, exuding a terrifying force.
“Princess! How could you do this?”
Aristina’s brief moment of glory ended. Everyone held their breath at the Crown Prince’s subtly fierce tone…
“Why do you keep ignoring my carefully written letters? I promised myself not to get angry over such things, but after being ignored twice, I’m not pleased. Don’t you think you’re treating me unfairly? How hard would it be for me if you simply disappeared?”
“……?”
Everyone’s faces froze in confusion. What did I just hear?
Someone muttered quietly.
“So they were really involved…”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. His Highness only needs me for a very specialized task.”
I noticed the shadow under Aldensis’ eyes and spoke.
“You’ve been under serious pressure to marry these past few days, haven’t you?”
“Seems so. He’s the Crown Prince, after all.”
Zikren, who appeared suddenly, cut in. His attire showed off his figure, his golden eyes and sharp teeth looked lively and cheerful.
“Luckily I’m the second prince. If I want to go somewhere, I can just go. Time for another trip, Aristina. This time, let’s go just the two of us.”
Everyone’s eyes widened again.
“It’s for business. Last time, you were uncomfortable riding with all the knights crammed into the military carriage. This time it’ll be smoother.”
At that moment, the entrance stirred again.
With a chime, the head of the Sacred Order appeared, clad in white cape and ceremonial attire, leading paladins.
Seeing him approach with sharp violet eyes, the noble ladies who had stood haughtily brightened and hurried toward him.
“Your Excellency!”
But he ignored them completely and walked straight toward me.
I had heard he would appear at the palace often for the time being.
Meeting officially after so long secretly, my mind was momentarily overwhelmed.
“Your Excellency, what brings you here?”
“They said the head of a beast appeared, so I naturally came to inspect. But that’s not the main point…”
He frowned.
“Princess, what about the promise we made? I waited in anticipation—was it a lie? You’ve hurt me.”
“I’m talking about a donation, everyone. I promised a large donation but completely forgot.”
I opened my fan and blocked the gazes converging from all directions, explaining.
It was noisy around me, with everyone waiting for a chance to speak.
The postal aide, Perdel, approached worriedly.
“What to do? As I expected, everyone’s causing a commotion trying to catch the lady’s attention.”
“Right. That’s why I didn’t want to come to the palace.”
I looked at Sion awkwardly.
He stood, utterly bewildered. His wide eyes and slightly parted lips seemed to say:
‘What is this? Are they all in on this to tease me?’
No wonder he was confused. According to his memory, Aldensis should have been angry because I caused an accident chasing him.
Zikren should have been struggling to pull me away. Ruelian should have been looking at all this with contempt, ignoring everyone coldly.
Well, until a few months ago, the scene would have been exactly as Sion imagined…
‘See that?’
I raised my chin.
This is how social life works. I’ve worked hard to crawl up from the bottom, no, from dozens of meters underwater to here.
‘Unlike before, I’m not someone no one would care about if I were suddenly killed. If I die, everyone loses a little. So forget silly thoughts.’
While demonstrating my survival skills before Sion’s eyes, Duke Kanel approached.
“I heard your reputation improved, half-believing it. Seeing you today, it seems true.”
He glanced beyond.
Sir Oliver was now among the knights, smiling awkwardly.
“After the incident with Duke Hyperion, Oliver tempered his temper and chose his words carefully. That experience helped. I thought it was time to move on, but no one knew how to deal with it. You handled it well.”
“Not at all,” I said modestly.
“You seemed so excited at the first founding festival you barely noticed! To think you’ve not truly enjoyed a party in over 20 years! As someone who loves parties, I couldn’t just ignore it.”
The Duke nodded.
“Well done.”
“Excellent, sister. You’re far wiser than me.”
Sion quickly chimed in. His expression of frustration cleverly hidden, his face now radiated admiration.
But…
Endurance is experience too. Based on Sion’s accumulated analysis of past encounters, his gaze was peculiar.
‘He may be smiling now, but he’ll cry soon, sister.’
It seemed 99% certain.
Is he thinking something else? What could it be?
Only one guess came to mind.
It must relate to the upcoming merchant guild competition.
‘What could be prepared?’
At that moment, the head steward’s loud voice echoed.
“The Emperor has arrived!”
