Chapter 7

The banquet was filled with people who only mocked with their snickers, glared with their cold eyes, or showed their disdain. No one seemed to be an ally—well, perhaps His Majesty the King was. He looked at me with great concern.

The moment our eyes met, he gave a gentle smile, then immediately returned to his usual dignified expression.

"Well, is everyone here? My son, the Crown Prince, will marry the intelligent and beautiful Nicole tomorrow. It's a joyous occasion, so please spend the time with smiles," His Majesty announced, and the banquet began.

The seating arrangement for the banquet centered around His Majesty, with the main figures and those of higher rank seated alternately by gender on either side and across from him. Since this was a celebration of our marriage, the Crown Prince and I were to sit side by side across from His Majesty. Next to me would be my father, and on either side of His Majesty would be my stepmother and stepsister...

The seating arrangement was discussed many times with the Prime Minister and the officials, but this was the only arrangement that worked. I had hoped to sit next to His Majesty, but that was not possible. In the end, the seating arrangement turned out to be a nightmare, and I felt very apologetic to His Majesty.

During the banquet, my stepmother kept clinging to His Majesty, talking to him persistently. His Majesty responded with a smile, but he also spoke to my stepsister on the opposite side and to us in front of him, showing a remarkably mature and polite demeanor.

The Crown Prince, sitting next to me, gave distracted responses, his gaze fixed on my stepsister's chest. Was the sight of her chest and cleavage so alluring? My father, sitting on the other side of me, watched my stepmother cling to His Majesty, clearly anxious.

—It really was a nightmare.

After the nightmare of a banquet, many of the men and some of the women moved to the drinking area. I had to leave early due to preparations for the next morning, but the Crown Prince, being the main guest, stayed to chat with everyone at the drinking area.

A few days ago, I started living in the private room designated for the Crown Princess. Next to it is the main bedroom for the couple, and next to that is the Crown Prince's private room. The three rooms are lined up, and we currently sleep in the beds in our respective private rooms. From tomorrow, we will primarily use the main bedroom.

Perhaps it's because I'm not used to the new room and environment, or perhaps I'm excited about tomorrow, but I can't fall asleep. I open the window and listen to the murmur of people carried by the wind, and gradually, sleepiness starts to overtake me.

I hear footsteps in the hallway, voices, and the sound of doors opening and closing... In a daze, I remember thinking, 'Ah, the Crown Prince has returned. Thank you for your hard work tonight.'

I was awakened by a high-pitched giggle and a creaking sound. I got out of bed, drank some water from the side table, and took a deep breath to think. The voices and sounds I had been hearing faintly for a while now...

—It's a bad feeling.

The drinking session after the banquet often lasts late into the night, so most people stay overnight at the castle. My family does too, including my stepsister.

I took a deep green, thick nightgown from the closet and put it on, then slowly walked over. Holding a lamp in my left hand, I reached for the doorknob of the door connecting the main bedroom and my room, and slowly opened it.

The door closed with a creak and a thud, a sound that seemed to echo my heart.

"It's not what you think, Nicole! This...!"

The Crown Prince, with his golden hair wet to his shoulders, hurriedly approached me, almost completely naked.

On the Crown Prince's bed, my stepsister, with her body partially hidden but her shoulders and cleavage prominently exposed, was sitting up with a lazy expression, fixing her disheveled hair.

—It's after the act.

"... Your Highness. Please take responsibility and marry my stepsister properly."

"Wh-What?"

My stepsister, with a relaxed and lucky smile, seemed to be saying, 'Lucky me!' The Crown Prince, with his sky-blue eyes still retaining a hint of youth, looked at me, asking what I intended to do.

—It's obvious, isn't it?

Take responsibility. To His Majesty.