Chapter 51

Lirika was on edge from the moment she woke up. The day she had been waiting for had finally arrived, but now that it was here, time seemed to fly by in a blur.

She put on the new dress and a much more elaborate petticoat than usual.

The dress, though Lirika had asked for it to be "as long as possible," only reached her calves.

'When I grow up, I'll wear a long dress. One that trails behind me...'

She harbored this small wish in her heart.

Breen was brimming with excitement. Her hair, which had grown longer from a bob, seemed to speak of her experience.

She put on the lovely silk stockings that matched the dress and slipped into the newly made shoes.

They were a new design of shoes with a thin strap running across the top of the foot.

From head to toe, it was clear how much the designer, the Empress, and Breen had paid attention to every detail.

When she saw the finished look, Breen smiled in awe. Lirika, seeing her reflection in the mirror, beamed.

"You really look beautiful."

"Yes, Princess. You look absolutely lovely. Proposals will be lining up."

Breen exhaled with excitement. Lirika laughed.

It was truly aristocratic that the proposals would come from 'families' rather than 'people.'

Lirika put her hand in her pocket. It felt empty without the pendant she always carried.

'What is His Majesty planning?'

She was both curious and excited. Lirika smiled softly, glanced at the mirror again, and twirled on her toes.

Breen clapped. Lirika, holding the hem of her dress, curtsied and smiled.

Lirika glanced at Raub. Strangely, he seemed more tense than usual today.

Even if others couldn't tell, Lirika could.

"Raub, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Raub replied politely. Lirika tilted her head and said,

"Are you worried because there are so many people? But His Majesty is here, and there will be many other knights, so it should be safer."

No fool would dare attack in such a situation.

Breen said,

"Maybe it's just that the dress is too tight."

Lirika laughed at Breen's words. Raub was indeed dressed much more formally today, perhaps because it was Parta.

He was dressed so well that one might think he was escorting Lirika instead of Attil.

At that moment, a servant approached and announced that Attil had arrived. Lirika suddenly felt a surge of tension.

Certainly, it was the moment she had been waiting for, but now that it was here, she began to feel nervous.

Breen, as if sensing Lirika's unease, approached and gently squeezed her arm before letting go.

Lirika nodded.

"Permission granted."

As Lirika spoke, the servant quickly opened the door. Lirika's eyes widened.

She had dressed up, but Attil was no less impressive. His appearance made her think of a beautifully decorated candy box.

Seeing Lirika's wide eyes, Attil smiled.

"The dress has wings."

"So do yours."

"Indeed."

Attil chuckled, bowed, and extended his hand.

"Would you grant me the honor of escorting you today, Princess?"

Lirika looked at the outstretched hand and reached out her own. Her fingertips trembled slightly.

"Granted."

Attil smiled, kissed her hand, and placed it on his arm.

"Let's go."

He spoke as if it were nothing, and Lirika's tension eased. She nodded.

The weather was so beautiful that it couldn't be bought with money.

Parta was held in the largest glass hall of the Sun Palace.

The enormous rectangular hall had high windows on both sides, hence its name.

Above the windows hung a series of paintings by renowned artists.

Brilliant sunlight flooded the glass hall. All the windows reflected the sunlight like silver mirrors, and the stained glass sparkled like jewels.

The marble floor, where the sunlight glided, was adorned with beautiful patterns.

The hall was filled with excited people. The Parta gifts for the Princess had already been passed from hand to hand by the servants and were arranged on the stage.

Everyone wanted to catch the Princess's eye, so they had brought their children, making the glass hall unusually full of children.

The orchestra played soft music.

The music changed.

It was the music announcing the entry of the royal family, so everyone turned their gaze to the stairs.

Altears and Rudia appeared. Normally, there would be an announcement by a servant, but today, it was Lirika's Parta, so she was the only star.

Still, everyone bowed in greeting. They then waited with mixed emotions for the next person to appear.

Lirika stood in the waiting room, tense. She whispered,

"I'm nervous."

"The ones who should be nervous are the people at the bottom of the stairs."

Attil said, gripping her hand tightly.

"I'm here."

Lirika finally smiled. At that moment, a servant called out in a loud voice,

"Princess Lirika of the Takaar Kingdom!"

Lirika took a bold step forward. The intense sunlight made her dizzy.

As she appeared, everyone applauded. The orchestra played a lively tune.

Lirika, holding Attil's hand tightly, descended the stairs. When she reached the middle, the applause stopped.

Following the practice, Lirika smiled and said,

"Thank you all for coming to my Parta today. I hope you have a wonderful time."

She curtsied lightly, and a flood of congratulations followed.

"Congratulations, Princess, on your Parta!"

"May you safely reach adulthood!"

"Congratulations!"

Lirika smiled brightly, descended the stairs, and stood next to her mother, greeting everyone again.

Altears and Rudia offered their congratulations in turn. Rudia hugged Lirika tightly and kissed her forehead.

"Congratulations on your Parta, my daughter."

"Thank you."

Altears said,

"Shall we start by looking at the gifts from those who came to congratulate you first?"

"Yes."

The order in which the gifts were opened was carefully planned over several days, with the most prestigious or close people's gifts opened last.

Families who brought children had their children introduce themselves and offer congratulations before Lirika opened the gifts brought by the servants and explained them.

The opened gifts began to line up next to Lirika. As the gifts became more elaborate, everyone gasped in admiration.

A comb made of ivory inlaid with mother-of-pearl, a delicately crafted dollhouse, a jeweled headband, and lace as delicate and beautiful as mist...

Then, a familiar face appeared.

"Diare!"

Lirika greeted Diare with a wide smile. Diare bowed energetically and said,

"Congratulations on your Parta, Princess."

"Thank you for coming."

"It's my duty as your companion."

Diare, who had been beating her chest, looked shyly at the gift box brought by the servant.

"I ordered it with the money I saved without my family's help."

The gift was a silver comb. Compared to the lavish gifts before it, it was simple, but Lirika was delighted.

"Remember when we used to go horseback riding together? Thank you, Diare."

"No, may this silver comb protect you from all harm, Princess."

"Thank you."

Thinking of how Diare must have saved her allowance bit by bit, Lirika kept saying thank you. She hugged Diare tightly, who smiled and stepped back.

The next person to come up was also a familiar face.

"Fjord."

"Princess."

Fjord greeted her elegantly. As always, every movement he made was captivating.

The servant brought the gift from the Barat Duke's family.

"Congratulations on your Parta. May you safely reach the next adulthood."

He recited the typical Parta greeting, and the gift was opened.

It was a gold birdcage. A bird was inside, which surprised Lirika.

"It's not... alive."

"Try turning the handle on the side."

Lirika turned the handle attached to the side of the cage, and a winding sound was heard. When she released the handle, the bird inside began to flap its wings and sing.

"Amazing..."

The plump, brown bird had green eyes and a red chest. Lirika recognized it as a nightingale but didn't say so. She just smiled and looked at Fjord.

Fjord also smiled softly at her.

When the beautiful song of the bird in the cage ended, Lirika said,

"I love this gift. Thank you."

"No, I'm glad that the automaton craftsmen's masterpiece could be presented to you first."

They exchanged meaningful glances. After Fjord bowed and stepped down from the stage,

Tann unexpectedly came up. Lirika smiled and said,

"I didn't expect Tann to come."

"I couldn't miss the Princess's Parta. Besides, the thought behind the gift is important."

"The thought behind the gift?"

Lirika looked at Tann, then at Raub, who appeared with the servant.

"Are the two of you giving a gift together?"

"No, the gift I'm giving is this one."

Wolf patted Raub's back. If he had patted Lirika's back, she would have tumbled down like a chestnut, but Raub didn't budge.

With a tense face, he stepped forward, knelt before Lirika, and took out a small box from his coat, opening it.

A single white pearl.

Raub said quietly,

"I return the pearl I first received and offer myself to you. Please accept me as yours