Chapter 88

"Hot...!"

Anastasia, the former princess, stiffened.

Her face turned pale as if she had seen a ghost, and she was at a loss.

Just as the former princess was moving her lips, Lady Phaonte stepped forward.

"I greet Her Highness the former princess. Glory to the royal family."

"Glory to the royal family."

"Glory to the royal family."

Lady Phaonte, spreading her skirt wide, led the chant, and the children followed.

I also bowed slightly.

Lady Phaonte smiled and spoke to Anastasia.

"Thank you for coming."

"Y-Yes..."

"Did you come at the request of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?"

Lady Phaonte emphasized "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager" and glanced at the children.

It seemed she wanted to boast that "The Empress Dowager sent the former princess for me."

I looked at the former princess.

She, meeting my eyes, shivered with a pale face.

"I, I have to go now..."

Lady Phaonte was startled.

"What?!"

"Since I've shown my face."

"But... but..."

Lady Phaonte was flustered.

It was obvious that the royal family's visit was just for show, and it would be embarrassing if the royal family only showed up to make an appearance.

For Lady Phaonte, who wanted to boast about her strong ties with the royal family, this was a difficult situation.

Lady Phaonte forced a smile.

"Why don't you stay for a while? Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is very worried because you've been staying in the palace all the time."

The former princess seemed genuinely frightened.

If she had given up social activities and secluded herself in the palace.

'Why did you do something so scary?'

I chuckled, and the former princess, seeing me, bit her lip tightly.

"Alright, I'm leaving—"

"Mother has prepared some good wine for the former princess. Lauren! Bring the wine Mother prepared to the former princess...!"

"Stop it—!!"

The former princess shouted.

Lady Phaonte turned pale, and silence fell over the hall.

'Idiot.'

Rumelissa Phaonte is the only daughter of the Marquis Phaonte.

The story of how much the Marquis and his wife cherished their daughter was well-known even in distant Astra.

But for her to cause such a commotion at a party she hosted.

The children here would surely tell their parents about today's events as soon as the party ended.

The Phaonte couple would surely be furious that their daughter was humiliated.

'The Phaontes are the Empress Dowager's family and the leaders of the imperial faction, right?'

If they bear a grudge, what will happen?

In Yoo Hye-min's world, it was common for children's fights to turn into adults' fights.

Lady Phaonte was at a loss due to the humiliation, and no one in the party hall could easily speak.

Except for me.

"Are you okay, Lady?"

When I asked, Lady Phaonte snapped back to her senses.

"Ah... Yes. I must have made an unreasonable request to the tired former princess. Please forgive me, former princess..."

I wrapped my arm around Lady Phaonte's shoulder and looked at Anastasia, the former princess.

"You must have been very tired. Enough to shout at a party."

"..."

"To come to a children's party in such a state shows how much you care for Lady Phaonte."

In other words:

How difficult must it have been for you to come to this party in such a state?

If it weren't for the party you hosted, would the former princess have come in such a state?

So, how much does the royal family favor you?

Others will understand this point too.

Lady Phaonte's expression brightened as she understood my words.

"Y-Yes!"

"Indeed."

The girl smiled brightly and spoke to the former princess.

"I'm worried about you. You should go home and rest."

"..."

"Séverine, please escort Her Highness to the carriage. As the host, I can't leave the party."

'Séverine is Lady Phaonte's cousin, right?'

The fact that she asked a cousin to see off the royal family suggests that she still harbors some resentment.

"Can I see her off if it's okay?"

"You, Lady?"

"Yes. My partner is waiting at the entrance. It's difficult to enter the 1st district, so I thought I'd go out to check how long it will take."

"Oh, will your partner have to wait for so long? Lauren, bring the entry ticket immediately."

A woman named Lauren, wearing a nurse's badge, bowed.

Lady Phaonte held my hand.

"Then, I'll ask you to see her off."

"Yes."

With that, Lady Phaonte bowed slightly to the princess.

"Glory to the royal family."

"Glory."

"Glory."

The former princess, greeted by the children, left the room as if fleeing.

Of course, I followed her.

The former princess didn't say a word on the way to the carriage.

Just as she was about to get in, I said,

"I hope you feel better soon."

"You...!"

The former princess glared at me, gritting her teeth.

"I'll watch how long you can keep this up."

I glanced at the palace coachman and maids.

'That maid is the one I saw at the Empress Dowager's palace... Ah.'

I immediately understood how things were progressing.

The Empress Dowager must have heard about the incident at the Astra manor and sent her own people.

I raised my eyebrows and looked up at the former princess.

"Did I make a mistake with you, former princess?"

"Disgusting...!"

"Excuse me?"

"How much more do you plan to make me suffer! I can't even sleep because of you!"

"Because of Father? I'm sorry, former princess. It's something I can't control..."

"You—!!"

Anastasia, the former princess, grabbed my shoulder, her eyes wide.

"Former princess!"

The maids quickly pulled her away.

The Empress Dowager's maid looked pale.

I skillfully hid my smile and feigned a very flustered expression, shrugging my shoulders.

"Are you okay, Lady?"

The Empress Dowager's maid quickly checked on me.

"Ah, I'm fine... Just a bit startled, so don't worry too much."

"My, my..."

The maid looked at me with a sympathetic expression.

"Really, I'm fine!"

While I was speaking, the former princess continued to shout.

"It's all that girl's fault! Do you know what she said to me? Even Lord Diamond knows you're such a despicable girl?!"

She was almost delirious, though she was always a bit dim-witted.

When anxiety reaches its peak, people often act like they've lost their minds.

Even smart people can make mistakes when cornered.

For the already dim-witted former princess, who was also suffering from insomnia due to anxiety, it was natural that she couldn't make rational judgments.

'But what if my father's name comes up?'

Then people will think you're causing a fuss because of my father.

As I expected, the Empress Dowager's maid looked thoroughly exasperated.

"Really..."

The maid sighed deeply and instructed another maid.

"Don't forget Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's orders. Be especially careful to prevent the former princess from causing any more trouble."

"Yes..."

The maid looked at me.

"Lady, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will greatly reward you for this, so don't worry."

I pretended to be surprised and waved my hands.

"No!"

"Excuse me?"

"It would sadden Her Majesty the Empress Dowager to know. The former princess isn't a bad person..."

"..."

"The elders in Astra say that deep love can sometimes be painful like a thorn. The former princess must have been in a lot of pain because of the thorn."

"Lady..."

"And if Her Majesty the Empress Dowager rewards me, she'll find out about today's incident... My father would be sad to know I went through this."

"How could you..."

The maid looked very moved.

Even the palace coachman and the former princess's guards looked at me with admiration.

They had the expression of 'How could a noble lady have experienced such a situation? But she's so composed.'

'In Astra, this is a common occurrence.'

The former princess, who had grown up in the palace, was completely powerless.

It didn't even faze me.

The Empress Dowager's maid glanced at the still agitated Anastasia and said to me,

"I will also convey your noble concern for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."

I smiled inwardly but maintained a somber expression.

"I hope Her Majesty the Empress Dowager won't be too upset."

"My, if Her Majesty knows how much you care, she'll forget her worries quickly."

"That would be a relief."

I smiled brightly and greeted the maids.

"How long do you plan to keep this up? How long do you plan to keep this up?!"

"Princess, please...!"

While the palace people were busy getting the former princess into the carriage, I mouthed to her,

"Until you bleed to death."

The former princess's face turned pale.

'Right, who told you to mess with me?'

I'm a child who always returns what I receive, doubled.

The incident at the Astra manor alone couldn't result in the punishment I wanted.

To be precise, her only crime was:

'Using a drug on a monster.'

But ultimately, no one was hurt by that.

Since she deliberately attacked me, it would probably end with her being barred from social activities for a few years.

Of course, there are ways to make her suffer more.

'Causing a scandal in Astra.'

But that would create a deep rift between the royal family and Astra.

Why should we bear the risk when the one who caused the incident is the former princess?

I hummed a tune as I watched the departing palace carriage.

Then,

"Amazing, really."

Alexis's voice came.

Turning around, I saw him looking at me, his wrist wearing an entry ticket.

"If you mess with someone, you should pay them back double."

"Yeah, that's you."

Alexis chuckled.

I shrugged and said,

"Shall we go now? Back to the party?"

"Sure."

"Did you learn the etiquette?"

"Of course, after all the drilling you gave me."

Alexis held out his hand to me.

I took a step back, slightly bowed, and lightly placed my index, middle, and ring fingers on his hand.

It was finally time to enter.

* * *

Everyone's attention was drawn to the door.

Golden hair, red eyes. A girl with a striking appearance, like a rose come to life, entered the party with a beautiful boy.

Everyone knew she was the Lady of the Astra Count.

The boys, gathered in groups, murmured in awe.

Erylott Astra's beauty was famous.

She was the best among the already beautiful Astras.

A doll-like child who looked exactly like the most beautiful Diamond Astra.

But when I heard the rumors, I thought they might be exaggerated.

'But it's really...'

'Yeah, it's really...'

A boy who met her eyes turned bright red, fumbled, and dropped his juice glass.

Some boys, forgetting their conversations, gaped open-mouthed.

Even the girls, who revered beauty, sighed in admiration.

Her golden eyelashes fluttered elegantly as she blinked.

Her red eyes sparkled more than any gem.

Her face, so beautiful it could have been sculpted by a god, and her lips, like she had just bitten a flower petal.

Her small nose, still youthful, added to her charm.

Despite being the second time she entered, Heidi inwardly gloated at the attention Erylott was receiving.

'But who is that boy?'

A boy with a striking appearance that didn't pale in comparison to the beautiful Lady Astra.

His black hair, like the night sky gathered in one place.

His eyes, as bright as the dawn.

His appearance was flawless, a perfect match for Erylott.

'Wow...'

'Amazing...'

The girls gasped.

Then, Rumelissa Phaonte approached.

"Lady, did you see the former princess off well?"

"Yes."

Phaonte Lady grabbed Erylott's hand.

"Thanks to you, I didn't have to leave the party."

Her eyes were full of affection.

"It was nothing."

"No, it wasn't. I'm grateful for your kindness. But... who is this?"

Erylott said, "Ah..." and turned to Alexis.

Alexis, with his hand lightly on his chest, said,

"I'm Alexis."

The girls quickly gathered around him.

"We haven't seen you in the capital before. Which family are you from...?"

Erylott's eyes sparkled secretly.

'I knew this question would come.'

She subtly poked his side.

Alexis frowned for a moment but quickly changed his expression and answered,

"I'll introduce myself when the time is right."

"Oh?"

Everyone's eyes widened with curiosity.

Erylott smoothly changed the topic.

"But this is a wonderful party. It's my first time at a capital party, and I'm amazed."

Phaonte Lady pulled her lips into a tight smile.

"There aren't many parties like this. I put a lot of effort into preparing it."

"Madame Gonalong said that the Phaonte Marquise's parties are always wonderful. It seems you've inherited your mother's talent!"

Phaonte Lady's expression brightened.

"You think so? I'm so happy~."

The party was lively.

But people's attention was constantly on Alexis.

Erylott, holding the juice glass Phaonte Lady handed her, smiled.

'No one can match her beauty as a topic of conversation, right?'

The plan to draw the capital's attention to Alexis was a huge success.

* * *

Phaonte Lady returned home with a dazed expression.

"How was the party, dear?"

The Marquise chuckled and asked.

"It was—amazing!"

"Did the former princess come and go well?"

"Don't even mention it. It was so humiliating!"

"Why?"

"If it weren't for the Lady of Astra, I would have been humiliated."

The moment when a children's fight turned into an adults' fight.