“They’re in a frenzy to bring in a new Empress for succession since she’s suffering without an heir…… Gasp!”

One of the maids, who had been speaking calmly, suddenly closed her mouth in surprise.

“You don’t think… You don’t think they’re trying to get rid of the Empress, do you?!”

“Hey, don’t say something that doesn’t make sense.”

“Come to think of it, Emperor Eteria’s eyes did look suspicious earlier!”

“That’s right. As if he wanted something from the Empress…!”

“How dare they try to take our Empress away! Unforgivable!”

It wasn’t even that Emperor Eteria said he would take me away, but the maids jumped to a conclusion and suddenly vented their anger.

“It won’t happen! We’ll make sure His Majesty doesn’t even think about losing the Empress!”

“That’s right! We’ll show off our honed makeup skills!”

No, even without that, Levanfell wouldn’t be able to lose me because of his nightly changes, would he?

The maids, who had no knowledge of such intricate details, were fired up.

“Empress! Get up! Time is of the essence! You have to prepare for the party tonight!”

“Even though it’s still midday?”

“Yes! So hurry up! Hurry up!”

.

.

.

Having finished preparations earlier than others, I set out first to look around the hall where the party would be held. Fortunately, there was no lack in anything.

‘Perfect.’

Satisfied after looking around the party hall, I felt a presence behind me.

“Your Majesty.”

Turning my head, there was Raven, who had come to check on the party hall like me. Raven looked at me in surprise, then hesitated and approached.

“Why that?”

“Don’t misunderstand, but… you’re truly beautiful. You’re the most beautiful among all the people I’ve seen.”

“I know. And I won’t misunderstand. Saying a pretty flower is pretty is just the truth. Why would I misunderstand that?”

Brushing it off lightly, Raven patted his chest in relief and smiled.

“Raven looks great too.”

“I know that as well… but I think I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Because you’re scared of His Majesty?”

“Yes. You see, I want to live long and not die.”

“I understand that feeling very well.”

I’m also someone who wants to live long and not die.

“It looks like the party preparations are all done.”

I checked the overall situation of the party, and Raven looked at the minor details. Fortunately, as the two of us had prepared together, there were no issues found.

During the prolonged examination, a guest arrived before the party had even started.

“Your Majesty.”

It was Elihu. On Elihu’s shoulder was Mew, who I hadn’t seen for days. Looking at its plump belly and chubby cheeks, it seemed to be eating well.

“Elihu. The party hasn’t even started yet.”

“Yes, I know. I came early to help, thinking that I might bestow the blessing of purification for Your Majesty’s first hosted party.”

Elihu, who had smiled serenely, suddenly scrunched his face with an expression of realization, and whispered quietly so Raven wouldn’t hear.
“Did I do something unnecessary? The Empress would do better than me.”

“No. It would be nice if you helped.”

Because I don’t know how to do something like a purification blessing. I’m a saint who doesn’t know how to bestow a blessing.

As I smiled gently, Elijah breathed a sigh of relief and followed with a laugh.

“I’m glad. The saint… no, the Empress is magnanimous indeed.”

That’s not it, but I just left Elijah with his misunderstanding. When Elijah bestowed the purification blessing, the air inside the party hall seemed to brighten a little.

‘Is this what people mean when they say they feel refreshed when they see me?’

I looked at Elijah diligently bestowing the purification blessing, and at Levanfell checking even the trivial things, and then whispered quietly to Mew.

“I’ve spread the shield.”

“Chirp, chirp. (You worked hard. It looks like you’ve stopped healing at night. Seeing that your power has become gentle. Well done.)”

Mew climbed up and stroked my head with its little hand.

“Chirp, chirp. Chirp, chirp. (But you must strive a bit more. You should be able to use it whenever you want. Not just creating situations to use it.)”

“Okay, I understand. But where on earth are you wandering around?”

“Chirp, chirp. Chirp, chirp. (There’s a reason for it.)”

As if a hamster would have a reason.

And time passed, and soon the party was about to start.

The Empress had said that she should appear with the Emperor, so I left Levanfell and Elijah behind and returned to the Empress’s palace.

Nobles I had never seen before filled the palace everywhere. A line of dazzling carriages arrived, and the rhythm of the orchestra was heard far away.

“So this is a party.”

Seeing a party with my own eyes, which I had only read about in books, was fascinating. And the fact that I was standing among them was even stranger.

“Is it that fascinating?”

Mew looked out the window at the line of carriages, looking at me with amusement.

“Of course. You’ve been like that since you were little. When your mother read you books, you always asked her to read the party scenes two or three times.”

Huh?

I tilted my head at Mew’s teasing words, feeling something strange.

“Mew. How do you know that?”

“Huh?”

“That I asked my mother to read the party scenes two or three times when I was young. How do you know?”

Is it something that gods naturally know?

Mew blinked its eyes for a while at my question. Seeing its small beanlike eyes rolling around, something seemed strange.

“Mew, you…….”

Just as I was about to open my mouth, a knock was heard. Turning my head, I saw Levanfell standing there.

“Empress.”

I told Mew that I’d come back to see it with a glance and got up from my seat, then walked towards Levanfell.

“Your Majesty… wow, you look really cool today.”

Levanfell always wore his military uniform, but today it was even more glamorous. His radiant clothing made his distinct features shine even more.

The compliments I had made about Levanfell being handsome or Elijah being graceful earlier were unnecessary.

Levanfell looked more handsome than Raven and much more graceful than Elijah.

“The Empress is truly beautiful as well. Everyone will only look at you today. They all said they were waiting for today. To have a time to converse with the Empress.”

“Hmm. I’ll have to stick to your side, Your Majesty. Then no one can come beside me, right?”

“That’s a good plan.”

Levanfell smiled satisfactorily and escorted me to the party hall.

As we appeared, a trumpet sounded loudly as if to focus everyone’s attention. Simultaneously, the sweet rhythm stopped, and the soft conversations that sounded like birds chirping ceased.

“The Emperor and Empress of the Leonharta Empire have arrived!”

With a resounding announcement, the doors of the party hall opened. As we stepped in, curious eyes were drawn to me.

Turning my head slightly, I saw a few familiar faces.

Raven, who was with the princes, Elijah, who was seated in a graceful prayer pose, and even Duke Liranef, who was gathered with a few people.

And the eyes of Emperor Eteria, who was looking at me, met mine. He was standing alone in the party hall without an Empress.