The banquet held along the banks of the Ener River offered many sights to behold.

The venue Kaella had prepared most grandly was wide open on this summer night, with only light white curtains and banners hanging, swaying in the cool breeze blowing from the river. Round lights shone everywhere, and were even floated on the river.

Those invited could look down at the river from high up, or go down the stairs to enjoy boat rides. Everywhere was filled with fine alcohol, sweet food, and joyful music.

Abundant flowers decorated the pillars and tables, and adorned the railings leading to the river. But in terms of spectacles, the splendidly dressed people were no less impressive than the banquet hall itself.

Right away, the Crown Prince’s fiancée, Princess Keruzhan, had adorned herself with glittering new jewels and changed into a new dress.

Amidst numerous nobles and invited royalty showing off their family heirlooms, the Duchess of Lusenford appeared once again wearing a tiara that reporters were falling over themselves to call an “angel’s halo” or some such.

With many historic jewels on display and beautiful ladies and handsome gentlemen abounding, there was no shortage of sights to see. On top of that, the gathering of those of the highest status provided plenty to listen to as well.

“Will the Duchess and Lady Lavalle encounter each other at this banquet?”

It was a combination most people pretended not to care about while secretly hoping for it. Throughout the engagement party, everyone hoped with mischievous hearts that Kaella and Beatrice would cross paths at least once, expecting tremendous gossip.

“If they meet, Lady Lavalle with that personality of hers won’t leave the Duchess alone. The Duchess is so quiet and gentle, after all.”

“If they meet now, it’ll be Lady Lavalle’s loss. How can she compare?”

As soon as that definitive statement was made, those who had been hoping for a trashy romance novel to come to life shut their mouths.

“The Duchess of Lusenford can just sit back and fill up the empty Lusenford family jewel vault now. Mines keep being discovered in Lusenford, and the couple are equal regents.”

Those speaking in shrill voices were mostly middle-aged to elderly noblewomen. They were the ones who had played a part in blocking the good-for-nothings who tried to approach Kaella, who had lost her mother early, at every banquet.

“She’s different from the mere indebted noble who couldn’t even pay off debts and lost a perfectly good house, and is still unmarried, right down to her bloodline.”

“As a member of the imperial family, she’s not in a position to be compared.”

“Of course. I hear she’s gone to expand Lusenford Castle and is properly fulfilling her role as mistress of the house.”

“Lady Lavalle also managed the Monde family after Count Monde collapsed, but she couldn’t neatly resolve the debts, could she?”

The biting words were so sharp they stung. The elderly ladies who had already disliked seeing Kaella, a member of the imperial family, being pecked at left and right by Lady Lavalle because of Peon, had found their moment.

“No matter how popular Lady Lavalle is with men or how fun a girl she is, there’s still a clear hierarchy.”

“If the late emperor saw this, he would have been furious, wouldn’t he? How dare they compare the daughter of Duke Ostein to the daughter of a gambler?”

“Honestly, Lady Lavalle has no substance. Looks don’t last long.”

Some people gossiped that those old ladies were acting like that out of jealousy towards Lady Lavalle. There were also those who called the stuffy old ladies’ talk of propriety and status outdated, old-fashioned thinking.

Hadn’t the strong boundaries between statuses loosened somewhat compared to before? Right now, the emperor’s illegitimate child was becoming the crown prince. Nobles who had belonged to the lower ranks in the existing noble order were desperate to push upwards at this opportunity.

If possible, everyone had the instinct to break free from blue blood and mix with purple blood. Those with particularly strong such instincts had already joined the Crown Prince’s faction, and also sided with Lady Lavalle.

“Us? Oh, we’re fine, we’re fine.”

They flocked around the Duchess of Monde, who had reappeared dressed splendidly to represent the Monde ducal family.

“It’s regrettable, but we must dispose of things cleanly and pay off the debts. Of course. That’s what’s proper. We’re fine.”

The Duchess of Monde, who had very openly and proudly acknowledged the news of disposing of the beautiful Hillhouse first, took a glass of wine from a passing gold tray and took a sip.

The wine served at the banquet had been selected by Kaella after handing her beloved dog to Baroness Schroeder, and was sweet and full-bodied to suit the engagement party. Now, bottles packed in boxes were being frantically taken out and opened behind the scenes, endlessly filling new glasses.

“Beatrice and I are still young, after all. Yes indeed.”

The Duchess of Monde laughed ho-ho-ho and actively conversed with people and enjoyed the banquet, just as she had before the ban on entering the imperial palace was issued. She had a natural talent for making people laugh with amusing stories all night long.

Anyone who wanted to clutch their stomach in laughter just needed to hover near the Duchess of Monde. She was in high spirits from the people flocking to her after coming to a banquet for the first time in a long while, the delicious wine, and the beautiful banquet venue.

“By the way, where is Lady Lavalle?”

No matter how excited the Duchess of Monde was, she wasn’t foolish enough to say that her daughter was currently in the magic tool room of Soleil Palace handling magic tools.

Beatrice had gone to adjust the magic tools one more time because the collapsed emperor kept getting irritable and anxious.

“She’ll be here soon. Young people take much longer to get ready than we do. Goodness, they have so many things to do! Ah! There she is! Beatrice!”

As important guests including the Crown Prince began to arrive one after another, the banquet hall became quite lively. The engagement celebration for the Crown Prince who would lead the Crania Empire in the future could lead to any number of other marriages.

Especially at this time with royalty from various countries present, the nobles tried their best to marry off their daughters and sons, breaking through the barrier between nobles and commoners.

While the Crown Prince and Princess Keruzhan danced first, young men and women looked for dance partners.

Gentlemen in white ties mustered their courage, while ladies in fluttering summer dresses asked their elderly chaperones to bring them partners they fancied. Few gentlemen could ignore an elder’s words, after all.

“Thirsty? What would you like to drink, Kaella?”

A cool breeze blowing from the river to dispel the daytime heat rustled Kaella’s aqua-colored dress.

Before marriage, whenever Kaella stood in a glittering banquet hall, she always checked the corners first. As the daughter of Duke Ostein, she had to make the minimum greetings and then quickly find a place to hide her body.

There was no point in being humiliated, since no one would talk to or ask the unattractive her to dance anyway. So she hurried to hide before being embarrassed. Then she would peek at the protagonists of the banquet from behind the wall the old ladies had created for her.

Even on the rare occasions when banquets were held at Lusenford, she sat quietly by herself. No one spoke to her. The feeling of being the guest of honor at a banquet held on a summer day like this felt unfamiliar after so long.

“We have to dance right away.”

And no matter how she thought about it, the fact that she had a partner and that partner was Peon still felt awkward.

She awkwardly pointed at the Crown Prince and his fiancée. Once they finished, the next imperial family members to dance would be Peon and Kaella, along with Duke Ostein. Duke Ostein would dance with Keruzhan’s lady-in-waiting.

Kaella knew Peon’s dancing rules well. Just once with Beatrice. Occasionally once with the boisterous Duchess of Monde when unavoidable. And that was it.

“Shall we dance first then?”

Peon, dressed in the special attire Kaella had ordered, held out his hand to her. He looked dazzling enough to be called the protagonist of this banquet rather than the Crown Prince.

People of all ages from around the world kept exclaiming in admiration at the sight of him. He was perfect from head to toe. Even though he had experienced death, when he held out his hand, Kaella felt extremely shabby as always.

The hand reluctantly extended out of courtesy by the most outstanding man, holding back his displeasure, was an unforgettable memory for Kaella. So she always wanted to dance yet didn’t want to dance at the same time.

“If it’s difficult, should we dance later?”

Kaella became increasingly passive in her attitude when there were many eyes watching. Getting angry once last night wasn’t nearly enough. Peon slightly bent his waist and met her eyes while still holding out his hand to the noblest and most beautiful lady he knew.

“Or do you not want to dance?”

Kaella, wrapped in the aqua-colored chiffon he had specially chosen, quickly shook her head and placed her small hand on top of his. Her platinum blonde hair, which had been elaborately styled during the day, was now let down more comfortably.

The tiara placed on top of her already magnificent blonde hair, which reporters were calling an “angel’s halo” and dying to know the origin of, made her truly look like an angel.

While others were making a fuss about wearing different jewels during the day and night, Kaella carelessly put on the same ones she had worn during the day, grabbing whatever was within reach.

Anticipating this, Peon had already replaced the five diamonds in the tiara with five aquamarines, and prepared a new set of aquamarine jewelry to perfectly match her aqua-colored dress and blue eyes.

If the wife is careless, the husband can diligently change what that careless hand picks up. People whispered about how much Lusenford’s finances must have grown, with diamonds during the day and equally high-quality aquamarines of the same carat at night.

He could tolerate other things, but Peon couldn’t stand Kaella being overshadowed by those noisy Monde women or Princess Keruzhan. Wasn’t it a fact that Kaella was always the most eye-catching and beautiful woman?

“If you’re tired, we can dance just once and rest.”

“I’m not tired.”

Her hair swayed, and her dress rippled with the light movements and river breeze. The aqua chiffon wrapped around his legs.

The unpleasant and sticky summer air retreated, and the scent of osmanthus, lemon, and southern roses enveloped his arms. A lady wrapped from head to toe in what he had dedicated was the highest honor a knight could receive.

Usually that honor included affection as well, but Peon had long since stopped hoping for affection. There was no more affection from Kaella in his life. Once he had received Kaella’s love far too generously, but he had ended that love.

Since the love had ended, everything was over. He wasn’t a fool who longed for something he could never have again. Just being able to dare ask her to dance like this was enough.

“By any chance.”

As the Crown Prince and Princess stepped back amidst applause, the music started again.

The Duchess of Lusenford, whom gentlemen had barely managed to ask for a dance while watching for the right moment, knew all the dance tunes. As she twirled gracefully without any unnecessary movements, she murmured softly, and Peon slightly raised an eyebrow.

“Hmm?”

He heard. Then I should say it.

“Did you sleep with me earlier?”

“Yes.”

But his eyes didn’t look like he had slept. Up close, Peon somehow looked tired.

There were no shadows under his eyes, nor were they bloodshot. But his gaze was tired. In front of Kaella, he seemed to be forcing himself to appear fine. Come to think of it, his jawline had become sharper.

“I slept well.”

For some reason it sounded like a lie. Despite having no reason to hear it that way. That’s how it sounded. Kaella hadn’t seen Peon sleeping recently. She always fell asleep first.

“How about you? Did you sleep well?”

She had slept very sweetly. When Kaella nodded, he smiled like a boy, as if genuinely happy. As if he hadn’t anxiously checked her breathing and pulse.

“Wow, we even get to see the Duke of Lusenford smile like that. Looks like he’s happy being married.”

“Of course he’d be happy marrying the daughter of Duke Ostein. You couldn’t find a woman as pretty, rich, and smart as her even if you searched all of Crania.”

The gentlemen watched carefully, waiting for the couple’s dance to end. They were all waiting for a chance to dance with the Duchess once it was over.

Today, under the brilliant golden lights, Kaella wrapped solely in aqua looked as beautiful as a fairy. So this guy and that guy were all eyeing her.

The Duke of Lusenford would only dance once before going off to Lady Lavalle anyway! Plus, now that she was a married woman, the old ladies wouldn’t protect her so desperately.

“Kaella, are you tired?”

Perhaps because she had slept well and eaten well in between, her eyes were not painfully hazy.

“Huh? No. No, I’m not.”

“Then shall we dance once more?”

The question sounded as light as possible, yet subtly cautious.

“Huh? Why, why?”

“Why, you ask…”

His breath caught and his heart ached as if pricked at her wide, surprised eyes. To the extent of looking for a reason in the invitation to dance once more, Peon was still not a husband to her, but just a passing presence.

He would rather be a jewel in Kaella’s jewelry box. At least those jewels would be worn by her someday.

“I wanted to keep doing this.”

Not knowing how to answer or what to say, and not being particularly eloquent, Peon just answered honestly.

“You don’t like dancing with me.”

Before the words were even finished, Kaella instinctively realized that wasn’t the case. Her husband, holding her in his arms, answered while desperately pretending to be fine with utterly shattered eyes.

“I like it. I know I don’t have the right to ask, but I can’t stand those guys waiting to dance with you.”

Those guys? Kaella tried to look around as she twirled. But she couldn’t tell. Who could possibly be interested in her?

“Don’t look.”

The voice that reached her was steeped in pain. Kaella knew well the emotion hidden in that anguished cry. The feeling of helplessness when your insides are burning and your heart is melting, but you can’t do anything about it.

She knew well the anxiety and frustration of only being able to wait for the other person’s choice. Only one who harbors feelings that won’t be cut off no matter how hard they try knows the agony of boiling alone.

“You don’t have to look at me, but please don’t look elsewhere.”

Even saying that much was a luxury. Because Kaella couldn’t say a word. He knew. He knew, but he couldn’t bear it without saying it.

Peon, who hadn’t been able to sleep properly for a moment since learning that Kaella had also regressed, was enduring with his nearly broken reason and nerves through the self-control he had trained his whole life.

Here, at the engagement party Kaella had prepared, he must not go mad. He must not gouge out the eyes of the mere men looking at Kaella here, nor cut off the hands that dared to reach out to her.

“Please. I’m begging you.”

Knowing full well what he was saying, Peon spoke painfully without even being able to meet her eyes.

No matter how he thought about it, even though it seemed Kaella would push him away as if he were detestable and accept another gentleman’s dance invitation right in front of him, he still begged.

He couldn’t bear it otherwise. It hurt even more not knowing how Kaella had managed to swallow this unbearable madness.