“You know Grandpa Chen. He doesn’t use poisons that harm human life. It’s said to have no reaction to argentum either.”

“Still, a bride falling asleep during the wedding reception seems a bit harsh, doesn’t it?”

“The princess’s ultimate goal is to ruin the wedding night. But elder sister, you like Princess Patricia?”

“She’s pure and kind. What about you? The princess… isn’t she quite irritable?”

“Elder sister, I was a tough kid who didn’t shed a tear even when seniors at the tailor shop pricked my hand with needles when I first learned sewing. But the princess…”

“I’m sorry. I know about the princess’s irritability and outbursts.”

“She constantly hits with fans and even pours hot tea on people. Did she do that to you too? Is that what you’ve been enduring all this time because of me and mother?”

“Elder sister. Are we getting involved in something dangerous?”

In the end, the sisters hugged each other and cried in the dark carriage.

*

The Helios Hall reception venue had long tables arranged in rows on the sides. The large space in the center was left empty for dancing.

It was spacious enough for hundreds of people to dance simultaneously, from polonaise to minuet, waltz, and mazurka.

Dozens of three-tiered chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The soft yellow light falling was enough to elegantly highlight the shimmering faces and dresses of the women.

Before coming to the reception, Carolina had her maid put on a flower crown, tidying her disheveled hair and applying perfume to her nape. The subtle fragrance from the gilded flower crown seemed insufficient.

So arriving a bit later than others, she first checked Patrick’s seating position as she entered the hall. Fortunately, the quick-witted Isabella had placed Carolina’s fan on the seat across from Patrick.

Carolina sat down with a dazzling smile, assisted by an attendant. Aware that Patrick was watching her.

When Patrick removed her tiara and placed the flower crown on her head, she leaned in close and whispered:

“Your Highness. Please ask me for a waltz.”

Seeing Patrick’s face turn red, she was certain. That he would request the first waltz.

She did not prefer the physically demanding polonaise and mazurka. She intended to seduce Patrick with a waltz where she could maintain elegance and exude her charm from start to finish.

The orchestra began tuning to the oboe’s A note.

Since this was a wedding reception ball, not a regular debutante event, there were no advance dance requests. Gentlemen had to anxiously ask in front of the ladies each time.

If one liked their partner from a previous dance, they could continue dancing together even as the dance changed. Refusals were also easy, with excuses like sore legs or thirst.

The table seating was not fixed, as it wasn’t primarily for dining, allowing free movement.

The preparation music for the first waltz began playing.

It was enough to draw attention during the first waltz, as the newlywed couple had not yet arrived from their parade through downtown Riswan.

Carolina glanced towards Patrick. He took a sip of champagne, his gaze fixed intently on the liquid in the glass before looking up.

Carolina deliberately maintained a nonchalant expression as she looked at him. With an appropriate gaze that didn’t avoid him. Patrick smiled ever so slightly, lifting just the corners of his mouth.

Chris, the second prince of Tane sitting next to Patrick, stood up and extended his hand to Alesia, asking her to dance. Alesia removed the glasses she had been wearing, placed them on the table, and took his hand.

An unfamiliar man whose name she didn’t care to know extended his hand to Isabella. Isabella followed him out.

Carolina grew tense.

At first, she was angry and disappointed after reading the letter Patrick had sent through the banquet attendant. But after rereading it several times, she sensed hesitation between the lines, as if he didn’t want to let something go.

He wrote a letter when he could have just ignored it. And he said her lips were quite alluring.

‘So that means he looked closely at my lips.’

‘He said not to involve him in play-acting, so what if I confess directly and honestly instead?’

Carolina picked up her champagne glass. Just then, Prince Ralph of the Kingdom of Heya stood before Carolina and extended his white-gloved hand.

“Princess. Would you grant me the honor of the first waltz?”

“I’m waiting for someone else to ask me to dance.”

Carolina rejected him honestly, as was her nature. It was a clear expression of rejection towards the one who had asked her to dance.

Carolina glared at Patrick with intense eyes.

Patrick stared expressionlessly at his father, Emperor Kazan.

Emperor Kazan sat in a special chair that could be moved while seated, leaning on his scepter like a cane. He gulped down panium and immediately began tearing into a lamb shank.

The emperor had looked pale throughout the wedding and shifted uncomfortably.

But upon entering the reception hall, his red eyes gleamed as he displayed his appetite. Surely other desires had awakened fiercely as well. It was clearly an addiction.

Just how many different toxic substances did Pamila have at her disposal?

Patrick slowly lowered his gaze, lifting his champagne glass to his lips and drinking. Carolina, watching Patrick, bit her lower lip.

At this large table, only the ailing Emperor Kazan, unfit for dancing, and the young couple Patrick and Carolina remained seated, keeping their places.

‘What kind of person… He really has no interest. How could he subject me to such humiliation. Just wait, if he doesn’t ask next time, I’ll dance with someone else.’

Carolina blushed as she looked at Patrick, then was a little surprised.

Patrick was watching her while rubbing the round rim of his champagne glass with his index finger. He tilted his head slightly with a smile that seemed to show interest in her.

Carolina felt tension even without dancing, even without approaching each other to converse, just from that gaze alone. She fixed her gaze on his blue eyes. Patrick also looked into her dark eyes.

Amidst the noisy voices of people, the clanking of cutlery, and the flowing waltz music, their gazes remained fixed on each other for a long time.

A subtle emotion flowed between them.

Carolina was certain that they had recognized each other, wanted each other, and felt it.

*

The Baizer baroness sisters, whose family had been exterminated, stood hand in hand in the storage room for silver candlesticks and chandeliers.

“Did Her Majesty the Empress drink the tonic?”

“No. In the morning, the Tane maid drank all the lemon water. I put it in the salad too, but the maid and head maid interfered…”

“The princess wants you to bring elder sister.”

“Mina. I don’t want to meet the princess. It’s not about the punishment I’ll receive, I’m afraid she’ll make me do something even more frightening.”

“Elder sister. I went to Oro Alley, and the alley has changed a lot. First, the kids who used to target the pockets of errand boys and passersby have all disappeared.”

“How? Why?”

“Grandpa Chen said they gave most of the Kaosan gold mining rights to Tane’s trading company and Mathis Trading Company. Tane is in the preparation stage, and Mathis has already started. So most of the young men from Oro Alley got jobs with Mathis and went to Kaosan.”

“Juan must have gone too.”

“Princess Leak talked as if she had used great influence for Juan, but actually, Mathis Trading Company is hiring unconditionally due to labor shortage if there’s a sponsor and guarantor.”

“Still, the princess’s contribution must have been significant.”

“Elder sister. Mathis Trading Company is looking for maids and managers to work in the dining halls and dormitories for gold mine workers. The hourly wage for maids alone is twice what I’m getting now. Let’s ask Captain Bark, Grandpa Chen’s grandson, to be our guarantor. Let’s go to Kaosan.”

“Mother… How can we.”

“Mother is in the imperial hospital anyway… Let’s do this. First, give me the remaining tonic.”

The sisters made plans. Mostly Mina spoke of the plans, and Lena nodded hesitantly.

Then Lena went to the White Palace to pack, and Mina unfolded the paper containing the tonic, folded it like a fan, and tucked it into her wrist sleeve before heading to the ladies’ lounge.

“Why are you so late? And why are you alone?”

“Princess. Lena was at Aster Palace. She couldn’t come out because she’s inspecting the bedroom for tonight’s consummation.”

As Mina expected, Julia’s face contorted at the mention of consummation.

“Did you see her?”

“Yes, I met her. She said the Tane princess went to bed late last night after being with His Majesty the Emperor, so she woke up late and put the tonic in the salad during her late breakfast.”

“She was with the emperor until late last night? Go get some champagne.”

As Mina expected, Julia looked for wine. Mina went to a servant pulling a drinks trolley at the entrance of Helios Hall and received a glass of champagne.

As she turned and walked down the corridor, she shook her wrist. The tonic she had tucked in fell out. She swirled the champagne glass using her wrist as she entered the ladies’ lounge.

Julia took the champagne glass Mina offered and drank it in one gulp.

“Fix my makeup. Reapply perfume too. Jenny, put on my mules now.”

Jenny, who had been massaging Julia’s calves nearby, put pink mules with elaborate ribbon and jewel decorations on her feet.

Upon entering the reception hall, Julia headed towards a particularly eye-catching table among the many side tables.

After assessing the atmosphere in a few steps, she first approached Carolina.

“Carolina. What’s the matter? Why aren’t you dancing the waltz? Ah, you never danced, right? The Empire’s black curtain, hehe.”

Julia, having been denied an audience with Patricia, went to Carolina to complain.

“Julia. Rather, it’s His Majesty who’s more anxious. Stop your obsession.”

Julia was uncomfortable with Carolina’s attitude changing as drastically as peeling a watermelon rind.

As Julia tried to pull out the chair next to Carolina, Carolina, not wanting to be disturbed, looked at her and said it was Isabella’s seat, as if to make it clear.

Carolina didn’t mind maintaining an appropriate distance with Patrick, exchanging intense gazes without conversation. But Julia was a bit troublesome. Already, her words about not being able to dance the waltz and the origin of the nickname “the Empire’s black curtain” were irritating.

‘Sigh. That…’

“Is that so? Oh my, Prince Patrick, Your Highness.”