While Lou’s thoughts drifted elsewhere, Ivonne Ertel Kaling, with her stylishly raised black hair, and the Countess Svenya, boldly stepped forward.

“There’s no way, Your Majesty. Just having Your Majesty grace us with your presence is an infinite honor.”

Lou looked at her and subtly glanced at Catherine standing next to her. If the Countess Svenya comes forward like this, shouldn’t Alanca Lady do the same? Aren’t both of them major nobles from the East? They should show that the Alsmone Alliance is not useless in front of the Empress.

‘Huh?’

However, Catherine remained silent, just looking at the emperor. No, she didn’t even glance at the emperor.

What’s going on? How did this happen? Lady Freya expected the Alsmone Alliance to be divided in competition for the position of the empress, but the Lady Alanka seemed to discreetly avoid the emperor’s eyes without drawing attention.
“I thought it wouldn’t be fun if I came alone, so I invited gentlemen to accompany us.”

The gentlemen who followed the emperor down also seemed to roughly match the number of ladies on this side.

“It’s an honor to be invited, Your Majesty.”

Among the gentlemen who smiled brightly, there were some familiar faces. They were Imperial aides, elite among the elites, recognizable even to Lou.

Among the remaining gentlemen were those introduced at the last victory celebration, including some overly aristocratic ones. It seemed that they had been separately called based on their age and status. It must have been quite a hassle for the Palace White who gathered them all, given the limited time.

‘…Since the power of the sages is generally like this, I roughly understand what it is. Now let’s cultivate our senses…’

“Your Majesty is truly amazing.”

Amidst Lou’s thoughts, who was contemplating solving the homework given by Ophelia with great effort, Catherine’s quiet voice penetrated. Lou couldn’t help but turn to look at her. Yes, what’s so new about that? Hayden is talented and remarkable, but it’s nothing extraordinary.

“I wondered how you could travel alone to a place where implicit empress candidates were gathered, but in an instant, you turned it into a place for male and female interaction…?”

Catherine murmured as she looked around.

“At this point, Your Majesty probably has no interest in marrying the ladies here, right?”

“…Looks like you’re having fun, Miss Rangber.”

“Yes, I’m thrilled.”

Though she said she was thrilled, Catherine, with an excessively calm face, looked at Lou.

“I find it interesting.”

Why are you so honest with me? Lou, who didn’t expect to make friends with Eastern nobility, reluctantly asked, adhering to human decency.

“It must be difficult for Your Majesty to be fair to all the empress candidates.”

Hayden might not be thrilled, but anyway, instead of smoothly handing over the empress position, it seemed that he was resisting and being resisted.

“Yes.”

She’s not in her right mind either… Lou internally shook her head several times. There must be obstacles for her to feel the thrill.

Lou distanced herself from Catherine. Anyway, becoming the empress was a distant story for her.

‘So, regardless of where the Northern Sage is, excluding all the difficulties we saw today…’

“But, it feels more contrasting because there are other gentlemen, right?”

“Yeah. Your Majesty is so overwhelmingly unique. And much taller too.”

“Look at those shoulders. How can there be no gaps in such a way…”

“Did you see him smile? It was so cool because he never smiled.”

The whispers of admiration were quite loud. Oh, well! Lou looked at the ladies she would have found cute under normal circumstances as if they were annoying.

Why am I irritated? Especially, even Ivonne Kaling, who seemed to be embarrassed when Hayden brought the gentlemen rushing in, still smiled happily in front of Hayden.

‘Would it be nice to catch up and have a fight together?’
Lou was surprised by the sudden thought that crossed her mind. Is she in her right mind? She had promised in Perseita not to do anything conspicuous unless necessary, to quietly stay for the sake of her parents and the Marquis family. When did she naturally start having such thoughts?

‘No, but those guys make me irritated…!’

How can she catch the attention of the Emperor? Hayden, whose aura itself was different even among the gentlemen, ended up concentrating the attention instead of being dispersed.

“Let’s go for now.”

Hayden, who diligently responded to the approaching Marquise of Svenia and exchanged a few words with the Duke of Negrete, got back on the stage.

Lou, who had to find the power of the Northern Sage, was annoyed that her concentration was scattered amidst this nonsense.

Her head is dizzy. No, is it her heart that’s spinning? Lou turned her head to find the horse.

Right. It would be better to run lightly and clear her mind. It would be more productive than comparing her situation to those ladies who could approach Hayden more confidently than her at the moment.