“Sister.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to go over there with me?”

Vivian asked, looking at the nearby table. The long, golden table in the middle was filled with various foods and desserts.

“Should we?”

Vivian gestured up and down and then extended her hand to me. As we approached the table holding hands, Vivian cheerfully spoke with excitement.

“Wow, it looks delicious. What are you going to eat first, Sister?”

“I’m still deciding. If there’s something you want to eat, I’ll serve it on the plate for you.”

“Then I’ll think about it for a moment.”

Vivian’s face, contemplating what to eat, was adorned with a pure smile. While I observed Vivian looking around for food choices, I briefly glanced at the inside of the banquet hall.

The dazzling decorations were basic, and every dish and dessert plate sparkled as if sprinkled with gold.

Moreover, the crystal vases placed in the middle of the tables seemed transparent, as if they would shatter if touched.

Everyone should be aware that the Riley family, with excellent skills in herb cultivation and blending, accumulated wealth within the empire.

Are they trying to showcase their influence rivaling the imperial family?

“Sister, I want to eat that cake.”

Vivian, who had approached me unnoticed, extended an empty plate to me. The small hand pointed to a piece of cake on the plate, adorned with cherries on whipped cream.

“Just wait a moment.”

After serving a slice of cake with a fork, Vivian smiled brightly. As Vivian enjoyed the cake, I, standing beside her, raised my gaze once again.

In the middle of the banquet hall, the busy man at the reception was none other than Duke Riley.

It was the first time I had seen him with my own eyes, but he looked just like the image in Rosebelia’s memory.

Although not very tall, he had a commanding presence, and his sparkling eyes seemed full of greed.

He is the Duke, the father of the Empress, and the man of similar age next to him is probably the Duke’s younger brother, the father of Olivia and Dylan.

“Sister, they said they would provide masks in the second part, right?”

“Yes.”

The invitation stated that the banquet would consist of three parts. The second part would be a masquerade, and it was noted that specially crafted masks from the Riley family would be provided.

“What mask are you going to wear, Sister?”

“Well, something not too noticeable.”

Ian said he would enter the hall before the second part started, so it was necessary to familiarize ourselves with the hall beforehand.

We also needed to pay attention to where the Riley family’s knights were gathering…

“What kind of mask is that? Vivian would like a rabbit mask.”

A rabbit mask? That’s too cute.

Wearing a pink dress, Vivian had her hair tied into two bunches, and she even had a ribbon. If she wore a rabbit mask, she would look absolutely adorable.

“Vivian would suit a rabbit mask very well, don’t you think?”
“Sister, how about wearing an angel mask?”

“Vivian, there probably isn’t a rabbit or angel mask like you mentioned.”

Caden, who had approached unnoticed, casually took the empty plate Vivian was holding and said with a teasing tone.

Even though they bicker like this, they somehow seem like siblings.

“So, what kind of masks do you have?”

“Probably just ordinary masks.”

As Caden bluntly spoke, Vivian pouted.

“Gee, then Sister should wear a beautiful mask. I’ll choose the prettiest one for Vivian.”

Why does he say such things so endearingly?

While I was about to twitch my hand, I gently stroked Vivian’s head. Looking into her surprised, round eyes, I smiled broadly.

“The prettiest mask should be worn by Vivian.”

After lifting my head for a long time, I carefully examined the inside of the hall. What caught my eye was a group of about twelve men gathered near the terrace.

Some were sitting and drinking wine, while others awkwardly looked around, as if this place was uncomfortable for them.

They seemed to be knights of the Riley family.

Why aren’t Pierre and Sloan here? Haven’t they arrived yet?

If, by any chance, those two don’t attend the banquet…

As my thoughts reached that point, an anxious feeling surged.

“Vivian, Sister will be back in a moment.”

I approached the group presumed to be knights while keeping my eyes fixed on them. Among them, a man whose eyes met mine set down his wine glass and rose from his seat.

“Lady, do you have something to say to me?”

The man, with a neatly combed chestnut hair and a smile on his lips, approached me.

“Are you perhaps knights of the Riley family?”

“Haha, how did you know?”

“I don’t see Pierre or Sloan.”

“Oh, those two? Just a moment.”

The man, turning towards the group, seemed to be talking to the knights, then turned his gaze back to me.

“But Lady, why are you looking for them?”

Curious gazes poured in from behind the man. I pretended to be casual and answered.

“Oh, we went on a expedition together. It’s the Riley family’s banquet, so I was going to greet them if we happened to meet…”

“Expedition? Where did you go?”

“Hunting magical beasts.”

As I said it again, the man’s eyes widened.