“Hmm.”

Indeed, the imperial palace lived up to its reputation. The quality of food was different. One plate, well, could be easily emptied.

What should I try next? Selene’s steps were as smooth as walking on clouds, caught up in a happy dilemma. It was when she was earnestly selecting food that she heard a voice mixed with mockery.

“Hoho. It seems the Adrian family’s kitchen budget is insufficient.”

When she heard the strangely unpleasant tone, Selene’s head turned to the side. A noblewoman covering her mouth with a fan, and two other noblewomen on either side of her, were standing close by, having arrived at some point.

Is that woman the Countess of Herelde? She was said to run a merchant guild.

As Selene fell silent for a moment, trying to recall the names she had memorized in advance, the Countess sneered in a thoroughly arrogant voice.

“You’ve been eating hurriedly since earlier. You must have been very hungry, hoho.”

The Countess waved her fan gently and spoke provocatively.

Then, as she discreetly turned her head to glance at someone, the situation from a few minutes ago replayed in her mind.

It was Lady Lenoir, currently called the powerhouse of high society for monopolizing the love of noble men, who approached them as they were chatting.

Fritten, who opened with “All the precious ladies of the empire are gathered here,” rambled on for a while about how good the quality of clothes at the Garnia clothing store was, or how she ate something delicious in the city with Duke Leviathan, until Madam Mere, unable to bear it any longer, asked if there was any concern, and only then did she get to the point.

“…Actually, I’m a bit worried. I’m afraid I might get hurt again if I stay still like last time.”

“Oh, my goodness. What could be troubling you so much, my lady? Whatever it is, if there’s anything we can do to ease your concerns, we’d like to help.”

“You’re so kind to say that for my sake, Countess Herelde. I’m grateful just for your consideration.”

“Lady Lenoir. Please give us the opportunity to help put your beautiful mind at ease.”

“If you insist… Actually, do you all remember when the Grand Duchess poured tea for me last time? Perhaps because of that unpleasant memory, I keep feeling anxious and can’t enjoy the banquet comfortably. But I can’t leave… If you could ease this worry, Countess, not only I but others would be moved by your kind heart.”

She was truly an impudent lady. To shamelessly demand such a reckless action from her, a mere Countess, to drive out the Grand Duchess.

Nevertheless, she decided to cooperate with this ridiculous charade because she needed that power, even if it was closer to that of the men supporting Fritten rather than her own. That social power that could bring noble women to the tea party of the Herelde family to be held next month with just a few words.

If only it weren’t for the Marchioness of Bersha’s tea party being held at the same time, she wouldn’t have agreed to that impudent request.

“No matter how important manners and refinement are, when a person is very hungry, they lose their reason. I understand your feelings completely. Our family has a lot of food left over, shall I offer you some?”

“There’s no need for that. The food from the Herelde family probably isn’t more delicious than what’s here.”

The Countess was inwardly flustered by the calm response. But she soon regained her composure and raised the corner of her mouth crookedly.

A refined mask is a luxury one can afford only when at ease. The mentally unstable Grand Duchess wouldn’t be able to wear such a mask for even a minute.

Countess Herelde was completely confident in her victory. The outcome of the game between Sophia Herelde, who was normal every moment, and Selene Adrian, who was abnormal every moment, was predetermined from the start.

Because it was a game favorable to her from the beginning, she prided herself that her expression would never crumble.

“Unlike the north, our Herelde territory has abundant food thanks to its warm climate. The taste is no less than the imperial palace.”

“Ah, yes.”

However, when a lukewarm response came back as if criticizing her for not asking, her calm expression crumbled all too easily.

Due to the reactions repeatedly defying expectations, she felt irritation slowly rising from her toes. By this point, she should have been cursing, asking who are you to insult me, but it was too quiet, so it was understandable to be irritated.

Sophia put strength into her furrowing brow and opened her lips again. However, she was at a loss for words at what followed.

“Could you please move aside?”

“Are you jealous?”

“If you’re not going to eat, could you please move aside a bit? I need to get what’s over there.”

They say people are speechless when dumbfounded. Sophia forgot when to get angry and unknowingly turned her body slightly. Selene, who had put what she wanted on her plate regardless of what was happening beside her, turned away without lingering as if she had finished her business.

Sophia looked at Fritten with bewildered eyes at the development that was completely different from her prediction.

Fritten, who had been watching without taking her eyes off the scene of the Grand Duchess leisurely walking out to the terrace, clenched her fist in indescribable frustration.

‘Why?!’

She wanted to scream out of anger.

She should be getting irritated and throwing a fit. She should be making a fuss, asking who do you think you are. So that she would be dragged out by the soldiers. Like she always has been.

But why is she so quiet!

If the Grand Duchess really regains her senses like this…

‘No!’

How, how could I! The position I’ve come to occupy. An ominous feeling rose up like a snake coiling and crawling up. Fritten roughly rubbed her arm. She couldn’t just stand still like this.

Scratch. As she scratched her skin hard, bright red blood pooled between her sharp nails.

* * *

Although she went out because it was stuffy, the night air was still cool, so she couldn’t stay on the terrace for long.

But the moment she left the terrace, a nasal voice cut in as if it had been waiting, and Selene regretted that she should have stayed on the terrace after all.

“Oh my! Your Highness the Grand Duchess, hello!”

“Yes.”

Selene nodded curtly as she passed by her. She was about to pick up a cookie piled on a white plate when the voice she thought had disappeared was heard again.

“Are you eating alone here?”

Fritten, who she thought would leave soon, stood right next to her and started chattering.

“Aren’t you very lonely? Shall I keep you company?”

“There’s no need for that. I think it would be beneficial for both you and me if you don’t mind me and go on your way.”

Selene uttered the same words as before in a monotone voice. However, her chatter seemed to have no end.

“The Grand Duke is too much. Leaving his wife alone like this. Shall I say a word to him?”

“There’s no need for that.”

“You seem to like desserts a lot. Shall I lend you a bag to take them with you?”

“There’s no need for that.”

Chatter chatter. Selene stopped walking and looked at Fritten.

“My lady. You look so pitiful. Seeing you so lonely and desolate, my heart aches.”

The moment Fritten provoked her, Selene’s steps happened to stop. Fritten interpreted this odd timing as her provocation having an effect. Now that the Grand Duchess finally looked at her, the situation was already over. Fritten anticipated her victory.

“I’m fine, so why are you doing this?”

The Grand Duchess asked with her eyes and mouth consistently straight.

“You don’t have to pretend to be okay. I understand everything.”

Fritten grabbed Selene’s hands, which had been neatly folded, and raised her teary eyes to express her emotions.

Selene, whose hands were suddenly bound, responded with a sigh to the expressions about staying by her side and forgiving her.

“I don’t need that. Just don’t mind me.”

“I’m really upset! Why do you reject my concern like this?”

“Because I have no interest in you at all.”

“Wh-what did you say?”

Ah, when an unwanted agitated response came back, Selene rubbed her forehead. Somehow, she had a feeling that the conversation would keep going in circles. Selene walked past the disturber who had erased her hope of wanting to be like air.

This way, I’ve just irritated her nerves for nothing without any gain!

Fritten, hurt by Selene’s movement, quickly chased after her. However, it was a mistake that she was so focused on chasing that she didn’t see the slightly raised string on the floor.

She tripped over it but reflexively grabbed the nearby table to avoid falling ungracefully. However, as a result, the dishes fell to the floor with a loud noise, drawing attention.

Crash!

Behind the dishes breaking with a sharp sound, the large fondue device connected to the string tilted forward and fell over the table.

Made of solid metal, it was obviously heavy enough that if hit, one wouldn’t be able to gather their bones.

Feeling a large shadow cast over her face, Fritten closed her eyes tightly with a pale expression. It was at that moment that she vaguely saw a strand of red thread covering her vision.

Thud, thud!!

A tremendous roar roughly struck the interior of the party hall where classical music had been playing. As piercing screams were heard, people approached that direction in shock and haste.

“Kyaa!”

“Oh my. What…”

“Are you… okay…”

Selene, who barely regained consciousness at the intermittent broken sounds, raised her upper body by pressing the ground with trembling hands.

This meddling is always causing trouble. Fortunately, she rolled her body to avoid it just before the device fell… It’s chilling just to think about what could have happened otherwise.

As she tried to stand up, Selene urgently pressed the floor when she felt a sudden dizziness as if the ground was shaking. But that was all. Fortunately, she was just slightly dizzy without any broken or injured parts.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince, who came running with wide eyes, reached out to Selene and asked.

“What is this… Are you alright?”

Selene gently stopped his helping hand and got up after taking a long breath.

“Your Highness. I apologize for causing a disturbance unintentionally. The string caught on my foot and that device fell over…”

“I saw how the situation unfolded. You must be in pain, no need to add explanations. I’ll calm things down here, so go get treatment quickly.”

“Then… I’ll take the liberty of retiring early today. Blessings to the little sun.”

The Crown Prince, Person’s golden eyes quietly followed Selene’s retreating figure as she left the palace.

She fell quite hard when she fell…

His gaze, which had been on Selene, shifted to Boreas, who came out of the terrace as soon as she completely disappeared from the hall.

Johan, who was comforting the sobbing Fritten, urgently approached him when he noticed Boreas walking towards the chaotic scene.

“She just left not long ago. Hurry and follow her.”

It was a commotion that occurred when Boreas was briefly absent. Johan inserted words like “Ah, this isn’t right” and “Well” in the middle to fill in the lacking explanation.

“There was a small accident. That device fell over and Lady Lenoir was almost hurt, but Selene hugged and rolled with her. Thanks to that, there were no casualties, but I think she got a bit hurt.”

Boreas’s gaze, which had been circling the chaotic surroundings, quickly fixed on Johan’s face the moment Selene’s name was mentioned in Johan’s words.

“Fortunately, there was no bleeding, but it seemed like she twisted her ankle when she fell. She left limping, but I couldn’t go out, so you should follow her.”

“…”

“What are you doing? I said hurry and go check on her!”

When Johan pushed his arm, Boreas, who had just woken up as if from a dream, left the hall with an expression as if he were on the border between dream and reality.

‘That guy…’

There was no hesitation in his movement as he crossed the threshold. However, Johan discovered the only weakness in that seemingly cold-blooded corner.

‘He came crying saying it was really over with Selene, but now…’

Black eyes like melted charcoal. They were clearly wavering.