Lorencia saw Abrelina and Welson talking with Queen Benedict as she entered.

However, her elder brother Leanid and younger brothers Teslon and Mark were nowhere to be seen.

“Leanid is scheduled to enter with his partner, the daughter of Count Reinhardt. The count’s daughter has been Leanid’s childhood friend. She’s a good child, so get along well with her.”

“Yes.”

“Mark is unable to attend due to business at the magic tower, and Teslon will be coming after talking with his academy friends. Oh, there he is coming now.”

As Lorencia turned her gaze to where Meiri nodded, Teslon was approaching with a sparkling smile. Behind him were young people who appeared to be his friends.

“Elder sister Lorencia. Have you been well?”

“Teslon. You seem to have grown taller since I last saw you.”

“Elder sister, you seem to have become even more beautiful since I last saw you. And behind me are my academy friends. They said they wanted to greet you, so I brought them along.”

About five young men visible behind Teslon greeted Meiri, Teishar, and Lorencia with reddened faces and proper etiquette.

“Nice to meet you all. I’m Lorencia.”

As Lorencia smiled with her eyes, Teslon’s academy friends were mesmerized. But Teslon hadn’t brought them to introduce Lorencia.

He had brought them to boast that Teishar would soon become his brother-in-law.

However, his friends’ attention was drawn more to Lorencia than Teishar, making him feel uncomfortable.

“Elder sister, I think I need to return to where my friends are.”

“Alright, Teslon.”

As Teslon disappeared with his academy friends, other people began to approach one by one, watching Meiri’s reaction.

“Duchess Meiri. It’s been a long time.”

“Oh, Countess Agatha. It really has been a long time. Have you been well?”

“Of course.”

Meiri introduced Agatha to Lorencia.

“Lorencia. Say hello. This is Lady Agatha of the Dolians county.”

“Hello. I’m Lorencia of the Di Glosten family.”

“Nice to meet you. Please, just call me Lady Agatha. You’re so beautiful. My daughter, who will be entering with Young Duke Leanid shortly, is 19 years old. Please be good friends with her, Lady Lorencia.”

Starting with Agatha, noble ladies began to flock around Meiri and Lorencia.

Especially the noble ladies with sons were in a frenzy. They thought they might be able to form a marriage alliance with the Di Glosten family through Lorencia.

But each time, Teishar would introduce himself with a smile as Lorencia’s fiancé.

“Hello, Duchess Di Glosten. And Teishar, no longer a marquis but now a young duke?”

“Duke Kedillen.”

As Kedillen of the Dinan ducal family, one of the three great ducal families of the Polloid Empire, approached, Teishar greeted him happily.

“I wanted to talk to you, but I heard you were busy.”

“I was a bit busy due to the sudden increase in pirates. I’m not sure why you suddenly became a young duke, but Young Duke Teishar, it’s been a while since the appearance of the pillar of light.”

“Yes. I temporarily returned the position of family head to my father as I need to be by my fiancée Lady Lorencia’s side for the time being.”

“I see. A wise decision.”

Kedillen looked at Lorencia as he spoke.

The monsters disappeared with the pillar of light that appeared after 20 years, and Queen Benedict shed tears.

Many people knelt towards the pillar of light in the forest and prayed to the goddess Ella.

Kedillen remembered Lorencia’s red hair, wrapped in Teishar’s cloak and held in his arms at that time.

“Roa, this is Duke Kedillen of the Dinan ducal family.”

“Hello. I’m Lorencia of the Di Glosten family. I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you properly when we first met.”

“It’s alright, Lady Di Glosten.”

As soon as Kedillen saw Lorencia, he momentarily recalled fond memories from 20 years ago. A smile involuntarily formed on his lips.

Memories of difficult yet enjoyable times spent with Cain, even though he hated sword training.

The face of his lover Musilla, whom he used to boast about, was clearly visible in Lorencia’s face.

“Everyone calls me Duke Dinan, but I’d like to introduce myself like this only to Lady Lorencia.”

Lorencia tilted her head in confusion.

“I was a disciple who learned swordsmanship from Knight Commander Cain 20 years ago.”

“You learned swordsmanship from my father?”

“I’m glad to meet the daughter of my master like this.”

Kedillen continued speaking, looking at Teishar.

“If you weren’t engaged to Young Duke Teishar, I would have introduced you to my son. What a shame.”

“I believe your son is 8 years old this year, Duke Kedillen?”

Teishar’s voice became strained.

“There are couples with 11-year age gaps, so what’s 11 years?”

“No. I’m the only man Roa needs.”

“Young Duke Teishar, are you getting angry at me now?”

“I’m not angry, I’m being cautious.”

Kedillen began teasing Teishar, amused by his various facial expressions.

“Lady Lorencia. My son is the heir to a ducal family. And despite being 8 years old, he’s tall and very handsome, taking after his mother. Above all, he’s younger.”

As Teishar became agitated, Kedillen’s mouth wouldn’t stop.

“Roa. The music has changed.”

“Yes.”

“Duke Kedillen. We’ll be going now.”

“It’s a shame, but I shouldn’t interfere with lovers’ time.”

Leaving behind Kedillen, who was teasing until the end, Teishar extended his hand to Lorencia.

“I would be honored if you would grant me the first dance, Lady Lorencia Di Glosten.”

Lorencia gracefully placed her hand on his outstretched hand.

Teishar intended to show people whose man he was by dancing with her in the center of the ballroom.

Lorencia and Teishar faced each other in the center of the ballroom. The music that had stopped began to flow slowly again.

“Ter.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think I’ll be able to dance well? Honestly, I’m nervous.”

Lorencia recalled the intense waltz training sessions she had with Teishar in the past.

How much she had struggled with the momentary pauses between steps! Especially when she had to rotate her body while taking a forward step, she kept stepping on Teishar’s feet.

“I hope my body can follow the rhythm smoothly, like flowing water.”

The thought of having to dance in front of so many people was burdensome.

The idea of dancing in the center of the ballroom made her palms sweat.

“Roa. Look into my eyes.”

“Yes. I’ll only look at you, Ter.”

Lorencia gazed into Teishar’s red eyes.

“We’ll go with step 3214. And even if you make a mistake, it’s alright. No one can criticize the daughter of Duke Di Glosten and the fiancée of Young Duke Spencer.”

“Still, I don’t want to make mistakes.”

Teishar gently embraced Lorencia and led the dance, matching her movements.

People especially admired how Lorencia’s voluminous dress beautifully spread out every time they twirled.

As the song ended and they finished the waltz, they looked into each other’s eyes and smiled.

People applauded the beautiful waltz of Teishar and Lorencia.

However, their waltz didn’t stop.

Usually, three waltz songs are played in succession. But the two of them danced through all three songs from the start.

A couple can dance the first waltz together. Dancing the second consecutive waltz means ‘there is mutual interest.’

Most couples end after the first waltz, or if they like each other, they dance the second waltz as well.

But dancing the third waltz is an implicit message that ‘I won’t dance with anyone else.’

So, asking a woman who has danced three songs with one man to dance is like declaring war on Teishar, saying ‘I’ll make her mine even if she has someone.’

Men who had wanted to dance with Lorencia at least once sighed in disappointment.

No one in their right mind would dare to challenge Teishar, the hero of the empire.

As the ballroom music changed to a gentle melody, a trumpet sounded, and a servant entered and announced to the people.

“His Majesty Emperor Ruans von Isuter of the Isuter Empire is entering.”

Ruans walked confidently into the ballroom through the wide-open doors.

He could hear the Polloid Empire people murmuring about him.

He had no interest in the squeaking of these mice who couldn’t even speak properly in front of him. There was only one reason he attended the Polloid Empire’s founding anniversary celebration.

To meet his beloved. The only woman who would become his empress.

“Lorencia.”

It didn’t take long to find the beautiful red-haired Lorencia among the people.

Ruans’ face flushed slightly.

The mermaid dress she wore last time suited her well, but today’s cream-colored volume dress with flower accents also suited her perfectly.

She looked as pure as a lily and incredibly lovable.

Ruans’ heart pounded.

“It wasn’t just an arrhythmia after all.”

No matter how much he thought about it, this pounding and trembling was what people and books called love.

He had to admit it. That he loved that monster Lorencia.

Ruans smiled happily. But that smile didn’t last long.

“Why is Teishar Spencer marquis…”

By Lorencia’s side? He should be escorting the Great Saint Sarah…

As an unpleasant premonition suddenly arose, Ruans’ brow furrowed mercilessly.

He felt like he was going to be sick just seeing Lorencia smiling brightly next to Teishar.

In that moment, Ruans headed towards where Lorencia was, rather than thinking about greeting Queen Benedict. The murmuring of the people grew louder.

“Your Majesty. You mustn’t. You should go to Queen Benedict first.”

As his aide stopped him, Ruans suppressed his rising anger.

Above all, he felt insulted that Lorencia hadn’t looked at him even once, despite clearly knowing he had arrived.

How dare she smile at another man, not him. And to smile at Teishar, whom he disliked the most. He began to get angry at her seemingly vulgar behavior.

He felt like a fire was rising inside him, unable to control his emotions.