Although neither Floyd nor Lucas found what they were looking for, time passed and the day of the grand party arrived.

At first, the people of Kanta who had been grinding their teeth at the visit of the nobles from the enemy kingdom of Gania, had their mood greatly improved due to the festivals held day after day and the nobles scattering coins wherever they went. So people who genuinely enjoyed the festival began to appear.

“The atmosphere in Tepus City has improved a lot.”

“Originally, the people don’t care who the king is as long as their livelihood is taken care of. But not everyone is like that.”

Behind the luxurious and elegant party venue, there were people working busily without a moment to breathe. Robert, Esther, and other rebels were also mixed among the employees, working for the nobles’ enjoyable party.

The rebel group was able to sneak in as workers largely thanks to the help of the Kanta-born employees who remained in the royal palace. In their hearts, there was still affection and fire for the Franche royal family.

Robert said while taking plates out of the cupboard:

“Since we’ve come to Kanta, the mole side will also be on alert. If they notice anything suspicious, there won’t be a chance to approach, so I’ll go close alone.”

The mole meant Lucas.

Like a mole that quietly moves underground and damages crops, Lucas had hidden his true intentions and harmed the Franche royal family.

It also carried the curse meaning of crawling only underground without seeing sunlight, like a mole.

“I’ll caution you once more. You be careful too, sir.”

After Robert and Esther exchanged glances, they dispersed to their respective positions. At that time, a woman quietly entered through a back door a little distance from the hall where the party was being held.

She was wearing a black coat with elaborate embroidery in golden thread, and had pulled down the hood attached to the coat. The face briefly visible inside the hood was pale, and the hair flowing out of the hood was black.

It was Roxiana.

There were several secret passages in Ider Palace, and a few corridors where people rarely passed. Roxiana knew very well where people’s footsteps reached and where they didn’t, especially when a party was held.

So she was able to enter the lounge at the farthest corner of the corridor without being noticed by anyone.

There were several lounges for nobles enjoying the banquet to rest, but this lounge was in a corner and narrow, so people didn’t visit it.

‘But I often came here.’

Looking around the lounge that hadn’t changed at all from back then, Roxiana pressed her lips tightly.

‘I used to escape here whenever my feet hurt because of my shoes.’

Roxiana gently ran her palm over the sofa and stool in the lounge, the painting on the wall, and things like the dressing table. Her heart ached as she remembered many memories of hiding in this lounge. The fact that everything was the same but her family was gone struck her anew.

Swallowing the tears that were about to fall, Roxiana sat on a small stool at the end.

‘I’ve finally entered Ider Palace.’

For several days after entering Tepus City, she had nightmares every day amid contradictory feelings of wanting to enter Ider Palace yet not wanting to.

Such terrible nightmares where her family was all alive and Roxiana Franche was an ignorant tomboy princess who knew nothing. Dreams that were like torture.

It had been days where good memories of her family that she had barely managed to stuff away bloomed like flowers and stabbed her heart like blades.

Roxiana gently bit her lower lip. If she didn’t, it felt like a scream-like wail would burst out.

+++

When Lucas entered the banquet hall, exclamations of admiration burst from everyone’s mouths. Especially the exclamations from foreign nobles who were seeing Lucas for the first time were loud.

It was because of his beautiful appearance.

Brilliant golden hair and white skin, blue eyes shining within long, slender eyes. Without a trace of dull energy, he truly had an appearance that could be called the sun of the continent.

The fact that he wore high-heeled shoes or was walking slightly on his tiptoes was no problem at all in front of his perfect appearance. Elise walked with him, wearing a slightly smug expression.

Since it was obvious that Gania, which had devoured Kanta, would become a great power, nobles from weaker countries approached the crown prince of Gania to curry favor. Then Lucas would introduce Elise to them with a perfect smile.

“She is a woman who gives me much help.”

Although Lucas was quite displeased about not being able to find the bodies of the Franche royal family, he had the social skills not to show such feelings in front of people. Also, before entering the party venue, Elise had used all the techniques she could to put him in a good mood, so his displeasure towards Elise had largely dissipated.

Thus, Lucas thought today was a fairly good day.

It was the same for Elise.

It was a situation where they might have to return without any results despite coming all the way to Kanta. She had been anxious that Lucas might not improve his mood and keep Engis by his side, but fortunately, he had improved his mood and kept Elise by his side.

‘Poor woman. Why did you follow him here? You’re not even the crown princess yet…’

Elise secretly sneered at Engis, who couldn’t dare to join in and was mingling with other young ladies.

Some nobles remembered that Elise was the lord of Kingteren and brought up stories about big businesses in Kingteren. Then Elise would show humility saying, “It’s all thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince’s help,” and Lucas would smile contentedly.

People’s interest and respectful treatment, jealous glances from young ladies.

Elise thought it was truly a perfect day.

Meanwhile, Engis was mingling with the young ladies she usually associated with and recalled what had happened a few days ago.

‘A well… what does that mean? What is the crown prince looking for?’

On the day they arrived in Kanta, something she wanted to tell Lucas came to mind so she went to his room, but she heard whispered voices talking secretly inside. The voices were faint so she couldn’t hear well, but they were clearly Lucas and Elise’s voices.

‘I think they said something about Kasar…’

As an ominous atmosphere reached even outside the door, Engis hurriedly fled to her room when their conversation was ending.

When she slightly opened her door and peeped outside, she saw Elise walking down the corridor with a cold smile. She was so surprised to see a smile so cold it made cold sweat run down her back.

‘She’s not just a woman aiming for the crown princess position. The crown prince and Elise definitely have some secret. And a very dangerous secret at that.’

Engis only wished for a peaceful life, so she didn’t want to step into their mire. She didn’t want a life where she had to grind her teeth to survive while engaging in all sorts of dark struggles.

‘I don’t even want to become something like a crown princess. I really hate it.’

The marriage arrangement she had accepted as fate suddenly felt like a boat dragging her into hell the moment she saw Elise’s smile. If she became the crown princess, it didn’t seem like Elise would just leave her alone.

‘What should I do? How can I persuade Father?’

As Kasar, the current master of Ider Palace, also entered the hall, the party atmosphere became even more lively. Elise and Lucas danced together several times, and Engis also danced twice with men who asked her to dance. Meanwhile, Kasar was mingling among the young nobles, trying to sort out various emotions like anxiety, curiosity, and anticipation.

‘If something happens, it will be today.’

In fact, Kasar had thought Lucas would lose control of his emotions and go find Floyd. But for the past few days, Lucas had been suspiciously quiet.

The multi-day auction for demon byproducts ended without problems, Floyd’s side was quietly staying in their lodgings, and the party was being held grandly.

That calmness rather frightened Kasar.

What is Floyd trying to do? What does he have up his sleeve? Will something like what I imagined really happen? Was my decision to quietly observe correct? If what I imagined happens, what impact will it have on Gania, and on me?

At that moment, shattering everyone’s peace and Kasar’s tension, the cry of the servant guarding the door rang out.

“Grand Duke Ratean of Torkan is entering!”

At that moment, silence fell over the party venue. But that quietness was very brief, and the next moment, a commotion spread.

“Grand Duke Ratean? Really the Grand Duke Ratean of Torkan?”

“Grand Duke Ratean wouldn’t attend a place like this…”

“Wow, I’ve lived to see Grand Duke Ratean in person. I’m glad I came.”

Amid the murmurs filled with expectation and joy, the doors of the party venue slowly opened. And a man with a huge physique strode in. Arsen and Kirshan followed behind him.

At their appearance, everyone held their breath.

Although they had heard about their appearances before, when actually seeing them with their own eyes, it felt so unreal that no one could even blink.

Arsen, with his tall stature and dazzling silver hair, had sharp beauty like a cold blade hidden underneath, and Kirshan, with his dark brown dreadlocks, kind eyes, and gentle smile, were both handsome enough to be hard to take one’s eyes off, but Floyd, who stood at the very front, truly shone.

The jacket was made of gold silk with silver silk patterns, had huge diamond-set buttons, and small diamonds densely studded around the collar.

It was literally a dazzlingly shining outfit.

It was clothes that could easily look like a nouveau riche’s show of wealth, but it suited Floyd very well. Because the impression given by his appearance was much stronger than the clothes.

Deep ruby-like hair shining under the chandelier light and bronze skin, deep and fierce eyes and ash-gray eyes emitting an intense aura, endlessly broad shoulders and a solid torso not hidden even by clothes, thick long thighs and straight calves.

The wild energy covering his entire body rather made him look mesmerizing.

“Grand Duke Ratean, it’s the first time seeing you at a party!”

The cry of a young count broke the silence filled with surprise and wonder. At that signal, other nobles also began to gather around Floyd, each offering greetings.

It was an even more enthusiastic response than when Lucas, the crown prince of Gania, had entered, and Lucas himself was also clearly aware of that obvious difference.