Princess Arta carefully opened her mouth.

“What kind of favor is it?”

“I apologize, but it’s a bit difficult to discuss here.”

There were too many eyes watching around them.

From the beginning, the princess seemed to have just found a moment to acknowledge Daniel after dealing with people who had been constantly approaching her.

“Is it really such an important favor?”

“Yes, it is.”

Suddenly, the princess’s voice dropped significantly.

“Is it perhaps about the Queen of Chamal?”

For a moment, Daniel was quite surprised that the princess knew about this.

“How did you come to know about that, Your Highness…?”

“I heard it from Melissa.”

Come to think of it, the princess was close to more than just Kisa.

Melissa Dos. A woman Daniel was also quite acquainted with, being Kisa’s close friend.

Daniel had previously visited the Dos family to ask her if Kisa was really becoming the Queen of Chamal or not. Although it yielded no results.

Therefore, if anyone were to leak information to the princess, it would likely be Melissa.

‘She turned out to be more loose-lipped than I thought.’

It seems Kisa has a rather undesirable friend. While planning to make Kisa distance herself from Melissa after marriage, Daniel answered the princess’s question.

“Yes, that’s correct. That’s why it’s difficult to discuss in front of others.”

Hearing Daniel’s answer, the princess glanced sideways in a certain direction.

There, a man was engaged in conversation with Duke Ocliss, who wore a serious expression.

Although his face wasn’t visible as he had his back turned towards them, Daniel immediately recognized who he was.

The man with red hair who could make the authoritative Duke Ocliss nod repeatedly in agreement during their conversation, and who the princess was paying attention to, was the new Duke of Hilan.

He was a famous figure recently drawing public attention, but to Daniel, it was like a story from another world.

Normally, considering his future as the head of the Lowens family, he would have at least exchanged greetings on this rare occasion of attending the same banquet, but currently, Daniel’s interest was focused solely on one issue.

Kisa, his little chick who had been causing trouble lately, uncharacteristically.

The chick should just happily chirp beside him, so what could be the problem?

‘Damn it…’

As he was debating whether to dare urge the princess for an answer, her previously heavy lips finally moved.

“Alright. Let’s move to another place.”

Saying this, the princess excused herself from the people around her and headed towards the nearest of several exits leading to the corridor.

Just then, as the band’s performance reached its climax and people’s dance movements quickened, it seemed that few paid attention to the two leaving together. Probably…

“What was that you were saying earlier? Is Kisa really going to become the Queen of Chamal?”

Once in the deserted corridor, the princess looked at Daniel and demanded a detailed explanation.

“Yes, I am certain of it. And I need Your Highness’s help to prevent it.”

Daniel voiced his thoughts without a moment’s hesitation.

“Kisa hopes to reconcile with me now, but due to unavoidable circumstances, she is unable to express her wishes. Please help us.”

“Good heavens. What do you mean? Tell me more in detail.”

“Your Highness, the truth is…”

After hearing the story, the princess wore an expression of disbelief.

“That can’t be. Just a moment ago when I asked, Kisa clearly said there was no chance of her becoming the Queen of Chamal. She said it was all a misunderstanding on Melissa’s part.”

Daniel lightly bit his lip.

Kisa, you foolish thing. Hiding it from others till the end.

Looking back, Kisa had never clearly expressed her circumstances to Daniel either.

She only revealed through non-verbal means like eye contact, expressions, and actions.

Why? Perhaps she feared that man Richard might overhear her conversation with the princess?

Or maybe she didn’t want to expose her father’s shameful attempt to sell off his daughter to the world as much as possible?

But what mattered now wasn’t the exact reason, but stopping Baron Vanspelt’s plan.

Having always believed he knew Kisa’s mind as clearly as the palm of his hand, he didn’t harbor even a shred of doubt that he might be wrong.

“Kisa is hiding the truth.”

“Kisa is?”

“You know it too, don’t you, Your Highness? She’s always had the personality to suffer alone rather than confide in others when she has worries or problems.”

“…Well, she was that type. I’ve never heard any negative topics about Kisa from her own mouth.”

“I can assure you. Baron Vanspelt is certainly trying to make his daughter the Queen of Chamal.”

As Daniel confidently asserted, the princess also seemed to be getting confused. Time to drive the point home.

“Please help us. You just need to free that child for a moment from the baron’s secretary who’s sticking by Kisa’s side as her partner. I’ll take care of the rest.”

When there was still no response, Daniel appealed with an even stronger tone.

“You’re the only one here who can help Kisa and me!”

After a moment, a light of determination finally appeared on her face.

“Alright. How can I help?”

With a particularly impressive and passionate dance tune marking the end of the prepared pieces, the band’s performance came to a close.

As those who had been dancing in the center of the hall dispersed in all directions, Richard, standing beside her, spoke up.

“I’m sorry, miss. Because of my poor dancing skills, you only got to watch even though you came all this way…”

Kisa shook her head and comforted the dejected Richard.

“No, it’s fine. Sometimes it’s not bad to just watch others dance.”

It wasn’t a lie. While she didn’t dislike dancing, she didn’t want to dance in front of everyone, especially when she was already a topic of gossip due to the broken engagement issue.

“But you didn’t have to reject all the dance invitations from other gentlemen because of me.”

“It wasn’t because of you, Richard. I just didn’t want to dance with them.”

How could she want to dance with those full of intention to try and seduce her somehow?

However, Richard seemed to believe that Kisa loved dancing very much, and still looked quite apologetic.

Well, she did practice dancing till her feet bled since childhood. But that didn’t mean Kisa’s love for dance was that intense.

It was just that among the abilities her father, Baron Vanspelt, desired in his daughter, dancing was the one she showed the most talent in.

“…”

As she was about to feel bitter on a day when she had finally attended a banquet, Kisa consciously changed the subject.

“Ah, right. Before I forget, I should hand this in.”

As Kisa smiled brightly and shook the handbag she was holding, Richard looked around.

“Come to think of it, it’s about time they start collecting.”

Then, pointing to a spot in the hall, he said,

“Oh, there he is.”

The person Richard was pointing at was one of the servants of the Habertz family, weaving through the guests with a tray in hand.

If it had been a normal banquet, drinks for the guests would have been on the tray, but strangely, there was nothing on the silver tray.

Moreover, he wasn’t the only servant walking around the banquet hall with an empty tray like that.

“Over here.”

When Richard made eye contact and gestured, the servant quickly approached them.

Kisa took out a heavy pouch from her handbag and placed it on the tray that the man respectfully held out.

“50 gold coins. Donated in the name of the Vanspelt family.”

The servant bowed his head and replied.

“Yes, we gratefully accept. We’ll check it and let you know if there are any discrepancies.”

There couldn’t be any discrepancies. She had counted them out of boredom on the carriage ride here, and there were exactly 50 coins.

After the servant withdrew, Richard whispered in Kisa’s ear.

“This year, with Princess Arta and Duke Hilan in attendance, everyone will likely donate generously.”

To look good to others. There’s a selfish motive, but what does it matter? As long as a lot of donation money is collected at the charity banquet.

“I wonder who will donate the most this year?”

Kisa asked him with an interested expression.

Along with the unique donation collection method, one of the things that attracted people’s attention at the Habertz family’s charity banquet was the question of who would be the top donor of the year.

Quite a few people aim for it every year, perhaps because it brings both honor and a subtle way to show off one’s wealth.

Richard stroked his chin and carefully offered his opinion.

“Well, wouldn’t it be Duke Hilan? I’ve heard he has a different level of spending.”

At the mention of Seiard, Kisa unconsciously scanned the banquet hall. However, he was nowhere to be seen.

‘Huh? He was just over there a moment ago.’

Well, it’s not like he’s forbidden from leaving his seat for a while. Kisa refocused on Richard’s words.

“Ah, but for the past three years, Duke Ocliss has always been the top donor. So he seems to be the most likely candidate.”

“Why? It could be Duke Hilan.”

“But according to rumors, he spent too much recently buying an island-”

But at that moment, someone interrupted Richard’s words.

“Kisa, here you are.”

It was Princess Arta.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes, I have something urgent to discuss. Could you spare me a moment?”

Though it was phrased as a question, there was no way anyone could answer ‘no’ to her question.

“Of course. Shall we go to the lounge again?”

“No. I’ve asked Lady Habertz for an empty room. Let’s go there since our talk might be lengthy. Come, follow me.”

What could this conversation be about? Kisa tilted her head in wonder but followed behind the princess.

“Richard, I’ll see you later then.”

“Yes, have a pleasant conversation.”

Richard nodded with a smile from behind.