The Queen preferred a relaxed atmosphere for banquets.

The crystals on the magnificent and grand chandelier reflected light, scattering it throughout the banquet hall. Gold-embroidered curtains hung down, and yellow and purple flowers, the Queen’s favorites, decorated everywhere.

Divorced and returned to the royal family, I had to enter with my family. I waited in front of the entrance before my family came out of the waiting room.

As I lifted my head, I glimpsed the splendid chandelier through the curtains that briefly opened and closed.

The crystals swayed gently in a breeze that came from somewhere.

The sight of scattered light was so beautiful, enhancing the splendor of this place.

“Stand up straight. People are watching.”

I turned my head at Caland’s strict voice, always eager to point out faults.

My family came out of the waiting room.

I went behind Noyer and Leticia.

Tsk, Alian clicked his tongue as I passed by.

“We should get rid of her quickly, out of sight.”

He muttered as if to himself, but it was meant for me.

“I told you to behave, and yet you cause such rumors.”

Noyer, standing in front, glanced at me and spoke softly.

“Elder brother is just upset. Don’t worry too much, elder sister.”

Leticia’s kind act didn’t change even though she knew she was the mistress.

The King’s gaze brushed past me. He must have decided to send me instead of Leticia, but he hadn’t given the order yet.

I heard that Marx Benum from the Empire has been having frequent audiences with the King lately.

‘Today’s events will lead to a decision.’

As I did, others will feel it too.

They will see with their own eyes how useless I am to them.

“The light of Glishia, God’s representative, His Majesty Bernard Gale Beltoa enters!”

With the herald’s voice, my family entered.

The King spread a subtle blessing as he passed by the nobles who bowed in unison.

Though it had no effect on non-ability users, people gasped in ecstasy, seemingly finding psychological comfort.

My role ends with keeping my place, but today I must remain in the banquet hall. As I tried to retreat, people’s gazes followed me.

“I heard she called in men like that.”

“They say she has a secret house on Huntington Street where she brings in men every night.”

“Oh my, oh my! Such behavior!”

“I heard the Olan family has been boiling with anger over the princess’s conduct all this time.”

They were talking about me.

No wonder people weren’t avoiding me but gathering around.

It seems they wanted me to hear this.

“Moreover, she’s so extravagant that she’s accumulated a mountain of debt…”

“They say she’s run up credit in the Olan family’s name to the point where the family is tottering.”

The Olan family never had any wealth to begin with.

With a little thought, one would know it doesn’t make sense, but people only see what they want to see.

‘So this is how they shift blame onto me and create public opinion that the Olan family sacrificed.’

This is the first time divorce has been mentioned, but they haven’t changed at all. They were desperately trying to salvage some honor. This is why stereotypes are so frightening.

At first, people are surprised by the truth and try to defend, but eventually they seek an easy scapegoat they don’t feel guilty about.

As time passed, they recalled their fixed image of me and began to sympathize with the Olan family as they wished.

Ormia, the princess who is God’s denial.

[She’s an ominous existence, so the reason for these events must lie with the princess.]

That’s what people want to believe.

“Don’t speak rashly. Elder sister must have her reasons.”

Leticia was not far away.

Surrounded by duchesses, Leticia smiled with an awkward expression.

“How wonderful it would be if Princess Leticia were the real princess.”

“My lady.”

“Oh, I say this because she’s so elegant and has such a good character. Princess Ormia is really… I’m embarrassed to even mention her.”

Leticia, who had been trying to stop the ladies, became gloomy.

“With such wonderful people here… The Empire has invited me, so I’ll have to leave Glishia soon, won’t I?”

“Oh, Princess. We’ll protect you. You are the flower of Glishia, we can’t send you to the Empire.”

“There’s a useless princess too. It would be good to send her away now.”

Not far from Leticia, Duke Windsor was talking with Alian.

The ducal families and my family know the truth.

Even after hearing the rumors, they didn’t step forward to correct them.

I’m still Ormia, God’s denial.

A person who is cursed just for existing.

“Princess Ormia.”

The voices around me quieted.

Liam, dressed in the Empire’s black ceremonial attire with his cape draped over one shoulder, came before me.

The nobles watched us with interest.

“Would you honor me with the first dance?”

Liam’s eyes fixed directly on mine.

He had asked me to dance.

It would be the first dance of my life.

* * *

“As expected of the princess…”

“How shameless, Princess Ormia is.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

The nobles’ whispers were heard even by the envoys from the Empire. Throughout the lobby and along the corridor, false rumors about Ormia could be heard.

Marx chuckled mischievously.

“That princess, promiscuous? No matter what people might do, that princess is not like that.”

Liam was also dumbfounded when he heard the nobles’ conversation in the corridor. Even though the ducal family had manipulated public opinion, everyone really blamed Ormia.

Even to Liam, a third party who had only met her briefly, it was clear she wasn’t that kind of person, yet people were whispering that the princess had behaved so outrageously that the Olan family had no choice.

The perpetrators had become the victims.

“Glishia is indeed interesting. Public opinion has flipped.”

“I heard Duke Windsor made his move.”

“Duke Windsor didn’t seem the type for such clever tactics.”

“Ah, there’s talk he met separately with Duke Bersi.”

Liam felt a chill.

His fists clenched involuntarily.

He had seen Ormia’s position in Glishia so far, but the cruelty sank deeper into his bones as time passed.

Had Ormia grown up in this atmosphere ever since her blessing manifested?

Liam’s expression hardened.

“It’s obvious who’s at fault, but in the end, people only see what they want to believe.”

The Wilboyer family was a prime example of such victims.

“Liam.”

Liam looked at Marx.

Marx leisurely sipped his drink, watching the people at the banquet. At the end of his gaze stood Princess Ormia, alone.

“Are you really sure about Princess Ormia?”

No one approached her to speak.

As if it had always been this way, Ormia stood straight, looking around the hall indifferently.

Liam frowned as he watched her.

‘What is she concerned about?’

Ormia kept repeating the same action.

“I don’t particularly believe in God, but I do believe that faith has power. Most of the nobles in the capital, most people who know about that princess, probably all think the same. Princess Ormia is God’s denial, so she’s ominous.”

“So.”

“Even if we take her to the Empire, it won’t be smooth sailing. And…”

Liam understood Marx’s meaning just from his eyes.

“Will it be alright?”

Liam turned from Marx to look at Ormia.

“We agreed to follow your decision entirely in this matter. Of course, that hasn’t changed. You’re the most desperate person here.”

The condition of Liam’s younger brother, Kyler, was worsening with time. Even when Liam left the Grand Duchy, Kyler couldn’t leave his bed.

“Are you sure about Princess Ormia? This could be the last chance.”

“The King of Glishia will never give up a member of the royal family. He’ll just drag it out and torment us. So a trophy will do.”

Liam set down his glass and walked towards Ormia.

“I’ll take Princess Ormia.”

‘When the King of Glishia realizes the value of the princess he gave up, he’ll regret it.’

“Liam?”

Liam only looked at Ormia.

“His Majesty will end up asking you to take me instead of Princess Leticia.”

Will it really go as planned?

If Ormia steps forward to sacrifice herself, it could save the King’s authority and face. Would the King not think of that?

For things to go as Ormia thinks, a serious situation must occur. Something that would make the King want to get rid of her quickly.

Would such a thing happen?

The abuse from her in-laws and the divorce had already happened, and the King still hadn’t made a decision.

The woman who didn’t know how to care for herself was alone, enduring the cold gazes of the whispering nobles.

“Princess Ormia.”

Ormia’s eyes widened, having acted detached as if she knew everything.

Liam extended his hand to her.

“Would you honor me with the first dance?”

Ormia’s expression briefly contorted. It was the expression of finding the first yellow spring flower in cold eyes.

An expression of joy that spring had come, though still worried about the cold.

And she didn’t refuse Liam.

The moment she placed her hand on Liam’s arm, the onlookers were shocked.

“Oh my!”

“How could he, with Princess Ormia!”

“As expected of someone from the Empire who doesn’t believe in God.”

Ormia must have heard those words too, as her hand briefly tensed, but her expression remained calm.

“I might step on your feet.”

“I’m not very skilled either.”

Liam nodded at her soft voice.

He hadn’t attended many banquets due to spending time in conflict zones, so he hadn’t enjoyed dancing much, but dancing was also about using the body.

“It’s my first time.”

Liam stopped in his tracks.

As they stood in the center of the hall, the other dancers retreated as if avoiding them.

Liam closed his mouth at Ormia’s words as she looked up at him.

“This is my first time dancing with a partner.”

Her cheeks reddened slightly. That sight left a long-lasting impression on Liam’s heart.

Ormia was clumsy.

She nearly stepped on his feet a few times and almost jabbed him with her heel, but Liam, who had dodged sharp swords well, avoided being stepped on and led her admirably.

They had the hall to themselves.

As if something terrible might happen if anyone brushed against Ormia’s dress, people didn’t come out onto the dance floor until their dance ended.

When the dance finished, Ormia, with flushed cheeks, whispered to him.

“Stay away from me.”

A warning.

There was no need to mind people’s gazes after dancing together, yet Ormia warned him.

So Liam didn’t return to Marx.

Pretending to step back, he moved a few steps away from Ormia.

Ormia stood not far from the center of the hall. Liam frowned as he saw her glance at the ceiling.

“Again.”

People slowly came out onto the dance floor to dance.

Princess Leticia was also passing by Ormia’s side, leading Prince Alian.

At that moment, a strange sound reached Liam’s ears.

An out-of-place metallic sound mixed with the voices of people. Amidst the clinking of cutlery and glasses and the sound of shoes on the floor, he picked out the sound he was listening for.

It was a subtle sound that only a knight who had experienced battlefields, where swords could fly from anywhere at any time, could detect.

Liam looked up at the ceiling.

With a creak, the metallic sound, the chandelier swayed unsteadily. Soon, there was a heavy snapping sound.

Ormia was right below it.

“Ormia!”