‘I’ll find a way to disgrace the one who dared to steal my position.’

For Seres, who had resorted to all sorts of tricks from a young age within the viscount’s house, it was too easy. Without having to worry, she could easily think of a dozen ways. A cold smile spread across her young face.

“Everyone has almost arrived, but the host’s seat is still empty.”

“Which powerful family has not yet attended?”

Both the Cassis viscount family and the Iserna count family, who were expected to be powerful hosts, were all in attendance.

“Perhaps Artina.”

“The Artina family has no interest in the salon. They haven’t attended even once so far.”

“Right. Even if they participate, they would have to donate more than the accumulated donations of other families to sit in that position. Even for Artina, isn’t that impossible?”

It couldn’t be an unimportant matter. It was an event that allowed one to see which family would dominate the social world. Despite the return of the Viscountess and young mistress of De Ponte, the quiet whispers didn’t seem to know when to stop.

On the other hand, the Viscountess of Cassis and Lelian, who had already heard from Elysia about the ownership of the host’s seat, kept their position quietly without getting involved in the controversy.

‘My friend, my hero.’

Lelian thought while staring quietly at the red velvet sofa placed on the stage.

‘Our Eve is just like a queen in a fairy tale, so she would look great sitting up there wearing a pretty tiara.’

Lelian fiddled with her pale fingers and bit her lip slightly.

‘I’ll have to show the magic I’ve learned soon. She’ll probably be happier than me. She’ll definitely clap her hands in surprise.’

Thinking about her one and only small, brave, and lovable friend made it impossible not to smile. A cool smile spread across Lelian’s pale face.

Seres, who misinterpreted her as laughing at the De Ponte Viscount family that had the host’s seat stolen, glared at Lelian as if she wanted to kill her.

In the midst of quietly brewing speculation and the sharp gazes going above it, when the atmosphere was overheated, the door of the Salon de Me slowly opened and a clear voice fell over the hot atmosphere.

“I’m sorry. It seems I’m a bit late.”

The gazes of the participants turned to the door immediately.

The person who caught their eyes was none other than the most beautiful woman in the empire, whose brilliant red dress and shiny hair formed a perfect harmony.

However, the one who shines brighter with her acquired abilities than her born beauty.

The one who suits the praise of an unparalleled strategist better than the adjective of the most beautiful.

The one who had fought the war directly until the end of the Demon Horse War after liberating Berdashan alone with the current Duke.

Even without the background of Artina, ‘Elysia’ was not at all lacking to dominate this salon with just four characters of her name.

The ladies bowed their heads in astonishment, and the young ladies glittered with envy.

All those who were keeping their seats recognized at once why the Duchess, who had never even been interested in the salon, had suddenly attended.

It’s because the child who was tightly attached next to the Duchess was by no means a presence that could be overlooked as merely attending out of curiosity.

There weren’t many people who had encountered the rarely active Artina Princess, but no one in this place was unaware of her existence.

‘That’s the princess.’

‘She has grown quite a lot.’

I heard it was eight years old now. It was a rumor that someone sent praise to her grace, paid respect to her ability.

But rumors always inflate the truth, so they thought some exaggeration was added. However,

‘Rather, the rumor could not follow the truth.’

‘…When she grows up a bit more, she will be able to dominate the social world.’

Her golden curls and red dress made Evelia look both like a flower queen who dared not be defied, and a sun that dared not be risen against.

Always unexpected, a stimulus can cause a surprise. All present were unable to react immediately, and the Salon de Me fell into a moment of silence.

“Princess.”

Breaking the silence was Rellian, a countess known to be the princess’s closest friend outwardly. Internally, a devil, the crown prince, and now even a dragon were also competing for the position of Evelia’s closest friend.

“It’s been a long time, Countess Kassis.”

In private, they called each other by name, but they couldn’t do that in such a public place. Even the slightest pretext would be used by the gossips.

Rellian held Evelia’s hand, wanting to compliment her on her beautiful dress today but suppressed the urge. Evelia, too, wanted to ask her immediately to have dinner together that night, but she refrained.

While the still immature young countesses could only shrink back and didn’t dare to approach and speak, the skilful mature countesses took full advantage of the atmosphere that Rellian had lightened.

“Duchess, such a surprise visit. If you’d given a hint in advance, I’d have brought my daughter along too!”

“The Princess is here too!”

“I can’t believe she’s grown so much already…”

“Duchess, you must be so proud. My daughter is the same age as the princess, but there’s such a difference.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

It was a soft response, but no one dared to underestimate the aura it carried. Even though praising the child is the answer to flatter the parents, Elysia wasn’t that excited.

“Duchess, please come up to the stage.”

Countess Lubr asked politely, bowing her waist and pointing her two palms towards the stage.

Nodding her head slightly, the naturalness of Evelia’s walk as if finding her place was just like her who had lived every moment of her life as a predator.

The young countesses glanced at Evelia and thought. The sight of her in a brighter red dress on the deep red sofa, with her golden hair let down was so overwhelming that they felt they should bow their heads immediately.

The reddest chair on the stage. Standing in front of it, Elysia slowly looked around the salon.

Eyes are easy to read. No matter how much they hide, they cannot escape the eyes of Elysia, who has risen to the ranks of the empire’s greatest strategists.

Admiration, reverence, respect, shock. And then jealousy, envy, hostility, anger.

The emotions and gazes that always accompany her when she stands in this place. They are familiar.

Elysia, who calmly accepted and let go of them, looked at her young daughter and whispered softly.

“Remember this, my child.”

This is the place of the ruler where you will stand for your whole life.