“Is that so? Got it. I’m looking forward to it.”

…What is he looking forward to?

“What… are you looking forward to?”

Cahilin, as always, just smiled broadly at my bewildered expression. I became even more uneasy with that smile.

The time, oblivious to my anxiety, quickly passed, and a few days before the wedding, the Violet family finally arrived at the royal palace. Of course, I and Cahilin went out to greet them.

As soon as the countess saw me, she rushed toward me, covering my mouth with a handkerchief.

“Reneolla! My poor daughter!”
Pity, when did you say you’d force it in? I looked down compassionately at the sobbing Countess in my arms.

“Sister!”

Eliya, still naive, ran over and hugged me. Worried that her finger joints might not be okay because she sent me urging letters to send catalogs and sent countless urging letters more, I checked, but unfortunately, she seemed perfectly fine.

I comforted the two who were shedding tears hanging on both sides. The Count also seemed to want to say something, but he couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth, probably for the sake of his dignity. Instead of me, Cahilin greeted him.

“Nice to meet you. I am Cahilin de Hylik.”

The Countess had a surprised expression. Usually, a noble subordinate should offer greetings first, and Cahilin extending his hand first put them in an awkward situation.

The Count quickly wiped the sweaty hand on his trousers and then shook hands with Cahilin. The Countess clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

“You too. Why do you treat your son-in-law so coldly? If you’re Reneolla’s husband, he’s practically our son now.”

“Dear, address him as Prince. Don’t speak casually in front of him.”

The Countess scolded the Count with a snort. The Count looked embarrassed, and I inwardly shook my head while watching the indiscreet Countess. I was already worried about the future.

“It’s fine.”

Cahilin smiled broadly. It was evident that he was enduring it for my sake.

“See? But where is Floria? Why isn’t she visible when family has come all the way?”

The Countess looked around and asked.

“It’s not Floria but the wife of the Second Prince. Please refrain from such remarks, Mother.”

“If she becomes the wife of the prince, does that mean we’ll be cut off from family ties? There might have been some misunderstandings between us, but wouldn’t it be nice to resolve them on this occasion?”

The Countess was even more thoughtless than I expected. It seemed that she was feeling a sense of anticipation as the day approached when the First Prince would become her son-in-law.

“The Second Princess has gone to the Star Palace with the Second Prince.”

They probably went to see the mithril-producing mine with their own eyes. Since the mine was near the Star Palace.

“Didn’t you tell us you were coming?”

“Yes.”

When I answered cleanly, the Countess clicked her tongue. She seemed to want to cause trouble for Floria. The visibly disappointed Countess soon grabbed my arm and urged me.

“Lead this mother to the royal palace.”

“Me too! I want to see it too, sister.”

I had to move my reluctant steps with both of them clinging to my arms.

Violet, all dressed up, appeared at Cahilin’s dinner invitation, displaying various decorations as if she had been living in the palace all along.

“If spices are used, you should tell me in advance. I almost coughed up phlegm in front of my son-in-law! I can’t eat this, bring it back again.”
“Is there no white wine instead of this? I want to drink something produced in the Sauvignon region, at least 50 years old.”

“The meat seems a bit tough.”

They carried themselves as if they were royalty, and I reluctantly tolerated it. Thanks to them, my already precarious reputation was on the verge of hitting rock bottom and breaking through to the opposite extreme. Cahilin subtly gestured with his eyes.

‘Should I make her faint?’

I barely held back from saying, “Please do.”

‘Fortunately, Floria is in the Star Palace. I should make sure they don’t meet until the wedding.’

But my wishes didn’t last long. When I, accompanied by the Countess and Eliya, who had turned my dressing room upside down, emerged into the central garden, we happened to run into Floria.

‘Wait, why are you here!’

I slapped my forehead at this absurd coincidence. If I had known, I would have left the wardrobe alone, whether it turned into a mess or not. But now it was too late for regrets.

Floria’s expression, momentarily frozen, quickly changed to one of curiosity, as if she had discovered a new toy. Unbeknownst to her, the Countess and Eliya, who were unfamiliar to her, approached with excitement on their faces, and they carried her towards me as if triumphantly presenting their discovery. I could only feel as awkward as a shrimp in a whale fight.