Medeia could be seen standing far away below the platform where the emperor’s seat was located.

She was also looking at me.

“Everyone’s looking at us.”

Bran muttered, feeling smug.

I didn’t take my eyes off Medeia. She was the same. After a moment, she turned her head first. It was because a group of nobles approached her side.

The flower of high society, the White Grand Duchess.

Medeia’s nickname bestowed by the emperor, meaning pure and clear.

“Esther, hey, look over there. Those young ladies are all only looking at us.”

I looked at Bran who was being annoying. Bran pointed past the Grand Duke and Arcadia with a subtle nod of his chin.

Indeed, a group of noble ladies were looking at us, no, at the Grand Duke and Arcadia as if entranced.

‘They’re revealing their smitten expressions too blatantly.’

Is this how it feels to serve superiors with beautiful appearances?

It feels like watching cats adoring black and white wolves.

That’s when it happened.

People began to stir.

After a moment, a woman emerged from behind the long curtain below the platform. She was with a noble couple.

Lush and vibrant green hair. Snow-white skin that stood out even from a distance.

‘It’s that woman.’

The woman who appeared claiming to be the emperor’s granddaughter.

That woman saw Medeia surrounded by people. She slowly walked towards Medeia. Then people parted to the sides as if making way for her.

When the woman stood face to face with Medeia, she slightly lifted the hem of her dress with both hands and bowed her head. It was a typical courtesy fitting for a Grand Duchess.

‘She hasn’t been officially recognized as the emperor’s granddaughter yet….’

Medeia just nodded to receive that greeting.

‘Is she implying her status is higher?’

It was like Medeia.

Medeia knows that woman is fake. In a situation where she clearly knows that, she has no intention of going along with the imposter’s tune.

Yes, that towering self-esteem. That’s the difference between you and your father.

The Grand Duke passed the nobles gathering around him with an indifferent face. Then he headed to the spot right in front of the platform, the seat of the North.

Someone of lower status cannot approach and speak first until a higher-ranking person addresses them. Because of that, no noble gathered here could speak to the Grand Duke first.

It was when we had all sat at the table.

That ‘woman’ with green hair approached where we were. To be precise, in front of the Grand Duke.

No way……

“Excuse me… are you the Northern Grand Duke, Your Highness? Cecilia, it’s my first time meeting the Northern Grand Duke, Your Highness. You are as impressive as the rumors say.”

She spoke to the Grand Duke first. Even though her identity hasn’t been proven yet.

Cecilia. That was this woman’s name.

The Grand Duke observed the woman without a word.

She was beautiful up close.

Not flashy, but full of vitality like a freshly bloomed apricot flower.

And shining golden eyes. Golden eyes like the emperor’s.

I couldn’t show it, but I felt uneasy.

‘Imposter, why did you approach the emperor?’

As the Grand Duke’s silence continued, Cecilia spoke.

“Ah, did Cecilia perhaps make some mistake? I’m not yet used to imperial etiquette….”

“Oh my, Lady Cecilia.”

The man from the couple who was with her came forward in front of the Grand Duke. He bowed to the Grand Duke and then said to the woman,

“You cannot speak first yet. It will be possible after confirming with the holy sword on the last day.”

“Hm. It doesn’t matter if it’s not confirmed, I am truly His Majesty’s granddaughter, right? My memories are so vivid like this.”

She flashed a bright smile.

An attitude of sincerely believing she is the emperor’s granddaughter.

‘What is it? She’s clearly fake… but why is she so full of conviction?’

At that moment, the Grand Duke spoke.

“Are you Viscount Shmael?”

“Ah! Yes! That’s right, Your Highness the Grand Duke. I am Ernst Shmael, a member of the National Defense Committee. It is truly an honor to meet the Shield of the Empire in person.”

His eyes sparkled as he looked at the Grand Duke. It seemed like behavior that wasn’t false.

However… the many gazes observing the Grand Duke and all of us. Those gazes didn’t seem very honest. No, they looked extremely greedy.

‘Nobility balls are tiring affairs, I see.’

Suddenly, the woman named Cecilia muttered,

“Ah! Grandfather!”

A beat later than her, the emperor’s chief attendant shouted,

“The Sun of the Empire! His Majesty the Emperor is entering! Everyone pay your respects!”

On the center of the platform above, the golden door opened and the emperor appeared.

‘My… grandfather.’

I couldn’t bring myself to look directly at the emperor and lowered my head. The memory of him calling me a ‘monster’ still hurt.

That woman, Cecilia, walked blithely to right below the platform where the emperor stood. The emperor’s gaze looking down at her was warm.

‘It hurts… a little.’

“Hear ye all! Today is a festive occasion to celebrate the peace of the empire and a place for the empire’s new star that may rise! Everyone enjoy joyfully and uphold your pride!”

“Glory to you, Your Majesty.”

Everyone chanted in unison. Except for the Grand Duke standing close by who said nothing.

The orchestra in the corner of the hall began playing a bright and lively piece. That’s when Medeia approached me.

She stood in front of the Grand Duke and paid her respects. And she waited for the Grand Duke to speak first. Tense moments passed.

Finally, the Grand Duke opened his mouth.

“You are the daughter of Grand Duke Lahert.”

“I am Medeia Lahert, Grand Duchess.”

Medeia smiled as if sneering, raising one corner of her mouth. An exchange of greetings as if meeting for the first time.

Medeia was beautiful.

She is wearing that dress, the new sacred garment of Madame Lumiere that I didn’t have the courage to mention because it was too radiant, the flower of spring. Pearls scattered like flower petals on it.

“Your Highness the Northern Grand Duke, will you grant me the first dance?”

“…Sure.”

The Grand Duke stood up.

Her gaze looking at the Grand Duke turned towards me at one point.

I lightly bowed to her with a nonchalant face. She averted her gaze without a response.

Yes. I’ll wait for you, Medeia.

The gentle orchestral piece had at some point changed to a glamorous chamber music. Then the nobles began to dance, changing partners with others nearby.

However, the Grand Duke kept dancing with Medeia without changing partners. The nobles on the side also couldn’t dare to pull the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess towards them.

Arcadia looked towards the Grand Duke and said,

“Just watching makes my joints ache.”

“It looks friendly and congenial to my eyes though?”

I tried saying that for no reason.

“You sometimes have a habit of saying the opposite, don’t you? How about it? Shall we go out too?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m saying let’s go together. We have to watch over the Grand Duke. In case she scratches him with poisoned nails or something.”

Arcadia pretended to shudder.

“Shall we try? Deputy Commander. I’m not very good at that dance… it’s okay if you get stepped on a bit?”

“Uh, huh? Really?”

Arcadia suddenly got flustered.

‘What? He said to dance….’

“Yes, really.”

Then Arcadia suddenly got tense and stood up stiffly like a starched garment. Then he held out his hand to me.

I placed my hand on top of Arcadia’s. Unlike his cool and pristine air, his hand was warm. He held it carefully as if my hand was a fragile glass.

It was when we were about to enter among the dancing nobles. Medeia, spinning like a butterfly, came to me and abruptly grabbed my wrist.

‘You’re here, finally.’

“Shall we change partners?”

She pulled me towards her.

I could see the Grand Duke dancing with another woman far away. He was staring at me.

Leaving the dismayed Arcadia behind, I was led away by Medeia’s hand.

“Have you been well? Bel, la.”

Medeia asked as we mixed among the people and danced to a slow waltz.

An icy tone pretending to be warm.

“How could that be, young lady.”

I answered.

I had never formally learned to dance, but it wasn’t difficult to just imitate people’s movements. I carefully embraced her waist, sent her away, and pulled her back into an embrace again.

“I wanted to see you.”

“Lies, when you never contacted me once.”

“I had to gain trust on this side. I couldn’t act carelessly, I’m sorry.”

“What happened to the mask? Why did you hide your real face and reveal the fake one?”

Suspicion and hostility ripple in her eyes.

“The Grand Duke forced it. He said my face was unsightly and made me wear a new mask by force, so I had no choice.”

“…How violent, the Northern Grand Duke.”

A distrustful tone.

I glanced at the emperor as if suddenly getting angry. There was Cecilia, appearing to engage in a delightful conversation with the emperor.

“By the way, young lady. Who is that green-haired woman occupying the place where you should be?”

“…Who knows. The emperor’s granddaughter?”

Medeia laughed with a bright smile. Then she said to me,

“Isn’t that woman pretty?”

“…Who knows. If you wish, I can kidnap about four or five women who look like that from the North. I can also find ones with silver hair and golden eyes.”

“Why?”

She probes as if testing me.

“Because none of them would be the real granddaughter. If that keeps happening, the day will come when His Majesty completely gives up too. That position belongs to you, young lady.”

“….”

At that moment, a noble young man held out his hand to Medeia. Changing partners was still ongoing.

Medeia glanced at the man.

“How ill-mannered of you. We are in the middle of a conversation.”

Then the man backed away in bewilderment.

We spun around the ballroom.

“Bella, how is the North, do you like it? I deeply feel your absence. As you know, you are my only true friend.”

She looked at me with a desolate face.

“I became a Northern squire recently. I’m trying to climb higher bit by bit from now on.”

“Why?”

“Because I need power to be able to divide. When the time comes, please entrust me with an important task. I will handle it quickly and return to your side as your white caterpillar.”

“Well done, Bella.”

Only then did Medeia smile sincerely.

I carefully asked her,

“Young lady, but what if that woman named Cecilia… is truly His Majesty the emperor’s granddaughter?”

“Huhu, Bella.”

“Yes.”

“That won’t happen.”

“It doesn’t hurt to be cautious, young lady. In the off chance that she really is the emperor’s granddaughter….”

“If she’s the granddaughter?”

Her eyes shone.

“Shall we get rid of her?”

“…Bella, my friend.”

Medeia gently lifted my hand and spun around once under it. Then she smiled brightly.

“Don’t do anything foolish. As you said, that stupid woman is just a means to hasten the emperor’s resignation.”

“The Northern Grand Duke is suspicious. That His Highness the Grand Duke might be the one manipulating that woman.”

“Which Grand Duke are you talking about?”

“His Highness the Southern Grand Duke.”

“…Huhu. What do you think?”

“…I apologize. I haven’t thought about it.”

Then Medeia stopped dancing. She showed a smile of genuine satisfaction.

“You really are my Bella. These days, chimney-shaped chocolate curd is in fashion. The bakery in front of 3 Nouvelle Street bakes that bread every evening at 8 o’clock.”

“Yes.”

Let’s meet at the pub on 3 Nouvelle Street tomorrow evening at 8 o’clock.

It was regrettable that magic couldn’t be used inside the imperial palace.

I secretly placed my hand on the image stone I had brought and bowed my head to her.

Medeia left me like cherry blossoms fluttering in the spring breeze.

I also turned and headed out of the hall. Because Medeia will surely look back to check on me.