98. The Epitome of a Seductress

2024.01.06.

Her pale, worn-out face had transformed into that of a delicate beauty with slender, refined features, thanks to the careful makeup applied by the maids.

Her eyes, accentuated by the thick skin beneath them, had become bright and charming, erasing the deep shadows that once lingered below.

Simply applying a shimmering powder under her eyes had seemingly altered even her personality.

A rich, deep navy-blue taffeta fabric, reminiscent of Bollonico and his father’s eyes, draped elegantly around her, flowing voluminously along Yuan’s body in harmony with the lighting.

Bollonico’s blue-skinned attendant, Kuntan, approached and fastened around Yuan’s neck a necklace adorned with ten massive sapphires linked together with diamonds.

It was a decoration meant to accentuate the elegant neckline and décolletage.

Placed upon her unnaturally flushed white skin, the jewels made Yuan appear extremely pale.

Yet at the same time, she had transformed into a woman so captivating that anyone would steal glances at her repeatedly.

When Noel, who had suddenly been assigned to escort the Empress, briefly passed through the reception room, Yuan appeared exactly like a seductress—someone who had abandoned her husband for power and spared no shame in her pursuit.

Yuan smiled at Noel, whose mouth hung open and eyes blinked rapidly, stretching her red lips into a grin.

“Good luck, Noel. I hope you deliver all those lines you’ve practiced so many times to Lady Tasha perfectly.”

Behind Noel, who silently gaped without a word, the man who would finally escort Yuan appeared.

Bollonico, dressed impeccably in a deep navy velvet uniform that clearly matched hers, paused for a breath before flashing a smile, revealing his white teeth.

Yuan instinctively sensed that this manufactured image of a seductress had completely satisfied Bollonico.

***

The title-bestowing ceremony was planned in two parts.

Though the Emperor himself had mentioned personally granting the title to the disgraced Crown Prince Clade Euphris, the event—being one that gathered the nation’s major nobles—also featured heirs from noble families who were due to inherit their titles.

The first part, held at lunchtime, was the royal knight induction ceremony hosted by Empress Marilyn.

Those who had passed three trials and were to be formally knighted into the Royal Knight Corps would line up to swear their oaths before Empress Marilyn.

Tasha was scheduled to attend only from the second part, which marked the official start of the party, so she slipped away before Tasha Kimfri arrived.

For someone who had barely participated in public events over the past year, this sudden escort duty—even if it only required standing silently—seemed overwhelming.

Yuan, though technically the Crown Princess Dowager, stood beside Empress Marilyn alongside Tasha Kimfri, the newly appointed lady-in-waiting, as a member of the royal family.

“You two are formally meeting for the first time. Once the official social season begins, you’ll be spending more time together, so start getting to know each other gradually. Right, dear?”

Regardless, within the palace, Yuan held a higher status than Tasha Kimfri.

At least in front of Empress Marilyn.

Following Marilyn’s subtle gaze, Yuan glanced at Tasha Kimfri standing beside her.

Since Yuan initiated the greeting, she had to be the first to speak.

After a moment’s hesitation, Yuan extended her hand.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Kimfri. Since both of us are rather inexperienced in serving as ladies-in-waiting, I hope we can support each other and get along well.”

Empress Marilyn had merely placed them side by side, her attention entirely focused on the knights filing in one by one from the entrance.

Yuan briefly checked Marilyn’s expression before looking up at Tasha Kimfri.

Tasha Kimfri was a tall, slender lady—so tall that Yuan had to tilt her head slightly upward.

Her curly, dark-blue hair was tied back low, and atop her head sat a small hat decorated with navy lace, ribbons, and peonies. Her face was open and refreshing, with a straight, high nose that gave her a crisp impression.

Her mouth, which seemed like it might stretch into a relaxed smile, remained tightly closed, somehow perfectly matching her cool demeanor.

Her amber eyes, catching the chandelier light, scrutinized those around her just as Yuan did. She was an opponent who exuded an inexplicable tension.

‘So she’s Noel’s first love.’

Yuan found her both beautiful and striking.

Her slightly thick eyebrows twitched faintly as they glanced at Yuan’s hand, then quickly returned to their place.

Tasha Kimfri seemed to be someone who, like any noble lady, knew well how to control her emotions.

After a brief silence and a moment of mutual assessment, Tasha Kimfri finally extended her cool arm in response.

“The honor is mine, Your Highness. I am quite inexperienced in royal etiquette, so I humbly request your generous guidance.”

Her slightly stiff, soldier-like tone carried a clear, resonant voice that struck Yuan’s ears.

Yuan flinched slightly.

The grip on their clasped hands was firm—almost as if testing strength.

Despite her composed demeanor, it was clear Tasha Kimfri seriously misunderstood something.

***

From a time just barely scraping past dinner hour, the official second part of the event began.

Since the Emperor himself was scheduled to attend the second part, even those who attended the first part intended to stay until the very end.

Yuan exchanged only formal, business-like conversation with Tasha Kimfri.

Though ladies-in-waiting typically served as conversational companions to their mistresses, Tasha showed not even a trace of such familiarity.

Yuan felt as if she had become an aide to Empress Marilyn alongside Tasha throughout the first event.

Fortunately, Empress Marilyn seemed oblivious to the atmosphere between her attendants.

A few hours later, Empress Marilyn declared she needed to rest, worn out from the endless stream of knight oaths and title appointments.

She had originally planned to conserve her strength to oversee the arrival of decorative objects for the second part, but Empress Marilyn’s stamina was extremely weak.

In the end, the task fell to Tasha, who was the most physically resilient among the three.

Had it not been for Bollonico’s sudden intervention, Yuan would have gone with Empress Marilyn to the ladies’ lounge to rest.

The second part would undoubtedly feature Clade, the party’s main guest, and she wanted to exert every effort to maintain her composure.

Bollonico, having successfully retrieved Yuan from her mother, took her through the Glory Hall, now filling with guests one by one.

“There’s no need to be nervous, Sister-in-law. With Bollonico by your side, who would dare lay a finger on you? Right?”

Yuan remained reserved, still unaccustomed to Bollonico’s consistently gentlemanly behavior.

The vast Glory Hall, where a debutante ball had recently been held, was now packed with nearly as many people.

And just as always, the crowd’s gazes poured evenly upon the ever-smiling First Prince Bollonico and Yuan.

Yuan moved through the sea of people, many of whom shot her desperate, longing glances, hoping Bollonico would acknowledge them first.

Wherever she walked with Bollonico’s escort, the crowd parted like the Red Sea.

Bollonico warmly smiled toward those standing in the most prestigious spots within the Glory Hall.

Among them was a man with a handsome bronze complexion who grinned widely, showing off strikingly white teeth.

Yuan saw the middle-aged man dressed in snow-white attire, wearing golden sandals that reached mid-calf.

He appeared to have just arrived from his estate, still carrying the scent of the outdoors, and a golden belt encircled his thick waist, prominently embossed with a scorpion motif at its center.

“Duke Celentina! It’s been a long time since you’ve visited the capital.”

“Hahahaha—why, who do we have here? If it isn’t our Crown Prince Bollonico! Oh dear, this old man keeps making mistakes again! Prince Bollonico, Your Highness!”

Duke Celentina.

The man with bright golden hair, slicked down tightly as if oiled, and a slightly unkempt beard that made him look rugged—this was Duke Celentina.

Yuan observed him closely from between the noisy greetings, gripping Bollonico’s arm tightly.

The scorpion was the symbol of the Celentina Dukedom, the dominant power in the western desert region.

Yuan had seen this scorpion emblem in exactly two places before.

One was on the wrapping paper of an exotic cosmetic gift delivered to Empress Marilyn.

The other was on the family seal of a noble house whose insignia prominently featured a scorpion with its tail raised, occupying a prime spot on the “Path of Loyalty.”

‘An enemy.’

Yuan’s dark eyes flashed momentarily.

Coincidentally, at that very moment, Duke Celentina—who was already quite drunk despite the party not having officially started—shifted his gaze past Bollonico and locked onto Yuan.

“And who is this lovely lady by your side?”

“Yuan Pelliese. The daughter of the late Count Pelliese, and Prince Bollonico’s closest confidante—the one who understands his heart better than anyone in the world.”

At Bollonico’s introduction, the Duke’s eyes widened momentarily.

Yuan could almost hear the gears turning in the Duke’s mind.

He had clearly just recalled the host of the black mansion wedding celebration he had attended.

And that the woman before him had been the very centerpiece of that event.

As expected of someone worthy of being called the Emperor’s closest confidant, he responded to Bollonico’s provocative remark with a hearty smile, then turned to Yuan with a natural, broad grin.

Yuan, too, smiled naturally as if she were one of them, extending her gloved hand—covered in navy-blue velvet up to the elbow—for him to take.

With a notably graceful motion, Duke Celentina took Yuan’s hand and pressed his wine-dampened lips to the back of her glove.

By not correcting her title and still calling her the Crown Princess despite knowing she was the widow of the disgraced Clade Euphris, he revealed whose side he truly favored—Bollonico Euphris over Clade Euphris.

After greeting Duke Celentina,

people who wished to meet Bollonico and be introduced to Yuan flocked around them like clouds.

Bollonico kindly praised each guest, detailing exactly what they had brought as tribute to his “kingdom,” while continuously introducing them to Yuan.

It was as if he wanted them to feast their eyes on Yuan, then return to their estates and spread the word.

Each time, Yuan silently extended her hand, allowing them to kiss the back of her glove.

Behind this throng of people,

a suffocating, choked sound suddenly escaped from Duke Celentina’s throat—just after he had downed a glass of champagne.

“Ghk—!”

What Duke Celentina had presented to Bollonico were humans—of various skin tones—each leashed like dogs.