Princess Lilibet, who became the Emperor’s first dance partner, inwardly cheered her luck.

The first name on the list was Arabel. The Emperor must have chosen her. However, due to Rosa’s betrayal, Arabel’s dance shoe heel broke and she had to give up dancing because of her injured ankle.

The Emperor’s first dance partner was now herself, determined by the order of the family names. She would capture his heart and surely be chosen as the last dance partner.

Fluttering her enchanting silver fan-shaped eyelashes, she deliberately bit her lower lip slightly to show her white teeth, trying to look shy.

Captivated by her beautiful face, the Emperor’s red lips curved into an arc towards Princess Lilibet, his first dance partner.

As the Emperor approached closer, the princess held the hem of her dress with both hands and curtsied. Her dazzling beauty, blooming like roses, stood out among the candidates.

The Empress Dowager and her confidants, watching the two alternately, exchanged satisfied glances. They believed that even a blockhead like the Emperor couldn’t help but desire the woman in front of him.

Standing behind the young ladies, Arabel looked over their shoulders at the Emperor descending the stairs. Seeing the Emperor smiling at Princess Lilibet, her heart ached more than her uncomfortable ankle.

No longer having the courage to watch, Arabel lowered her head and shrank behind the young ladies.

The red gaze leisurely sweeping the banquet hall touched the small crown of her head buried among the women, but soon turned to Lilibet.

The moment the Emperor’s shoes stepped on the last stair, suddenly his steps intertwined,

Screech.

Ridiculously, his feet slipped,

Thud!

The Emperor’s body leaned forward and fell on the marble floor.

Fortunately, he managed to regain his balance and avoided the misfortune of falling on his buttocks, but the mere fact that the Emperor staggered was enough to make everyone hold their breath for a moment.

The interior, which had been silent with shock, suddenly became noisy.

“Your Majesty the Emperor!”

“Your Majesty, are you all right?”

“Call the imperial physician immediately!”

“Please lean on my shoulder.”

When the Emperor, who had never shown a disheveled appearance, nearly fell by misstepping, his guards immediately surrounded and protected him.

“I’m fine.”

The Emperor’s firm voice came from within the layers of the guards’ encirclement.

“The stairs were slippery and I just misstepped.”

“What a relief.”

As Commander Jacob sighed in relief, the Emperor patted his shoulder and took a step.

“Ugh…!”

As the Emperor put his weight on his foot and stepped on the floor, he let out a groan as if in pain. Commander Jacob quickly supported him and asked,

“Are you hurt?”

“I think I sprained my ankle a little.”

“We must call the imperial physician immediately. Please go and sit down first.”

The Emperor sat on the throne with Jacob’s support, limping slightly.

The imperial physician, who came running in a fluster, diagnosed the Emperor and reported,

“The injury is not severe, but it seems that there has been strain on the ankle, so dancing today would be too much, Your Majesty.”

At the physician’s words, the Emperor frowned and said to Princess Lilibet and the young ladies standing right in front of him, waiting for him, with a very regretful expression.

“Unfortunately, it seems that I will have to postpone the dance with the candidate ladies to another day. But this banquet is for you, so don’t worry and enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”

Leaving the guests who were standing speechless due to the sudden commotion, the Emperor left the banquet hall to treat his injury.

As the Emperor vanished in front of their eyes, the guests began to chatter in groups.

“What on earth is going on?”

“Does this mean there will be no individual time between His Majesty and the ladies until the competition?”

“He has never visited the detached palace until now.”

“I had a sapphire necklace delivered at dawn by riding a horse for three days and nights for today’s dance….”

“My daughter endured on a piece of bread for a week to fit into her dress.”

“At least it’s a consolation that His Majesty didn’t dance with anyone.”

“That’s true.”

When the imperial banquet manager signaled to the orchestra conductor, the conductor, who had been watching absent-mindedly, came to his senses, picked up the baton and stood up. As the bright and lively tunes of the woodwind instruments flowed out, the banquet hall regained its vitality.

Princess Lilibet, who had the opportunity for the first dance with the Emperor snatched away right in front of her, bit the inside of her cheek to quell her anger.

Grace’s face, who had been confident in winning the Emperor’s heart with her extensive knowledge, twisted for a moment with disappointment.

The families of the young ladies were busy comforting their disappointed daughters while keeping an eye on the other candidates.

Arabel, standing in the corner of the banquet hall with her throbbing ankle, soon realized that people’s whispers were directed at her. Behind feather fans, lowly words poured endlessly from their noble lips.

They deliberately gathered around her, as if to make her hear, and continued their conversation. The nobles, who had already obtained information about her fallen family, talked about her recklessly without hesitation.

“She’s not particularly pretty, nor does she have a great figure, so how did she catch the Emperor’s eye?”

“Viscountess Stauby, you really don’t know that it’s not just those things that capture a man’s heart?”

“She doesn’t look like that at all, does she? Rather, doesn’t she look too dull?”

“That’s why it’s scary. Those who act innocent with such a bland face are so cunning. Don’t be mistaken that they are the same as our daughters.”

“Still, I can’t believe His Majesty brought a woman of such a different level from our children. It’s quite a blow to my pride.”

“What’s there to worry about? She’ll be the first to be eliminated when the competition begins. Do you think His Majesty brought her thinking she would become the Empress?”

“Then why did he bring her?”

“Oh, how naive of you. Why else? To make her a concubine. Countless concubines of previous Emperors were also brought as competition candidates.”

“Well, that makes sense. How dare she be with our children….”

“But it still feels bad. It’s as if our daughters have been lowered to her level.”

“That’s why he didn’t give her a single glance in the banquet hall today. She may be fun as a toy when alone, but she’s embarrassing to show to people, something like that.”

She had to leave, but her feet wouldn’t move. Arabel put strength into her trembling legs under her dress and endured their venomous words with her whole body.

As the hateful opponent didn’t react and just took it, the groups soon lost interest and began to leave.

The disappointment of not being able to dance with the Emperor was momentary, and the ladies were busy finding dance partners to show off their beauty and dancing skills on stage.

Finally left alone, Arabel slowly walked out of the banquet hall with her uncomfortable leg and said to Millie, who was waiting.

“Let’s go back to the detached house.”

Millie, who had been watching the whole scene with other maids at the entrance, nodded and supported Arabel down the stairs.

Arabel got on the waiting carriage and as she was waiting for it to depart, there was a knock and the door opened.

“His Majesty the Emperor summons you. Please come with me.”

Assistant Supervisor Kyle politely requested Arabel, who was still sitting pale.

The Emperor’s bedroom.

“I’m surprised you called for me so soon, Your Majesty.”

The imperial physician cautiously said to the Emperor, who was still working at this hour.

“That’s how it turned out. I was surprised you acted so well, better than I expected. Well done.”

“Th-Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The original plan was for the Emperor to pretend to sprain his ankle during the next lady’s turn to dance, after finishing his first dance with Arabel. Then the physician would come running, diagnose the Emperor’s ankle, and report that further dancing would be too much.

While the physician was diligently practicing in front of the mirror to say the exact words as instructed by the Emperor, Deputy Commander Peter rushed in.

‘The plan has changed. Let’s go out now, quickly.’

When the physician ran out, the Emperor was already acting as if he was injured without even having the first dance.

“Then, shall I take my leave, Your Majesty?”

When the physician asked the Emperor, who was focusing on documents, the Emperor shook his head.

“Wait a moment. There’s someone I need to see.”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock and Assistant Supervisor Kyle entered. Behind him stood Arabel, who would have had the first dance with the Emperor according to the original plan.

“The lady seems to have discomfort in her left ankle. Treat her. It doesn’t seem sprained, but it looks like there’s strain on the heel. Judging from the position of her limping leg.”

At the Emperor’s words, not only the physician but also Commander Jacob and Assistant Supervisor Kyle’s eyes widened.

The Emperor had only received a report that the lady’s ankle was injured because her dance shoe heel broke… He had accurately grasped not only which foot, but also exactly which part of Arabel’s foot was injured.

Things that couldn’t be known without close observation. They thought he hadn’t given her a single glance in the banquet hall. Assistant Supervisor Kyle clicked his tongue inwardly.

The Emperor approached Arabel, who was still standing at the door, not knowing what was going on.

Arabel’s round eyes, which had been more worried about the Emperor limping out of the banquet hall than the words of the people talking about her, widened even more. Because his gait as he walked was perfect as always, as if measured with a ruler.

“Surprised? Sir George is not only the best physician in the Empire but also on the continent. After being treated by him once, I’m completely healed like this.”

Hearing that the Emperor had fully recovered, relief immediately shone on Arabel’s face.

“Now it’s your turn. The patient for the imperial physician to showcase his skills.”

Hup, suddenly her feet left the ground, and a gasp escaped Arabel’s surprised lips. The Emperor, who had approached right in front of her, swiftly scooped up Arabel’s waist and lifted her into his arms in a princess carry.

“You shouldn’t strain yourself by walking.”

The red eyes gently soothed the clear eyes that had been hurt in the banquet hall, and the Emperor said,

“The injury needs to heal so you can have the last dance before the banquet ends. Well, it doesn’t matter even if it’s not fully healed. There’s a way to dance with your feet on top of my feet.”

Looking at the eyes glistening with disbelief, the Emperor lifted one corner of his mouth.

“That night in the treehouse, when I was fighting the bear cub for your lap, didn’t I promise you? I said I wouldn’t let anyone crawl up to you, but you couldn’t have forgotten in the meantime, could you?”

Brushing away the droplets caught between her eyelashes with a long finger, the Emperor whispered softly,

“Shouldn’t we show those who thoughtlessly spoke ill of you without knowing their place? The true worth of the lady personally chosen by the Emperor.”