Moreover, the position of Hwangbi was difficult to see as a member of the Hwang family. The reason was that she did not have the title of ‘Lady,’ which was attached to members of the royal family. She simply occupied the position of the Emperor’s concubine.

Filen not greeting her first was a carefully calculated action, considering all these circumstances.
“Welcome, Lady Amelia Hwangbi. If I had known Lady Hwang’s visit, I would have prepared the seat in advance, so I feel uneasy about it.”

In other words, it meant, ‘Why did you come when you weren’t even invited?’

“Oh, don’t worry about that. As the Empress of the Empire, I can’t bother with such trivial matters. Please don’t mind it.”

Hwangbi responded, implying, ‘No matter how you feel, I am the Empress of this country.’

Filen, understanding the meaning, chuckled inwardly.

“Duke Otto, everyone else might know, but I prepared a special gift for you and Lady Hwang’s visit. Do you want to know what it is?”

“Why are you asking as if you don’t know when you already know?”

“Hahaha! Duke Otto, you really play hard to get. Anyway, it’s a secret for the Duke. I haven’t told him yet.”

Asilwood Duke made a gesture, indicating to bring his ear closer. Filen made an effort not to show any signs of discomfort.

Reluctantly bringing his ear closer, Asilwood Duke whispered something in a low voice.

Hearing what was said, Filen slightly narrowed his eyes.

“……Is that true?”

???? ???? ????

In fact, there was a snake in the bag that Micael tapped earlier.

[“I don’t like it… I don’t like it…”]

Since Micael tapped it earlier, the snake had been in that state.

“Snake, stop exaggerating. I didn’t hit you that hard.”

[“What did you say!”]

My head rang as the snake screamed.

I wanted to scold the snake too, saying, ‘Stop shouting!’

[“You think I can’t do anything and just stay still…… Just watch……”]

‘Ugh, it’s hard to take it with me.’

Actually, there was a reason I brought the snake with me today.

“If you keep making noise, I won’t give you any sparkles today.”

[“Don’t threaten me with such a trivial matter!”]

“Anyway, if you want sparkles, stay quiet.”

[…So when are you going to give me those sparkles?]

“Yeah, I’ll bring them soon.”

It’s a scam. I sat in the reception room, swinging my legs.

Right now, I’m waiting for Deilven and Clements in the reception room.

‘Dad said he had a meeting since early in the morning.’

But everyone seemed to be coming later than expected.

‘Are they still not ready?’

Getting bored while waiting, I peeked my head out the window.

In front of the main gate, there were glamorous carriages lined up. As Filen said, they were ‘people from the capital who like to show off.’

I leaned my head out to see when someone got out of a carriage that had just arrived. The servants were bustling around, guiding them.

‘Oh, Delma!’

He hadn’t been seen this morning, and I wondered where he went. It seemed he had other work to do and couldn’t come.

Then, unlike the carriages seen so far, a shabby and humble carriage appeared.
When seen up close, it might not be noticeable, but from a distance, it stood out distinctly among the splendid carriages.

However, it didn’t seem to catch the eyes of the people around. The carriage stopped smoothly behind the other carriages.

When the employees passed without noticing it, a boy with a hood pressed down came down from the carriage quietly.

‘Did he come alone?’

The boy who took off the hood had brown hair, and the clothes he wore inside the hood were not particularly flashy.

‘It seems that not all nobles in the capital are extravagant.’

At that moment, Micael returned to the reception room. However, he returned alone.

“Where’s my brother and Deivan?”

“They went ahead. See, I told you it takes me too long to get ready for you.”

“Oh, really?”

Micael’s sarcasm was by now familiar. I casually took his arm and walked gracefully.

Since the party was being held at the main house, we quickly arrived.

As soon as we entered the party venue, the attention of the people around us was overwhelmingly focused on us.

“That lady is…”

“I’m seeing the lady for the first time.”

“Your hair color is really the same as the Duke’s.”

“By the way, who is the noble next to Lady Yeongae? Could it be one of the twin young masters?”

People’s attention was immediately drawn to me. I swallowed dry saliva.

I had attended a few parties where local nobles, not from Hesera and distant areas, were invited.

The only difference from back then was that these people, just because they were ladies, wouldn’t immediately show favor to me.

The nobles in the capital often belonged to families with influence in politics.

As much as they had strong pride, they concealed themselves, calculating various relationships rather than seeking immediate benefits.

Even now, just because I entered the party venue, they were not welcoming each other immediately but subtly keeping an eye on each other.

Even among the children of the high nobility, there were those predetermined to wield influence in the family.

Usually, these were outstanding talents or the eldest sons.

Judging from this, it meant that the nobles from the capital did not need to make an effort to get closer to me.

Therefore, the reaction around Clements, who had arrived at the party venue first, was clearly different from that.

‘But why is Deivan alone?’

While I might be excused for not having anything, Deivan, who had already entered society, would be different.

In fact, Clements, Micael, and Deivan had noticeably striking looks even from a distance.

‘It must be tough with that face…’

However, the reason why there were no people around Deivan could be understood shortly.