As soon as the princess got off the carriage, the officials and maids who were waiting bowed their heads. The princess looked around her palace with sharp eyes.

The palace she returned to after a long time was exactly to her refined taste. As she entered the palace, the scent of roses that suddenly enveloped her made the princess’s eyes soften.

It was a momentary relief from the rural, creaking carriage ride.

“Has the news been delivered to Ettelga?”

“Yes. I sent a messenger a while ago.”

In response to the sharp inquiry from the princess, Lady Ruhas, the marchioness, bowed her head and replied.

“Then let’s receive reports about the banquet until Lady Ettel arrives.”

However, when the reports started in the reception room, the princess couldn’t say anything.

“There’s nothing properly prepared!”

Not only the concept of the banquet but even the fundamental plans, like where to hold the banquet, were nonexistent. Even the guest list had so many gaps!
Olivia Madeleine’s name, which I naturally expected to be on the attendance confirmation list, was not there. When I asked what had happened, the chamberlain lowered her head with a dismayed expression.

“…According to Lady Ettel’s words, there has been no response yet.”

Ha. The princess sighed as if in disbelief. The princess’s face turned red with anger.

This was the first time the reports were such a mess.

As if worrying about Maria Ettel preparing for the banquet wasn’t enough, the worry wasn’t ending in vain!

At that moment, a maid who had clearly come to announce Lady Ettel’s arrival entered the reception room. The chamberlain, as if relieved just now, urgently asked the maid.

“Where is Lady Ettel, and why did she come in alone?”

“Well, that’s…”

Seeing the maid’s indecision, the princess exploded in anger.

“Why can’t you answer where Ettel is!”

“The time is already late, so she said she would enter the palace tomorrow morning…”

The surprised maid stammered. Not only the chamberlain and Lady Ruhas but also the princess were bewildered by the answer.

The princess widened her eyes as if amazed. The reception room, where silence continued, created an atmosphere as precarious as the eye of a typhoon.

At that moment, the princess muttered.

“…I should probably tell my brother too. He should know how useless the newly engaged girl is.”

The invitation list in the princess’s hand was ruthlessly crumpled. The princess’s eyes, looking at the document, flickered intensely.

Meanwhile, at the Emperor’s palace.

Taking advantage of the quietness of the late night, a courtier quietly changed his position. Then, urgently pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket, he began to write with haste.

It didn’t take more than a few hours for this piece of paper to reach the Bikan de Ryeong Grand Duchy.

It was like a dawn. Winstar entered the reception room with a triumphant face.

“I won the bet. You remember the bet about whether the Emperor knows the owner of the Basujung Mine, right?”

Winstar laughed cheerfully, shaking the piece of paper.

It was written that the meeting between the Emperor and the princess ended without any unusual incidents, as usual.

Sobel shrugged his shoulders as if saying it was not a big deal.

“You’re joking. I’ve never made such a bet.”

“I’m telling you now. Pay up, Sobel.”

“Get out to Bikan de Ryeong right away.”

Winstar grumbled, saying it was too much.

Whether he said it or not, Sobel looked at the invitation brought by the palace deliveryman.

In addition to the secret note handed over early in the morning, these invitations arrived at the Grand Duchy every day, containing news about the summer festival.

Looking at the invitation that had just arrived, Sobel tore it up without any hesitation.

“Hey, but the seal of the Hwangga is on it.”

“His Highness said there was no need to inform about the summer festival. Anyway, it won’t be delivered, and it will actually protect the security of the Hwangga.”
Already not knowing how many there were. Staring at the irritating invitations, Sobel suddenly looked towards the grand mansion in the distance.

“…By the way, it’s quite persistent.”

“Oh, really. Seems like it’s following me. Jade Madeleine.”

Winstar grumbled as if bothered.

Jade Madeleine, with her distinct silver hair visible even from afar, had been standing in front of the gate of the Bikan de Ryeong Grand Duchy for several days now. Having already attempted to enter the Grand Duchy’s gate several times, she now stood there, resilient and firm, as if protesting in front of the sturdy and solid gate.

However, everyone at the Grand Duchy treated her as if she didn’t exist, without a shred of sympathy. They remembered how the young lady looked when she first came here.

“You should have been more careful when she was here.”

Sobel said indifferently.

At that moment.

Knock[Dash]. With the sound of a knock, a courtier entered.

“A letter has arrived from the palace.”