“Miss, you’ve become completely Balkandale’s person now! As expected, the Duke has won! Such perfect revenge—”

The reason why Duke Balkandale proposed to the first lady, a story that seemed absurd.

Winston nodded quietly.

“We confirmed it through rumors circulating in the palace with a strong sense of caution.”

“Don’t let the spark turn into a flame. You understand, right?”

At those words, Winston, and everyone in the reception room listening to the report, nodded with serious expressions. Only Sobel, with a puzzled face, briefly nodded.
“No, Miss, you are Miss Liv Green. What nonsense is this rumor? Surely you two must know each other by now?”

As they were talking, the Duke stood up from his seat. With each graceful and firm step of his well-built body, a faint, tiny sound of beads echoed.

The gardens of the Empress’s palace bathed in the summer sunlight.

“Indeed, it was wise to seek wisdom from Mother. I told Mother, and my tea parties have become peaceful again, just like before.”

The princess elegantly smiled while recounting the story of the last tea party.

Esella Mandalayne did not come, and Maria Ethel expressed her apologies, promising to prepare the best party for me.

It was a rare sight. She looked entirely different from the last time when she bravely faced and dismissed me. The Empress’s eyes on the princess softened gently.

“…What do you think about making Ethel Eingae the princess consort, Your Majesty?”

A few days ago, I recalled what Duke Elkin had said. Since it was not a bad idea, the Empress decided to watch. In any case, she was in a position to choose the piece herself.

It was the day before the summer party. Everything was flowing smoothly.

And the first day of the summer party.

A graceful melody flowed through the splendid party hall. The nobles, however, had unimpressed faces despite the enchanting sculptures and decorations reminiscent of the fairyland, full of beautiful fairies.

It was understandable. That was the same concept Olivia presented two years ago, ‘Fairy Night.’

Leopold sneered at it. Doing the same thing was just recycling the previous party.

How embarrassing this could be. As soon as the princess stepped into the party hall, she couldn’t hold back her anger and went straight to the terrace. Her face, reddened with anger, looked refined as she gazed at Leopold.

It was clear that she would rush to confront him as soon as the party was over.

Perhaps noticing that the hand that wrapped around his arm as an escort was tight, Maria deliberately smiled playfully.

“Leopold, smile. It’s a party.”

It was a coquettish act that seemed to melt the hearts of all the men, but Leopold’s brows did not relax.

Leopold’s gaze, which had swallowed up the sigh, cooled down coldly, focusing on the entrance of the party hall.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the party hall.

“…This is similar to before.”

“Well, wouldn’t summer parties always be the same?”

“But Her Highness always showed a new party.”

“But today, the important thing is not the concept of the party, isn’t it?”

An undertone of regret was added to the murmurs, and at the same time, the nobles looked at each other and smiled knowingly.
Rumors spread throughout the entire principality that Duke Edwin Lowell, the War Hero of the Empire, and Lady Olivia Mandellane would attend the princess’s summer party.

There were stories that someone had questioned Conrad Mandellane about Lady Mandellane’s attendance and faced strong retaliation. However, it was not enough to divert the attention of the nobles towards the two.

Far away, the atmosphere between the prince, dressed in golden attire like a partner, and Maria Ethel seemed ominous. The Duke and Conrad Mandellane on the opposite side were also noteworthy.

The nobles quickly began to decipher this new atmosphere.

At this moment, with the Emperor and Empress not yet entering, everyone eagerly awaited the moment when the door would open, and the Duke and Lady Mandellane would come in.

The bustling movements of the attendants standing by the door were noticed.

“War Hero Edwin Lowell, Duke of Bikanader, and Miss Olivia Mandell, no, Miss Olivia, are entering!”