Turning around, her blue eyes flashed firmly. Today, exactly as Maria’s plan, unchanging and finally realized.

Ha.

The sound of Leopold’s sigh startled the squire who was fastening cuff buttons. But Leopold paid no attention and swept his hair vigorously.

Why did I show tears so easily at what I said? It was just a word to someone who viewed state affairs lightly.
Annoyance welled up at the immaturity that had seemed pretty. It would have been better if Maria had been a bit smarter.

If she had been, she would have sensibly stayed away from me at the banquet today, without me having to tell her not to come closer.

I should have told Maria directly earlier, but in my haste to leave, I couldn’t hold her back.

It would have been nice if Maria had at least hinted at how Olivia should handle the exchange with the foreign country today. At least as much as Olivia….

“If you know so well, then why not have the lady take the initiative.”

Suddenly, Leopold’s lips stiffened at the memory that came to mind.

It was unbelievable.

However.

The voice from the memory that pushed Olivia so persistently was clear, it was his own.

The Bukander Grand Palace in the midday.

Olivia, sitting on the reception room sofa, looked down at the table. More precisely, at the large box on the table containing dresses and shoes.

“A gift has arrived from the prince. What should we do, Miss?”

Responding to Sobel’s question to see the gift was impulsive. Leopold, whom Olivia had seen so far, was very prideful. Such an arrogant man rejected being addressed by an affectionate nickname in front of all the nobles.

But a gift.

“…Isn’t it a bomb disguised as a gift?”

She made a jest for a moment. Of course, Sobel, who heard this, seriously answered that he would call a wizard, but still.

But. This.

“A, a white dress.”

Sobel muttered.

To anyone’s eyes, it was a beautiful white dress. A high-quality dress with silver floral embroidery and sprinkled with fine diamond dust.

“…It’s worse than a bomb.”

“What?”

Sobel asked. But Olivia had no strength to answer. This, really.

It resembled the dress from her sixteenth birthday engagement ceremony.

She thought she had thrown everything away. But memories adorned with ash color welled up. The excited anticipation and the overwhelming feelings of the moment she had been waiting for.

And.

“…I knew it wouldn’t be great, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. The lady isn’t the flashy type, after all.”

Words that even dragged me down to the abyss for a moment.

Olivia’s fingertips trembled delicately. Her breath kept getting stifled. The misery and embarrassment of that time filled her mind.

For what reason. What on earth is the motive behind sending me such a dress.

Why does he keep sending me…

Ding[Dash]. When she heard the light dripping sound, Olivia jolted in surprise. And then, she realized who the person next to her was.

Edwin Lowell Bukander.

The man who had been sweetly looking at Olivia since the morning shrugged and flicked the dress box.

“I must have come to the wrong place.”

Then he smiled playfully at Olivia.

“What kind of man in the world would make a big deal out of my lady wearing a dress sent by another man?”
Edwin pursed his lips.

“I’m not as broad-minded as you might think. Olivia, please understand.”

The shamelessly jealous words strangely calmed Olivia’s heart. Olivia’s short breath slowly returned to its normal rhythm.

Edwin, glancing at Olivia’s complexion, raised the corners of his mouth slightly. His captivating lips moved slowly.

“Olivia’s dresses, even the shawls you put on. Even the thin anklets. I try not to be jealous, but it seems I can’t help it.”

Olivia pondered Edwin’s words for a moment. She couldn’t distinguish if he was talking about wrinkles in clothes or something else. But it felt dangerous to ask again.

So Olivia threw a joke, trying to compromise.

“…It doesn’t seem like the kind of talk to have about ankle bracelets, does it?”

“Now that you’ve mentioned it, we can talk more. I’ve already declared to the whole world that you’re my cute kitten. Now that you have this dress. Um, should I challenge someone to a duel?”

It was so absurd that laughter burst out.

Even after seeing Edwin’s face, now free from darkness, he casually added.

“Moreover, my lady couldn’t even wear the dress I gave her. Dare she look elsewhere.”

Beneath the seemingly relaxed words, there was a sincere depth. Sobel turned his gaze with a slightly eerie feeling. Suddenly, he met eyes with Howard, who was standing by the door.

At the same time, Howard nodded. With an expression that said the day to genuinely draw the sword would come soon, Sobel swallowed a sigh. One more thing to do, but well, it was still a good thing.

Sobel thought about where the lord’s sword was. Today, or maybe tomorrow. He thought he should take it out in advance.

The second day of the summer party.

The start of the party was smooth. Fortunately, today Maria Etel, the foolish one, didn’t imitate Olivia.

The relieved princess smiled brightly, responding to all the nobles as befitting the host.

“Your Highness, you’re unusually beautiful today.”

“Oh, when were there days when Your Highness wasn’t beautiful?”

Despite Ogga’s mischievous joke, the young viscount explained with a blushing face.

“No, I meant to say that in the midst of moonlight, you are the most beautiful.”

The princess laughed, covering her mouth delicately.

It was natural to say that she was even more beautiful today.

Late last night, all her worries disappeared thanks to confiding in the empress about the mine. She had a good night’s sleep, and during the day, she planned how the empress would command Olivia.

So naturally, she could only smile more brightly.

“Thank you, Viscount.”

Smiling and moving away, the princess spotted some maids not far away. Although they seemed to enjoy the atmosphere of the party, their faces were somewhat strange.

“What’s wrong?”
The princess approached and asked her closest playmate, Viscount Rebeorn, what was going on. The viscount responded with a slightly embarrassed face, shrugging his shoulders.

“It’s nothing special. We were just chatting briefly amongst ourselves.”

“What were you talking about? I’m curious as the host.”

“Somewhere, um.”

Viscount Rebeorn looked around for a moment. Then he whispered to the princess.

“It feels like an engagement ceremony.”

“What does that mean? An engagement,”

The princess, who had been elegantly laughing as if she heard something amusing, paused for a moment. Then she slowly looked around.

Amidst the fading soft melody, the decorations in the banquet hall caught her eye.

The tables and chairs neatly arranged today, the accessories and flickering lights along the stairs. Even the brightly sparkling white banners and gorgeous flowers.

…No way.

The princess’s pulse quickened.