Everything turned gloomy and slow, like sinking into water. The murmuring words harshly defined Maria’s position.

When she saw the expensive dress being dragged pathetically underneath, the origin of the uneasiness flashed through her mind.

“Under my protection and affection, will you continue to act pretty?”

The sea-colored eyes that gazed at her coldly, the voice of a tender lover demanding a predetermined answer as if saying, “That’s enough.”

“…It’s impossible.”
From the assumption that Lady Madelaine might not return to the strong response.

No, no. That can’t be true.

It was confusing. Unbelievable. In Maria Ethel’s blinking eyes, suddenly, a woman with green eyes appeared.

Olivia Madelaine.

Why are you looking at me with such an expression?

Maria’s eyes, frozen like ice, widened.

In an instant, with a thud, the doors of the banquet hall closed. As the chilly wind of the corridor touched her cheeks, Maria burst into a bitter laugh.

Everything.

Was a mess.

“Maria!”

Viscount Ethel shouted with boiling emotions. Even the sight of his daughter being blocked by nobles standing firm like a wall and surrounded by knights couldn’t be seen properly.

“You’ve been too greedy.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t even bother to look back.”

The murmuring voices blamed and belittled his daughter. This was an absolutely impossible situation. His precious youngest daughter was not the kind of child to hear such things.
The only person who could resolve this situation was one. Viscount Ethel approached Duke Elkin with a trembling voice.

“Duke, please, how can we…”

“What can we do?”

It was a calm voice. The viscount looked up at Duke Elkin with a pale face.

“Yes?”

Until yesterday, the Duke was asking if the preparations for his daughter were going well. But now, he had such an indifferent face alone!

“Duke, until yesterday…”

“That’s right. Until His Highness addressed Lady Madelaine.”

The viscount’s face turned blank. Duke Elkin raised his eyebrows slightly.

Could a father and daughter be this foolish? Even after seeing the face of the prince who had called her endearing yesterday, she proceeded with the plan. Duke Elkin shook his head.

Duke Elkin had prepared for both directions. If Ethel Yeong-ae did well, he intended to go in that direction. However, now that Ethel Yeong-ae had angered the emperor, it was the right time to adjust the communication with the envoy and deceive the trust of the emperor and the prince.

Especially now, with Madelaine Duke unable to bring the lady, it was just before falling out of the emperor’s favor.

Duke Elkin looked at Madelaine Duke, who was a little apart.

Receiving the prince’s gaze and yet having such an indifferent face. Moreover, the grand duke who stepped forward to protect the lady. The more he looked, the more interested he became.

“…Come to think of it. If you look closely, to that child, I might be like a god.”

Duke Elkin muttered leisurely. In order to give a warning to Madelaine Duke, he attached a woman, and he was a god in the birth of the lady.

On the other hand, Viscount Ethel was not in his right mind. The urgent thing now was his precious youngest daughter who was dragged outside.

“That’s absurd. No, Your Grace!”

“You spent a lot of money on the dress. Soon, the bill will be sent from the top.”

The duke said with a calm tone. Now, understanding what happened, Viscount Ethel’s face turned red and blue.

“Wha, knowing that the situation would turn out like this, to my daughter…!”

“I should accompany you. Viscount Ethel.”

Above Viscount Ethel’s words, a dry voice interjected. In the gap where the gaze turned to Maria Ethel, Emperor’s chamberlain, who had quietly approached, spoke nonchalantly.

Finally realizing the changed situation, Viscount Ethel’s lips trembled. Duke Elkin stepped back two steps and whispered.

“That’s why you shouldn’t be greedy, Viscount. I won’t see you off.”

Under the conductor’s command, the orchestra played a new waltz. However, there was no one dancing.

An expected joyful summer party. However, the situation in the banquet hall had turned into one where everyone was just watching each other.

Olivia glanced at the door where the emperor and empress had just left.

“…Even in a place where the envoy who came from afar is present, an unpleasant thing happened.”

The emperor’s forced laughter must have been seen not only by Olivia but also by the Duke, who had been watching.

“Let’s all forget what just happened and enjoy the party.”
Following the Emperor and Empress, the Prince hurriedly left the banquet hall. Even until the end, Olivia could feel Leopold’s gaze on her, but she didn’t meet his eyes. She didn’t want to dwell on the voice that called her name so casually.

The atmosphere, which had frozen, gradually thawed as the nobles, who had been watching each other in silence, began to interact.

The most intriguing figures at the moment were Olivia, mentioned by name, and the distant princess.

If it weren’t for the three knights in front of her, she would have been torn to pieces long ago. The nobles were weighing the relationship between Olivia and the princess as if measuring.

Olivia blinked. Strangely, Maria’s eyes, which had briefly met hers, were now mature, unlike the doll-like pretty blue eyes that glared at her.

“…Are you okay, Olivia?”

“Yes?”

“It seemed like I had an interesting view. Olivia seems a bit dazed.”

Of course, the last person who dared to call Olivia would be kept in check.

At the joke, Olivia’s eyebrows collapsed archly. Edwin’s voice had a strange power.

Maria Ethel’s eyes, the dress sent by the prince, all possessed a mysterious power that made one forget.

“What should I do, Olivia? If you’re okay, I’d like to request a song, but it’s also okay to return to the Grand Ballroom.”

Now that she thought about it, not only Edwin but also Howard and Winster were waiting for Olivia’s decision. Looking at their faces, Olivia raised her head.

She had to carry only good memories from the Grand Ballroom. This discomfort had to be combed away from the banquet hall.

“I’ll be safe in the escort of two wonderful knights, so how about Edwin doing greetings with the envoy?”

It was a cheerful response. Looking at Olivia for a moment, Edwin’s gaze, who had been watching her, twisted oddly.

“Well, I don’t want to be away from Olivia even for a moment. In that case, how about just watching together and going back?”

“Watching?”

It was a strange word. Smirking, Edwin, who had raised the corners of his mouth alluringly, took Olivia’s hand and led her.

When getting closer to the princess, a soft sofa and table seemed prepared in a place that looked like it had stopped. The splendid performance reached its climax.

Smiling brightly, Edwin whispered affectionately, “Command the princess’s neck for my kind Olivia.”

Command the princess’s neck? As Olivia was about to protest, the conversation she had with Edwin in the mine suddenly came to mind.

If you wish, I can command the princess’s neck. The words of Edwin, suggesting that, strangely, continued with a frightening prediction.

“I had a feeling that I could show you an interesting situation that happens by chance.”

“Did you plan something interesting?”

“Well, just a light taste.”

Edwin shrugged, gesturing in the direction where the princess was.
“But how did Lady Etel dare to insert such a thing at His Majesty’s banquet?”

A mild question burst from the nobles surrounding the princess.

“Everyone knows how meticulously His Majesty observes the banquets.”

“Surely His Majesty couldn’t have known that Lady Etel would do such a thing.”

Among the following noble expressions, the princess’s pale face caught the eye. The sea-blue eyes that met Olivia’s quivered.

Ah, so that’s why it’s called watching. Olivia chuckled softly.