“If it’s Katangta, isn’t it ‘that’ Katangta?”

“Hush, friend. Your voice is too loud.”

In the dazzling gaze, it seemed like a spark of light had entered. The conversation among discreet nobles was mixed with the word ‘Katangta.’

‘That’ Katangta. How did the nobles even get wind of Katangta? I confirmed that rumors about me staying in Katangta last month hadn’t spread.

Her heart sank. The princess forced herself to swallow her roughened breath.

She needed to stay calm. She had to remove them before their presence lodged in the nobles’ minds.

But how?

It seemed her lips were sealed, as if overwhelmed. Her mind went blank.

At that moment, when the gazes toward the princess became increasingly peculiar, a voice echoed.

“…I greet Your Highness.”

The princess raised her head abruptly. As if appearing like a savior, the low voice belonged to Jade Madeline, a member of the imperial family and vice-commander of the Imperial Knights of the Madeline Duchy…!

The princess quickly regained her composure. She greeted Katangta’s own sculptor Buddha with a seemingly warm smile.

“Nice to see you. Sculptor, and Madam.”

Without showing any surprise at the changed expression of the transformed princess, the princess elegantly smiled and addressed Jade Madeline.

“You came at the right time. Madeline, sir. Would you please guide these two to the reception room? They are acquaintances I briefly met……. in the past.”

The princess awkwardly smiled and looked around. Only then did the nobles, as if understanding, send a subtle smile towards the sculptor Buddha of Katangta.

There were always lower-ranking nobles who showed off their friendship with the princess during banquets. This time, it seemed to be these guys.

The princess felt relieved at the changing gazes of the nobles. At the same time, she felt a sense of accomplishment for having built such a solid support base for herself.

It seemed that the sculptor Buddha of Katangta also recognized the change in the nobles’ glances.

Innocently, he trembled with injustice. Although his beaten body was in pain, speaking out in this atmosphere was not easy.

Nevertheless, the princess’s words that tried to express courage were mercilessly brushed aside.

“…Me…!”

“Sculptor. Nice to meet you. It must have been hard coming a long way. Take a little rest and then come. Sir, thank you in advance.”

It was ridiculously easy for the princess to manipulate public opinion in the social circle with an insignificant opponent in front of her. Especially with the support of a collaborator.

She remained calm and dignified. Her appearance was more than enough to erase the sensitive image she had just disappeared with Olivia on the balcony.

Soon, mockery towards the sculptor Buddha poured out like daggers.

“As expected, that was just a groundless rumor.”

“Well, that’s right. As Your Highness generously bestows various favors, even such country bumpkin nobles come. I was dragged out once before as well.”
“Oh, but the viscount at least brought an invitation. Is that person showing signs of having an invitation?”

“Oh, come on. How could you enter this venue without an invitation?”

“We should check.”

The situation was neatly sorted out.

The princess flashed an awkward smile but didn’t intervene in the nobles’ conversation.

Lady Libeorn and other noblewomen stepped forward to tidy up the awkward atmosphere. It was slightly annoying that they didn’t clean up the mess, but the princess didn’t think much of it.

If they wanted to attend the party, they should contact quietly. Why make such a fuss?

The princess looked at the sculptor and his wife with a dignified gaze.

Although they could have escaped in embarrassment, somehow, the two didn’t blink an eye.

Frozen, perhaps.

While thinking that Jade Madeline should hurry up and handle it, the princess deliberately surveyed her surroundings.

Then, on the other side, she directed a mocking smile towards the Duke and Olivia.

There was no danger for me.

As long as the eternal prosperity of the empire exists, I will establish myself as a dignified princess.

It seemed like they were trying to insult me with such trivial threats as that abandoned mine and Olivia.

Refreshing thoughts crossed my clear mind.

If I abandoned that mine and married a wealthy bachelor prince from the Welten Kingdom or the prince of the Orange Kingdom, it might not only avoid the emperor’s wrath but also work out in my favor.

The princess gestured towards the direction where the delegation from the foreign country was. When she smiled gracefully, the nobles of the delegation lightly bowed to the princess.

A pact between the Franz Empire, which dominated the continent, and a powerful kingdom. Something like the Bikander Territory would not even be worth considering.

If there were no one, she wanted to burst into laughter. How much would my mother praise me for being so much like a princess if she knew?

Looking at the red eyes of the inscrutable Duke Bikander, the princess spat in her heart. Then she turned her gaze to Olivia next to her.