The VIP room was quiet. The sound of crude and voracious eating filled the space.

“Is it that delicious?”

Helly’s eyes, hidden behind her long bangs, shone brightly. Without answering, she continued to eat the thick, juicy steak.

Despite being in a high-class restaurant, there was no refinement or dignity in the way she ate, as if she were in a tavern.

Diana smiled contentedly as she watched Helly eat heartily. She had kept her promise to send her to as soon as they arrived. It worked out well since Diana had business to attend to here.

“Young lady.”

Jane, who had entered the VIP room without a sound, reported on the situation at the mansion. It was as expected, but the aftertaste was unpleasant.

“Was she badly hurt?”

“Just a slap on the cheek.”

It meant not to worry since it was only a slap on the cheek.

“……”

A single slap from her uncle would likely be several times stronger than that of an average man.

Diana swallowed a sigh. Although it was under her orders, she couldn’t help but feel sorry. These siblings were numb to pain.

In their childhood environment from which they couldn’t escape, the siblings had severed their sense of pain.

“I should give you a higher salary.”

“If possible, she asks that you entrust her with your makeup for the New Year’s Festival. She says that would be enough.”

Diana smiled bitterly. Jamie preferred adorning Diana over money. As Diana was about to agree, a concise knock sounded.

“Come in.”

The manager, dressed neatly, opened the door and bowed his head.

“Young lady, I apologize. The owner asks that you wait a bit longer.”

“It’s alright. The Queen’s time is more precious than gold.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“We haven’t even finished our meal yet.”

Diana shifted her gaze to look at Helly. The course dishes that had filled the round table were now completely empty.

“You want more, don’t you?”

Helly nodded her head vigorously. Diana wondered where all that food went in that slender frame of hers.

As Diana raised her hand, Jane, who was standing beside her, handed over the menu.

“From here to here. Give us everything.”

Diana said, scanning the menu from the beginning to the end.

“Understood. We will set it up right away.”

The empty dishes were swiftly cleared away, and the table was perfectly reset as it had been when they first arrived.

“From now on, you can come here under my name. I kept my promise, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, you’re the best, young lady.”

Helly even gave a thumbs-up, unable to take her eyes off the high-quality dishes being served.

In front of . Although it was not open for business yet, the most famous restaurant in the capital, where the population density had increased, was crowded with people waiting in line.

Nobles who had come to the capital for the New Year’s Festival wanted to enter the renowned restaurant they had heard so much about.

It was not simply to taste the heavenly flavors of the dishes that were spoken of.

Being able to enter a restaurant where even high-ranking nobles found it difficult to make reservations was being used as a means to boost one’s reputation and self-esteem.

In front of the notoriously exclusive , a commotion was taking place.

“No, I’m telling you I definitely made a reservation!”

“I’m terribly sorry, guest. Your name is not in the reservation book.”

Zelony, who had left the mansion in a good mood due to Diana being confined in the discipline room, suddenly felt like his luck was turning sour.

He had even brought along the young ladies he was close with, and Zelony felt cold sweat forming.

“Look carefully. I’m sure I successfully made a reservation a month ago!”

Behind Zelony, who was arguing with the staff, the young ladies who had accompanied him whispered among themselves, raising their fans.

“With that level, could it be a lie?”

“It seems he wasn’t even acquainted with the Crown Prince’s fiancée.”

“Do we have to keep standing here? Everyone is staring at us.”

Even though he was from a branch family, Zelony was still a Beatus. He had undergone various training and was sensitive to noise. Zelony’s face reddened at the young ladies’ words.

No. If he backed down like this, he would truly become a laughingstock. He had to keep his word.

“Look, do you see this? It’s the reservation confirmation issued from here!”

The staff member, dressed impeccably in a black suit, took it and narrowed his eyes.

“This doesn’t seem to belong to you, guest.”

He had been rejected by a mere staff member. Despite having clear evidence.

Ha, how dare a mere employee. Zelony’s patience, which had been on edge, shattered.

“Call the manager.”

“Guest, as we are about to start our business hours, please step away from the entrance.”

“Call the manager first!”

At Zelony’s angry voice, the attention of the nobles waiting in line was focused on him. Not only that, even passersby stopped to watch the commotion.

“Guest, if you continue to be unreasonable like this, we will have no choice but to call security.”

The staff member spoke calmly, trying his best not to frown. The more he did so, the louder Zelony’s voice became.

Unable to endure the ongoing argument, Zelony was about to reach out to the staff member when…

“Do you know who I am?!”

“Indeed.”

A languid voice, laced with charm, swallowed up the surrounding noise in an instant.

“Who would cause such a commotion at my establishment?”

The owner of The Queen. The appearance of Tania Bangas caused even the nobles to swallow their saliva and shut their mouths.

Unlike typical nobles who hid their figures in voluminous dresses, she wore a dress that revealed her curves.

It was a thin dress that could be mistaken for underwear. Despite brazenly revealing her skin, it didn’t appear vulgar.

With a figure-hugging silhouette and a luxurious white fox fur draped over her shoulders, holding a long cigarette holder, she exuded a unique presence.

If Vanessa Beatus, the Crown Prince’s fiancée, was known as the Red Witch beneath the surface,

The woman with silver-white hair twisted up was called the White Witch.

Witch. It was a nickname that didn’t mean she actually used magic, but rather that she was ruthless. The White Witch was said to be even more relentless than the Red Witch.

She conspicuously exhaled a long stream of white smoke through her alluring red lips.

“You have arrived, Madam.”

“Nel, I told you to call me Mistress when at the establishment, didn’t I?”

As the owner of The Queen appeared, the crowd that had been like a cloud miraculously parted.

The manager, who had appeared soundlessly, bowed deeply to her.

It was the first time seeing the manager, known for his stiff neck unless someone was of high status, bowing and scraping.

Clack, clack. Despite the many people surrounding them, the sound of her high heels was particularly loud.

Tania walked the well-polished path with ease and arrived in front of Zelony.

Zelony felt infinitely small in front of Tania Bangas.

Her imposing aura was overwhelming, and her reputation was enough to make one cower.

She was the queen of the Bangas, owning all establishments starting with ‘Bang’ within the empire.

On the other hand, she was called a dark noble and had grown her power to the point where it was difficult to determine who was superior between her and Debir Beatus, wielding influence in the underworld.

Tap. Tania snatched the reservation confirmation. It was undoubtedly a reservation confirmation from , with gold embossing on high-quality paper.

“This is indeed our restaurant’s reservation confirmation.”

“Th-That’s right!”

Without realizing it, Zelony was using honorifics in the presence of the influential figure.

Tania glanced at Zelony like a snake slithering past. Her alluring eyes were filled with arrogance.

“But this doesn’t seem to belong to you, dear guest?”

“What do you mean by that?!”

A satin-gloved finger pointed at the name on the reservation confirmation.

“Beatus.”

Tania’s eyes flickered unusually as she spoke that name.

“Are you daring to claim that you made a reservation under the ducal family’s name, dear guest?”

Zelony felt like he was being crushed by her momentum. However, Zelony was also a Beatus. Once Gordon became the duke, he would proudly be one. He tried to shout out in a surge of emotion, but Tania was faster.

“Dear guest, our establishment does not condone the unauthorized use of a family name without the permission of the direct lineage.”

“I am!”

One step. She only took one step closer, but Tania’s presence seemed even more immense.

Leaning towards Zelony’s ear, Tania whispered coldly.

“At the very least, if it were Diana Beatus, I might let it slide. Dear guest, it’s not wise to use the family name recklessly.”

Even with his pride being trampled, Zelony couldn’t move. His body trembled with humiliation, but for some reason, he was frozen in place, unable to move.

“Escort him out politely.”

Get rid of him immediately. Despite the polite words, the underlying meaning was chilling.

Tania spoke to the staff and shifted her gaze to the waiting guests.

“I apologize. Time is gold, and I have wasted your precious time. As a small token of apology, we will gift you with Bangas wine for gracing our with your presence, although it may be inadequate.”

The faces of the nobles, whose expressions had been tinged with irritation from the long wait, brightened.

Bangas wine was a rare collection that couldn’t be obtained even if one offered countless gold coins.

As a businesswoman, it was a generous apology that was never servile.

Tania swept her bewitching gaze over the crowd and leisurely entered the restaurant that had begun its business.

“Young lady, can I eat more of this?”

Helly had devoured all the dishes that kept coming and was already on her third dessert. Diana seriously pondered whether she should give her more or not.

“You’ll get an upset stomach, Helly.”

Knock, knock. With a concise knocking sound, the door opened. No one in the VIP room was surprised by the presence that could be felt from outside.

“Diana Beatus.”

The woman’s voice was somewhat stiff. Diana’s pink eyes turned towards the doorway, where the door was opened wide.

Standing there with a seductive demeanor, Tania handed the long cigarette holder she was holding to a staff member beside her.

As Diana rose from her seat, Helly, who had been slowly savoring the melting sorbet in her mouth, stuffed it all in at once and stood behind her.

Diana was at ease even in front of the Queen of the Bangas. She placed her right hand on her chest and bowed her head.

“It’s an honor to meet the Queen of the Bangas like this. I pay my respects to Tania Bangas.”

It was a greeting used in the underworld. Tania clenched her fist tightly and released it, as if suppressing something.

“Diana Beatus.”

Despite the tone that sounded angry, Diana smiled leisurely.

“Yes, please speak.”

Jane and Helly, standing behind Diana, showed no signs of tension.

However, the staff members standing beside Tania were on edge.

They were worried that their mistress might shove the Beatus lady.

As expected, Tania approached with long strides, revealing her legs through the side slit of her dress.

Even as Tania raised her hand, the Beatus lady’s close associates showed no intention of defending.

What? Is she going to slap her?!

The staff members were on high alert when…

“Dianaaaa!”

Tania hugged Diana tightly and threw away her dignity as the mistress, making a nasal sound.

Diana, her face pressed against Tania’s ample bosom, laughed out loud.

“It’s been a while, Sister.”