It was a way for her to show off what she possessed and achieved throughout her life.

“Enjoy the banquet as if it were a virtue. I hope you enjoy celebrating Mother’s birthday.”

With Ivan’s speech, the actual banquet began.

Each family visited Katrina in turn, bearing gifts.

Gifts were a way to show their respect to Katrina and Ivan, as well as a means to enhance their family’s prestige.

So the nobles tried to outdo each other with even more valuable gifts. Money was spent by them, and profits were seen as a comical spectacle by Katrina.

Blair had worried that Herdin, who deeply despised Katrina, might show his resentment openly. Fortunately, her concerns did not materialize.

As the two finished receiving gifts and were talking to other nobles, another woman appeared.

“Duke, Duchess.”

Like Katrina, the middle-aged woman in a splendid dress and jewelry in front of them was the Countess Margrid, Katrina’s lady-in-waiting.

“Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see both of you.”

Blair hesitated.

She had always found it difficult to face Katrina, but today she was even more apprehensive. Since just before and after the wedding, whenever she faced Katrina, they clashed.

“Herdin.”

Blair lightly grasped Herdin’s arm. In response, Herdin lowered his upper body slightly and leaned his ear closer.

“Mother and Father’s unreasonable demands shouldn’t be catered to. You just need to avoid creating any disqualification as my husband.”

This was a reminder of the conversation Blair had with Herdin during the post-wedding lunch when Ivan and Katrina had subtly urged them to start a war.

“Don’t worry. I don’t engage in transactions that result in losses.”

Blair relaxed and let go of her concerns, looking at him with a calm smile. As he had said, he was not the kind of person to be swayed by their nonsensical conversation.

As the two approached, Katrina was accompanied by Viscount Valten, her close aide. He had supported her when she had no backing and was without a background, making him her closest confidant.

Blair greeted Katrina courteously.

“Please, Your Majesty.”

“It’s difficult to see your face, Blair. You should have come to me first if you came. You have no idea how disappointed I was when we parted like that on New Year’s Day.”

Although it was impossible for her to forget how they had parted just before, Katrina naturally wore a disappointed expression. It was a familiar sight to Blair.

Regardless of her inner feelings, she was her mother, who never lost her elegance and dignity in front of others.

“…There are many guests around, so I thought it might be intrusive.”
Here is the English translation of the Korean paragraph:

“No matter how busy you are, you should still visit. Aren’t we family? Now the Duke is my family too.”

While binding Herdin as family, it was also a reproachful remark for not coming to see her, a member of the family.

Viscount Valten tolerated such comments from the two.

“I don’t have a daughter, so I don’t really understand, but I’ve heard that it’s a good sign not to visit your parents’ home during your honeymoon.”

“Well, if they get along well, that’s the best thing. But a mother’s heart worries when the child she raised leaves.”

Listening to Katrina and Viscount Valten’s conversation, Blair reminisced. No matter how much she thought about it, in her past life, it seemed like nothing special happened with Katrina on this day.

“Or perhaps, have there been many changes now, and it’s no longer the same as my past life?”

As Blair was pondering this, young women approaching from the other side became visible.

Their goal was Blair.

Katrina, who noticed it faster than anyone else, grabbed Blair’s hand and said, “Go, Blair.”

As Blair exchanged a glance with Viscount Valten and approached the young women, Herdin naturally followed her.

At that moment, Katrina’s voice came from behind.

“No matter how beautiful your wife is, it’s a husband’s virtue to stay away from women’s conversations, Duke.”

Herdin’s steps faltered. Although it was said in a joking manner, the underlying message was that he had business there.

Herdin, who had unintentionally been looking at Blair, who was surrounded by noble young women with smiles, turned to Katrina’s side.

Attendants approached Katrina’s side. They looked at Katrina and the adjacent Herdin, trying to gauge the couple’s preferences.

“It’s remarkable that you two decided to break free from the constraints of the past and become a family.”

“That’s right. Both of you, or rather, even Empress and Duchess, must have found it not an easy decision.”

One corner of Herdin’s mouth lifted as he listened to their conversation.

Now he understood. He understood why Katrina had kept Blair by her side.