The empire needed to show that its influence in the Kingdom of Ronika was still strong, just as it had formed relations with other western countries despite being a loser in the west.

Thinking this, Velia sneaked a glance at the Empress.

Though forcing a smile on her lips, her expression was visibly uncomfortable.

Yes, she must be upset.

She would think that everything in the Kingdom of Ronika, which almost became her son’s, was stolen right before her eyes.

“Your Majesty, it’s almost time for today’s main characters to make their entrance.”

“Ah, yes.”

At the Empress’s words, the Emperor turned his body back towards the banquet hall.

Velia was quite satisfied with just this. Further provocation could unnecessarily draw attention and restrict her actions.

Prince Khaled tightly grasped Velia’s hand, as if to say she had done well.

‘Hmph. I can’t ignore Khaled’s dismissive attitude.’

Velia flashed a relieved smile.

Soon, with the sound of the orchestra’s music, Raul and Elin walked slowly down the flowerdecorated path.

Elin, lavishly dressed, looked incredibly beautiful. Raul, who was holding her hand and walking with her, looked at her as if he found her lovely.

Watching their blissfully smiling faces, Velia snorted.

‘All of them are wearing masks…’

Knowing full well that their seemingly affectionate behavior was all fake.

Furthermore, even while acting this way, Raul located Velia, who was sitting at the high table. This was quite a rude action towards the Princess Cantelief standing beside him.

Of course, Velia had no need to care about it. After all, the Princess herself had chosen such a Raul.

“They are really a beautiful couple.”

Velia turned her gaze towards today’s main characters, Raul and Elin. Then, leaning her head confidently on Khaled’s shoulder, she beamed brightly.

She then looked at Raul, who had been watching her, and smiled.

‘I am not your lover.’

Despite the distance, the flickering in his eyes felt vivid.

Though he had a fiancée holding his hand and walking down the flower path with him, he couldn’t take his eyes off Velia.

‘Annoying.’

What does he think of himself?

As if he had any significance to her.

Finding it amusing, Velia’s face subtly contorted.

After her return to the past, she had not shared any special feelings with Raul. The time of her return was when she had just started to fall for Raul, so in reality, there was no sort of relationship between them at all.

If she had to define their relationship, he was someone who had proposed in the past, or perhaps the brother of her fiancé.

‘It’s just that kind of relationship…’

Why did he keep looking at her as if looking at a former lover?

Why was he so upset that she had been “taken away” by Khaled?

“…I’m watching you.”

Khaled whispered quietly in Velia’s ear, his mood clearly disgruntled.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Velia intentionally clung to Khaled affectionately and stared straight at Raul.

Their eyes met.

“……”

Raul paused and stared intently at Velia.

Elin, who had been holding his hand and walking, noticed where he was looking and her expression turned icy.

“……Your Highness.”

At Elin’s call, Raul turned his head and resumed walking.

Raul still couldn’t believe that Velia was by Khaled’s side.

She was someone he had approached with a calculated plan, so there was no sincerity from the start.

Yet, Velia, who he thought he had almost captured, had pushed him away and chosen Khaled. That fact filled him with unbearable rage. And now,

‘It was originally mine.’

A bizarre, obsessive desire quietly seeped out from Raul’s cold eyes.

Gradually, the smile vanished from Raul’s face.

And beside such a Raul, Elin’s heart was thrown down and crumpled.

Even at this distance, Velia incessantly shook Raul.
From childhood, she had always longed for an engagement with him, but this moment was nothing but miserable, and she wanted nothing more than to run away.

“Blessings to the stars of the day!”

Thunderous applause erupted.

However, the actual faces of the protagonists were stonecold.

Guests at their back couldn’t see their expressions, but Velia, who was observing Raul and Ellen closest, instantly noticed. They were consumed by their own emotions, each lost in separate thoughts.

Velia hoped that Raul would go through the engagement ceremony in the utmost misery. She wished that he wouldn’t feel even a tinge of happiness.

‘…And that had already happened.’

With a sincere smile, Velia joined the applause celebrating their unhappiness.

(This is a time separator.)

“Isn’t it too obvious?”

Velia, seemingly concerned, asked Prince Khaled.

A flashy outfit that anyone would turn to look at.

“No. This much is necessary, otherwise it draws suspicion.”

Khaled adjusted his attire and responded.

Next to him, Velia looked displeased as she examined her own clothes.

“It’s beautiful, what’s the matter?”

“Even so, wouldn’t it be better to change into something less conspicuous?”

At that moment, Velia and Khaled were squabbling in front of a casino.