Because Callid had filled the closet, it wasn’t difficult to choose a dress to wear to the party.

Bellia, who had chosen a deep blue dress and accessories to match, sat down at the dressing table to prepare.

“His Highness seems to like the princess very much.”

The maids assigned to Bellia chattered and gossiped. They were all from lower noble families of the empire, working as lifelong maids in the 2nd Prince’s palace.

“Your silver hair is so beautiful.”

“When the princess first arrived, I really thought a fairy had appeared.”

They constantly showered Bellia with flattery.

As Bellia didn’t particularly like noisy things, she felt quite tired just from listening to their chatter.

But knowing that even her small actions could spread everywhere through their mouths, Bellia listened to their words attentively while keeping a smile on her face.

“By the way, I heard that Lady Canterif will also attend the party today…”

“Lady Canterif?”

Though the name was familiar, Bellia pretended not to know and asked again.

Come to think of it, she would meet that woman again, and a sigh escaped her involuntarily.

The person who always bristled at her and picked fights over every little thing.

At first, Bellia was quite bewildered, not knowing why she acted that way. But later she learned that she had been consistently mentioned as the future bride of Crown Prince Raul since childhood.

She must have grown up thinking she would become the Crown Princess, but suddenly a foreign princess appeared and took that position, becoming the Prince’s bride. How frustrating it must have been. It wasn’t a situation Bellia couldn’t understand at all.

‘But…’

Beyond understanding, Lady Canterif’s methods of tormenting Bellia were extremely cunning.

“Yes. There’s a recent rumor that the Crown Prince and the lady are engaged.”

Seeing that Bellia was interested in their conversation, the maids became more excited and started spilling everything they knew.

“You refused the Crown Prince, princess. They say immediately after that, marriage talks began with Lady Canterif.”

From the moment Bellia rejected Raul, it was natural that things would be different from her previous life.

She had vaguely thought that someday he would marry someone as a prince of the empire. She just didn’t know it would be Lady Canterif rather than Erzé.

“Ah… Then I’ll probably run into her often, as she’s about to be engaged to the Crown Prince.”

“That’s right. But Lady Canterif has quite a temperament. So be careful, she might try to pick a fight with you for no reason, princess.”

Would she still be nasty to her even though she got what she wanted with Raul in this life?

Bellia’s lips curled up in a smirk.

‘Of course she would. Will she make excuses about her wounded pride this time?’

Out of all people, why did it have to be Raul?

As someone who had already experienced him, Bellia wanted to dissuade Lady Canterif from her choice, but decided not to meddle unnecessarily. After all, she had wanted to marry Raul so badly.

‘Just because someone looks decent on the outside doesn’t mean they’re a good person.’

Well, Bellia wasn’t in a position to mock the lady, since she herself hadn’t known and had even married him.

“But don’t worry, today is a party to welcome you, princess!”

“That’s right. You’re the star of today, princess!”

The maids, thinking Bellia was worried about Lady Canterif, offered words of encouragement.

Although she wasn’t actually worried about the lady harming her, Bellia was grateful for their concern and thanked them with a smile.

Before long, her preparations were nearly complete.

Having finished her hair and makeup and put on her dress, Bellia was trying on each piece of jewelry one by one.

“Bellia.”

At that moment, Callid called out to her, leaning against the doorframe.

He was already fully prepared. He looked incredibly handsome in his dark tailcoat. Unlike usual, his hair was slicked back and he was dressed neatly. Bellia’s heart fluttered at his different appearance.

“You look beautiful.”

“You look handsome too.”

As if he had been hoping for those words, Callid smiled with his eyes crinkled.

“The necklace you wore earlier was prettier.”

When did he see that?

Bellia held back a laugh and pointed to the blue sapphire necklace he had called pretty.

“I’ll wear this necklace then.”

Watching the maids quickly change her necklace, Callid grinned broadly and approached Bellia, holding out his hand.

“Well then, shall we go turn Raul’s stomach inside out?”

Agreeing with his immensely cheerful words, Bellia took his hand.

The path to the party venue was quite splendid, completely opposite to the palace where he stayed.

Realizing her memory wasn’t wrong, Bellia looked at Callid. He was walking ahead with an unreadable expression.

“Are you scared?”

Noticing her glancing at him repeatedly, Callid asked.

Bellia shook her head slightly.

“No.”

“…Well, you’ve already experienced this before.”

Callid’s expression momentarily became complex as he said that, but he shrugged it off as if it was nothing.

“But now I’m by your side.”

Raul would surely have his stomach turned inside out when he saw them today.

Thinking that, Callid’s irritation that had been prickling up suddenly disappeared.

“It won’t be a big deal.”

“If you say so, then it must be.”

“…Callid.”

Bellia’s purple eyes stared directly at Callid.

“You’re not having unnecessary thoughts, are you?”

Feeling as if his inner thoughts had been exposed, Callid tried to change the subject.

“Now is the time to observe. Once we’ve secured our position, we’ll pull him down right away, so don’t do anything unnecessary.”

Bellia knew that Callid was concerned about Raul.

That’s why she had to warn him even more. They couldn’t ruin things because of personal emotions.

“So don’t pick fights with Raul for no reason right now.”

“You’re really too much.”

“We’re engaged, we’re going to get married, we’ve spent nights together, and we’re together every day. What exactly is ‘too much’?”

Bellia looked at him as if she couldn’t believe it.

He was much more jealous than she had expected. And it had gotten worse after revealing the fact of her regression.

While she could understand his insecurity, Bellia had no idea how to reassure him.

“I’ll continue to be by your side in the future too.”

It was disheartening that all she could do was repeatedly tell him she would stay by his side.

“We need to go in soon.”

This time, unlike before, she would be introduced as Callid’s fiancée.

Just that fact made her heart flutter, but Bellia felt anxious because Callid kept thinking about other things.

But perhaps it was natural. The fact that she and Raul had been lovers must have been quite shocking.

‘It’s not like the memories with Raul will disappear.’

Whether they were good memories or bad ones.

The consequences of revealing her regression were the price Bellia had to accept.

So she could endure it. No, she had to endure it.

“His Highness Prince Callid and Princess Bellia of the Kingdom of Ronica.”

Bellia held Callid’s hand and wore a faint smile on her face. Then she slowly passed through the huge doors and entered the banquet hall.

She could feel the gazes of people focusing on her, eager to see the much-rumored princess of Ronica.

How beautiful must she be for all the imperial princes to have proposed?

“…Everyone is looking at you.”

“Let them look, what of it?”

These gazes were familiar to Bellia.

“It’s because you’re too beautiful.”

Callid grumbled in a very displeased tone.

“And you just had to wear such a pretty dress…”

This dress, these accessories, these shoes.

All of them were things Callid had happily chosen as suitable for Bellia. But now, seeing people’s enchanted gazes, he acted as if he disliked them, making Bellia suppress a laugh.

Exclamations of admiration for her beauty could be heard from all around.

“She really lives up to the rumors.”

“…No wonder the princes fell for her.”

And the winner was Callid.

“Oh, Princess Bellia. You are truly beautiful.”

The emperor, who had arrived first, greeted Bellia with a warm smile.

Bellia was today’s guest of honor, so the emperor had yielded his last entrance to her.

This was the highest courtesy that could be shown in the empire.

‘No one will be able to treat me carelessly.’

It was equivalent to declaring to everyone that the Kingdom of Ronica was very important to the empire.

Regardless of the emperor’s true feelings, at this moment, Bellia was someone the emperor was showing tremendous consideration to.

‘…This is much better treatment than I expected.’

Before being the 2nd Prince’s fiancée, she was imprinted on everyone’s minds as the princess of Ronica.

It was an exceptionally smooth start.

“Let everyone raise their glasses.”

The emperor raised a toast to welcome the princess of Ronica as a prince’s bride.

It was also a toast to maintain peaceful relations between the Ingot Empire and the Kingdom of Ronica.

The music began.

Callid led Bellia by the hand to the center of the banquet hall. It was the first time the 2nd Prince danced in a crowded place. Everyone watched them with wide eyes at this rare sight.

“Callid. Are you good at dancing?”

“You think I can’t?”

At his confident answer, Bellia smiled mischievously.

“Just so you know, I’m extremely good at dancing.”

Bellia provoked Callid with those words.

Callid grasped Bellia’s waist with a pleased smile on his lips.

“We’ll see about that.”

They naturally moved their bodies to the music.

Bellia had secretly expected Callid not to be a good dancer. He didn’t seem like someone who would enjoy dancing at parties like this.

‘Oh?’

But Callid led Bellia very naturally and skillfully.

“…I thought you didn’t attend most parties.”

“Hehe.”

Callid swallowed his laughter without answering Bellia’s question.

“Don’t tell me you lied to me?”

“How could I?”

“Then what’s this?”

“Isn’t it good that I’m a good dancer?”

Bellia puffed out her cheeks sulkily.

The thought that someone else might have held his hand and shared time with him didn’t sit well with her.

“…Who did you dance with?”

“Hahaha.”

It was clearly a jealous tone, no matter who heard it.

At that, Callid couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

People were simply amazed, as it was the first time they had seen the 2nd Prince laugh out loud.

“Forget it.”

“Bellia. You’re my first for everything.”

What a crafty hound.

Bellia rolled her eyes.

The music ended before they knew it, and the two left the center of the hall.

“I’m thirsty.”

“Wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”

At Bellia’s sulky words, Callid left briefly to get water.

And as if waiting for that moment, someone dressed very elaborately approached Bellia.

“Hello. I’m Elin Canterif. Nice to meet you.”

It was Lady Canterif.