Regardless of the various emotions toward Sinclair, the morning of the National Foundation Day dawned.

Elaina also woke up very early, but Sinclair was already gone, not to be seen.

He must have gone to prepare.

Let’s not worry about it anymore.

Don’t be presumptuous.

She tried her best not to think about Sinclair, and began to review the order of the National Foundation Day events over and over again.

First of all, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Edenbell’s National Foundation Day was the biggest event among Edenbell’s events.

Therefore, while the venue was the Imperial Palace, not only nobles but also a considerable number of commoners could attend.

The National Foundation Day lasts all day long, starting around noon, beginning with the Emperor’s speech in the vast square located in the center of the Imperial Palace.

Next, the nobles, including the imperial family, distribute relief supplies they have prepared to the citizens of the empire. Of course, it was just their intention to show off their wealth and influence, but it was the most popular order for the citizens of the empire at the moment.

Meanwhile, the Emperor welcomes delegations sent from neighboring empires, receives congratulations, and spends some time with them.

In the largest and most luxurious reception room, completely different from the cramped reception room Elaina and Sinclair had gone to.

After going through these stages, a martial arts tournament is held. Anyone who has fought for the glory of Edenbell in war, regardless of social status, can participate.

The highlight of the martial arts tournament was actually not people fighting people, but lion hunting.

The last 3 remaining people each head to the open arena. And they engage in a duel with a lion prepared in advance by the Imperial Palace. The person who finishes the duel the fastest becomes the final winner.

After the martial arts tournament ends like that, only the very last procedure of the National Foundation Day remains.

It was the ceremony held in the temple.

This year, especially, Sinclair was supposed to take charge of…

Among these, what Elaina absolutely had to attend were the Emperor’s speech, the distribution of relief supplies, and the ceremony at the temple.

In fact, there was no particular reason for Elaina to attend the relief supplies distribution.

In any case, since Sinclair was also a member of the imperial family, he had been making excuses by paying a certain amount of money even during his absence from the National Foundation Day.

This time was no different. Sinclair had prepared everything in advance.

And Elaina added a little more sincerity to the scale that Sinclair had prepared for.

[Lady Elaina! Are you really going to do that? It’s already a considerable amount…] [He told me. That I could freely purchase and use anything I needed.]

Didn’t Sinclair actually say that? To fill in whatever I needed on my own. That he didn’t care about anything.

[What I need are these relief supplies. To be precise, it’s this act itself.]

Anna told her. Thanks to Elaina, the one who spent the most money at this National Foundation Day, including all the imperial family and nobles, was the Emperor, and Sinclair was right after him.

It wasn’t a bad thing. Moreover, considering Sinclair’s reputation, it was even more so. If the Crown Princess herself were to distribute relief supplies, it would be easy to gain favor, wouldn’t it?

[I won’t even care about you, and I won’t keep you in my heart. But it’s true that I was worried you might make a mistake, and I didn’t like the idea of stepping in to help unnecessarily.]

Of course, she had heard such cold words, but…

She had no intention of irresponsibly abandoning the things she had already prepared.

And the ceremony at the temple, which was the last procedure of the National Foundation Day, wasn’t difficult at all. It was just as Sinclair had said, to act as a perfect couple and stay by his side.

Anyway, Elaina tried her best to act as if nothing was wrong while adorning herself. Waiting for Sinclair to come pick her up.

“Let’s depart.”

That was all Sinclair said when he returned to the Crown Prince’s Palace.

Elaina didn’t add any more words either. Just to make their relationship look as good as possible. She just headed to the square with her arm linked with his, forcing a smile.

“Wow, Sinclair Butler really attended the National Foundation Day.”

After arriving at the square like that, it would not be an exaggeration to say that 80% of the stories that reached her ears while sitting in the upper seats were all about Sinclair.

“Is that all? I heard he’s even going to perform the ceremony this time. It’s been led by Crown Prince Hister since he fell out of favor with the Emperor.”

“What? Was that rumor true?”

“They said his relationship with the imperial family improved, and now he’s even performing the ceremony. Poor Crown Prince Hister.”

“That’s right. If he’s unlucky, couldn’t he lose the future throne? It’s not an impossible story.”

People’s words flew like arrows, and it was clear that not only Elaina heard their whispers.

Sinclair must have heard it too, and Hister sitting next to Sinclair must have heard it as well.

Elaina reflexively looked at Hister, but…

Surprisingly, he had a grinning face.

‘He’s smiling? After hearing such words?’

He must definitely have some secret scheme of his own. But because of that unknown scheme, he couldn’t cancel the ceremony he had agreed to perform.

Right. Schuler said he had prepared thoroughly too, so nothing bad will happen.

Thinking like that, Elaina, who was clenching her fist in anxiety, burst into a hollow laugh not long after.

Ah, this must be presumptuous too.

Who dares to worry about whom? Without even having the right to do so.

Sinclair, sitting next to her listening to the Emperor’s speech, looked as if nothing had happened at all. Unlike Elaina.

Maybe that’s why. Somehow, it felt like anger was rising.

“…”

Elaina tried to turn off her nerves that kept going towards him, and slowly looked at those sitting in the upper seats.

The Emperor giving a speech in front. Hister. Sinclair. The Grand Duke nobles of the imperial bloodline whose names she had roughly memorized. Their knight guards including Schuler.

‘…What’s with that child?’

What caught Elaina’s eye at that moment was a small boy sitting in the most corner seat, looking utterly dejected.

Red hair different from the Emperor, Hister, and Sinclair. Hideous pockmarks covering his cheeks as if they had swallowed them. A small body.

And a face that subtly resembled the Emperor’s…

“Chase Butler.”

Sinclair’s voice, so low and quiet that only Elaina could hear, rang in her ear.

“The last prince of the imperial family this time.”

Ah, come to think of it, she did remember hearing about him. The young prince who was so insignificant that even the citizens of the empire hardly knew about him.

Like Sinclair, receiving no treatment from the imperial family.

“Don’t stare so openly.”

“…”

“Just look ahead. The Emperor is giving a speech.”

Sinclair muttered softly with an expressionless face, and Elaina quietly nodded.

Not long after that, the Emperor’s speech ended, and the event of distributing relief supplies to the citizens of the empire began.

Elaina faithfully did her part. The relief supplies prepared by the Crown Prince’s Palace were much more in quantity and better in quality than even those prepared by Crown Prince Hister.

Moreover, all the citizens of the empire must have been curious. Who exactly was the person that the rascal Sinclair had taken as his Crown Princess.

For various reasons, people overflowed in front of Elaina. Incomparably more than other imperial family members or nobles.

“Will you really be alright? The other maids and I could do it…”

“That’s right. Lady Elaina, you should go in and rest a bit. You have to attend the ceremony at the temple too.”

Judith and Anna seemed quite worried about Elaina, but Elaina shook her head.

“No. I prepared this, so I want to take responsibility until the end. I’m fine, so don’t worry.”

She felt Sinclair’s gaze from afar as he headed to the temple first, but Elaina tried her best not to mind. Diligently working.

“Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

And the reaction of the citizens was very good.

“It’s disrespectful to say, but I was so curious and wanted to see you, and you’re really such a benevolent person!”

“That’s right. It’s not a common thing to do this, and how could you with your uncomfortable body… No… I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. It’s true that my body is uncomfortable.”

Elaina said with a smile.

“And all of this was prepared by Crown Prince Sinclair… The benevolent one is not me, but Crown Prince Sinclair. I’m just fulfilling my role as the Crown Princess.”

“Oh my, how can you be so humble and kind.”

“Of course. Our Lady Elaina is originally a person of very excellent character.”

What suddenly interrupted was Lady Regus, who was looking at her with a smile while holding an ornate and luxurious fan in her hand.

Somehow, it felt like emphasis was only on the words ‘our Lady Elaina’.

“Lady Regus, you came.”

“Of course! When Lady Elaina is working so hard, I should naturally come out and help. What should I start with?”

“You don’t need to go to such lengths, Lady. I feel too sorry.”

“How can there be such a thing between close friends like us! I’m prepared to help with anything, just tell me. Except for lifting heavy loads. My back hurts these days, probably because I’ve gained weight.”

It certainly seemed so.

Lady Regus, rolling up her sleeves, began to help with distributing the relief supplies.

Of course, even while doing so, she seemed to be showing off ‘how close she is to Elaina to be doing such work together’, but Elaina decided to keep her mouth shut as it wasn’t a big issue.

And this level of special treatment, it wasn’t something she couldn’t give. After all, she couldn’t deny that Lady Regus was a great help.

Because the line was so long, Elaina and Lady Regus, including Judith and Anna and the other maids of the Crown Prince’s Palace, stayed the latest and worked hard. Until the martial arts tournament ended.

But the response was good as they had done their best. People no longer called Elaina the half-wit cripple Elaina like before.

The benevolent Crown Princess.

Elaina, who had gained a new nickname overnight, thought this was enough of a result.

Also, that it was quite a successful National Foundation Day.

However, Elaina couldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams.

What a terrible thing would happen at the temple, the place that puts the final punctuation mark on the National Foundation Day.

And what kind of state she would end up in.

But Elaina, unaware of this fact, quickly changed her clothes and headed to the temple where Sinclair would be waiting.