Meanwhile, Anselot, who had left his seat, was walking down a quiet corridor.

Unlike the noisy ballroom, this corridor was very dark and quiet, with only occasional glimpses of servants passing by.

Wheezing―

The sound of wind could be heard through the open window crack.

Anselot immediately turned to look that way.

“Prince Anselot, die!”

An assassin wearing a black mask came rushing towards him.

“Ah, how troublesome.”

Anselot had felt murderous intent directed at him for a while, and now an annoying pest had latched onto him.

Anselot irritably raised one eyebrow and created a long spear in the air.

Then he pierced straight through the body of the assassin who had rushed at him.

Poof!

The assassin collapsed to the floor without a single cry.

Those persistently aiming for his life were not cleaners sent by the system, but assassins dispatched from his home country.

Anselot looked down at the cooling corpse with cold eyes.

Well, there was no need to specifically come out to the corridor to greet this unwelcome guest. It would have been fine to deal with it inside the ballroom.

However…

“Then our princess would be frightened.”

Anselot thought of Luibel’s eyes that would round like a rabbit in fear.

Then he added with a smirk,

“I want to see that pretty face alone.”

At the same time his muttering dispersed, a new attack came from the opposite side.

Anselot immediately turned his body to block the attack and took down the second assassin.

Although his body had not fully recovered yet, his movements were still flawless.

Anselot pressed his temples with a somewhat tired face.

In the silent corridor where the smell of blood vibrated, someone’s footsteps could be heard.

The long spear of white light Anselot was holding scattered into the air.

“Oh my, Prince Anselot.”

The man who appeared, upon seeing the two corpses collapsed on the floor, made a perplexed expression.

“Has an assassin infiltrated the imperial palace again?”

It was Sedrick, Orent’s aide.

Some time ago, one of Orent’s attendants had died in Anselot’s room.

To the furious Orent, Anselot calmly informed him that the attendant was an assassin from their home country.

Although Orent didn’t believe it at first, he had to back down due to the paralysis poison discovered in the teapot the attendant had brought.

Anyway, that incident had led to Anselot becoming acquainted with Orent’s aide, Sedrick, while handling the aftermath.

“Do you have a handkerchief?”

Without any polite greetings, Anselot abruptly held out his hand and asked.

“I do have a handkerchief here, but why…?”

Sedrick blinked and handed over a handkerchief.

Instead of saying thank you, Anselot replied indifferently once again.

“I can’t show my partner a blood-stained appearance, can I?”

As he said, although it was not clearly visible in the darkness, there was a little blood splattered on his left cheek.

Sedrick looked up at Anselot thoughtfully upon hearing that rather normal-sounding answer.

“You like Princess Luibel, don’t you?”

“…?”

At this, one of Anselot’s eyebrows rose even more crookedly than when he had sensed the assassin’s presence earlier.

“If it’s Her Highness Princess Luibel, there are many in the empire who admire her for her beautiful appearance and kind personality.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Anselot openly frowned and muttered in an unpleasant tone.

“Do something about the security at the Azester Imperial Palace.”

Anselot jerked his chin at the collapsed assassins’ corpses and turned to return to the ballroom.

He had taken longer than expected.

Thinking that Luibel might be waiting, his steps unconsciously quickened.

However, the atmosphere in the ballroom he returned to was not what he had expected.

“Your Majesty, you know how much His Highness Orent has been looking forward to inheriting your sword, yet you bestow it upon Princess Luibel!”

Duke Hamilton, the biological father of Second Prince Orent, was confronting the emperor with a raised voice.

In the gloomy atmosphere, people couldn’t openly stare, but they kept glancing at Luibel from the corners of their eyes.

Even though Luibel herself maintained a calm expression as if she was not hurt.

The steps that had been rapidly approaching Luibel just a moment ago came to an abrupt halt.

‘Why…’

Anselot clenched his fists tightly.

The sight of Luibel casually sipping champagne was imprinted on his retina.

It was strange.

She herself didn’t seem to mind at all.

So why was he feeling so angry?

[This is the timeline separator]

After the third dance music ended, the guests stepped forward one by one to present congratulatory gifts to my mother.

There was a certain order when appearing before the emperor, and it was customary for the imperial family members to pay their respects to the emperor first.

According to the hierarchy within the imperial palace, my elder sisters Gloria and Elizabeth, followed by my elder brother Orent, took turns greeting Mother, and then it was my turn.

After the imperial family’s order was completed, it was the turn of the empire’s noble families and envoys from other countries.

The problem arose in the peaceful ballroom when it was the turn of Duke Hamilton, Orent’s biological father.

“Your Majesty, you know well how much His Highness Orent has suffered to fend off the demonic beasts at the borders.”

Duke Hamilton’s voice, which had been expressing slight disappointment, gradually grew louder and more agitated.

“Knowing how much His Highness Orent has been looking forward to inheriting Your Majesty’s sword, you bestow it upon mere Princess Luibel!”

As my name finally came out of Duke Hamilton’s mouth, I could feel people glancing in my direction.

Ignoring such gazes, I merely sipped the champagne glass I was holding.

“How can this be!”

Mother, who had been listening to Duke Hamilton’s words all along, asked in a chilling voice,

“Are you done speaking, Duke?”

At that cold and calm voice, Duke Hamilton flinched as if suddenly coming to his senses.

It seemed he realized that he had become overly agitated.

However, he did not back down and asserted once more,

“It is a clear mistake for Your Majesty, who should be more impartial than anyone else, to show favoritism!”

“So, are you saying you are dissatisfied with my decision?”

“…”

Duke Hamilton couldn’t bring himself to answer yes and merely bit his lower lip hard.

Mother rubbed her brow with her fingertips as if tired, furrowing her eyes.

“It doesn’t seem to be a suitable topic to discuss on an auspicious day. Let’s talk about it separately later.”

In the end, Duke Hamilton had to back down, only incurring the emperor’s anger.

I felt Mother glancing in my direction for a moment.

Thinking that Mother’s anger might reach me as well, I was about to avert my gaze.

[SYSTEM] is worried about you.

What…?

Unable to believe the system window that appeared before my eyes, I raised my head again.

However, Mother had already withdrawn her gaze from me and was receiving congratulations from others.

‘What was that? Did I see it wrong?’

Blinking my eyes, I looked at the system window once more.

But I hadn’t seen it wrong.

The words ‘ is worried about you.’ were still floating in front of my eyes.

Although Duke Hamilton was the one who caused this situation, he acted this way because I received Mother’s sword.

If it had been my elder sisters Gloria or Elizabeth who received Mother’s sword instead of me, he wouldn’t have protested to this extent.

That’s why I thought Mother’s anger would reach me as well, but…

“Princess, are you not affected at all?”

Anselot, who had returned at some point, asked me while glaring at Duke Hamilton with cold eyes.

“Well…”

I trailed off vaguely.

I had been subjected to a lot of disregard from other nobles since I was young. Now that I had unexpectedly received Mother’s concern as well, well… I thought I’d just let it be.

“Not really?”

“…I’m not unaffected though.”

Anselot muttered in a low voice.

‘Strange. Why does Anselot seem angry?’

As I tilted my head in puzzlement, the system window also started to get angry.

[How dare they look down on our player! This won’t do, player. Let’s counterattack those bastards right away!!! ★o(･д´･+)９”]

“It’s fine. Even if we do that, the scenario won’t start.”

[I’m not saying we should start the scenario! Regardless of the scenario, you can use all the player’s functions! ୧༼◔益◔୧ ༽]

It seemed like I could hear an indignant voice.

[In a situation like this, you should use the player’s privileges to take revenge! (｀д´)ゝ]

“Huh? I didn’t really think about taking revenge…”

“Ooh, that’s a good idea.”

Anselot stroked his chin and looked at the system window with interested eyes.

[Right, right (ʃƪ ˘ ³˘) A human with discernment… Eek! What? ?(°Д°≡°Д°)? How can an ordinary human see me? Waah, player. Save me! ε=ε=(っ*´□`)っ]

The system window started trembling.

“My eyes hurt…”

At my following words, it disappeared dejectedly.

‘But the shaking text really did hurt my eyes.’

Regardless, Anselot paid no attention and asked me,

“Princess, do you have any useful items? You should have received something after catching that octopus head last time.”

I opened the inventory window.

I did receive things like experience points, gold, and earrings that increase attack power after catching last time, but…

“Oh, there’s something good there.”

Anselot’s eyes sparkled as if he had discovered something.

“Princess, can I borrow your inventory for a bit?”

“Why, why?”

“We need to take revenge. Since you don’t have any intention, I’ll do it for you, revenge.”

“Hey, Anselot. Don’t tell me…”

After looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, I lowered my voice very quietly and asked cautiously,

“You’re not planning to kill, are you?”

“I’m not the kind of lunatic who kills just anyone.”

Anselot retorted with a chuckle.

“But… using the to increase attack power and attacking Duke Hamilton…”

“I won’t resort to violence. Promise. Is that okay now?”

Anselot lightly tapped my pinky finger with his own pinky and curled the corners of his lips into a smirk.

“But how do I lend you my inventory?”

“Didn’t the messenger tell you how to materialize objects?”

“Materialize?”

When I tilted my head and looked at the inventory window, I saw a small [Materialize] button located in the upper right corner.

Selecting it, the blue list-shaped inventory that had been unfolding transformed into a small amber-colored gem and settled on my palm.

“It turned into a gem.”

I stared at the amber-colored gem with amazed eyes and handed it to Anselot.

“Here you go.”

“I’ll use it well and return it to you.”

Anselot narrowed his eyes and flashed a bright eye smile.

Judging by that wicked expression, complete with humming, it definitely didn’t seem like he would use it for anything good.

‘But well, he did say with his own mouth that he’s not the kind of lunatic who kills just anyone…’

It wasn’t that I didn’t feel bad, but I simply didn’t bother because it wasn’t worth paying attention to.

Although I had no intention of personally seeking revenge, there was also no reason to stop Anselot, who said he would take revenge on my behalf.

With that thought in mind, I looked at Anselot’s expression, which undoubtedly implied he was plotting something wicked, and thought to myself,

‘I’ll just pretend I don’t know.’

In situations like this, feigning ignorance is the best course of action.