Meanwhile, in the imperial capital located at the heart of Alkedania, a grand ball was in full swing within the Imperial Palace situated at the very center of the land.
The majestic music performed by the empire’s finest orchestra and vocalists in honor of the Grand Saintess resonated powerfully, spreading throughout the palace grounds and echoing across the entire palace complex.
Not only within the Imperial Palace, but also in countless alleyways of the capital—where people had learned of the ball—numerous small and large celebratory gatherings were being held in honor of the Grand Saintess.
The ballroom itself consisted of a series of progressively grander halls; the deeper one ventured, the closer one drew to the Emperor, and accordingly, the more lavish the interior decor became.
As Grand Saintess Ivy Violet, veiled and surrounded by priests, stepped into the entrance of the ballroom, third-tier nobles gathered in the outermost hall bowed deeply toward her.
“Good heavens.”
“I’ve never seen a Saintess so beautiful.”
“I heard her healing power is extraordinary.”
Whispers passed among the ladies, their voices drifting through the bowed heads, reaching Ivy’s ears.
Beneath her veil, Ivy’s small, red lips curled upward slightly, pleased.
Ivy continued forward.
Upon entering the next hall, she encountered second- and first-tier nobles. They, too, could not help but marvel at her. After bowing respectfully, they did not forget to offer words of blessing.
“The most noble person in the Empire has arrived.”
“We bless the new Grand Saintess.”
“Blessings upon you.”
Ivy savored the blessings directed toward her, thoroughly satisfied.
Finally, she proceeded to the innermost chamber of the ballroom—a space so dazzlingly opulent it seemed almost unreal.
Massive crystal chandeliers hung in succession; walls shimmered with gold, floors gleamed with silver marble. Ivy now entered the presence of the highest noble houses—the Emperor and the Dukes.
The priests who had escorted her along the long red carpet finally stepped aside, and Ivy slowly lifted her veil, revealing her face.
“I pay my respects to His Majesty Julius, Emperor of the Blessed Land of Alkedania, Sun of the Realm.”
After bowing first to the Emperor, Ivy turned slightly and repeated the exact same gesture.
“I pay my respects to Her Majesty Henzela, Empress of the Blessed Land of Alkedania, Moon of the Realm.”
The Emperor and Empress welcomed Ivy’s greeting more warmly than anyone else.
“We bless the Grand Saintess.”
For years before the Grand Saintess appeared, countless sacrifices had been made.
Even now, sacrifices had not ceased—but the Saintess’s healing power for the suffering Ability Knights was the Empire’s salvation.
After all, monsters emerged ceaselessly, requiring endless battles against them.
Amid mutual blessings, the ball commenced pleasantly.
Near the lilac velvet sofa prepared especially for Ivy, countless gifts were piled high, and precious jewels continued to be delivered to her side. Crown Prince Killian Dietrich approached Ivy.
“I pay my respects to Grand Saintess Ivy Violet.”
Noticing Killian’s approach, Ivy rose from her seat, gathered her dress in her hands, and responded with a radiant smile.
“I pay my respects to His Highness Killian Dietrich, the Star of the Empire.”
After exchanging greetings, Killian stepped confidently closer to Ivy.
“Not bad at all.”
Killian subtly blocked others’ view with his back and gently tapped Ivy’s cheek.
“Was I okay? I practiced a lot just to earn your praise, Killian.”
Ivy smiled adorably, cheeks flushed as if amused by his playful gesture.
“The dress suits you well.”
“It’s thanks to you, Killian. I’ve never worn a dress so expensive and beautiful in my entire life.”
To prove her point, Ivy spun gracefully in place.
The sky-blue dress Killian had sent shimmered brilliantly under the lights, enhancing her beauty even further.
Even her usually disliked brown hair, now adorned with multiple diamond pins, looked elegantly simple yet dazzlingly beautiful—just as Hillstain Mathias had once said: no one in this ballroom could rival her beauty.
Watching Ivy delight in her own reflection, Killian teased playfully.
“Seriously? How much could this dress possibly cost?”
“But it’s the most expensive dress I’ve ever owned! And my absolute favorite.”
“Didn’t you hide the ones Hillstain or Dante sent just to avoid offending me?”
“Tch. No! Really! Truly, the dress you sent is the most beautiful!”
Ivy widened her eyes, pouting indignantly as if her sincerity wasn’t being believed.
She hastily added,
“Ah… of course, I didn’t like it just because of the price… well, that did make me happy too…”
Ivy earnestly tried to explain herself with an utterly innocent expression.
Killian cupped her cheek gently with his hand, his thumb softly brushing her lips.
“Just teasing.”
“You believe me, right?”
“Who here wouldn’t believe you? And this dress—cheap as it is—you can have as many as you want from now on. Even more expensive and beautiful ones, if you wish.”
“I’m perfectly happy as I am. Truly.”
“Fine. But feel free to be greedy, Ivy. You’re more than worthy.”
Ivy smiled with the most enchanting expression in the world—
as if Killian were her entire universe, as if she would gladly give him everything she had.
And at that moment, the ballroom began to stir.
All eyes—especially those of the young noble ladies and married women—turned toward a single figure.
Edan Dietrich, clad in impeccably tailored uniform, neither too extravagant nor too plain, was making his entrance down the center of the red carpet.
“Look over there! It’s Prince Edan!”
“How is he so handsome?”
“Look at that golden hair and porcelain skin… so breathtakingly beautiful.”
The murmurs of the women reached Ivy’s ears.
Ivy’s eyes widened and sparkled at the sight of Edan’s radiant golden hair and stunning features—
like a greedy soul coveting priceless diamonds.
Though receiving every gaze in the room, Edan walked with complete composure, as if utterly indifferent to the world—or as if the attention directed toward him meant nothing at all—arriving effortlessly before the Emperor without a trace of tension.
“It has been a while since I last paid my respects. Your Majesty, the Emperor. Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Henzela, Killian’s biological mother, silently turned her head away.
Then, naturally, she shifted her position with her maids and slipped into the circle of Duchess consorts.
“…….”
Edan witnessed this directly before his eyes, yet his expression remained utterly unchanged—not even a flicker of his eyebrows betrayed emotion.
It was clear he was long accustomed to such treatment.
In contrast, Emperor Julius cleared his throat twice, rose from his seat, and approached Edan.
He grasped his second son’s hand comfortingly.
“You’ve come well, my son.”
Emperor Julius held one of Edan’s hands, and Edan replied dryly to his father.
“Yes. Father. Thank you.”
Edan was the illegitimate son born to the Emperor’s concubine.
Even though Killian had already been born, the Emperor, desiring more heirs, had fathered another son with his concubine.
Edan’s birth mother was a woman of considerable ambition. Though merely a concubine, she had longed to place her son upon the throne of Crown Prince. Thus, she openly vied with the Empress for succession, causing Edan to bear the full brunt of the Empress’s hatred from infancy.
Yet, a few years later, Edan’s mother succumbed helplessly to her frail health and passed away. Seizing the opportunity, the Empress immediately persuaded the Emperor to send Edan to the farthest, most secluded corner of the palace—
so remote that only his survival or death could be confirmed, accompanied by merely a single knight.
But a problem arose.
The same year Killian manifested his Ability, Edan—despite being younger than Killian—also manifested his own Ability.
And his power was incomparably stronger than Killian’s.
The son of the despised concubine, whose very existence was intolerable, had now become the sole threat to the Empress’s own son, the Crown Prince. Henzela Empress could not help but loathe Edan.
Thus, even though Edan endured her hatred stoically and obeyed the Emperor’s commands without complaint, she would hate him for the rest of her life.
“I thought you wouldn’t come today.”
The Emperor gestured to a maid, who personally poured wine into Edan’s cup.
“Thank you.”
“Are you feeling well? Did the Saintess’s potion prove effective?”
The previous night, an enormous horde of monsters had suddenly surged from the North.
In the chaos, Northern Ability Knights overexerted their powers and collapsed rapidly; Edan, too, had expended several times his usual strength, suffering severe side effects.
Knowing this from reports, the Emperor found Edan’s unexpected appearance all the more welcome—though Edan himself did not seem to share that sentiment.
“It is thanks to Your Majesty’s gracious gift of medicine.”
Edan offered the Emperor a perfectly sculpted, insincere smile and a polite, rehearsed reply.
The Emperor, as if determined to bestow upon him a grand gift even now, turned Edan’s shoulders himself and pointed toward Ivy Violet.
“Go receive the Grand Saintess Ivy’s blessing. According to Killian, her healing power surpasses that of any previous Saintess.”
“Is that so?”
For the first time, Edan’s eyes shimmered and flickered as he gazed at Ivy and Killian.
Without hesitation, Edan set down his cup and walked toward Ivy and Killian.
“Brother, it has been a while.”
At Edan’s greeting, Killian frowned.
His gaze was that of someone staring at an unwelcome intruder who should never have come.
Killian openly displayed his displeasure, as if he could not bear to exchange even a word—yet Edan paid it no mind, smoothly lifting his lips as he continued.
“I wish to receive the Saintess’s blessing. Is that acceptable?”
“You’re not seriously asking for my permission, are you?”
Edan chuckled softly.
“Of course I am—but Father granted permission first. Or must His Majesty seek your permission again, since you are the Crown Prince?”
The Grand Saintess’s blessing required the Emperor’s authorization. Denying Edan, who already possessed the Emperor’s approval, would mean Killian was obstructing the Emperor’s command. It would be absurd for the Emperor to seek permission from the Crown Prince for such a matter.
Struck at his core, Killian’s eyes narrowed sharply.
In contrast, Edan tilted his head with relaxed ease, his hair swaying naturally.
The golden decor and lighting of the ballroom illuminated Edan’s hair even more brilliantly—
like an illegitimate child who, despite his status, resembled a Crown Prince worthy of the title “Star of the Empire.”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
