When a considerable number of envoys had settled in the imperial palace, Enzo announced that he would hold a banquet attended by the envoys and major nobles.

The reactions of the kingdoms varied.

Some prepared gifts to capture the Emperor’s heart, some adorned themselves lavishly to make a good impression, and some swallowed their curses at the dictatorial behavior.

In fact, the banquet was essentially a notification.

Before the banquet, Erina, contacted by Enzo, entered the palace in a splendid state.

Enzo sent Erina a bright red dress with golden embroidery, only possible for the imperial family, as a gift.

For generations, the imperial family had been red-gold, so the bright red dress with lavish golden embroidery was nothing short of a symbol of the imperial family.

Erina felt burdened, but knowing Enzo had sent it to show the kingdoms, she adorned herself with determination.

The bright red silk mermaid sleeveless dress was wrapped in dense lace from shoulders to wrists.

The abundant golden flowers embroidered from the chest area decreased in number at the waist, and at the bottom of the skirt, golden petals were embroidered as if piled up.

It looked as if flower petals falling from flowers were vividly depicted.

Erina’s straight hair was given plenty of waves, half of it braided and rolled up to look like a rose, then decorated with golden ribbons.

Erina’s appearance, shining brilliantly even from afar, looked like the protagonist to anyone who saw her.

Erina arrived a little earlier than the banquet time to meet Sandes, who had been in the palace since dawn.

On her way to Sandes, Erina’s eyes caught sight of a figure she had seen somewhere before.

A woman with teal hair tied up and wearing a modest dress moved hurriedly with a pale face.

“Ah, Countess Connie Jabel.”

Erina realized it was the woman she had seen for a long time at the auction.

She recalled that she was King Trumto’s illegitimate daughter and second princess who had married into the Count Jabel family.

At the same time, she remembered that unlike Sereni, who had an openly political marriage, she had married hiding the fact that she was the second princess and an illegitimate child.

Seeing Connie move busily, Erina felt a strange sense that she was suspicious.

Heila, who was with her, called out to Erina, finding it strange that she was quietly observing someone.

“Erina?”

“Ah, Heila, just a moment”

Erina asked for understanding from Barun and Heila who had come with her, and quietly followed her from a distance.

Connie stood in front of a room, put both hands on her chest, and took a deep breath.

Still, her pale face with lingering hesitation made her look somewhat frightened.

As Connie clenched and unclenched her fists and placed her hand on the door, it suddenly burst open.

Connie startled at the suddenly opening door and stepped back.

But covering her mouth to avoid screaming made her look like a pitiful bird with its neck wrung.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Countess Jabel?”

The one who came out of the room with a light, arrogant voice was a man with short teal hair.

“Gr-greetings to you, Se-second Prince Headton de Trumto.”

Connie greeted Headton with a stammering voice, bowing deeply.

Erina saw Trumto’s second prince for the first time from a distance.

The man’s appearance, looking infinitely frivolous, was even impertinent.

“Why are you only coming now, Countess Jabel! I’ve been waiting forever, really!”

Headton spoke while patting Connie’s head, then suddenly raised his hand as if to hit her.

At this, Connie curled up, covering her head with both hands as if used to it.

As Erina was about to step forward, unable to contain her surprise, Heila pulled her back and stopped her.

Heila shook her head and held Erina back.

As Erina’s maid, she judged it wasn’t right to interfere in that situation.

It was before the banquet prepared by the Emperor himself, and Trumto’s second prince was known for various bad rumors.

Erina bit her lip hard, hiding her body again and watching the situation.

“Hey, Connie.”

“Ye-yes, Your Highness.”

Connie’s trembling voice was even pitiful.

“How can you not do your job properly like that? Huh? Father was so angry, he said he would turn a blind eye to everything.”

Headton grinned, patting Connie’s head, then swung his hand and pushed her head hard.

“Ugh!”

Connie forcibly swallowed the groan that was about to burst out to hide the pain from hitting the floor and wall after falling hard.

Erina felt stifled by Connie’s appearance, which strangely seemed accustomed to violence.

“Heila.”

“Trumto’s second prince is known for his bad habits. He’s also quite involved in women’s issues, light downstairs, and irresponsible. There’s even a joke that the second prince has dozens of illegitimate children.”

“What about rumors related to Countess Jabel?”

“It’s said that the hidden second princess has been severely bullied by the legitimate royal family. Like that.”

Headton, taking one step closer to Connie, stepped hard on her hand that was touching the floor.

“Ah!”

Connie bit her lip, enduring the pain rising through her hand with a pale blue face.

“Ple-please… for-forgive…”

The trembling Connie was so pitiful that one wanted to save her immediately.

“So behave while you can, Connie, okay?”

Headton kicked Connie’s hand he had been stepping on and moved in the opposite direction from where Erina was.

Left alone, Connie stood up, trembling, holding her badly scraped hand.

Then she entered the open room.

As the door closed, Erina’s held breath was released.

“Erina, if you’re thinking of interfering with her…”

“I won’t interfere, I’ll use her.”

“Erina.”

“Let’s sway Countess Jabel’s emotions like we did with Duchess Borbom and make her come over to our side. As if we’re her saviors, rescuing her from the mire and making her tell everything like the Duchess, like that.”

Erina’s face, cruelly saying she would use Connie’s sad circumstances, looked more pained than Connie’s.

“I know, this pathetic sympathy is a luxury.”

Heila could not respond to Erina’s words.

Heila knew that Erina would be distressed watching Connie, as only those who have been trapped in an inescapable situation could understand.

Knowing this, Heila had no choice but to hold her back.

“I know I shouldn’t save her without a price, nor should I do it at all.”

Erina couldn’t do that.

Connie was still a perfect spy for the Trumto Kingdom, which belonged to the alliance of small kingdoms, and someone who worked for them.

If Erina carelessly approached her showing weakness, Connie might seize the opportunity to use Erina.

It was a world where being weak and kind got you devoured.

The place where Erina had stepped into was, cruelly, a place where even ill-fitting sympathy had to be used.

Erina stood for a while, leaning against the wall, staring at the door Connie had entered.

Just as Heila said it was almost time for the banquet and Erina was about to turn around, the door opened and Connie came out.

A face full of tears, torn lips, trembling hands, constantly adjusting her clothes.

Erina bit the inside of her cheek hard with a miserable feeling and turned her back on Connie.

But when she heard quiet sobbing from behind her, Erina found it impossible to take a step.

“Heila, where was the room His Majesty gave me?”

“Erina.”

“I know, I’m being foolish. But, I can’t do that. I’m sorry, Heila.”

Heila quietly smiled and took Erina’s hand.

“I’m sorry, Erina. Forgive me.”

“I know Heila was only thinking of me.”

Erina turned around again and strode towards Connie, her golden shoes flashing with each step.

Seeing the lavishly dressed Erina approaching, Connie covered her mouth to avoid screaming.

Then she tried to turn around and run away from Erina.

Erina hurriedly grabbed Connie’s wrist.

“Hup!”

Startled, Connie swallowed her breath to avoid screaming.

Seeing her do this every time, as if it were a habit born out of survival, made Erina’s heart ache.

Erina whispered quietly in Connie’s ear, hoping not to startle her.

“I know the sound shouldn’t be heard inside. Come this way.”

Connie looked at Erina with a strange expression, as if broken, at her words.

Connie’s black eyes were questioning Erina.

Why on earth me.

Erina silently led her by the wrist, following Heila who was leading the way.

Erina and Heila entered an even more splendid room than the one Connie had entered, with Connie in tow.

Barun, who had been quietly following, closed the door and left the room.

“Countess Connie Jabel.”

At Erina’s call, Connie startled as if her body had jumped, then answered with a trembling voice.

“Ye-yes. Co-Countess Medelia. Wh-why did you…”

“I’ll help you.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll help you, so stick with me.”

Unable to look at Erina’s eyes shining with an indescribable emotion, Connie stammered.

“Wh-what on earth do you m-mean by that.”

“I’ll help you escape from Trumto. I’ll help you so you won’t suffer such unjust treatment anymore.”

Connie looked at Erina with shocked eyes.

“So take my hand.”

Connie looked down at Erina’s outstretched hand.

Unlike her own rough hands, it was a pretty and fair hand.

Strangely, Connie felt angry, as if Erina was mocking her with that hand.

“It’s impossible.”

“What is?”

“That you can help me escape. What do you know about me to-!”

“Because I know, I’m reaching out.”

Connie kept gnawing on her already burst lip, not stopping even as blood trickled down.

“You, who have everything, what do you know!”

Connie glared at Erina, panting.