Flinch.

Esika took a step back, distancing herself from him.

Resban, the iron-blooded master, these days tries to enchant people with a more bewitching air than the nine-tailed fox of Cheonggu Mountain.

Though her heart fluttered at such a sight, to kiss again in front of so many people. It cannot be.

Seeing Esika’s wary gaze, Resban smirked and turned away.

As if to say, enjoy the ball now.

“You are too beautiful, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

“I thought a goddess had descended. I am from the Leshien Marquis family…”

As soon as she moved away from Resban, several ladies came to greet her.

While some women glared at Esika in line with the Empress’s intentions, those approaching now had eyes full of admiration for her.

Esika exchanged brief greetings with them in an elegant manner.

“Really. The Marnel Edition you gifted me last time. I enjoyed it very much.”

“I want to repay you, my lady.”

She also saw ladies she had met at the Empress’s tea party before.

They seemed to have goodwill towards Esika.

And.

“You were truly stunning today.”

Lady Merhin, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, approached Esika and gave a slight wink.

Esika raised the corners of her mouth and exchanged glances with her.

Lady Merhin was managing Esika’s reputation well in the capital’s social circles.

Although many nobles with a taste for denigrating others were specially invited to this engagement party, only good things will spread about today’s event.

After all, Breighton will take all the gossip.

The Empress, who had been watching Resban and Esika’s dance, had long since left her seat, seemingly heated.

“Shall we stroll in the garden after a while, Celia?”

“I dislike spineless men like you. You said you’d enjoy life without marrying, but then you fell for the Grand Duchess of Heinz…”

“Who says I fell? You know, it was all my mother’s…”

Breighton, quite drunk, seemed not to care who was listening.

The nobles could be seen whispering.

Today’s disgraceful behavior will likely reach the ears of the Grand Duchess of Heinz, and one wonders what choice she will make.

**

A few years ago, Yuri entered her shabby room and began writing an anonymous letter with a quill pen dipped in ink.

[The ugly truth about Esika Brighte.]

The words Esika had spoken earlier with a smile were still vivid in her mind.

“Yuri, I. Finally have a wedding date set with Duke Klaus. It all feels like a dream.”

Yuri’s hand holding the quill trembled.

“I’ll invite you, so please come visit often.”

Esika Brighte. That insufferable childhood friend.

Since Yuri’s mother was Esika’s nanny, they had no choice but to play together from a young age.

Unlike Yuri’s family, the Brightes were wealthy.

Unlike Yuri’s situation where she had to be mindful every time she asked for something, whenever Esika wanted something, her father and brothers all gave her whatever she desired.

Precious jewels worth more than Yuri’s mother’s monthly salary were scattered about in her room.

Despite having everything, Esika would make annoying comments about feeling lonely without a mother.

Throughout childhood, Esika was the princess, and Yuri was merely a maid attached to her.

Esika called Yuri her most precious friend, but Yuri knew that from background to attire, she only served to make Esika shine brighter.

So Yuri wished for Esika’s unhappiness.

The unhappiness she envisioned for Esika was for her to fall beneath Yuri’s feet.

And to look up at Yuri with envy.

[Esika Brighte is a woman of very ugly character. She likes to slander others and set traps for them, and is known to have particularly complicated relationships with men.]

Yuri’s red eyes shone with hatred for Esika as she wrote the letter.

Just born into a good family, that wench isn’t better than me in any way.

“Yuri, I’m so glad you’re my friend. Like Shupert said, I’m too indecisive. You’re more decisive, Yuri.”

Yuri gritted her teeth.

If Esika had been born in the same environment as Yuri, she couldn’t help but become tough.

How disgusting it was to humor that princess who knew nothing of worry or anxiety.

And now she’s marrying Duke Callian Klaus?

As a duchess, Esika would rise to a position Yuri could never catch up to in her lifetime.

Whenever jealousy of Esika boiled up, she had soothed that anger with thoughts that someday she would sit above her… but a duchess!

This is unfair. I must ruin this marriage somehow.

Even if she couldn’t ruin the marriage, she would do something to make Esika’s married life unhappy.

“…”

Yuri folded the letter full of Esika’s fabricated misdeeds and put it in an envelope.

The recipient was His Grace Duke Callian Klaus. Since it was from Prihatz, there was a high chance he would open it himself.

In the darkness, Yuri’s eyes shone with anger.

And at this very moment,

“…”

Yuri’s fists were trembling.

Her lips were bloodless and her brows were furrowed.

Anger, no, an even greater despair engulfs Yuri’s mind.

Although she had lost the Klaus family fortune, Yuri thought she had won by taking Esika’s husband and divorcing him, victorious over Esika.

Callian’s pardon and invitation to the imperial palace event had heightened her sense of victory.

Compared to herself who would become a duchess, she thought Esika would have become a worthless existence… She took pride in her efforts thinking this way.

But today, Esika was in the position of Crown Princess, whom even a duchess must lower herself to and look up to.

To think that Esika, the one she had trampled on and finally taken her place from… that Esika was by the Crown Prince’s side.

All eyes were on Esika. From now on, she would become the mistress of high society.

Despite all her struggles, Yuri could not step above Esika’s head.

She had wished so much for her unhappiness… but Esika looked happy.

**

Goodwill swells in size, but malice is no different from swallowing its own tail.

Esika had not forgotten the words her father, the Heavenly Demon Cult Master, had spoken when she was a spirit.

In her past life she hadn’t understood the meaning, but looking at Yuri, Riona, and the Empress… she seemed to understand its significance.

Swallowing and swallowing their tail, at some point they would suffocate.

“…Esika.”

Esika smiled brightly at the man who appeared a bit late to the ball and stood before her.

He was someone she had wanted to see.

“Elder brother.”

Shupert, wearing a splendid uniform, kissed the back of Esika’s hand.

Then he spoke to Esika as if in admiration.

“You’re truly… beautiful.”

Words he hadn’t spoken even at her wedding to Callian.

At that time, Shupert’s face had shown concern even as he congratulated Esika.

He must have clearly seen the things Esika would go through after marriage.

But now Shupert trusted Esika, and Esika’s future.

He believed that his sister would overcome anything well and be happy.

“Thank you for coming. Are Father and elder brother Servin well?”

“Yes. They send their congratulations. This is Servin’s gift.”

Esika opened the small case Shupert gave her.

The rainbow-colored pearl was larger than a thumb, and she had never seen such a brilliant pearl before.

Esika’s eyes wavered at the beautiful gift.

“It’s really pretty.”

“I’ll give you my gift next time.”

“Elder brother’s congratulations are the gift.”

At Esika’s words, Shupert silently gazed at her for a while, then smiled bitterly and said.

“You’ve really… changed a lot. I almost miss your spoiled younger self.”

Thinking of what had happened to Esika in Klaus, he still couldn’t sleep at night due to anger.

It saddens and complicates his heart that the cruel times seem to have made Esika an adult.

Still, in the few letters they exchanged, Esika had praised the Crown Prince as a good man, so he only hopes that he can heal Esika’s heart.

Shupert’s only concern was his younger sister’s happiness.

“Time naturally changes people. I was happy when I was spoiled in Prihatz, and I’m happy now too, elder brother.”

Shupert nodded at Esika’s calm reply.

“Yes, if you’re happy, then I’m happy too.”

Esika felt a warmth in her chest.

Family who truly love you anytime, anywhere are precious beings.

Resban, who had been receiving greetings from nobles on the other side, was approaching.

“Elder brother, the man who will be my husband. I’ll introduce you.”

The two men who faced each other shook hands and greeted each other.

“It’s an honor, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I am Shupert Brighte, Esika’s elder brother.”

“I’ve heard about you from her.”

Unlike Callian, who wouldn’t even deal with Shupert, his wife’s elder brother, deeming him a mere baron’s son far below his rank.

Merchants must have good eyes to appraise good products.

Just by Resban’s voice and gaze, Shupert could tell.

That this noble man with the nickname of war maniac would be a good husband to his younger sister.

“It’s nice to meet you, and it’s been a while.”

Shupert flinched at Resban’s words.