“Duchess. It’s been a long time!”

Lady Merhin, with her hair neatly tied up, smiled and greeted Esika.

The ladies around her avoided Esika with sour expressions, but Esika was only looking at Merhin.

“It’s been a while.”

“I heard about your news. I wanted to send a letter, but…”

The rest didn’t need to be said.

She must have worried about offending the Klaus ducal family.

For a small family like the Merhin baronial house, even displeasing the Klaus could result in great disadvantages.

“It’s alright. Shall we walk for a bit?”

Merhin gladly accepted, and the two began walking towards the edge of the hall.

She knew Callian’s eyes were following her movements, but at this distance, he wouldn’t be able to hear anyway.

The music had already started playing and people had begun to dance.

“I heard about what the Grand Duchess did, my goodness, how could she do such a thing…?”

Merhin spoke to Esika with furrowed brows, as if in anger.

“I knew the Grand Duchess was troubling you, but to instigate the remnants of rebels to kill you… The Duke is too much as well. To make you attend the Grand Duchess’s birthday celebration after experiencing such a thing.”

“…”

“If it were me, I could never forgive them.”

Merhin’s tightly clenched fist trembled slightly.

“I quite like you, Duchess.”

Esika’s lips moved.

Then she looked at the nobles gathered at the party.

Most were supporters of the Second Prince, and families with connections to the Klaus ducal family, big or small.

And many of them would have invested in Chuhen.

“Most of them are too concerned with appearances to think about common sense.”

Esika twisted the corner of her mouth.

“But you are within the category of sensible people I consider.”

“Duchess…”

“So I’ll give you a small hint.”

As Esika’s gaze turned to Lady Merhin, her eyes wavered.

As she felt at the last tea party, Esika Klaus was a beautiful and strong woman.

“A hint…?”

“Dispose of all your shares invested in Chuhen. Before the western base is announced.”

“…!”

Lady Merhin wore a shocked expression.

Esika continued speaking with a calm face.

“You’ll be able to sell them at a much higher price than your initial investment. If you look, there will be people lining up to buy them among these guests.”

“But…”

Soon, when Chuhen is announced as the base, it will bring great profits.

So the price of shares invested in Chuhen had already risen as much as possible, with future value reflected.

“I’ve taken a liking to you, so I gave you helpful advice.”

Esika smiled brightly.

“The choice is yours. Well then, enjoy the rest of the party.”

Esika moved away, leaving Lady Merhin standing still with a confused expression.

People were enjoying the party, marveling at the finest desserts Hemos had presented.

‘Even after devouring Klaus, I’ll need reliable connections…’

Esika thought as she took a sip of wine from her glass.

‘Lady Merhin is quite suitable.’

Her family as well.

But it won’t be easy to put her advice into action.

To move family investments based on the words of the duchess who is mistreated even within the Klaus ducal family…

Unless she really trusts Esika, or has great foresight.

Lady Merhin, who had been wearing eyes mixed with confused emotions for a while, began to move as if she had made some decision.

What choice would she make?

As Esika was watching this scene and returning her empty glass to a servant, it happened.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is arriving!”

Suddenly, the servants’ loud voices rang out from the entrance.

The people who were enjoying the party happily stopped in their tracks.

Even the music that had been flowing suddenly cut off.

Esika also flinched at the sudden news.

“…”

It was known that someone from the imperial palace would come to congratulate.

But they thought it would be one of the collateral imperial relatives bringing the empress’s congratulatory message.

The Second Prince seemed unlikely to come to his aunt’s birthday party, busy with wine and women.

The empress was also too busy with religious matters to stop by for her sister-in-law’s birthday celebration.

But now, none other than Resban Deon Lucein, the Crown Prince.

“…Did you say the Crown Prince?”

The corners of Riona’s brightly smiling lips stiffened.

They had recently faced the Crown Prince over a family matter.

The plan to divorce Esika by framing her for adultery had completely failed because of the Crown Prince.

The memory of trembling before him was still vivid.

“Why would the Crown Prince…”

Riona’s face, the birthday celebrant, was tinged with bewilderment, and Callian’s eyebrows also hardened.

Although Resban, considered a strong heir to the throne in the future, was someone he needed to please, he was not entirely welcome to Callian.

But despite their fervent internal unwelcoming, his figure appeared from the entrance.

“…”

Jet-black hair and brilliant golden eyes.

The uniform embroidered with gold thread indicating his status as Crown Prince, adorned with numerous medals. The sword bestowed by the emperor at his waist.

His gait was manly yet dignified, and his cool expression was the same.

The warlike Crown Prince. An object of fear, bringing blood and terror.

All the gathered nobles were watching Resban tensely.

Resban’s gaze, which had stopped walking towards her, suddenly met Esika’s.

“…”

A clear and distinct gaze.

The corner of Resban’s mouth twisted slightly as it met Esika’s blue eyes.

At that sight, Esika unconsciously fingered the ring on her left hand with her other hand.

The ring of the princess who could become her ally in the future.

With Resban’s appearance, the warm atmosphere of the party settled heavily.

Resban strode up to Riona, and nodded his head slightly as he received Riona’s greeting.

Even high nobles must treat royalty with utmost respect when they arrive.

“It is an honor that you have graced our humble gathering.”

Riona said with a forced smile, her lips tightly pressed.

Resban moved his lips with a stiff expression.

“On behalf of the imperial family, I pray for the well-being of Klaus and the Grand Duchess.”

And then he continued.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress asked me to convey their regards.”

“We are immensely grateful for the deep kindness and attention of the imperial family.”

These were formal exchanges, but everyone was focused.

Most of the nobles gathered here were supporters of the Second Prince, having close relationships with the Empress or the Klaus family.

“We did not know in advance that the small sun of Tureshian would be visiting, so our preparations may be lacking, but please enjoy yourself with a generous heart.”

“I understand.”

It was a stiff answer that would embarrass the listener.

Resban turned around after delivering Riona’s congratulations, but everyone’s eyes were still fixed on him.

Even those waiting for their turn to congratulate Riona after Resban were blankly staring at him.

“…”

Resban took a glass of white wine from a servant’s tray.

And he tilted it to let it flow between his lips.

His head stood particularly tall among the nobles, and his broad shoulders suggested well-developed muscles underneath.

Even the neat uniform couldn’t hide the figure beneath.

His appearance, no less handsome than Callian Klaus, one of the empire’s most handsome men, caught the eyes of young women.

But there were still many who did not hide their fearful looks.

For example, the young ladies who had nearly fainted after seeing Resban’s fierce appearance before.

So Esika’s figure, standing alone with dignity and shining brightly amidst them, naturally stood out more.

Resban approached Esika, holding his glass.

Esika greeted Resban with an awkward expression, as one would greet royalty.

Her etiquette was as perfect as Riona’s, who had maintained the position of Grand Duchess for many years.

“I didn’t know Your Highness would be coming.”

“Were you glad?”

“…Pardon?”

Esika twitched her eyebrows.

Resban, who had lowered his head towards her enough to reach her ear, moved his lips.

“I swear, of all the people here, you are the one I’m most glad to see.”

At those words, Esika’s face flushed momentarily.

Whenever Resban said something slightly flirtatious, Esika raised her shoulders.

“Please don’t make unimportant things sound significant.”

Esika replied calmly.

Resban chuckled and said, as if disappointed.

“Unimportant, you say. That’s too harsh.”

Others probably wouldn’t have heard.

But it was a clear fact that all the nobles attending the ball were pro-Empress, pro-Klaus nobles.

So there were no nobles who could approach Resban so intimately.

Just seeing the two of them exchanging words, Callian strode over to them.

Callian greeted Resban with a stiff expression.

“I greet the small sun of Tureshian.”

“Lord Klaus.”

Resban extended his hand to Callian, and Callian shook it.

After finishing the handshake, Callian subtly reached out to Esika.

And as if protecting what was his, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder while looking at Resban.