The soft music that had been flowing stopped, and silence fell over the banquet hall.

“That’s not it. Your Majesty, please don’t be too displeased. I only acted rudely because today’s event is so important.”

The Duke of Rantiano’s sharp gaze turned to Ariel as he finished speaking politely. Receiving that gaze, Ariel lowered her eyes slightly as if intimidated. There was no need to further provoke the Duke of Rantiano, who was reacting more sensitively than expected. However, watching this scene, Kaius unknowingly clenched his hand, and the Empress Dowager’s gaze turned back to the Duke of Rantiano. It was an even colder look than before.

“Duke of Rantiano, are you concerned about me being alone with the Duchess of Elbartan?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then I have no choice but to use the gift here. I had judged that it would rather disrupt today’s event and was planning to try it in a quiet place. But since the Duke disapproves, I will follow your wishes.”

The Empress Dowager, who finished speaking quietly without inflection, opened her mouth towards Emperor Hart.

“Emperor, did you hear that clearly? The Duke of Rantiano has clearly blocked my path.”

The Empress Dowager, who sat down again as if there was nothing more to say, called a servant and instructed them to bring a screen.

[What kind of gift is it to cause such a fuss?] [They say it’s good for headaches.] [All this commotion over something like that?] [If the Empress Dowager has reacted, it’s not just a trivial matter.]

Amidst the murmuring of the people, Emperor Hart’s gaze briefly passed over Ariel before stopping on Kaius’s face. He was curious to see how he would act.

Would he step forward for his wife? Or remain silent?

A crooked smile hung on the emperor’s lips as he looked at Kaius with an interested gaze.

“Your Majesty! That must not be allowed.”

The Duke of Rantiano, who had become even more urgent than before, opened his mouth again. Wasn’t this like stepping on his own foot? Of course, it would be fine if the gift had no effect. But the opponent was Elbartan, who had held the title of perfection for generations.

“What else are you dissatisfied with? I’m doing as you wish. Are you perhaps jealous? If so, come up here and put the Tears of Talitroian (a legendary dragon’s tear necklace, expensive and hard to obtain even with money) that you gifted around my neck. That would be fair.”

The Duke of Rantiano’s face hardened as he was about to retort to those words thrown like a joke, when the Empress Dowager called a servant and instructed them to bring the necklace he had gifted.

The murmuring subsided and a suffocating silence fell. As the situation spiraled out of control, people’s gazes gradually focused on Ariel.

A princess of a failing country.

Wearing their idol.

At her first attendance at a banquet.

Created an absurd dispute against the royal family and high nobility.

That alone was the truth to them.

As hundreds of reproachful gazes gathered, they sharpened to the point of being called killing intent. Ariel endured alone the fierce gazes pouring down enough to make her skin tingle. But even as dry saliva was swallowed and her complexion turned pale, her eyes remained bright.

***

Kaius was quite displeased with the current situation. The Empress Dowager’s hasty actions without waiting even a day? The Duke of Rantiano who couldn’t see a gift as a gift? Or was it Emperor Hart whose eyes were shining as if he had discovered a new amusement?

No. It wasn’t those things.

It was Ariel’s attitude of not consulting him at all. He couldn’t help but sigh at her not seeking his help even as her complexion turned pale.

Amidst the gazes as harsh as midsummer sunlight, Kaius’s slightly cool gaze directly faced her, and Ariel also turned her head to look at him.

It was then, after they had been silently looking into each other’s eyes for a while, that Kaius took a step towards the platform. Several imperial guard knights blocked his way. Out of respect for Kaius von Elbartan, they didn’t draw their swords, but his current action was dangerous enough that Emperor Hart could forcibly accuse him of treason if he wanted to.

As tension circled around the platform, the gazes that had been focused on Ariel shifted to Kaius. Ariel’s eyes widened at Kaius’s actions.

Why go this far?

Don’t do it. Ariel shook her head slightly while looking into Kaius’s eyes.

At that moment, the Empress Dowager waved her hand briefly, and the knights stepped aside from in front of Kaius. Kaius, who had slightly bowed his head in greeting to the Empress Dowager, leisurely stepped onto the platform.

Without saying a word, Kaius simply expressed his intention by quietly standing in front of Ariel.

As the piercing gazes disappeared, Ariel realized how tense she had been. Looking at her damp hands, she raised her gaze. Kaius’s back filled her large eyes.

And an quiet sigh escaped without her knowing.

The sense of security given by his large, solid back was greater than expected.

“…Thank you.”

Her words, uttered softly as if whispering, were heard only by Kaius. Kaius, who smiled faintly, leisurely moved one hand behind his back as if clasping it. His hand was positioned as if shaking hands. His attention was directed behind him, while his gaze carefully surveyed the surroundings.

The standoff between the Empress Dowager and the Duke of Rantiano continued.

All this fuss over a small, insignificant gift.

Kaius laughed inwardly and looked down as he felt Ariel’s breath on his arm. Ha. Kaius’s brow furrowed slightly as he laughed again. His wife, the actual cause of the commotion, was peeking out her head without a care, looking interested as if watching a fire across the river.

Kaius sighed in exasperation and shifted his gaze back to the Empress Dowager. It was to say that today didn’t seem possible after all. Along with the thought that he would have to sternly warn his naive wife tonight. Just as his lips parted, Empress Catherine rose from her seat.

“Grandmother.”

The Empress Dowager’s cold gaze shifted to the empress.

“What is it? Does the empress not trust this old woman either?”

“No. Of course I trust you, Grandmother. I think it would be good to move to another place as you suggested. And please allow me to join you there. Then the nobles will have nothing more to say.”

As the Empress Dowager frowned slightly and pondered for a moment, Emperor Hart, who had been quiet all along, also rose from his seat.

“Grandmother, I’ll come along too.”

When even Emperor Hart stood up, the quiet atmosphere began to stir again. The Empress Dowager wasn’t particularly pleased with the current situation, but she didn’t want to postpone what she had decided to do. Still, she needed to get the consent of the Duchess of Elbartan, so she turned her gaze again.

At that moment, the Empress Dowager almost burst out laughing, forgetting her dignity. Only after hurriedly clearing her throat to compose herself did she survey the scene before her again. The duchess, who had certainly looked beautiful and virtuous until just now, peeking her head out from behind the large duke, looked nothing but an adorable young girl.

Clicking her tongue, the Empress Dowager glanced at the Duke of Rantiano once more. He looked truly pathetic for being wary of even such an innocent-looking young lady.

“Your Majesty. I would like to say something as well. It seems…”

Kaius, who had been silent all along, opened his mouth while looking at the Empress Dowager with firm eyes. He was about to say that he would visit separately tomorrow. But at that moment, Ariel’s small hand overlapped Kaius’s hand behind his back. When he looked down, clear golden eyes were staring straight at him.

***

Since it was in the middle of the banquet, they didn’t move far. The group entered an empty room not far from the banquet hall and found their seats. Kaius, Emperor Hart, and Empress Catherine sat on the outside, watching over the Empress Dowager and Ariel on the inside. The room was darkened as per Ariel’s instructions, with curtains drawn and only weak lighting turned on.

“Your Majesty, I apologize for causing a disturbance because of me.”

“No, it’s not your fault. As one gets older, one should let go of greed, but I’m embarrassed to have shown such behavior.”

“Please don’t say that. It makes it even harder for me to raise my head.”

The Empress Dowager let out a low exclamation at the sight of Ariel, who had already returned to being a virtuous duchess.

As they carefully exchanged words, hot water was prepared.

“Every night before you go to sleep, drop a drop of oil into hot water and soak your feet for about 10 minutes.”

When the bottle was opened, a cool mint scent wafted out at first, and as time passed, it mixed with a subtle sweet fragrance. At that scent, Emperor Hart suddenly stood up and approached. As if the contents of the report he had seen recently were not false, he felt his head clearing as he smelled the fragrance.

While the Empress Dowager sitting in the chair soaked her feet, Ariel moved behind her.

“What are you trying to do?”

When Emperor Hart asked, Ariel’s hands, which were wrapping a towel around the neckline of the Empress Dowager’s dress, paused.

“I’m applying oil to her neck, Your Majesty. That’s the fastest way for the effects to appear.”

Emperor Hart, his curiosity growing even more, moved a bit closer. He too had suffered from headaches quite a bit. The cause was Kaius, who was sitting behind him with his eyes closed.

“Can anyone experience the effects?”

“I can’t guarantee it will work for everyone, but those who have felt even a slight effect from peppermint or chamomile tea will definitely see results.”

Emperor Hart closely watched as Ariel’s small hands rubbed oil onto his grandmother’s neck. He too felt the urge to try the oil.

“Grandmother, may I use this as well?”

At Emperor Hart’s words, Kaius opened his eyes that had been closed all along, and Empress Catherine abruptly stood up from her seat.