With the appearance of Ivan Leo Cartos, the nobles around gradually dispersed, and Viare, suppressing her anger, courteously greeted him.

“To the holy glory of the Marta Empire. I greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, you may raise your head.”

Had it been in the past, he would have been on his way to the southern front rather than attending a birthday party.

But the imperial family, having heard about the rebellion in the south beforehand, had taken the initiative to prepare a counterattack.

‘I wish I could have stayed there longer.’

Viare was dissatisfied with the current situation because of Ivan, but content for the sake of Ushua.

As she was biting her lip amidst her wandering thoughts, Ivan spoke.

“As expected of a lady’s birthday, there are many people.”

“I’m just grateful to the attending nobles.”

“To receive thanks from the lady, that’s quite novel.”

“I didn’t expect Your Highness to attend.”

She knew well that his words were not meant for her, yet his face seemed to grow thicker by the day.

Viare didn’t remember inviting Ivan and couldn’t understand why he was here.

Ivan chuckled at her expression, seemingly amused, and cheekily replied.

“You don’t know how hard I tried to get an invitation from the Duke.”

‘…He even involved my father.’

Since he had received an invitation from the Duke, he was a guest and a noble at the event.

Even if she didn’t want him there, it wasn’t her place to ask an invited guest to leave.

“Then, I hope you enjoy the party.”

Resigned to the reality, Viare bowed lightly and was about to leave when Ivan asked.

“Lady, would you care to dance with me?”

Displeased with the unwelcome guest’s invitation, she sighed inwardly and replied.

“Regrettably, my partner for today is my father.”

“Oh? But it seemed the Duke was already under the influence of alcohol.”

That couldn’t be, her father was not one to drink heavily.

Due to his constitution, which easily succumbed to alcohol, he avoided it as much as possible.

Even on special occasions, she knew her father wouldn’t make such a mistake.

“Surely, you haven’t tampered with my father’s drink.”

At her words, Ivan, grinning, didn’t offer any explanation but brazenly stood by his claim.

“Considering the Duke’s age, what if he trips over your feet and falls?”

“…”

“Well, if the lady insists, I don’t mind.”

Overwhelmed by his increasingly audacious actions, Viare struggled to suppress her rising anger.

This was her birthday party, and many nobles had gathered to celebrate her.

Moreover, Ivan had calculated that she wouldn’t be able to refuse his offer.

“Dancing with another noble would be less preferable than with me, wouldn’t it?”

The first dance of the party was traditionally started by the host and their partner, a basic etiquette in the Marta Empire.

With the first song already prepared and the guests waiting, she couldn’t delay any longer.

Viare, with a conflicted expression, hesitantly accepted his hand.

“Then, I humbly request a dance, Your Highness.”

“Good. You made the right choice, lady.”

Ivan, satisfied, lifted the corner of his smooth lips, took her waist, and began to dance to the music.

He performed the steps flawlessly, and Viare also managed the dance steps without much difficulty.

“Not bad, lady. You would indeed make a fine Crown Princess.”

“I shall decline that position in the future as well.”
Upon this, he gradually dropped his playful expression and asked in a somewhat serious tone.

“Why does the lady dislike me?”

“…….”

Viare was lost in thought, pondering where to begin, as there were too many reasons for disliking him.

“Huh— So there are that many reasons?”

Ivan, clicking his tongue as if he had thought there would be only one or two reasons, elicited a bitter smile from her.

She felt nauseated at the thought of him trying to place her on the throne of the future empress.

Certainly, in the past, Ivan had proposed to Viare a few times, only to be rejected and quickly give up.

Thus, she might not have suspected Ivan until now.

Seeing him persistently pursue her like this, a seed of doubt began to sprout.

‘Could the royal family really be involved in Zion’s death?’

However, this was merely a faint suspicion, without any evidence.

‘It seems like a far-fetched thought.’

She couldn’t be too certain.

As Ivan waited for an answer, Viare swallowed her frustration.

“I’m not magnanimous enough to accept other women.”

“Hmm, to want to monopolize the empire’s future sun alone, you are indeed greedy.”

It wasn’t the only reason, but it was the most appropriate response she could think of to hide her feelings.

“So, Your Highness, you don’t need to keep a greedy woman by your side.”

“Still, I think the lady fits that position perfectly.”

“Unfortunately, I cannot accept a man who is frivolous.”

Ivan shrugged his shoulders and, as the latter half of the song came to an end, let go of Viare’s hand.

“It seems difficult to win your heart, being frivolous. ”

As the first song of the banquet ended, Viare glanced at him and politely bid farewell.