Dension, who had been intently staring at Biare, shifted his gaze to the empty air and let out a hollow laugh as if the situation he was in was preposterous.

Then he fixed his eyes on Biare again, glaring with wide-open eyes.

She felt like she would crumble under that cold gaze, barely enduring the situation.

Eventually, he tried to leave the banquet hall, and Biare’s gaze followed him.

Beside her, Ivan looked at his fiancée curiously and asked.

“Princess, where are you looking so intently?”

Biare, whose eyes were already red, hurriedly searched for an excuse.

“Seeing my father makes me feel like I’m about to cry.”

“Don’t cry, Princess. I promise you’ll only have days of laughter from now on.”

Biare suppressed her miserable feelings, knowing she had to smile at him in this situation.

‘Smile. I must smile now.’

“I’m grateful for Your Highness’s deep consideration.”

She forced her stiff lips to curl up, having to give Ivan a bright smile.

As the Crown Prince was the main character of today’s banquet, Biare had her first dance with him and exchanged greetings with those who came to greet them.

Amidst the hectic situation, she kept glancing at the banquet hall door.

Because Dension had not returned yet.

She was worried about him, but couldn’t go looking for him.

Ivan, unaware of her feelings, escorted her with his arm around her shoulder, while Biare inwardly chewed on her sorrow, pretending to be fine.

Today, she had to appear as the happiest person at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.

By tomorrow, stories about her would be in gossip columns and various newspapers, soon spreading through society.

She could endure her arduous day as much as needed, for there was nothing more convenient than power for gathering forces.

‘Where… where did you go, Sion?’

She was just worried about him who had gone out of the banquet hall.

After that, Biare continued to familiarize herself with key figures and power players, following Ivan.

Looking at Duke Kaanderson, who had an awkward expression upon seeing her, Biare showed an ambiguous smile.

For until recently, they had been gossiping about whether she would be the Crown Prince’s fiancée at the Elmada Social Club.

If he becomes wary of her and stops discussing work-related matters at Elmada from now on, that would be troublesome in its own way.

Biare thought she should attend the next meeting and talk with him.

As their meetings with the power players were nearing an end, Ivan looked towards a direction with a voice of pleasant surprise and said.

“Where have you been, my friend?”

‘…Sion.’

As she watched him approaching, she tried to suppress her growing tension, but her heartbeat was getting louder.

“Glory to the Holy Empire of Marta.”

Dension came to where they were standing and paid his respects.

“Princess, I haven’t introduced him to you yet, have I?”

As Ivan asked with a pleased expression, she quietly nodded and answered.

“…No, Your Highness.”

“This is Marquis Verdeum, my new confidant.”

Biare couldn’t bring herself to speak, so she just silently looked at the banquet hall floor.

‘I should say something…’

It felt as if her mind had turned blank like a white sheet of paper.

The first person to break the silence was none other than Dension Verdeum.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess Ruschef. I am Dension Verdeum.”

Her heart ached at that indifferent and calm voice.

“It’s nice to meet you, Marquis Verdeum. I am Biare Ruschef.”

Watching them exchange greetings, the Crown Prince playfully said to Biare.

“Princess, you don’t sound pleased at all, do you?”

“…I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”

“Oh my, the Princess has been busy following me around today.”

Then, looking at Dension, he showed a good-natured smile and said.

“Marquis, please understand. My fiancée is rather delicate.”

At that moment, Dension’s eyebrows and the space between them seemed to move slightly.

“…I’m fine.”

“I see. Princess, you should rest now.”

“Thank you for your deep consideration, Your Highness.”

Biare, who had paid her respects to the two men, quietly left the main hall.

As her steps felt heavy while heading towards the powder room, Biare slightly turned her head to look at them.

Ivan and Dension seemed to be having a rather serious conversation, perhaps discussing work-related matters.

When she arrived at the powder room, Rosalyn, who was already there, looked like she had many questions to ask.

“Princess, what in the world happened?”

To this, Biare apologized for not telling her in advance and vaguely explained the recent events related to the engagement.

Rosalyn, while feeling hurt for not being told, sincerely congratulated her.

“Still, congratulations, Princess.”

“Thank you, Lady.”

After that, she began to relay to Biare one by one the stories she had heard at the banquet.

It seemed she understood that, just as she had wished for a complete position for herself, Biare had also coveted the position of future empress.

She then informed Biare that while most were surprised by the news of their engagement, they also praised Biare, saying the two seemed to be a good match.

“Especially Duchess Hertia kept fanning herself.”

Recalling the situation, Rosalyn chuckled and explained how delightful and amusing it was.

She continued to explain the social opinions and events she had seen and heard, but unfortunately, they didn’t properly register in Biare’s ears.

Because only one person kept appearing in her mind.

As she let out a shallow sigh, unable to help her situation, she suddenly remembered her brother who hadn’t been seen throughout the banquet.

Gaizen hadn’t been visible since she was exchanging greetings with the nobles in the banquet hall.

“Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen Gaizen…”

“If you’re talking about the young marquis, wouldn’t he be crying by the fountain by now?”

“What? Gaizen is crying?”

At her question, Rosalyn looked a bit flustered and began to roll her golden eyes.

“Ah, I was told not to mention it… Please pretend you didn’t hear that, Princess.”

“I will, Lady. Would it be alright if I leave first to meet Gaizen?”

“Of course. I’ll rest here a bit longer.”

Grateful for Rosalyn’s consideration, Biare left the powder room and headed towards the fountain to find her brother.

The darkness deeply permeating the black night sky was as heavy as Biare’s heart.

The night flowers reflected in the moonlight were brilliantly showing off their light, and as the spring breeze gently blew, a subtle floral scent filled the imperial central garden.

‘Could this be the fountain?’

The fountain in the central garden near the banquet hall was the largest in the imperial palace.

As Biare slowly circled the spacious fountain, she naturally called out to the figure she finally discovered.

“Gaizen, are you alright?”

Although she couldn’t see the face clearly in the dark night, she naturally thought it was her brother due to the similar build.

The clouds that had been covering the moon suddenly dispersed, and moonlight began to faintly illuminate them.

At that moment, Biare unconsciously bit her tongue slightly.

She finally realized that the person standing in front of her was not Gaizen.

‘I didn’t want to meet you now…’

“I apologize. I’ll be leaving first…”

Biare’s blue-green eyes quickly filled with agitation, and after apologizing to the person in front of her, she was about to leave first.

“Are you trying to run away again?”

Dension’s somewhat agitated voice stopped her.

“…”

Although she might appear cowardly and insincere to him, Biare couldn’t offer any explanation.

Seeing her like this, Dension let out a deep sigh, seemingly frustrated.

“Have you been having fun all this time? How could you…”

‘I’m sorry, Sion.’

“…”

His voice seemed to tremble slightly, but there was nothing Biare could say to him.

Biare was in no position to reveal everything to him or ask for his understanding.

“How foolish must I have seemed to you all this time?”

‘No, that’s not true.’

“…”

“Surely the Princess knew well what kind of situation I was in.”

“…”

Biare couldn’t deny it. She knew his situation better than anyone else.

He let out a hollow laugh and covered his face with his hands, then looked at her with resentful eyes.

To his sarcastic question about how foolish and pathetic he must have looked at the Grand Temple, Biare could only listen silently.

She had certainly wanted to make him happy. But now she was causing him pain.

“Was I just someone fun to play with for you?”

‘No, Sion. That’s not it.’

“…”

“Please, stop crying and say something.”

His eyes were already red with bloodshot, and he seemed to be barely holding onto his reason.

Looking at her with a disappointed expression, Dension soon averted his gaze and vanished abruptly.

As he moved away, Biare sat down in her blurry vision and shed tears.

“How could I ever approach you?”

Her father was the one who had plotted the deaths of the former marquis couple and Dension.

Biare was convinced that it was unthinkable for her to desire him.

“How can I… How can I do that?”

The fact that Dension wouldn’t have died if she hadn’t been involved with him remained an unchanging truth.

Biare, crumbling helplessly in the face of despair, was desperately trying to hold onto her faltering sanity.