“An invitation to Horizon Archmage’s birthday party? My invitation? Mine?”

Hila looked like she couldn’t believe it. It was even more so since it wasn’t a party anyone could attend.

“Can I really go?”

“Of course, this is your invitation.”

“Oh my goodness.”

Hila barely held back from screaming and quickly covered her mouth.

Laughter filled with joy leaked from her covered mouth. She curved her eyes into crescent moons and hugged Riley tightly.

“I can’t believe it, Riley! To think that the day would come when I attend the Archmage’s birthday party…! It’s where famous figures from politics and business gather in one place.”

“You’ll come, right?”

“Of course, Riley! I’ll definitely go, I’ll absolutely go! I’m so happy, Riley. I’m really fortunate to have you as my friend!”

“I’m glad you’re happy too.”

Actually, it probably won’t be much different from the reception held at Horizon.

But things are different now compared to then. Back then I just attended as an honored guest, but now I’ll be attending as the Archmage’s wife.

‘I’m glad I’m not alone.’

I think the atmosphere will be similar to the reception, but back then I wasn’t in my right mind as I was obsessed with breaking off the engagement with Count Ermeints, so I couldn’t properly enjoy or observe the party.

I only remember Claire making a fuss.

That must mean it’s a gathering of such important figures.

“You must memorize all the personal information of these people before the party. Here is a list of individuals you absolutely must know.”

If I were alone, I might have fainted from nervousness. Givnen probably invited Hila knowing this too. There’s a huge difference between having someone to mingle with and not.

“By the way, will people from the Lianster family be coming too? Will Rivne Lianster be attending?”

“Yes, since it’s Givnen’s birthday party, I think all the relatives will gather.”

“Do they know about your engagement to the Archmage?”

“…I’m not sure, I think maybe only the head of the family and the lady know.”

“What about your family…?”

Knowing that Riley wasn’t on good terms with her family, Hila’s voice was very cautious. Riley sighed at Hila’s question.

“They have to come.”

“Hmm… yes, because they’re family. But I’m afraid your good-for-nothing sibling might end up causing trouble with their mouth again. Am I being too sensitive?”

“…Of course, given their colorful history, the possibility is high, but I heard they got scolded terribly when they ruined the first meeting. They might be careful for a while.”

“That mouth of theirs, did it shine at the first meeting too?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“No, that sounds very interesting. Tell me about it.”

While talking about the tremendous incident Claire caused during the first meeting, we arrived at the shopping district.

While selecting what to eat from the menu, I saw a familiar group.

It was the group that usually hangs out with Josephine Lucan. I also saw the two men who had reportedly been hospitalized with broken legs along with Josephine Lucan before.

As soon as they made eye contact with Riley, they had a fit and whispered something among themselves. They frowned deeply and avoided the place as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have.

Seeing that sight, Hila, who would normally have cursed, wrapped her arm around Riley’s shoulders and smiled broadly.

“They’ll be regretting and beating the ground soon.”

“Why?”

“Why? They don’t know you’re the one marrying the Archmage, right? Have you forgotten how they bullied and looked down on you just because you’re from outside? I wonder what expression they’ll make when they find out your true identity. Oh, won’t they attend the birthday party too? After all, the Lucan family is a noble house. The Lucan and Lianster families are also on good terms.”

“…Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

“Why do you look like that?”

“Just…”

“Riley, don’t be discouraged. They can’t treat you carelessly anymore. I’m really curious. What kind of expression will those who looked down on and ignored you make when they see you at the party? It’ll be quite ridiculous, right? My goodness! Just thinking about it is thrilling.”

Thrilling? Rather, I’m scared that Josephine Lucan might be the same kind of person as Claire.

Moreover, that place will be filled with upper-class people who dominate Blestige, just like Josephine Lucan.

When I’m introduced as Givnen’s fiancée in such a place, will their reactions really be favorable?

Just looking at the Blestige natives in the Academy, the answer is clear.

The probability of those who take pride in being from Blestige showing a friendly attitude towards an outsider was low.

This is probably why Sack handed over the personal information of major nobles and told me to memorize it all.

It must be to warn me not to make any mistakes or create opportunities to be criticized.

‘That place might be a battlefield.’

Yes, it will probably be a battlefield with high probability.

Riley gave a bitter smile. The burden of the party felt a bit heavier.

[This is the timeline separator]

Empress Vianez, who had been overseeing state affairs in place of her husband who was too weak to properly manage them, felt greatly displeased by the recent unsettled atmosphere in the imperial palace.

As the Emperor’s condition worsened, the struggle for succession that had been progressing underground was about to surface.

Although she had instructed to keep a close eye on the princes, the recent movements of the princes heard from here and there were very bustling.

“Why is the atmosphere so unsettled?”

“All the princes, except for the 3rd Prince, have expressed their intention to attend Lord Givnen’s birthday party.”

“Birthday party? Ah, yes. It was around this time.”

“Yes, since it’s extremely rare for all the princes to attend one event, there seems to be talk everywhere.”

“All princes except the 3rd Prince? Don’t tell me even Kazan is attending?”

“Yes, the 7th Prince has also said he will attend.”

“…What wind is blowing?”

“…Perhaps, like the other princes, he aims to win over the Archmage?”

Now even the maids casually talk about the ‘throne’ struggle between the princes.

Until just a few years ago, the atmosphere was hush-hush, but as soon as the Emperor became bedridden, everyone without exception was discussing which prince would ascend to the throne.

As the Emperor’s condition worsened to the point where he could do nothing, everyone, without exception, unhesitatingly played the role of wind-catcher, putting forward the princes they supported, and now even the princes were openly showing their ambition for the throne without hesitation.

Of course, the Great Lambro Empire had always had the custom of not designating a ‘Crown Prince’ separately, but rather having the princes compete and passing the throne to the ‘Prince’ who survived until the end, so it was natural for them to be obsessed with the throne.

Unless they were physically weak from birth like the 3rd Prince, or of illegitimate birth, they would all be killed or exiled by the hand of the one who becomes the next Emperor.

“It’s fortunate that Inerange is traveling…”

“That is indeed fortunate.”

“I thought Inerange had calmed down, but now Kazan is causing trouble.”

“Don’t worry too much, he’s a clever prince, isn’t he?”

“He may be smart, but he’s weak at controlling his emotions. I’m saying this because I’m anxious about what kind of incident he might cause.”

“Won’t it be alright since he’s taking his medicine well?”

Despite the maid’s words, Empress Vianez couldn’t remove the displeasure from her face. She seemed to be thinking deeply about something, and soon smiled as if she had come up with a good idea.

“The Lianster family is a meritorious family that has long been with our imperial family. Givnen was also appointed as Archmage this year, so how about offering the imperial palace as the venue for his birthday party to commemorate this?”

“Pardon? Is that really necessary? I’m concerned that it might be seen as favoring a particular family too much.”

“The Lianster family is a neutral family that belongs to neither the noble faction nor the imperial faction, so what does it matter?”

“But Your Majesty, I’m not sure if your relatives will view this favorably.”

The ‘Sindmaria’ family, to which Empress Vianez belongs, is one of the three grand ducal families along with the ‘Lianster’ family, a founding meritorious family and the empire’s top prestigious family.

If the Lianster family is a ‘pure-blooded mage lineage’ family, the ‘Sindmaria’ family has historically produced empresses and knight commanders.

Although the Lianster family and the Sindmaria family are grouped as the three grand ducal families, they have been in a long-standing competitive relationship as a mage family and a martial family, and their relationship has been very poor.

Especially after the death of Archmage Yung, several major families competed for the acquisition of the magic tower, and the Sindmaria family also competed with the Lianster family until the end.

However, after the Sindmaria family was pushed out of the magic tower acquisition competition and the Lianster family finally acquired the Great Tower Horizon, the Sindmaria family was in a state of extreme agitation.

In this situation, if the imperial family seemed to be particularly favoring Givnen under the Empress’s initiative, it was obvious that her relatives would be furious.

“It’s an unprecedented event where all the princes are attending. Wouldn’t it be better to hold it in the palace for safety reasons?”

The Empress’s will was firm.

“If something happens outside, it will be difficult to handle. Although it’s unlikely, I think it’s not a bad idea to hold it in the imperial palace in case of any unforeseen situations. Given that the princes are involved, what should be a simple celebration could turn into a bloodbath.”

The maids couldn’t add any more words. What more could they say when the Empress’s will was so firm?

And there was no particular reason to stop her either. Although offering the imperial palace as a party venue was unprecedented, it wasn’t completely unheard of. If ‘the safety of the princes’ was the stated reason, offering the imperial palace seemed appropriate.

After all, an event where all the princes attend together requires more thorough security measures.

The Empress ordered.

“Convey my intention to Lord Givnen and bring back a definite answer.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“At this point, I can’t tell if it’s a party for the princes or my birthday party. At this rate, acting arbitrarily might be a unique gene passed down in the Sindmaria family.”

The uninvited princes, one after another, expressed their intention to attend.

Although it’s generally customary for the imperial family to refrain from officially attending events not hosted by the imperial family, they were quite blatant, as if they couldn’t see anything now that the Emperor was bedridden.

I had heard that they were obsessed with drawing the ‘great nobles’ who form the ‘neutral faction’ to their side, but it was quite a spectacle to see them meddling in someone else’s birthday party even before it started. In the midst of this, now even the Empress, who had been quiet recently, has joined in.

“You must have offended the Empress with the recent incident, didn’t you openly reject the 9th Princess’s marriage proposal?”

At Sack’s words, Givnen clicked his tongue.

“You don’t know. She disliked me from the beginning.”

“Maybe she disliked you before, but dislikes you even more now?”

“If I had accepted the 9th Princess’s proposal, the Empress would have been bedridden before the Emperor. Well, if they went to the afterlife together, I wouldn’t mind.”

Sack was startled and looked around.

“Please, be careful with your words!”

“Do I have to watch my words even in this situation?”

The Empress raised the issue of ‘the princes’ safety’. Rather than prohibiting the princes from attending the birthday party, which would be a better way to keep them safe, the Empress came up with the brilliant nonsense of offering the imperial palace as the birthday party venue.

And the unfortunate thing is that from Givnen’s standpoint, there’s no justification to refuse this brilliant nonsense.

The order of an imperial family member is essentially semi-compulsory.

Moreover, personally offering a venue for the party goes beyond showing goodwill and means treating one exceptionally well. Reporters are already rushing to cover this fact.

Refusing this would not look good from the outside. Besides, with various restrictions on magic towers and magicians intensifying now, there was no need to incur disadvantages by offending them unnecessarily.

“Since there’s no good reason to refuse, it would be better to accept.”

“…Haa.”

I’m already tired. For him, birthdays were not joyous occasions. It’s hell.

Why do we have to regularly hold parties every birthday? What’s left is just the stress and fatigue from that troublesome process, and the enormous cost.

A party that the host of the party doesn’t want. For him, it was just a task of dealing with the valuable clients of the magic tower and the family.

And now, if you add the princes’ struggle for the throne to that, it will be quite a spectacle.

Since it’s a place where various nobles gather, regardless of whether they’re from the noble faction or the imperial faction, it’s the best place and the best event for the princes who are obsessed with recruiting their own people. It was obvious that energy would be drained from the invisible power struggle.

Moreover…

“I wonder what scheme the 7th Prince has for attending. He should have already solidified his foundation.”

“That’s right. Hasn’t he always shown overt hostility towards the Master? I didn’t expect him to express his intention to attend a personal event that’s not an official schedule.”

“If only the 7th Prince hadn’t attended, the Empress wouldn’t have made such an unreasonable fuss.”

“The 7th Prince is a clever person, so don’t you think he might have intentionally created this situation?”

“If that’s the case, it’s really creepy. Using his own mother to make me eat crow…”

Givnen clicked his tongue and threw himself onto the sofa.

Although there was a mountain of work to be done, it seemed impossible to handle any tasks in this mood. A moment was needed to clear the mind.

“By the way, this is a big problem. The young lady wouldn’t have learned imperial court etiquette, and even if she hurries to learn, I wonder if she can keep up…”

“It would be fortunate if she doesn’t collapse.”

Now that the venue has changed to the imperial palace, and the princes are attending, she might faint.

The venue was an issue, but the fact that the 7th Prince was attending was quite a headache.

Why now of all times? Is it just a coincidence that he’s showing behavior different from usual?

Givnen narrowed his eyes, then quickly closed them.

While party preparations are progressing perfectly, several variables that deviate from the plan are concerning. Can that day be concluded safely without any mishaps?

A vague, but certainly justified anxiety took precedence.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day, the imperial palace’s exceptional ‘treatment’ towards Givnen made headlines in the daily newspapers, causing a stir across the nation.

And Riley dropped the freshly baked bread she was about to eat.

“…Imperial court etiquette?”

“Yes, since we don’t have much time, we plan to start from today. Please come right after your Academy lectures end.”

At Lady Sophia’s words, Riley blankly blinked while staring at the ceiling.

Her head already felt like it would explode from Academy studies, and now etiquette lessons on top of that. And imperial court etiquette at that…?

But is it possible, Lady Sophia?

There’s not even a week left until the birthday…?