She’d been gaunt and shabby, so they’d dismissed her as insignificant, but who knew she’d fail because of the youngest princess’s interference? Thanks to that, she’d been punished with confinement as soon as she returned.

“And that’s why I’m still in this wretched state.”

She muttered in a voice roughened like scratching from thirst.

Then she suddenly went berserk, throwing things around and having a fit, but the guards sighed deeply and left, seemingly used to it.

After all, it wasn’t a room Meli could escape from on her own.

“If it weren’t for that b*stard child…!”

Then, a voice she thought she’d never hear again struck clearly in Meli’s ears.

“Meli.”

“Y-Your Grace…?”

Is it really you, Your Grace? Really…?

Meli’s breathing quickened as she asked the same question over and over.

“Calm down, Meli. I don’t want to see you collapse in the middle of our first conversation in so long.”

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

As Meli’s voice stabilized a bit, noisy sounds came from outside.

“…like that to my room…”

“…then continue…how long…”

“Your Grace…?”

Her eyelids suddenly grew heavy. She felt like her head hurt a little too.

Her body went limp as Meli’s head dropped powerlessly to the floor.

“…Sleep well, Meli. Let’s talk when you wake up.”

Your Grace… The words that couldn’t leave her mouth circled in her head.

Her head spun as her vision blurred.

This was her last memory in the cell.

* * *

The servants moved busily from early morning.

Today was the banquet day.

In other words, the day the duchess returned.

“After the official banquet ends, the master will return with the mistress. So everyone, don’t neglect your preparations!”

“Yes!”

When the mistress returned after so long, not only the servants but also the duke and his three children were unusually excited.

Ashili couldn’t hide her anticipation as she chose jewelry to match her neat yet atmospheric black dress.

The youngest, Lucia, focused on choosing a gift for the duchess rather than getting ready.

“Brother, what about this? Do you think Mom will like it?”

“…A sculpture modeled after a dragon’s horn doesn’t seem suitable as a homecoming gift.”

Though her selection criteria were somewhat unpredictable, Lucia lightly ignored Cardel’s advice and decided on the sculpture as her gift.

“Have you decided on a gift, Young Lord?”

“I prepared mine in advance. Today’s going to be too hectic.”

What’s happening today? She didn’t remember anything particularly busy.

“Cardel, Lucia. Hurry and get ready, then come down.”

“Are we leaving now? For the imperial palace?”

When the duke nodded, Lucia cheered and ran out of the room.

“Can she be that happy?”

“Father, your smile is reaching your ears.”

Ahem. The duke coughed and turned his head.

“Anyway, let’s depart. We’ll be late if we don’t leave now.”

Going down the stairs and leaving the main building, the main gate was located at the end of the large garden.

The carriage at the gate prominently displayed the Duchy of Radelica’s crest. Its massive scale and splendid appearance gave the impression it would easily overwhelm the surrounding carriages.

‘Truly a ducal family…’

There was a reason they were called great nobles among nobles.

‘There will be many other nobles at the imperial palace.’

Among them, the Duchy of Radelica would certainly be at their center.

‘The marchioness will definitely come too.’

She would already know that Evolaine was at the Duchy of Radelica.

Then she might try to kidnap her to the marquisate using the banquet.

“Dame, aren’t you getting in?”

Cardel’s voice cut through her thoughts.

The duke, Ashili, Ashili’s escort knight, and Lucia had already boarded the carriage.

“…I’ll get in.”

Right, nothing gets solved by being scared in advance.

As Evolaine and Cardel finished boarding, the carriage wheels began to roll.

The destination was the imperial palace. The time to face the marchioness had finally come.

* * *

The carriage rolled and rolled, arriving at the imperial palace in an instant.

This was because they’d shortened the travel distance through a system called a gate midway.

Gates weren’t yet widespread because everything from installation to maintenance costs was substantial, but the ducal family had installed gates and operated them for free use within their territory.

“Dame, is your stomach all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Your complexion is pale though.”

“…I’ll get off and use the restroom for a moment.”

Evolaine was struggling to settle her churning stomach from using a gate for the first time in her life.

‘I need to find a restroom as soon as I get off.’

Her stomach was definitely upset from being nervous since morning.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Evolaine quickly opened the door and left, saying she’d use the restroom for a moment.

“Seeing Cardel worry about a woman—the sun must be rising in the west.”

“It seems the young lord has taken a liking to Dame Evolaine.”

As Evolaine left her seat, Ashili and Kalein immediately began needling Cardel.

“…Sister, Sir Kalein.”

“Oh my, I’m too scared to speak.”

At Cardel’s murderous gaze, Ashili quickly feigned ignorance.

‘It’s already showing in your eyes, little brother.’

How does he plan to date later acting like that?

Having idle thoughts, Ashili leaned back against her seat.

‘Hmm?’

Watching the duke conversing with Lucia by the window, Ashili suddenly realized someone who should be there was missing.

Ashili poked her escort knight Sir Kalein’s side.

‘Sir, where’s Sir Heron?’

Despite the sudden telepathic message, Kalein answered familiarly.

‘I heard Sir Heron is coming separately with His Grace. He said he had something to do separately.’

‘Really? I see.’

Strange, she’d thought he was coming with Father.

Why was he coming separately?

Then, the carriage door opened.

“Sorry for being late. The restroom was farther than I thought.”

“We still have time, so it’s fine. Is your stomach better now?”

“Yes, it seems better than before. Thank you.”

Not long after Evolaine reboarded the carriage, it was time to enter.

“It’s time to go in. Let’s get off.”

As the duke and his party approached after getting off the carriage, an attendant checked each person’s identity.

After confirming the duke, Ashili, Kalein, Lucia, and Cardel, the attendant approached Evolaine.

“Excuse me, but could you remove your robe?”

“Ah, that child is my son’s escort knight. He deliberately put a robe on her because he wanted to surprise everyone this time.”

When the duke explained directly, the attendant who’d been about to lift the robe stepped back.

“…If Your Grace vouches for her, there’s no problem. Then please enter.”

When the imperial knight opened the door, the attendant announced loudly.

“Neikan de Radelica, Ashili Lou Radelica, Lucia Lou Radelica, Cardel de Radelica, and two escort knights are entering!”

* * *

As the Duchy of Radelica entered, the nobles began whispering.

“The duchess is returning, so even Princess Lucia came!”

“Indeed, how lovely she is!”

“I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but they seem understated instead. Even seeing him in person, I can’t dare describe Lord Cardel’s beauty.”

“I agree. Someone born to captivate women’s hearts…”

“They say Princess Ashili is the textbook for young ladies. I’d like to meet her separately later…”

Hear but pretend not to hear. Speak but pretend not to speak.

This was a conversation style commonly enjoyed by nobles active in high society.

“…But who is that robed person beside the young lord?”

“I wonder… I don’t recall hearing about them. Surely only Princess Ashili has an escort knight?”

As expected. Attention began focusing on Evolaine as anticipated.

Though she hadn’t revealed her face, what circulated secretly were stories about the Radelica ducal heirs.

They knew enough physical characteristics to recognize them even on first sight.

So it was natural for nobles to be curious about the robed Evolaine.

From now on, it was a battle of wits.

Who would ask first about the identity of the robed person?

Then the attendant shouted loudly.

“His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, Her Highness the Second Imperial Consort, His Highness the Crown Prince, Her Highness the First Princess, His Highness the Second Prince are entering!”

“Valon von Arpi, Siana von Arpi, Daina Ren Arpi are entering!”

As the imperial family was followed by the entire Duchy of Arpi attending, high society felt an invisible tension like never before.

Especially since the Duchy of Arpi was famous for rarely attending official events like banquets, but had shown up in person, the nobles’ speculation filled the banquet hall and then some.

Evolaine unconsciously pulled at her robe.

She’d been fine before entering, but with the imperial family and the Duchy of Arpi entering, her tension reached its peak.

“I’m pleased you attended today. The reason for holding today’s banquet is to celebrate the successful completion of the two-year expedition. Especially the Duke of Radelica, you must have suffered much mentally, so thank you for your help.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty. It’s an honor to have concluded successfully.”

“You saying that makes me not know what to do with myself. Then I’ll end the congratulatory speech here. Everyone dislikes long ones, don’t they? Everyone enjoy yourselves comfortably today!”

As the emperor finished his speech, the nobles applauded and the party began.

Since the banquet was actually starting from early afternoon, a venue was prepared for children to play outside while adults conversed inside.

“Prince Cardel.”

“…I greet the Flower of Vesasium.”

“Don’t be so formal with me. It’s not like we’re meeting for the first time.”

“I’m doing this because I want to, so don’t worry about it.”

Watching the First Princess approach Cardel from a distance, Ashili and Lucia were disgusted.

“Does she like that brother so much?”

“Well, his face is pretty handsome, so it’s not bad.”

“But isn’t personality important?”

“In Vesasium, there are far more ladies who look at status and appearance over personality. Personality is a lower priority among considerations.”

“Why? It’s so exhausting when personalities don’t match!”

“…Exactly.”

When personalities don’t match, relationships fall apart no matter how good everything else is.

However, they couldn’t marry considering only that.

Though it was possible for women to inherit titles, in reality, this happened only in very few cases.

From the start, Vesasium people had the perception that ‘the person inheriting the title is male.’

In such circumstances, if a woman inherited a title, her support base would naturally be weaker than a man’s.

Therefore, women who became family heads generally married second or third sons of powerful families with the purpose of clearly proving they’d become family head.

‘If I’d been born male, the situation would be different.’

No matter how much laws were changed and improved, if people didn’t change, nothing would change.

In the end, it was a vicious cycle that repeated without resolving anything.

“Sister?”

Seemingly deep in thought, Ashili didn’t respond to Lucia’s call.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

Lucia didn’t have the courage to call Ashili, who had a serious expression, again.

Instead, she shifted her attention to Cardel, who was still dealing with the First Princess.

When the princess didn’t get the reaction she wanted from Cardel, she began targeting the robed Evolaine.