An Elegant and Effective Way to Avoid Courtship

‘Sigh, I can’t believe I’m back here again.’

Just standing in the imperial palace ballroom, simply being here again, made it hard to breathe.

I stood there stupidly like someone stranded on a deserted island, occasionally forcing a smile when I spotted a familiar face. The mixture of people chattering and string instruments playing made my throat feel dry.

When I picked up a glass of champagne to wet my throat, I overheard the voices of ladies gathered nearby.

“Why isn’t His Majesty here yet?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, how’s my dress? My father specially ordered it from Mold.”

This banquet seemed extremely important to everyone except me.

I was taking a casual sip of champagne when I heard:

“Isn’t that Lady Leonora over there?”

“Yes, what’s with that ash-colored dress? How could the daughter of the Empire’s finest family wear such an ordinary dress?”

Ordinary was a kind description. The dress had a dull color with outdated, tacky decorations all over it.

“Lady Leonora seems uninterested in becoming Empress.”

“That’s fortunate. Everyone was saying Lady Leonora would become the Empress.”

“True, her beauty is unmatched.”

“But with a dress like that, she has no chance. One competitor down. If only I could catch His Majesty’s eye—I’d strip n*ked right here if necessary!”

“Hoho, I wouldn’t sit idle either.”

Sigh, how pathetic.

I drowned these spiteful words in my glass and gulped it all down, desperately hoping this foolish banquet would end soon.

Just then, the massive ballroom doors opened, and the chaotic music stopped all at once. The person walking in with perfect posture and dignity had a face very familiar to me.

The Emperor.

‘Still has that superior look in his eyes.’

Though I hated to admit it, judging objectively, the Emperor was exceptionally handsome. His elegantly defined nose, eyes deep as an abyss, pale white skin, and dark blue irises.

Yes, there was a time when I wished those magnificent eyes would look only at me. His face was undeniably beautiful—too beautiful, in fact.

I thought I’d forgotten somewhat, but seeing him again stirred up the resentment buried deep in my heart. This man never once gave me a kind glance. After he turned away from me, I was left to crumble alone in complete isolation.

I unconsciously clenched my dry hand.

Then came a subtle yet familiar sensation that made me instinctively look up. The dark blue eyes of Emperor Ainberg—someone I had loved deeply yet also hated—were fixed on me.

Though we were quite far apart, his gaze seemed to cut through the crowd and grab my wrist. I wanted to maintain my composure, but it proved impossible.

The face of my ex-husband after a year.

I ended up turning away.

‘Ugh, how unpleasant.’

“Oh, Leonora. Here you are!”

Avery’s voice brought me back to reality. She was the daughter of Viscount Ruhiben, a renowned doctor in the territory. We were close because we were similar in age, and she was kind and friendly.

However, she had one fatal flaw—she loved talking and knew everyone, so whatever I told her would spread throughout society within two days.

Perhaps it was facing Avery that made me feel suddenly drained.

“……”

“Leonora? Are you sick? You don’t look well. Should I call your father?”

Avery examined me anxiously.

Her concern made sense. Until a year ago, Leonora had been so frail she spent most of her time bedridden. People whispered she wouldn’t last long—twenty years at most.

Then a year ago, I opened my eyes in Leonora’s body. Many things changed after that.

The sickly girl regained her health, and others must have noticed her personality had changed too. But having spent over a decade bedridden, family and acquaintances still worried excessively about Leonora’s health.

Unfortunately, her blessing abilities were gone, but everything else about this life was satisfying. Reactions like Avery’s weren’t unusual.

“No, I’m fine.”

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I couldn’t see you anywhere. Are you really okay?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank goodness.”

Avery spoke affectionately, but now she seemed somewhat surprised by my dress. Her face clearly showed she was dying to ask what happened to it.

I took another sip of champagne, moved closer to her, and spoke.

“Avery, I honestly find this banquet dreadful.”

“What? What did you say?”

I planned to exploit Avery’s fatal flaw. I hoped she would spread my words far and wide.

“Empress selection this, Empress selection that—are they testing the waters by hosting a banquet first? It’s not even funny.”

Avery’s dainty mouth slowly opened at my words.

“Leonora.”

“I have no interest in becoming Empress. No, I absolutely hate the idea.”

“……”

“Just between us, I even find looking at His Majesty uncomfortable.”

“Cough, cough!”

Avery was so shocked she started coughing dryly.

“Avery, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. But Leonora, why would you go so far…”

Avery seemed unable to even ask why I disliked it so much.

While my secret scheme continued, the Emperor’s silhouette gradually approached.

“B-but His Majesty will be coming down soon.”

Ainberg was approaching.

The emotional dam I had carefully built began to shake precariously.

What expression should I wear when facing the Emperor again?

The champagne glass in my hand started trembling.

I feared I might slap the Emperor across the face.

I feared putting my beloved father and family in a difficult position.

That was my only fear.

“Leonora, are you okay?”

“No, I need some fresh air.”

As worry filled Avery’s face, I fled from the ballroom.

Of course, leaving the ballroom didn’t completely improve my mood.

How long did I walk down that enormous, long corridor?

After quite some time, I arrived at the only place in the imperial palace that had ever given me sanctuary.

“I came here without even realizing it.”

A balcony overlooking the garden. Touching the white marble-painted railing helped calm my mind.

“Whew.”

After catching my breath, I noticed my surroundings. The temple visible below the railing seemed unusually busy.

Then I realized—around this time was my birthday, or rather, Sienna Viper’s birthday.

On one side, there was commotion over the comatose Empress’s birthday, while on the other, they gathered women for a banquet to select a new Empress.

The country was truly in shambles.

“Ah, the day after my birthday was the memorial service for the late Emperor.”

In Ostrin, people believed that when an emperor or empress died, they prayed for the empire’s peace from beside God.

They didn’t quite treat them as gods, but almost.

Moreover, emperors or empresses with holy abilities, like blessing or healing powers, received even better treatment after death.

‘You fools, I didn’t go to God’s side—I transmigrated into another body!’

‘And even if I had truly gone to God’s side, do you think I’d pray for the peace of this cursed Ostrin?’

I snorted.

The priests were all lecherous, and the high priest wasn’t a good person either.

The high priest and I clashed constantly. I wanted to use my blessing abilities for commoners, but he opposed it with various excuses.

Birds of a feather—the Emperor was just as obsessed with religious ceremonies and the temple as the high priest was, frequently visiting the temple. People even joked he might be hiding women there.

Yes, he probably hid women there for his trysts.

‘How annoying. I was so glad not to see his face after dying. And now I’m back in the imperial palace.’

Still, the fresh air made me feel somewhat better.

A breeze from somewhere tousled my long, curly hair. Though Sabine had worked hard to style it, I simply let it be.

“Whatever.”

Yes, I could just spend some time here and take a shortcut back when the banquet was winding down.

“When darkness falls completely.”

Slowly, I would watch the imperial garden become engulfed in darkness.

When my gloom and anger had settled, I would peacefully return to my brothers and father.

As the thoughts filling my head were being scattered by the wind:

“What becomes complete?”

“……!”