The golden chandeliers adorning the grand banquet hall’s ceiling sparkled like starlight.

Each time the hundreds of candles decorating the walls flickered in unison, it created the illusion of golden waves rippling through the air.

The sweet melody created by the empire’s finest orchestra floated through the air, and above it, laughter both loud and soft made the long-awaited banquet all the more lively.

At a single gesture from the Lokan seated on the imperial throne, attendants moved swiftly to fill the crystal glasses before the nobles.

Each time the red wine caught the light and glittered in the glasses, the same color seeped into the nobles’ eyes.

However, different thoughts lay hidden within those gazes.

Jedrian, sitting crookedly on the imperial throne, sneered at the stiff-faced emperor faction nobles.

Because he knew exactly why their expressions were so displeased.

‘They must hate seeing a lowborn b*stard sitting on the imperial throne.’

Jedrian, who had been marking each of those nobles one by one, brazenly leaned close to Laurencia, seated beside him.

Then, like they’d become intimate, he pressed his face close to her ear and whispered.

“So, do you like it?”

“Yes, it’s beautiful.”

Unlike earlier when she’d been as pliant as a tongue in a mouth, Laurencia’s expression was stiff.

Her heart wanted to continue the performance, but she couldn’t bring herself to show such a display before the emperor faction nobles she was seeing after so long.

They were the vassals the emperor had trusted most, practically his old friends.

They were also the people who had firmly protected her status all this time.

Right now they were prostrated without a center of gravity, but if she tried to stand at the pinnacle again, they were nobles who would gladly become her wings at any time.

She couldn’t show those loyal subjects the same cheap smile she’d given the traitor who’d betrayed the emperor.

More than anything, if she created needless misunderstanding, the disappointed nobles would no longer support her.

In her predicament, Laurencia bit down hard on the inside of her cheek.

‘If only I’d somehow conveyed my intentions to the Marquis when Jedrian was away…’

She regretted that wasted time over and over.

But even if she’d known, evading the watchers’ eyes wouldn’t have been easy.

Even if she’d sent Ashar’s subordinates instead of herself, since they were currently Jedrian’s knights, the suspicious Marquis wouldn’t have met with them in the first place.

A sigh escaped involuntarily in the frustrating situation.

Just then, Jedrian pressed his face close again and whispered.

“What’s wrong, can’t do it like earlier?”

At Jedrian’s words hitting the mark, Laurencia’s heart sank with a thud.

She barely maintained a composed expression, but with her heart beating faster and faster, a reddish tinge seeped into her cheeks.

“So what. Just do it. You think those bastards who only trust you will abandon you just because you smiled at me a bit?”

Sure enough, Jedrian, who’d seen through her thoughts, deliberately egged her on more. A smile spread across his face like he was dying of amusement.

Her gaze turned toward Marquis Eckartmann, who’d been staring at her with a hardened face from earlier.

He was the center of the emperor faction nobles and the person the emperor trusted most.

He also held the important responsibility of guarding the border regions, making him the most necessary person for future plans.

If he turned his back, no matter how much she seduced Jedrian, it would be difficult to reclaim this empire.

To face Jedrian who controlled the imperial capital, Marquis Eckartmann’s forces were desperately needed.

Her golden eyes trembled finely at the crossroads of choice.

‘What should I do?’

Her snow-white hands, which had been demurely clasped together, clenched tightly.

She couldn’t just keep agonizing like this.

‘So you shouldn’t hesitate no matter what moment comes either.’

Ashar’s reminder flew at her like a whip.

Will slowly revived in her wavering eyes.

She couldn’t obtain everything at once anyway.

To take something, she had to be prepared to lose something else.

More than anything, succeeding in this plan was most important right now.

Finally, having made her choice, her gaze flowed naturally toward Jedrian.

The face close enough to feel his breath raised its corners mockingly.

Watching that face quietly, Laurencia decided to gamble with her right of succession, practically her lifeline.

“Jedrian.”

“Mm?”

“You’re still my hero.”

Her snow-white hand cupped his cheek. At the same time, her red lips captured the man’s slightly parted lips.

At that moment, the noisy sounds instantly subsided.

Though sweet music still filled the grand banquet hall, no more cheerful laughter or boisterous chatter could be heard.

She could feel all eyes turning toward her. Nevertheless, Laurencia didn’t stop, exploring the lips of the man frozen like a statue.

Just then, the sound of a chair falling over rang out.

Her heart sank, thinking she knew who’d made the sound.

Nevertheless, Laurencia slowly pulled her lips away and looked toward where the sound came from with a deliberately composed face.

Sure enough, Marquis Eckartmann stood there with his face completely twisted, looking ready to leave at any moment.

Just as Jedrian, irritated by the sight, was about to say something, Laurencia quietly grasped his hand and stood up.

Then she smiled brightly and said.

“Please sit down, Marquis. My welcome banquet has only just begun—wouldn’t I be disappointed if you left already?”

At her smile, Marquis Eckartmann coldly drew a line.

“Because you don’t seem to be the person I was waiting for. You can receive your welcome greetings from those traitors spread out before you.”

He pointed with his chin toward the noble faction who’d pledged loyalty to Jedrian.

Angry shouts immediately poured from them. The banquet hall’s atmosphere instantly became chaotic.

Laurencia quietly watched the nobles sharply divided into two factions—the emperor faction and the noble faction—then slowly raised her hand.

The noisy sounds gradually died down at her grave expression.

All eyes fixed on the princess who’d returned after three years, now powerless.

The nobles who’d witnessed the two’s sudden kiss waited with bated breath for what Laurencia would say next, each with different feelings.

Only Jedrian, sitting crookedly beside her, watched her eccentric behavior with an amused face.

Laurencia, who’d looked around at the nobles with a hardened face, finally opened her mouth.

“First, I thank the Lokan for hosting such a grand banquet.”

Turning her head slightly, she greeted Jedrian befitting a princess’s dignity and with no lack of courtesy due to a Lokan.

Then the man who’d been sitting crookedly the whole time readily straightened his posture and bowed his head politely.

“Not at all.”

Then he once again buried his back in the chair, crossed his legs, and gave her a lewd smile.

Even at his utterly arrogant appearance, she turned her head with an indifferent face and continued her next words.

“I also extend my gratitude to all the nobles who graciously attended my welcome banquet. I’m truly relieved to see you all looking well.”

At her words, the nobles divided into two factions showed contrasting expressions.

The emperor faction nobles wore somber expressions from the guilt of failing to protect the emperor’s safety, while among the nobles who’d turned to Jedrian’s side, some stared back shamelessly, while others cleared their throats and averted their gazes with seemingly guilty expressions.

Actually, it had been a meaningless greeting.

Just a preamble for her next words, but unintentionally, their expressions allowed her to gauge who were true allies and enemies.

Not everyone in the emperor faction was an ally. Nor were all those in the noble faction traitors.

Some had unavoidably bent their convictions and followed the trend due to relationships between houses or complex interests.

Laurencia carefully observed such nobles’ expressions as she began to reveal the purpose of starting with such a grand greeting.

“Since everyone’s gathered, I’d like to make a major announcement.”

At the words “major announcement,” the nobles began murmuring one by one.

Among them, Jedrian showed the most obvious reaction.

He, who’d been sitting arrogantly, suddenly straightened his upper body. Then, just as he was about to call her name.

“Princess Laurencia Ordel de Armazé wishes to use her right of succession here today.”

A bombshell statement burst from her mouth.

At the sudden declaration, all eyes on her widened like they might pop out.

Jedrian, most flustered, shot to his feet.

Thinking she would naturally betray him, he urgently grabbed her shoulder.

Then, just as he was about to turn her around, she turned first and gently lowered the man’s tensed hand while smiling kindly like before.

Like telling him not to worry about anything.

At that smile, Jedrian froze, seemingly cursed.

Laurencia, firmly holding such a man’s hand and smiling prettily, once again raised her confident voice toward the assembly.

“I’ll skip the long-winded story. I, Laurencia Ordel, legitimate princess of Armazé, will choose the empire’s next sovereign here and now.”