The final day of the banquet.

Laurencia watched the backs of nobles who bowed politely to her before turning away, standing in place like a doll today as well.

At this point, she resented herself for asking them to hold a banquet celebrating her return.

Getting nothing out of it while just standing guard—she couldn’t help but sigh.

Still, the reason she kept attending and enduring every day wasn’t because this banquet was for her.

Taking advantage of this time when nobles crowded the halls, Ashar could move around easily. He’d been collecting information while evading the watchers’ eyes.

Though she still didn’t know who his eyes were, now she was ready to grant a great reward to whoever could just find out His Majesty’s whereabouts, no matter who they were.

Just as she was spending this tedious time waiting for Ashar to return with good news, she saw a large man entering from far away.

Out of habit, she glanced to the side and confirmed Ashar hadn’t returned yet.

Her heart tightened with worry, not knowing what might happen if the two men encountered each other.

‘Even if he returns, he’ll hide tactfully when he sees that man is here.’

Laurencia quickly composed her expression and calmed her mind.

“To Your Highness, the noble princess—”

“That’s enough. Let’s skip those greetings, between friends.”

When she smiled brightly, Rubid’s eyes widened briefly before he smiled back.

Then he said something strange.

“So it wasn’t a dream.”

“A dream?”

“Yes. The time I spent meeting Your Highness yesterday felt like a dream. Even after returning, I couldn’t quite believe it.”

“I hope it wasn’t a nightmare, at least.”

“How could it be? To have become friends with such a noble person. It’s nothing but the greatest honor.”

Rubid bowed very politely, unbelievable for a king of a nation, and smiled brightly again, seemingly genuinely delighted.

Then, suddenly, Ashar’s grumbling face from last night flashed through her mind.

Without realizing it, she glanced toward the corridor where he would return.

Fortunately, Ashar’s figure was still nowhere to be seen.

As she turned her gaze back, Rubid suddenly bent one knee and made a request with an awkward expression.

“Would you grant me the honor of sharing this dance?”

It was the first dance invitation she’d received during the three days of her return celebration banquet.

Perhaps because of that, she felt strange.

If she hadn’t caused that incident on the first day, her first dance would probably have been with Jedrian.

Of course, rather than dancing with Jedrian and further provoking the already displeased emperor faction nobles, it was better to be alone and embarrassed.

Nevertheless, when she actually received a dance invitation, her shameless heart pounded like she’d been waiting for someone to approach her.

In the past, whenever a banquet was held, her father the emperor would be the first to ask her to dance. And that time had been so happy.

Perhaps she’d been secretly longing for those moments that might never return.

She quietly watched the man waiting for her answer with earnest eyes, seemingly sincerely hoping, then slowly rose from her seat.

Then she graciously accepted his request with an elegant greeting.

He smiled brightly and hurried up the stairs.

Then he skillfully escorted her out to the hall where nobles were dancing.

When the princess emerged, the nobles who’d quickly scattered returned to their places and watched the two.

Soon elegant music began to flow, and the two naturally came together and started dancing.

The golden chandelier poured brilliant rainbow light over their heads.

The sight of the man and woman moving smoothly over the string melody was unexpectedly well-matched.

Each time the man, who looked sturdy just from watching, moved gracefully, the hem of her silver dress billowed and scattered like white waves.

When Laurencia stared at him, Rubid blushed again.

Despite his firm jawline and darkly tanned skin, she let out a small laugh at the man’s embarrassed appearance.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because the King of Morzen seems so different from how he looks.”

“How did you see me?”

“Well, may I speak honestly?”

“Of course.”

When she openly scanned his face slowly, his gray eyes trembled finely.

Laurencia stared intently into those eyes and honestly told him her impression.

“You’re handsome. Manly.”

His wavering gray eyes stopped abruptly, frozen. Perhaps feeling his face flush red again, he suddenly bowed his head deeply.

At that sight, she burst into laughter again.

“Why are you so embarrassed?”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard such words said so directly…”

“Hmm, that seems unlikely.”

“It’s true. No one has ever said such things to me.”

At the man who kept blushing, a smile continuously appeared on Laurencia’s face.

“Ah, I have one more request.”

“What is it?”

“Since we’ve decided to be friends, couldn’t you call me by my name now? The title King of Morzen somehow feels distant.”

At Rubid’s words, she smiled prettily and recalled the last conversation she’d had with him yesterday.

‘I want to protect Morzen. Even if I have to use you as my shield.’

‘You mean to use me to seize the empire and protect Morzen?’

‘No. As long as I can protect Morzen, I have no greed for anything else. Nothing at all.’

‘If I give you that opportunity, what will the King of Morzen give me?’

‘…I’ll give you the warriors of the plains. If Your Highness’s power combines with my soldiers, we can win.’

The man’s eyes when he said those words were truly earnest and serious, staking everything on her.

But since she hadn’t seen into his depths, Laurencia kept him by her side for now under the name of ‘friend.’

A relationship that could become closer than anyone, but could also grow distant at any time.

A relationship where even if they shared everything, they couldn’t have a physical relationship.

She decided to draw the line at that level of relationship and gauge his true intentions.

She wanted to end selling her body to accomplish goals with just Jedrian.

Ashar was filling her empty insides sufficiently, so she didn’t need more.

So this distance with the man before her was safe in many ways.

“Your Highness?”

“Laurencia Ordel. That’s my name. We’re friends now, so you can call me Lauren, Rubid.”

His neatly closed lips curved into a long arc. Unable to hide his smile, seemingly moved, the man spoke her name like a recitation.

“Lauren… It’s a pretty name. Like you.”

His gray eyes, having swallowed the chandelier’s light, sparkled with a mysterious glow.

As the music gradually reached its climax, the man leading her moved even more gracefully.

As their beautiful dance headed toward its climax, Rubid suddenly brought his face close and let out unexpected words.

“I’m suddenly reminded of a close friend from long ago.”

When Laurencia looked at him with round eyes, he smiled warmly and whispered in her ear again, lips against it.

“Though it’s been quite a while since I’ve seen him, I somehow have a premonition we’ll meet soon.”

For a moment, her expression stiffened slightly. A certain man immediately came to mind.

“When we meet, I’ll introduce you. You’ll probably like him.”

Laurencia quickly composed her expression and asked with a curious face.

“I’m already curious who it is? But surely, he’s not a burly warrior like you?”

“Haha! No. He is…”

Rubid paused briefly, then answered with a smile.

“Unlike me, he’s truly handsome. So much so that princesses from neighboring kingdoms competed to send him marriage proposals.”

Though sadly, he’s lost that status now…

The words that flowed through the man’s lips as they moved away disappeared soundlessly, buried in the orchestra’s performance reaching its climax.

But Laurencia heard those words clearly.

When the dance ended, the two faced each other with the same expressions as at the start and bowed elegantly.

“It was a pleasant time, Lauren.”

“When will you return to Morzen?”

“Probably the day after tomorrow, I think.”

“Before then, I’ll invite you to my palace. Let’s dine together.”

“It would be an honor. Then, I’ll be waiting.”

The man who greeted her with a light bow turned away without hesitation.

Laurencia also turned around refreshingly and headed to her seat.

Both knew well that if the conversation went on longer, it could cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Her face cooled considerably as she returned to her seat.

‘Did he deliberately let that slip? Could he know Ashar is here?’

She had a strong feeling the friend he mentioned was Ashar.

But she couldn’t figure out his intention in letting those words slip.

Most of all.

‘So much so that princesses from neighboring kingdoms competed to send him marriage proposals. Though sadly, he’s lost that status now…’

The meaning contained in those words was one thing.

‘Royalty.’

“You seemed quite pleased. Judging by how long this afterglow lasts.”

At the sudden voice, Laurencia’s head, which had been walking while staring into space, snapped up.