Chapter 3.8

“Huff… Huff…”  

Madame Green and Flory clutched their skirts as they hurried to the main entrance. After circling around half of the palace, they finally arrived at the grand entrance, where a line of magnificent carriages waited their turn to enter. Only members of the Imperial Family were allowed to ride their carriages through the gates, so everyone else had to disembark here, causing a long queue.  

“My feet feel like they’re blistered.”  

Flory complained, prompting Madame Green to smack her lightly on the back.  

“Is that what matters right now? Fix your hair and clothes immediately!”  

The perfectly styled hair and attire they had left the Astaroth Earl’s Mansion with were now a mess from their trek. Sweat dripped down their faces, smudging their makeup.  

“When we get home, I’m going to demand that fool of a coachman be fired immediately.”  

As Madame Green hurriedly tidied herself, she scanned the line of carriages. Each one bore the crest of a noble family, though she didn’t recognize which family most of them belonged to. However, the carriages were so opulent that she assumed their owners must be wealthy and prestigious. To think she would be attending the same party as these people! Filled with excitement, Madame Green grabbed Flory’s hand.  

“Come on, let’s go.”

The mother and daughter began walking along the road lined with carriages. Naturally, their presence drew attention as they weaved through the long line. Nobles waiting in their carriages to proceed forward turned their gazes toward the two, puzzled by the sight of people walking to the Imperial Palace’s main gate. It was their first time witnessing such a thing.  

Feeling the weight of their stares, Madame Green straightened her shoulders and raised her chin even higher.  

‘I’m also someone attending this party.’

It was only because of the foolish coachman that she had to walk here, but she was no different from those looking down at her from their carriages. At the entrance, an elderly palace attendant, impeccably dressed, was welcoming guests. His demeanor was polite yet not servile, exuding the dignity of the long-standing Imperial Family.  

Madame Green quickly stepped forward as soon as the attendant finished ushering in another group of guests. Despite the sudden appearance of the mother and daughter, the attendant remained unflustered, calmly observing their faces. Unable to endure the silent scrutiny, Madame Green impatiently thrust her invitation forward.  

“We are from the Astaroth Earl’s family.”  

“The Astaroth Earl’s family… I see.”  

With a graceful motion, the attendant accepted the invitation from Madame Green. He meticulously examined every detail—the texture of the paper, the handwriting, and the seal—making Madame Green grow increasingly anxious.  

‘Why is this taking so long?’  

Other guests were allowed entry after a brief, cheerful exchange without even showing their invitations!  

“Ahem!” 

Madame Green cleared her throat to draw the attendant’s attention.  

“Is there a problem with the invitation?”  

“Of course not. This is indeed an official invitation sent by the Imperial Family. It’s addressed to the Countess of Astaroth.”  

The attendant’s words confirmed there was no issue with the invitation. Relieved, Madame Green regained her confidence.  

“Then why haven’t you let us in yet? There’s a line of people waiting behind us. If we’re late to the banquet, will you take responsibility?”  

Her voice carried a hint of irritation, but the attendant responded calmly.  

“As I said, this invitation is addressed to the Countess of Astaroth.”  

“I have memorized the faces of everyone listed in the Nobles’ Yearbook. You are neither the Countess of Astaroth nor anyone I recognize.”  

The once polite and respectful voice turned cold.  

“How dare you impersonate a noble to sneak into the Imperial Banquet!”  

Madame Green’s eyes widened at the sharp rebuke.  

“What do you mean, impersonate a noble? What nonsense is this? I’m the Earl of Astaroth’s mother! I received this invitation from my daughter-in-law!”  

“Received the invitation? The Imperial Banquet is exclusively for those listed in the Nobles’ Yearbook. What kind of absurdity is this?”  

“But the invitation—!”  

“Invitations are sent merely to notify the date and time of the banquet. Did you think they were some sort of entry ticket?”  

“W-what?”  

A sudden realization struck Madame Green as she recalled the earlier scene. None of the nobles who stepped out of their carriages had presented invitations to the attendant. Stammering in shock, she was met with the attendant’s derisive smile.  

“Do you think this is the first time I’ve encountered someone like you? I don’t know how you obtained this invitation, but you’ll be thoroughly punished for theft and for impersonating a noble.”  

At the attendant’s subtle gesture, soldiers standing by rushed forward and seized Madame Green and Flory.  

“What is the meaning of this? I told you, I’m the Earl of Astaroth’s mother!”  

Madame Green shouted in protest, but the attendant paid her no mind.  

“Take them away immediately.”  

“Yes, Sir!”  

The soldiers firmly restrained Madame Green and Flory, dragging them through the main gate. Though they had finally entered the Imperial Palace as they had wished, their destination would not be the grand banquet hall but the prison.  

“Do you know who I am? Let me go this instant!”  

Madame Green’s voice echoed loudly, while Flory, lacking the courage to speak up, trembled with a pale face as she was dragged along. Meanwhile, another carriage arrived, and its passengers disembarked. The attendant, as if he had never coldly dismissed the mother and daughter, greeted the new guests with utmost courtesy.  

“Your Grace, Duke Etzel, and Duchess Etzel. I trust you have been well.”

***

“What?”  

“A mother and daughter claiming to be your mother and sister have been imprisoned.”  

“What? What are you talking about?”  

“We need you to come with us to confirm their identities.”  

Rowen had been enjoying drinks with his usual group, led by Marquis Felix, in the grand banquet hall of the Imperial Palace. The abrupt words of the palace attendant left him utterly dumbfounded.  

“In prison? My mother and sister?”  

“A pair of women were caught trying to enter the palace using an Imperial Banquet invitation. We need you to verify if they are indeed your family.”  

“This is ridiculous…”  

Rowen was about to dismiss the attendant’s words as nonsense when he suddenly remembered how his mother and sister had been brimming with excitement earlier, saying, “We’re going to a party today.” He closed his mouth tightly.  

‘Could they have meant this party?’  

The Imperial Banquet was strictly for those listed in the Nobles’ Yearbook. It was such an obvious rule among nobles that Rowen hadn’t even considered the possibility that the party his mother and sister mentioned was this one.  

“…Fine, let’s go.”  

Fearing the worst, Rowen quietly followed the palace attendant. Fortunately, Marquis Felix’s group seemed too engrossed in their drinks to have noticed the absurdity of the situation.  

As soon as Rowen entered the palace prison, he was greeted by the sound of sobbing and angry shouting. The voices were all too familiar, making Rowen grimace and clutch his head. A headache was already forming—it was a bad sign.  

“This way, Lord.”  

When the attendant led him further in, Rowen’s premonition became reality. Madame Green and Flory, dressed in extravagant gowns ill-suited for the setting, were locked inside. Their hair was disheveled, and their faces, streaked with tears and smeared makeup, looked ghastly.  

“Oh, my dear Earl!”  

Upon spotting Rowen, Madame Green rushed to the bars, reaching out her hands.  

“Teach these soldiers a lesson! They’re accusing us of impersonating nobles! How is bringing an invitation a crime?”  

Madame Green glared at the soldiers, so flustered that she even forgot to address Rowen respectfully as she usually did. Rowen glanced at the soldiers, then crouched down to whisper to his mother.  

“An invitation? What are you talking about? Only those listed in the Nobles’ Yearbook can attend the Imperial Banquet.”  

“What? But for other parties, an invitation is enough. If Ariana couldn’t attend, someone else could go in her place.”  

“This is the Imperial Banquet! Hosted by Her Majesty the Empress! Who would dare transfer Her Majesty’s invitation to someone else? Unless they had a valid reason for their absence!”  

Rowen’s sharp words made Madame Green shrink back.  

“I… I didn’t know. I thought the invitation was enough…”

Madame Green, who had been crestfallen, widened her eyes again.  

“Ariana didn’t say anything! That girl must’ve deliberately set me up! It’s all her fault!”  

“That’s not what’s important right now.”  

Rowen shot a glance at the soldiers and attendant standing behind him, looking visibly troubled. If word got out that his family, who were ‘not nobles,’ had committed such a foolish act, his reputation would be utterly ruined. He began to rack his brain, searching for a way to handle the situation without losing face. However, no matter how much he thought, he couldn’t come up with a solution. Solving problems in a noble manner was not his strong suit.  

“Earl?”  

The attendant who had escorted Rowen to the prison called out to him, as if asking whether he had finished confirming the situation. Rowen’s head spun.