***

The day of Prince Sion’s debut ball.

Before the ball, a luncheon was held exclusively for the Herta imperial family.

Although it was called the imperial family, it wasn’t just the Emperor, Empress, and their children—all close collateral relatives were gathered as well, making quite a number.

It was a luncheon where people filled dozens of tables throughout the hall, far too many to sit around a single table.

Within the hall where everyone was quietly conversing, the table where only the Emperor, Empress, and siblings sat was completely silent.

Not all siblings were present at the table.

Two princes were absent with the excuse of being ill, and Leticia, knowing they originally had golden eyes, thought this was understandable.

What was strange, however, was Emperor Yurik and Crown Prince Peyton.

Both had clearly lost their golden eyes. Yet now their eyes were distinctly golden.

‘What have they done to their eyes?’

The Emperor seemed fine, but Crown Prince Peyton kept frowning or grabbing the wrong utensils. As if he couldn’t see clearly.

Leticia spoke to Peyton, who was picking up a dessert fork while the main dish was in front of him.

“Brother Peyton. Has your eyesight worsened considerably? The knife is right next to it.”

Peyton flinched at her remark.

His face contorted with irritation, but seemingly not wanting to draw attention, he responded curtly in a suppressed voice.

“I know.”

Not even realizing how strange it was that he didn’t get angry at his much younger sibling’s correction, given his typically hot-tempered nature.

However, the siblings were more curious about observing Leticia, who was sitting as “Prince Sion,” than about Peyton’s patience.

They also knew Leticia wasn’t the real Prince Sion.

They were simply overlooking it because the Emperor tacitly approved.

Their glances were tinged with displeasure, but Leticia smiled as if unbothered.

After all, hadn’t her teacher once said:

What are they going to do about it?’

Then, one prince who had been showing his displeasure at someone daring to impersonate royalty, despite the Emperor’s tacit approval, suddenly addressed Leticia.

“You’ve changed a lot, Sion.”

At this pointed question, Leticia shrugged.

“Of course, Brother. I’m at an age where I grow day by day.”

The second prince, Rasiel, who regarded Leticia as his helper, added words to support her.

“He’s already old enough to debut in society, so it’s natural he’s different from when he was younger. Congratulations on becoming an adult, Sion.”

“It’s all thanks to Father.”

The corner of Emperor Yurik’s mouth could be seen twitching as he tried to maintain a calm expression.

Though Leticia found the current situation quite uncomfortable, watching such expressions made her think it was worth it.

The imperial family members all disliked her, yet outwardly treated her as a prince. The expressions they made while doing so were all so amusing.

Her appetite returned, and she cleaned her plate thoroughly.

To be honest, she also did it because their mouth corners twitched even more when she acted that way.

After leaving the luncheon, Leticia headed to the room provided by the Emperor to prepare for the evening ball.

Entering the room, she found Aina in a maid’s attire, inspecting the formal dress that had been prepared in advance.

“You’re here?”

Before she could answer, Astrid rushed over, placed her hands on both of Leticia’s cheeks, and examined her face.

“…Teacher?”

“How was it?”

“It was fun.”

“Well done!”

It was quite strange to find it fun rather than feeling sad or hateful toward those she was seeking revenge against.

But Astrid patted Leticia’s head and shoulders enthusiastically, saying she had done very well.

“You’re wonderful. Beautiful. Adorable. How do you listen so well? My beautiful one.”

Astrid was wearing a maid’s attire like Aina.

Noticing this belatedly, Leticia tilted her head.

“Your Grace, you could have entered secretly without needing to disguise yourself in this outfit.”

“Hmm. I sensed some mages here, though of low caliber.”

“Don’t mages rarely leave the magic tower? You and I are rather exceptions.”

“Mages who lack talent and are weeded out often prefer to come out into the world to receive recognition. The imperial family spares no expense to win them over, just for being mages.”

“Ah, so that’s why…?”

Leticia unconsciously muttered to herself, recalling the faint magical power that had flickered in the Emperor’s eyes during the luncheon.

Astrid asked in return.

“Why what?”

“The Emperor’s eyes were still golden. The Crown Prince was the same, but he seemed to have some medicine in his eyes. However, the Emperor didn’t seem to be using medication, so I wondered how he did it, but if there are mages… Hmm. But can eye color be changed with magic?”

“It wouldn’t be easy. More precisely, it’s not that changing is difficult, but changing without side effects is difficult. Leti, did the Emperor’s eyes look normal to you?”

“Yes.”

Astrid fell into contemplation.

True to her nature as a mage who must immediately investigate anything she’s curious about, she paced around the room, deep in thought.

“That can’t be right. With the level of mages sensed here, forget about going blind, their eyes would explode…”

Something chilling was heard, but Leticia pretended not to hear it.

How long did Astrid pace around the room like that?

Finally, Astrid raised her head abruptly and, unable to contain her investigative spirit, rushed out of the room.

“My lovely disciple. Your teacher will catch something interesting! Just wait a bit!”

“….”

“…She’s gone.”

Aina belatedly muttered about Astrid’s sudden disappearance.

Leticia quietly closed the door that Astrid had left wide open.

“Isn’t there too little solemnity?”

“I actually prefer it this way. I think the imperial family will feel more insulted if they’re crushed by someone with that kind of attitude.”

“I don’t think she has that attitude specifically to insult them… well. If Aina is happy with it, that’s good.”

Suddenly, just as she was about to say that’s just how Astrid’s personality is, Leticia hastily changed the subject.

My teacher is a kind and cool person, definitely not ill-tempered. She’s just a little unique. Yes.

“But Prince, what Her Grace said she would catch… surely it’s not the mages in the imperial palace…?”

“….”

“I’ll be in that room over there, so please don’t call me before you change into your formal attire. I’ll pretend I didn’t see or hear anything.”

Aina, master of evasion, quickly disappeared into the adjacent room.

Her ability to detect signs of trouble was almost at the level of prophecy.

***

As the sunset began, carriages could be seen arriving in the distance.

‘…And Teacher still hasn’t returned.’

Leticia felt increasingly ominous as Astrid’s absence grew longer.

It wasn’t that she was worried about her Teacher but rather anxious about what trouble Astrid might be causing.

She leaned against the terrace and tried hard to think positive thoughts.

But the incomparably beautiful garden scenery provided little comfort to Leticia’s mind.

This feeling of having released something that shouldn’t be unleashed in the imperial palace.

‘No. Think of something else. Something else, something… Huh?’

And as she shook her head, an upside-down Chamuka appeared before her eyes.

“….”

“….”

…Wanting to think of something else didn’t mean she wanted to suddenly make eye contact with an upside-down handsome man.

Chamuka, who smoothly descended onto the terrace, explained.

“I just wanted to check inside briefly. To see if you were doing well. I was going to leave right after looking.”

After a pause, Chamuka added, “…I didn’t know you’d be alone.”

She hadn’t even thought about being alone, but suddenly Chamuka’s words made her conscious of it.

More precisely, the current situation of being alone with him on this terrace.

Why… are you mentioning that I’m alone… in such a meaningful way…?