Finally, after countless preparations, the day of the celebration arrived.

Under the dazzling light of the chandeliers, rich music filled the vast hall.

Bookshelves with delicate decorations on mahogany bases lined the walls. The shelves were packed with books whose spines were so elaborately decorated they were nearly ornaments themselves.

‘Good, I like it.’

Once decorated, it had quite a similar atmosphere to Rashid’s office. Placing paintings and statues related to famous stories between the bookshelves enhanced the feeling even more. The effort of busily collecting all sorts of items from various workshops had paid off.

That wasn’t all.

In the middle of the rounded stairs leading up to the gallery around the edge of the ballroom, I placed a huge marble sculpture of a sailing ship and a mermaid. It was specially commissioned for today.

I also opened up rooms that I had decorated with various concepts. The room decorated like a forest using wooden products would contribute to making reality feel more dreamlike, fitting for fairy tales, while the gold and silver room suited mythological stories.

The servants wore red toy soldier uniforms, and the maids wore white candy fairy dresses covered in lace.

I felt excited and thrilled seeing ideas I had only imagined actually implemented. I hoped the attending guests would feel like they had fallen into a world of novels, like they had stepped into a fairy tale.

Only after checking the interior decorations, music, food and drink preparations, and the costumes of the servants helping with the ball did I begin my own preparations.

Since Rashid and I were a couple, we decided to coordinate our costumes to match the theme.

‘Though truthfully, I wanted to dress separately.’

I thought it might fuel rumors of discord, but when Rashid said he wouldn’t dress up at all if that was the case, I finally had to give up.

‘He’s so sensitive about unnecessary things.’

I put on the prepared dress and wore the Celestial Necklace. Though it currently held the day’s form, soon it would turn sunset crimson, and then stars would appear on the dark blue night. The jewel changed its appearance unpredictably against white skin.

When I went downstairs after finishing my preparations, Rashid was waiting for me.

“You look beautiful, wife.”

“The costume suits you quite well too.”

I readily replied to Rashid’s courtesy. In truth, his beauty couldn’t be captured by merely saying the costume suited him quite well. In today’s special attire, Rashid was even more eye-catching.

「If one were to make a winter camellia flower into human form, would it look like this?」

What praise. Like a devoted fan.

Well, it’s true though. He was so striking that I felt a bit shy standing next to him, but what could I do? I forced a smile and stood beside him.

As the time came, guests began arriving one by one. Servants moved busily to guide them.

“Duke and Duchess Ailan and their son have arrived.”

“Count Meintus and his daughter have arrived.”

“Marquis Caligo……”

Everyone appeared in splendid costumes matching the invitations I had sent. Some as pirates from adventure novels, some as country girls from fairy tales, some as fairies from beyond the western mountains. The hall quickly filled with brilliance.

“Thank you for inviting us.”

“I’m glad you could attend. Thanks to you, this seems like it will be a very enjoyable celebration.”

“How could I miss such an interesting party?”

「Countess Galloway, dressed as a forest fairy, laughed. She was already excited, anticipating the fun times ahead.」

The people’s reactions were quite good. I was happy that it seemed to be a successful plan.

While there were masquerade balls here where faces were covered, there hadn’t been costume balls that thoroughly embraced a theme like this. So today’s celebration must have felt quite interesting.

On one side, servants were busy carrying gifts. These were presents brought by the guests to celebrate Rashid’s birthday.

Rare jewels, mysterious flora and fauna, precious ancient books, decorative rapiers, and artisan-made objets d’art came in one after another.

“Glory to the Rose. His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess have arrived.”

With the servant’s announcement, Castor and Jeanne finally appeared.

‘The most important guests of this celebration have arrived.’

At once, everyone in the hall bowed their heads in respect.

Only when Castor gestured did people return to their normal posture.

“We are honored by your presence, Your Highness.”

“Happy birthday, Duke Penvernon.”

When Rashid paid his respects, Castor responded with a smile. He always had a refreshing presence like clear sunlight. His perfectly radiant blonde hair and water-blue eyes held a charm contrasting with Rashid’s.

While Rashid and Castor exchanged words, I greeted Jeanne.

“I’m truly delighted you could come.”

“Even if it weren’t the Duke’s birthday, I would have wanted to come to such a celebration! You and the Duke are… Julio and Romina!”

“That’s right, Your Highness. I’m glad you recognized us.”

“They’re the lovers of the century! Any woman in Grandia would know them!”

Julio and Romina are the protagonists of a romance novel of the same name, 《Julio and Romina》. While the names certainly remind me of something, although similar to the story I know, the content wasn’t exactly the same.

The same goes for other books. I read many books to prepare for the celebration. Among them, while there were often books that reminded me of specific stories from the real world, none were completely identical. Only 《Pedro and Ines》 was the exception.

‘Besides, Pedro and Ines were real people, not fictional characters.’

It was a matter that couldn’t be compared to Romeo and Juliet, the characters from the novel.

Actually, I wanted to visit the author of that novel. I was curious about why and how they wrote such a story.

But the author was already deceased, a figure from the last century. It was unfortunate.

The tall and slender Jeanne held a large bow while wearing a white empire dress. I immediately recognized who she was dressed as.

“You’re Diana, Your Highness? And His Highness is Apollo.”

“Correct.”

“It suits you both so well!”

Apollo and Diana were sibling deities under the god Morea.

She looked like the perfect image of Diana, as if she had just stepped out of mythology.

Castor was dressed as Apollo, wearing a laurel wreath. The noble members of the imperial family playing along with my plan—I suppose I should consider it an honor.

“My lady, you look beautiful today.”

Castor offered the compliment. I slightly bowed my head in response.

“You’re too kind.”

Today’s party shone even brighter because of these two people. Moreover, for them too, today’s party was worth attending. You could say our interests aligned.

‘Thanks to the Crown Prince, so many young ladies came.’

I never expected such good attendance. Since the Crown Prince was the highest-ranking marriage prospect, women hoping for a chance encounter or even a glance were everywhere.

‘Since he rarely appears at such gatherings, they’re all trying not to miss this opportunity.’

My face felt hot from all the gazes, sharp as hunting hawks eyeing their prey.

Trying to avoid those stares, I hurriedly offered my greetings.

“I hope you have an enjoyable time.”

“That seems to depend on how well the Duke and Duchess entertain us.”

Castor smiled. His eyes remained unchanged while only his lips curved into a gentle arc.

“You should enjoy yourself on your own, being the Crown Prince and all.”

Jeanne retorted with a sulky tone.

“I agree.”

Rashid casually chimed in. Ah, this person. Jeanne may be his sister, but you’re just a subject.

“Hahaha, of course…… we should serve you wholeheartedly……”

“I look forward to it. Ah, and……”

“Yes?”

“The necklace suits you well.”

Castor responded only to me, ignoring what the others had said. As they entered the center of the hall, numerous nobles flocked to him and Jeanne.

‘Wow, they’re like piranhas……”

That brutal scene reminded me of a documentary I’d watched long ago.

Following the two VIPs, familiar faces appeared one after another.

Karla came with her husband. Count Spendal greeted me warmly, saying he had heard much about me from his wife.

Patricia’s companion was her brother.

“Congratulations, Your Grace. My father is unwell and asked me to convey his wishes in his stead.”

Patricia moved with perfect manners, elegant and dignified.

「Her father Livius was still someone who would become enraged at the sight of Rashid.」

Hmm, Patricia must be the subject of this sentence.

「The image of him raging about how he could possibly celebrate the birthday of the one who imprisoned the mother who bore her was still vivid in her mind.」

Ah…..

I could only blink my eyes, unsure of how to react.

Patricia reached out her hand toward me.

“Thank you for inviting me, Alisa.”

Perhaps conscious of the surrounding gazes, she was affectionate as if we had never had any falling out. Her words were gentle and her expression warm, making it impossible to respond with any sharp remarks.

「Patricia behaved like a proper noble lady.」

I nodded inwardly at the next sentence that came to mind. Regardless of how I felt about her behavior, she was acting appropriately as a noble’s daughter for now.

Her brother Derek, on the other hand, well…

“Congratulations, Duke Penvernon.”

“Ah.”

Rashid’s eyebrow twisted askew.

「Though he was the heir to Duke Limnike, he was still just an heir. He wasn’t of equal rank with Rashid, who held his title.」

It meant he was being arrogant and presumptuous.

Perhaps because there were many people today, sentences kept coming to mind more frequently. After being dormant for a while, it was finally proving useful again.

After the Limnike siblings entered the hall, I whispered in a small voice.

“They don’t look much alike.”

“The Limnike family will fall in the next generation.”

“W-What are you suddenly saying? Shh!”