It was thanks to Niol’s opinion that they couldn’t accept just anyone for a reception to select Ashlene’s stand-in.

This preliminary screening process was conducted by recording the names of young ladies who passed the criteria in a register. The attendants conducting this would mercilessly turn away anyone who fell even slightly short of Ashlene’s standards.

Under the premise that one must be in their finest form to meet His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess, already half of the young ladies had been rejected. While tired attendants were yawning, a cloaked young lady quietly appeared among the crowd.

“Oh?”

When one or two attendants were about to speak upon seeing the familiar face, the young lady quietly put her finger to her lips and smiled.

“Shh.”

Shortly after the young lady left, a clear name remained boldly written in the register.

‘Delia Averbit.’

* * *

Numerous carriages bearing elaborate crests lined up in front of the imperial palace. As if everyone had hurriedly had clothes made for this earlier-than-usual social event, dresses made of new fabrics gleamed under the lights.

In the main palace’s waiting room.

Behind the doors to the banquet hall where the Crown Prince and Princess, the pillars of the Empire, would be seated, the lined-up young ladies were busy checking their appearances. The madams who had followed their daughters with nervous hearts were also quite intense.

“Tighten the waistband a bit more.”

“I told you not to touch the hair!”

“Sit carefully so the dress doesn’t wrinkle.”

“Bring me a glass of water here too.”

“Mother! I told you my face swells even if I just drink water. Never mind.”

From primary-colored dresses embroidered to catch the eye to heavily stacked hair ornaments. Every possible method to show off individuals was utilized in the clamorous attempt to catch the Crown Prince’s eye.

Amidst all this, there was one young lady maintaining a calm state with a smile on her lips. In particular, this slender young lady drew attention just by standing still.

A woman with flowing dark brown hair and amber eyes.

Chlois Bennett.

She maintained an upright posture while standing in the center of the waiting room. Leisurely responding to the many who sent eye greetings.

Those mesmerized by her bearing whispered among themselves.

“She’s clearly the most eye-catching lady this year too. His Highness the Crown Prince won’t be able to help but notice her.”

“They say this early reception must be about finding His Highness’s bride. Why, I heard some young lady couldn’t even get her name on the register because they said her hair texture wasn’t good enough!”

“Ahem!”

That’s when a servant’s throat-clearing was softly heard. The servant tapped the wall with the back of his hand to focus attention in the waiting room. Then stepping back one step, he began calling the young ladies’ names one by one.

The young ladies lined up in front of the door in the order they were registered. How could they not be nervous? The young lady at the front fanned herself to calm her nerves.

The servant was already reading the end of the register.

“Miss Chlois Bennett.”

Chlois went to stand at the very back of the long line. Many gazes followed her.

“I knew it would be like this.”

“I’m so envious……”

The last young lady to enter earned the right to have the first dance with the Crown Prince. It was an imperial custom. That’s why everyone coveted this position.

It seemed that like last year, Chlois would be decorating the end of the first social event of the season.

But suddenly Chlois’s sparkling eyes slightly furrowed. Because the servant’s voice, which should have stopped with her name, continued.

It was an unfamiliar name.

“Miss Delia Averbit. Ah, there you are. Know that you’re the last in order. Well then.”

To think there was one more person behind her.

Chlois sharply turned her head to look at Lady Bennett.

“Mother……! Wasn’t I supposed to be last?”

But the lady also seemed clueless. They had certainly paid extra money to secure the last position. What was going on?

As Lady Bennett approached the servant to raise questions, a small voice that could have been either lamentation or worry emerged from a corner.

“I’m…… I’m last? This won’t do!”

Chlois craned her neck, curious to see who had stolen her opportunity. But before she could properly look, the banquet hall doors swung wide open.

Under a suffocating silence, the commotion in the waiting room also quieted. Heads peeked out from both sides of the line trying to see the Crown Prince and Princess through the door. Their dignity and appearance were beyond anyone’s praise.

Soon the melody of string instruments began flowing as the music started. The heavy atmosphere brought by the silence also somewhat dissipated.

The servant announced and introduced the first young lady on the register. The young lady walked into the banquet hall alone, and the door closed again.

“……”

“……”

After a brief silence, the admiration that they held back burst forth all at once.

“Did you see?”

“My, he seems to have grown even taller than last year!”

“His, His Grace Duke Tranade was there too……! Right?”

The waiting room’s atmosphere heated up with tension and excitement.

Before conversations could continue, the door opened again and the next young lady entered.

And the next, and the next, and the next after that.

Though it took quite some time, no one showed signs of boredom or weariness. There wasn’t even enough time to worry about how to better catch the eye of the Crown Prince and Grand Duke.

Lady Bennett, feeling urgent, was quietly pressing the servant.

“Didn’t I say change it?”

“I’m sorry, but that seems impossible.”

“Do you not know who I am?”

“I do. Lady Bennett. However, the register order is His Highness the Crown Prince’s jurisdiction. I cannot help you at my level.”

While small words were exchanged between Lady Bennett and the servant, young ladies continued entering.

The young ladies would walk into the hall, greet the Crown Prince, Princess, and Grand Duke, exchange brief words, then return to their seats.

Meanwhile, Niol had been alternating between compliments like “Your dress is very beautiful” or “Your hair is dazzling.” Kaiel consistently kept his mouth shut and didn’t even give a glance to anyone.

Just now, after complimenting another young lady’s dress, Niol whispered softly to Ashlene.

“Ashlene, what do you think?”

Ashlene shook her head.

“I don’t think there’s anyone yet. What about you, Brother?”

“I think the same. There are quite a few nice young ladies, but well…… They’re not enough to substitute for you. Besides, their gazes alone show they’re not siblings to act as my sister.”

“Brother……!”

Ashlene lightly hit Kaiel and Niol’s backs where it couldn’t be seen. Her gentle expression remained unchanged.

“First Brother has only been complimenting dresses and hair since earlier! Look more sincerely.”

“I have been.”

“Second Brother, say something, anything!”

“……”

In place of the silent Kaiel, Niol opened his mouth.

“Don’t worry, Ashlene. He’ll surely try to speak soon.”

Kaiel turned his gaze sideways to look at him. Niol shrugged his shoulders. Then, finding something amusing, he brought his fist to his mouth and chuckled quietly, yet even that was tinged with dignity and propriety.

The young ladies present sent gazes as if enchanted by his smile.

“How can he be so perfect?”

“If His Grace the Grand Duke would smile like that once, it would be no joke.”

With his expressionless face and sharp gaze, Kaiel was adding a strange tension to the atmosphere of the grand and splendid banquet hall.

Just then, the servant’s voice rang through the banquet hall again.

“Miss Chlois Bennett!”

Ashlene sent a small eye signal to Niol. Niol smiled brightly as if saying not to worry.

The door opened and soon soft footsteps began echoing through the quiet hall. Elegant walking ingrained since childhood and a relaxed smile. Plus a voluminous blue velvet dress.

“Wow……”

Admiring voices murmured around.

Chlois walked forward, using the familiar reactions as background music. Finally, she stopped in front of the Crown Prince, Princess, and Grand Duke.

When she raised her head after bowing with bent knees, her amber eyes sparkled in the light. Niol stepped forward and spoke different words than before.

“You remain beautiful as ever, Miss Bennett.”

“You flatter me.”

The young ladies sent envious and admiring gazes toward Chlois.

“Did you hear? For the first time, he directly complimented her instead of her hair or dress! I heard there were even marriage talks last time?”

“I guess His Highness’s interest is in Chlois after all……”

Then one young lady cast a glance at Kaiel.

“His Grace the Grand Duke hasn’t even greeted anyone yet. There’s still a chance. Actually, the Grand Duke is more my type.”

“That’s quite an ambitious dream. His Grace won’t show interest in anyone today, okay? Look at that icy expression.”

That’s when it happened.

The servant’s resounding voice filled the vast hall.

“Miss Delia Averbit!”