Khalid also hid his true feelings and smiled.

“Thank you for the interesting story. I hope you find a good match as you wish, Princess.”

With the emperor’s positive reception, no one present could object.

Not the delegates, nor the nobles of Ferzen.

Even if they found Systea’s words rude, it wasn’t their place to shout, “What nonsense! His Majesty is already seeing another woman!” Systea had considered that far.

‘The princess of the Kingdom of Shatra… what a formidable woman.’

Aristie somehow felt refreshed. It was as if Systea had volunteered as her black knight, wielding the sword on her behalf.

Meanwhile, Estelle, who had heard all the whispers among the people, secretly clenched her teeth.

‘This crazy–! Who is that woman?’

With Aristie’s remarks and Systea’s boldness, Estelle’s efforts to stand out among the nobles were in vain. No, it wasn’t just the effort; it felt like Systea was calling her vulgar, and she couldn’t contain her anger.

‘Who does she think she is? Just because she’s a princess? Hey! Just wait until I become the Empress of this great empire. I’ll chew you up and spit you out!’

Estelle screamed internally. She gritted her teeth so hard that her jaw ached as if she had developed a cavity.

Khalid met her secretly under the pretext of considering the future Empress. Therefore, while there were rumors of the emperor having a woman, people didn’t know it was her.

She wanted to make it public even now, but Khalid would never allow it.

Besides, she and Khalid weren’t lovers as people whispered. At least not yet.

‘Khalid…’

Feeling anxious, Estelle turned her head to Khalid, trying to put on the most vulnerable expression.

Hoping he would look at her, at her pitiful self.

‘…Hello? Hey, handsome. Emperor! Look over here!’

But Khalid didn’t turn.

He didn’t even acknowledge her.

He just smiled at Aristie, as if he had gained some insight from Systea’s words.

‘Oh, geez, this is annoying.’

Estelle barely held back her face from contorting and lowered her eyes.

* * *

The next evening. Following the previous day’s banquet, a ball was held at the imperial palace to welcome the visiting delegation.

Unlike the banquet attended only by high-ranking nobles, the imperial ball was a large-scale event inviting nobles from various classes.

Aiden’s attendance at the ball, despite avoiding social gatherings, was for that reason. No, if it were merely a large event, he would have skipped it as usual.

Since he began stuttering, he had become a laughingstock at any gathering. He hadn’t even debuted in society long after reaching adulthood.

But this ball was hosted by his father, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

He couldn’t attend yesterday’s banquet, as it was a place for conversation, but he had no excuse to skip today, which concerned the honor of the Yentrice Duchy.

“Don’t worry, brother. Take it easy. I’m here for you.”

Aristie actively became a shield for the nervous Aiden. Whenever someone tried to talk to him, she would step in to change the subject or make an excuse that her brother wasn’t feeling well.

Thanks to her, Aiden was able to maintain his dignity with relatively short dialogues.

But everything has its limits. When the time came for the Emperor and the future Empress to have their first dance, Aiden was eventually left alone.

“Brother, it’s best if you go to the garden for a while. I’ll come find you right after a few dances.”

Aristie worried about Aiden until the moment she left.

Their father was busy entertaining the delegation. Without any particular friends to look after him, who would protect her brother if she left?

Aiden understood his sister’s feelings better than anyone. He tried to relax his tension and smiled gently.

“You treat me like a… child. Don’t w-worry about me and en…joy your time.”

Aiden hurriedly left the ballroom, not wanting to be a hindrance to his sister.

Only after watching him disappear did Aristie head towards Khalid.

* * *

“I greet the sun of the Empire.”

The now tiresome greeting that could come out even in her sleep was uttered by Aristie once again.

Khalid made a cloudy expression at the mention of ‘the sun,’ but when he stood facing her on stage, he regained his radiant brilliance.

A breathtakingly attractive face. Enough to forcibly remind her that he was a man before being an Emperor.

Along with the intense musk scent that enveloped him.

“I thought yesterday was the best, but today you’re even more beautiful.”

As Aristie, as if entranced, lowered her eyelids while looking at Khalid, he gazed down at her with the same eyes.

Aristie wore a dress with a dreamy feel, transitioning from lavender to deep purple today.

Pearls sewn like stars on the pastel-toned skirt sparkled like a galaxy. Her hair was half-tied with butterfly ornaments, and the rest flowed in waves, making her look like a goddess of dreams.

“It’s an important event, so I put some effort into it.”

Aristie omitted ‘for my father’ and answered, focusing more on maintaining the curve of her lips than on words.

As the music started, Khalid led his fiancée with utmost skill. Praises poured in from all around for the enchanting dance performance by the picturesque couple.

“The most perfect couple I’ve ever seen!”

“Both of them have such overwhelming presence.”

“They’re so beautiful, they’d be the stars of any ball they attend, hoho.”

“His Majesty’s reign is already famous, but I didn’t know he was so outstanding in appearance too.”

“And what about the future Empress? How did the late Emperor know to choose her as His Majesty’s partner so early on…”

Amidst the flood of compliments, Khalid focused solely on Aristie. In truth, he seemed somewhat tense.

It didn’t appear to be just because of the dance. How long have they known each other?

Eighteen years is enough time to notice at least a change in mood, if not the inner thoughts of the other.

‘This is definitely that… The same restlessness as yesterday, wanting to say something.’

Her intuition was spot-on.

When Aristie’s eyes met Khalid’s, he seized the moment and opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Actually…”

“Please speak, Your Majesty.”

‘Yes. You’ve made me curious enough, so now spill it out. Stop just twitching your lips like a puppy needing to go.’

Seeing herself secretly throwing a rebuke that she wouldn’t have dreamed of in the past, Aristie realized she had changed somehow.

Since when?

Was it because of the deviation? Because of Ryuel’s influence?

“…I saw you at the Harvest Festival, with Prince Icaryuel.”

“……!”

Aristie, whose thoughts were drifting elsewhere, snapped back to attention at Khalid’s confession. As the rhythm suddenly quickened, Khalid grabbed her hand and spun her outward.

Aristie’s body twirled away and then back in, her dress fluttering like a dream in various shades.

“You saw…”

When she dpun back into Khalid’s arms, Aristie murmured as she matched her body to the rhythm.

She had suspected, and it turned out to be true. No wonder he seemed quite surprised to see Ryuel too.

Khalid seemed to want to pretend not to know until the end. But eventually, he couldn’t hold back and brought it up.

Who knows what made him so anxious.

“Yes. I met Prince Icaryuel by chance that day. We didn’t even know who each other was.”

Although somewhat flustered, Aristie decided to act confidently. It’s not like she could use the excuse of being a conversation partner like someone else.

She almost kissed Ryuel, but their lips didn’t actually touch.

Probably…

Surely…?

…Yes. When in doubt, believe so. So there was nothing special to hide.

She even thought it was better to be caught with Ryuel than to be seen alone. Ryuel was a man who could elevate her status as a partner.

Unlike someone like Estelle. Unlike the wicked woman who ensnares and submerges her opponent like a snake. She felt sorry for Khalid, who had become Estelle’s prey.

“So that’s what happened.”

Khalid responded as if he understood. However, contrary to his words, his expression was still full of suspicion.

Growing anxious, he finally asked a direct question.

“Was there a reason you met?”

“Yes.”

Aristie nodded confidently.

“He saved me when I was about to fall into the river.”

“You were about to fall into the river?”

Khalid’s voice grew louder in surprise.

“Why didn’t you tell me!”

“There wasn’t really… a reason to…”

Startled, Aristie opened her eyes wide but quickly calmed Khalid, who had stopped, and returned to the music.

“I didn’t actually fall in. There’s no need to cause unnecessary worry, is there?”

‘Besides, the reason was because I was stunned to see Your Majesty with Estelle.’

Aristie skillfully swallowed the words that almost slipped out. Honestly, even if she had really fallen into the river, she wouldn’t have told Khalid.

On the other hand, she found it oddly amusing that Khalid was more shocked by the fact she almost fell into the water than by meeting Ryuel. She hadn’t actually fallen, after all.

“It was a great relief that Prince Icaryuel was there. It could have been a disaster.”