Stella watched with a touch of regret as Darren and Lianne set off for Conpagno with the spinach.

“Go and sell well,” she said.

“Yes, Princess. It’s really delicious, so it will sell like hotcakes just like last time,” Lianne replied eagerly.

Lianne was filling in for Brynn, who was supposed to dress Stella today. It was her first time going to the market to sell crops, and she seemed very excited.

“We’ll sell out quickly and return soon,” Darren added confidently. After all, this spinach was fresher and tastier than any he had ever tried. He planned to take two sacks full of it.

Even though it was just spinach, selling it was quite enjoyable. Stella would have loved to go personally, but today was an important day.

It was the day of the party hosted by Melissa Frentium, an event Milla had been eagerly anticipating.

As soon as the two left for Conpagno, Stella’s preparations began.

Stella had brought only ten dresses with her.

Of these, only about four were suitable for wearing to a party. The rest were beautiful enough but too plain for a special event like today.

“Princess, how about this dress?” Brynn asked, holding a satin dress as blue as the sea.

“I like it,” Stella replied.

“No, no. How about this dress?” Brynn quickly changed her mind and brought a dress as white as snow. The dress was dusted with fine pearl powder that shimmered softly with every movement.

Both dresses looked stunningly beautiful to Stella, but Brynn wanted to make the princess stand out even more, so she was being extra cautious.

“That dress is pretty too,” Stella said.

After staring intently at the two dresses, Brynn made up her mind and chose the white one. Now it was time for Brynn and Milla to shine.

* * *

The party hosted by Melissa took place at the Ruby Hall in the imperial city.

Although it was an annex, the fact that Melissa, who wasn’t even royalty, was hosting a party within the imperial city was an official acknowledgment of her importance to the Emperor.

Especially since Ruby Hall was traditionally used by the Empress for private gatherings, the nobles had no doubt that Melissa was destined to become Empress.

“Marchioness, thank you for inviting me,” Luciel said, approaching Melissa with a bright smile.

“Thank you for attending. I hope you have a wonderful time,” Melissa replied.

Luciel was the only daughter of Duke Malak.

Melissa, as always, responded with a formal smile and then moved on. Luciel, who had approached her with familiarity, felt her face harden at Melissa’s stiff response, just like with everyone else.

Luciel, who firmly believed the world revolved around her, was one of the few who thought that Melissa was merely a friend of the Emperor, nothing more, nothing less.

Though she wanted to turn away and return to her admiring followers, she held back. There was something she needed to hear from Melissa.

Swallowing her pride, Luciel followed closely behind Melissa and asked in a hushed voice, “Marchioness Melissa, is there a reason you invited the princesses from the Plant District to today’s party?”

None of the noble ladies interacted privately with the princesses who were here as hostages. There was no need to build friendships with them, nor was there anything to gain from princesses of lesser nations.

“It’s good to be friendly with everyone,” Melissa replied.

Contrary to the special reason Luciel had guessed, Melissa’s answer was plain and formal. But Luciel wasn’t ready to give up.

“But there are princesses from other districts too. Why the Plant District?” Luciel pressed.

Though they were all hostages, the treatment of the princesses varied according to their country’s status. Among them, the Plant District included the most minor nations.

Luciel smirked, as though she were looking down on them, and Melissa looked her straight in the eye and said, “They are princesses of a nation. If, by any chance, we fail to show proper respect and tarnish the Empire’s honor, both I and His Majesty the Emperor would find it very regrettable.”

At Melissa’s indirect words, Luciel pouted and replied, “But they’re still just hostages.”

Luciel was a young lady only a year younger than herself. At nineteen, she was well past the age of marriage, and it wouldn’t be strange to have a child by now. Yet, Luciel often behaved like an immature child.

Melissa, having nothing more to say, nodded slightly to Luciel and moved elsewhere.

She wasn’t particularly close with the other young ladies either, but after talking to Luciel, she felt a surge of irritation that hadn’t been there before.

“The princesses from the Plant District have arrived,” someone announced.

There was a commotion at the entrance as the princesses began to enter Ruby Hall one by one. It was the moment Melissa had been waiting for.

Melissa approached the princesses entering the party and, as the host, offered her formal thanks for their attendance in turn. And finally.

“Princess Stella Rune Oberlite,” someone announced.

Stella, whom Melissa had been so eager to meet, appeared.

The first emotion Melissa felt upon seeing Stella was that she was ordinary.

Among the many women present, she wasn’t exceptionally beautiful, nor was she adorned with expensive jewelry purchased with abundant wealth.

Stella, dressed in a way that was neither too plain nor overly extravagant, entered Ruby Hall with a slightly nervous expression.

“Princess Stella, thank you for attending the party.”

Melissa greeted Stella, observing her closely.

Stella, momentarily captivated by the lavish interior of Ruby Hall, gracefully returned the greeting as soon as she noticed Melissa’s approach.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

The princesses who had greeted Melissa earlier were guided into Ruby Hall by attendants. However, for some reason, Melissa did not assign an attendant to guide Stella and simply stared intently at her.

“Is there something you wish to say to me…?”

Stella asked, puzzled by the unusual gaze directed at her.

The look reminded her of the gaze Duke Will had given her during his recent visit to Verdura Castle.

It was a look that seemed to desire something. But someone as distinguished as Marchioness Melissa couldn’t possibly want anything from her.

Could it be that Marquess Melissa also wanted her pickaxe?

As Stella entertained this odd thought and remained cautious, Melissa smiled warmly and extended her hand.

“No, I just wanted to become friends with you.”

“…With me?”

The unexpected remark caused a slight delay in Stella’s response. Among all the noble ladies and princesses who had entered the party, Stella was the only one to whom Melissa showed personal interest.

Naturally, everyone’s attention turned to Stella, which was not what she wanted at all.

“Yes, somehow I feel we would get along well.”

“Do you know anything about me?”

Stella felt foolish even as she asked the question. How could Marchioness Melissa possibly know about her?

But Melissa’s response left Stella astonished.

“Of course, I know well. Who wouldn’t know about Princess Stella’s dazzling performance at the Rose Hunt?”

Stella suppressed the urge to reply that many people didn’t know and instead smiled awkwardly.

Before she realized it, the two of them had moved to the center of Ruby Hall. Since the party was exclusively for women, there was no designated dance area.

Instead, a table stretched across the center of the hall, laden with food as extravagant as high-priced decorations and artworks.

“Have you always enjoyed hunting?”

Melissa asked with an intrigued look.

“No, that was my first time.”

“For a first timer, your performance was quite outstanding. It was very impressive.”

“Thank you.”

She seemed like an unremarkable woman. Even her voice was ordinary, leaving Melissa puzzled as to why Kai had been captivated by her that day.

Was it really just because she had seen the purple-horned lizard? Melissa’s interest in Stella quickly waned.

* * *

The mountain of paperwork never seemed to diminish.

The Emperor, once focused, used to work through tasks with frightening speed, but lately, he had been stopping abruptly, as if something was broken.

Harman was convinced that the Emperor was troubled by something he couldn’t speak about, especially after the recent “reward” incident.

“Your Majesty, could you please tell me what’s troubling you?”

Harman asked earnestly, but Kai remained as still as ever. He seemed to be staring at the documents, yet strangely, it felt like he was looking elsewhere.

“Your Majesty?”

Harman was anxious, wondering what could be so troubling that the Emperor didn’t even hear his call. He had watched over the Emperor since childhood, like a son, like a younger brother, even if they weren’t related by blood.

It was rare for him to behave as if something was broken. It was a sorrowful matter that could plunge the entire empire into despair. Harman couldn’t help but worry about the Emperor.

“Harman.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Harman responded, suppressing a surge of emotion, thinking he finally had a chance to help.

“There is someone of concern.”

“Who is it?”

Harman asked, eyes blazing, wondering who dared to threaten the Emperor. He was ready to apprehend anyone who showed even the slightest hint of suspicion.

“Someone skilled with a dagger.”