Three days later. 

“Miss, we’ve arrived.” 

The coachman’s voice brought the carriage to a halt. Jedran, who had dismounted first, held out his hand to Ariel. 

“Ariel.” 

Inside the carriage, Ariel, who had been sitting with her eyes gently closed, took a deep breath. With a determined look on her face, she stepped out of the carriage. 

The great lights emanating from the Duke of Viasteus’s townhouse annex lit up the night, making the darkness of the sky seem irrelevant. 

That’s right. 

Ariel was now standing outside the venue of Melish Viasteus’s birthday party. 

Ariel had been invited as a guest to the Duchess’s birthday party. 

“Oh my, isn’t that Lady Blante?” 

“I remember her relationship with the Duchess wasn’t particularly good…”

“That’s right, and… I heard that Grand Duke Seyerd will also be here tonight…” 

The nobles who had arrived earlier whispered to each other as they looked at Ariel. 

“I heard that His Highness the Grand Duke couldn’t forget Lady Blante and even argued with His Majesty about her. If they meet tonight…” 

Someone trailed off, as if in concern, but Ariel knew that what lay beneath their unfinished words wasn’t concern – it was anticipation. 

They were hoping for a scandal, expecting a dramatic scene when she and Kylance crossed paths. 

After all, the Empire was full of stories about her and Kylance. 

“But shouldn’t she leave the Empire after marrying the Tower Master? Why would anyone leave? After all the chaos she’s caused… does she need to cause more trouble?” 

Those words could not be ignored. 

Jedran seemed to feel the same, for his expression turned grim. 

“What did you just say…?”

“Stop.” 

Before Jedran could act, Ariel intervened. 

Instead of looking at Jedran, Ariel turned her gaze to the young lady with the light lavender hair and slowly approached her. 

Perhaps not expecting Ariel to move directly, the young lady’s face grew paler as the distance between them closed. 

Finally, Ariel came to a halt and softly called out the young lady’s name. 

“Lady Raisha of the Count’s family.” 

The only daughter of Count Raisha, a nouveau riche merchant family. 

The family was notorious for having bought their noble title, so Ariel knew who she was. 

Ariel, her voice calm and gentle, asked the visibly stiff young lady, 

“Did I just hear you say that I’ve only caused trouble for the Empire? Is that correct?” 

“…Pardon?”

Lady Raisha’s face was painted with confusion, but Ariel continued to speak calmly.

“It seems that Lady Raisha is not pleased with my return to the realm alive. Or perhaps… you’re unhappy that I’ve cleared my father’s name…”

“N-no, that’s not it…”

“His Majesty said he was very happy to see me again. Besides, everything I’ve done so far has been with His Majesty’s approval. And yet, in your eyes, Lady Raisha, it all seems to have been unnecessary trouble.”

“!”

Ariel calmly watched Raisha’s face, which had grown as pale as a sheet of paper.

“Answer me, my lady. What exactly is it that has displeased you so much?”

Sensing Ariel’s intention not to let the matter drop, the surrounding nobles quickly began to disperse.

Ariel Blante – she was the subject of the Empire’s hottest gossip, but she was also tied to its most powerful authority. There was no advantage in crossing her.

Left alone, Raisha trembled, her hands shaking. 

“I… I was wrong, my lady. Please, I beg you…” 

“If you know you’ve done wrong, then get out of my sight. I have no intention of forgiving you.” 

Raisha, frightened by Ariel’s icy gaze, fled hastily. Once the area was quiet, Ariel exhaled quietly, trying to calm her frayed nerves. 

It wasn’t Raisha. 

In truth, if it had been any other day, she would have dismissed Raisha’s foolish remarks as the thoughtless words of an immature child. She wouldn’t have bothered to humiliate her in front of others. 

But today… everything irritated her. 

The rumours of Kylance’s obsession with her were growing louder, and yet the person who started the rumours had vanished from the capital. 

Unable to bear it any longer, she had sent a letter to Lowell asking for a meeting with Kylance. 

But instead of an agreement, she received a refusal – along with an invitation. 

An invitation personally written by the Duchess of Viasteus, asking her to attend the birthday party and grace the occasion with her presence.

There was no way the Duchess didn’t know that Ariel knew she was being targeted.

Moreover, when she visited the Grand Duke’s residence three days ago, Lowell had informed her that Kylance had identified the owner of the Black Eagle and that the person would soon be extradited to the Empire.

Also… 

“It will all come to an end, my lady.” 

If the Duchess of Viasteus was truly nearing the end, she should have kept a low profile. But here she was, throwing an extravagant birthday party. 

What could she be thinking, inviting me? What exactly was Kylance up to? 

Could this party… be the ‘end’ he spoke of? 

The questions were endless, but there were no clear answers. 

What exactly was the “end” that Kylance had prepared? 

And this end… she had a premonition that it would unfold in a direction she hadn’t anticipated. 

Either him or herself. 

Between the two of them… she couldn’t shake the unease that one of them would end up getting hurt. The feeling gnawed at her, tweaked her nerves. 

But in the end, both she and Kylance, who had disappeared from sight, were here now. 

Ariel turned to see Kylance emerge from the Grand Duke’s carriage. 

Dressed in a jet black suit that matched the dress code of the party, he made his way towards the banquet hall. 

Or so she thought, until he slowly turned his body towards where she was standing. 

Their eyes met in the empty space between them. 

Ignoring all the eyes on her, Ariel had intended to approach him, but she found herself unable to move from where she stood. 

“This is the end.” 

Her ominous intuition was correct. 

This party had been orchestrated by Kylance, and this was where he intended to end it all. 

Before she could answer, he turned and walked towards the party hall. 

Just then, Jedran approached her. 

“Ariel, the party is about to start. We should go in as well.” 

“Alright.” 

Ariel quickly composed her shaken expression and took Jedran’s hand. If she couldn’t avoid it, then facing it head on was the only choice. 

Still, she silently wished that this ending… wouldn’t turn into a tragedy. 

‘Kyle, you’re not… a monster like Melish Viasteus.’ 

In stark contrast to Kylance’s all-black outfit, Ariel entered the party hall in a dress reminiscent of a starry night sky.

At the same time, the hostess of the party, the Duchess of Viasteus, appeared on the stairs of the second floor of the hall.

Dressed in a black gown as dark as Kylance’s, the Duchess gracefully ran her hand along the banister as she descended the stairs. At the bottom, she took Kylance’s arm as he escorted her to the podium.

The Duchess scanned the crowd as if searching for someone, her gaze finally settling on a single point.

Ariel.

Instead of avoiding her gaze, Ariel met the Duchess’s eyes directly. The Duchess’s smile deepened in response, as if completely pleased with her presence.

Just as Ariel’s brow furrowed slightly, the Duchess broke her gaze, stepped forward and parted her crimson lips to speak.

“Thank you all so much for coming to celebrate my birthday. As this is such a special day, I’ve made elaborate preparations. Please enjoy the party to your hearts content.”

As the Duchess finished, the elegant music of the orchestra filled the room. 

The Duchess of Viasteus gracefully took Kylance’s outstretched hand, and as the two of them danced across the ballroom floor, the crowd erupted in applause.

“You’re as stunning as ever, Duchess.” 

“It’s like watching a sweet dance between a mother and her devoted son as you and His Highness dance together.” 

The nobles showered her with flattery.

Melish responded with a satisfied smile, politely acknowledging their praise.

The party was in full swing, and Kylance didn’t leave the Duchess’s side for a moment, as if truly acting the part of a devoted son at his mother’s side.

The Duchess’s face lit up with a happiness she had never shown before.

No, Melish was truly happy. This was the scene she had always dreamed of.

Kylance at her side, nobles admiring her.

Ah, but there was one exception. Just one. 

In a corner of the party stood Lady Blante. 

Ariel’s radiant beauty stood out from the crowd like the brightest star in the night sky. 

But that light would soon fade. 

Kylance leaned close to Melish and whispered, 

“I think now is the time.” 

“It seems so.”

Melish gave a subtle sign to Caroline, who nodded and left her seat. 

Soon Caroline returned with dozens of servants carrying silver trays. 

The attention of the nobles shifted to them and Melish, smiling brightly, addressed the room. 

“This is a rare tea that I had specially imported from the Eastern Kingdom. It’s a luxurious blend enjoyed exclusively by the royal family there, and is renowned for its excellent hangover-relieving properties. Please, everyone, take a cup and enjoy the party.”

“Oh.” 

“My stomach hasn’t been feeling well, just in time. Pour me a cup.” 

Lured by the claim that it was a tea exclusive to the royal family of the Eastern Kingdom, everyone eagerly reached for a cup. 

A cup was soon placed in front of Ariel. 

She stared at the clear tea in the cup, then turned her attention to the Duchess and Kylance. 

The Duchess, as if to prove the tea’s harmlessness, took an exaggerated sip, looking perfectly at ease. 

But Melish was so focused on Ariel that she didn’t notice Kylance giving Ariel a subtle nod. 

A signal to drink. 

Ariel knew that this tea… wasn’t harmless. But she also understood that she had to drink it. 

With deliberate movements, Ariel lifted her cup. Kylance picked up his own cup as well. 

The two drank their tea at the same time. 

Clang! 

But the first to drop the cup was not Ariel – it was Kylance. 

“Cough!!” 

Kylance fell to his knees, blood spurting from his mouth. 

“Ahhh!!!” 

With a piercing scream, the party hall was instantly thrown into utter chaos.