“It seems there will be some time before the banquet begins.”

“Ah… yes. I’ll briefly visit the toilette room.”

Having noticed Conrad’s intention to engage in close conversation with conservative nobles, Roina readily answered.

At this, the man who had been looking at her for a moment nodded slightly with an emotionless expression.

After stopping by the toilette room, Roina headed to the upper floor of the banquet hall to avoid the nobles’ gazes.

Leaning against a corridor pillar, she absently watched the nobles in the main hall.

“Are Father and Brother not here yet?”

Judging by the absence of the Würetti father and son, it seemed they hadn’t arrived yet.

Soon, Roina strolled along the corridor that appeared relatively deserted.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been in this part.’

Paintings were displayed on the walls of the imperial palace banquet hall for distinguished guests to enjoy.

On one wall hung portraits of imperial family members since the founding of the Noxtan Empire.

While carefully examining the portraits, she suddenly stopped in front of one painting.

“……”

She stared at it intently, as if entranced.

A portrait of someone who might be described as familiar was hanging there.

While Roina remained captivated by that spot for quite some time.

“I greet Duchess Asheter.”

Startled by someone’s sudden voice, Roina turned around with a jolt.

A man with a playful smile came into view.

“You scared me, Michael. Or should I call you Marquis Bistanto now?”

As she briefly added the latter remark, Michael, who had just received his title, made a sulky expression.

“You really. Anyway, what are you doing here?”

At her friend’s puzzled look, Roina answered with a gentle smile.

“I was just looking at the imperial family portraits hanging here.”

Following her gaze and briefly surveying the paintings hanging on the wide wall, Michael placed a hand on his chin.

“Hmm, these are portraits of the previous imperial family.”

Nodding slightly, Roina continued to stare at just one spot.

Michael soon focused on that portrait as well and asked.

“Were you looking at the former Imperial Princess?”

As her friend said, Roina was looking at a portrait depicting the former Imperial Princess.

“Yes, I was suddenly reminded of her story.”

How many people in the Noxtan Empire wouldn’t know the story of the former Imperial Princess?

The former Imperial Princess, who had been so prestigious that she competed with the former Emperor for the throne, suddenly renounced her succession rights and disappeared one day.

‘It was because she fell in love with a commoner knight.’

Her irresponsible actions at the time earned the antipathy of many nobles.

It would have been difficult for nobles to understand giving up everything one had for love.

The former Imperial Princess’s love, which had been the subject of gossip, ultimately ended in tragedy.

‘I heard they weren’t together for very long.’

Her husband died on the battlefield where he had gone to make a living, and she also passed away after contracting an epidemic.

Apart from the sad news, all sorts of speculation ran rampant about whether they had a child.

If there was a child between the two, that child would also possess succession rights to the throne.

However, when the former Imperial Princess’s infertility diagnosis was leaked, those rumors completely subsided.

The reason Roina knew this story well was because of Marquis Würetti’s persistent insistence.

“Roina, you must never do something as stupid as the former Imperial Princess.”

Perhaps because she had heard it until her ears wore out since childhood, it might be natural that her eyes were particularly drawn to the former Imperial Princess’s portrait.

The marquis, who had once supported her, repeatedly emphasized that it was his only misjudgment.

This was because the progressive faction’s foundation had been greatly shaken by the former Imperial Princess’s succession rights renunciation incident.

Naturally, the marquis’s antipathy toward marriage between nobles and commoners could only grow.

This was evident from the fact that despite his long relationship with the Madam, he still kept the position of his wife vacant.

‘In the end, he’s someone who prioritizes reputation over love.’

While Roina was lost in thought, Michael opened his mouth with a solemn look in his eyes.

“They say the former Emperor and the former Imperial Princess had an extraordinary bond, right?”

“Yes, I heard that too.”

When the body of the former Imperial Princess, who had renounced her imperial status, was enshrined in the imperial palace, fierce opposition arose from the nobles.

Despite their opposition, the former Emperor simply silently preserved his sister’s final honor.

‘They must have been that close.’

Soon, Michael, who had been carefully examining the portrait, tilted his head obliquely.

Then, with a short sigh, he glanced at Roina and said.

“Now that I look at it, the former Imperial Princess also has violet eyes like you?”

“It’s a common color in the empire.”

“Well, that’s true.”

As an indifferent voice flowed from her, he nodded with an awkward expression.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Returning to the main hall of the banquet, Roina naturally joined the ranks of nobles.

While exchanging courteous conversations with the ladies, the grand trumpet sound of the brass band echoed throughout the hall.

Looking at the Würetti father and son who seemed to have just arrived, the marquis was smiling so broadly it looked unfamiliar.

He appeared like someone who had long wished for this moment.

As Roina swallowed dryly, pretending to be unaffected while looking at her father,

“It seems the Second Prince has arrived.”

Conrad, who had somehow approached her side, stared at the entrance of the banquet hall.

Though his expression was emotionless as always, a faint hatred lingered in his golden eyes.

Not a single sound was heard in the banquet hall, which had been noisy from the aftermath of the trumpet sound.

In the suffocating silence, the doorkeeper announced the entrance of Benjamin and Aila in a loud voice.

“The Second Prince and Lady Würetti are entering!”

It was the moment when everyone bowed their heads to show respect to him, who was clearly of imperial blood.

“Kyaaaa—!”

A terrified scream from a young lady was heard from somewhere.

The nobles raised their heads with puzzled faces and were soon unable to contain their shock.

This was because a man with red blood splattered on his face and uniform was striding into the banquet hall.

Drip, drip.

Fresh red blood that had not yet dried fell to the floor. It wasn’t the blood of the person himself.

‘Benjamin Duke Kaldebaum….’

The Second Prince, who had been cast out from the imperial family, had just turned one year into adulthood.

Yet the killing intent he exuded was threatening enough to freeze one’s body.

Beside Benjamin, Aila was accompanying him as his partner.

Though she tried not to show it, seeing her sister’s pale face, Roina’s violet eyes trembled slightly.

‘What on earth did you…!’

She wanted to grab her sister’s hand and leave the banquet hall immediately, but she couldn’t dare to do so.

“What is this outrageous behavior?”

“He seems to have lost control again. I wonder if Marquis Würetti has a hobby of grabbing the wrong rope.”

The conversations of nobles whispering with unease reached Roina’s ears clearly.

Those around them seemed to tacitly agree, nodding slightly.

The marquis’s expression had subtly hardened, as if he hadn’t anticipated Benjamin’s actions.

The Second Prince, with his brilliant record, hadn’t even received a proper title after being cast out from the imperial family.

It was said that he had recently received a knighthood, recognized for his contributions at the southern front, which was no different from a place of exile.

‘Surely Father was behind this.’

Roina vaguely guessed with whose help the Second Prince had been able to reappear.

Watching the horrific situation that was terrible just to behold, she finely chewed her lower lip.

‘Now he’s trying to reveal his presence.’

She thought that perhaps the red blood splattered on him might be a kind of example.

Benjamin was someone who could control with force, and more, anyone who became an obstacle in his path, regardless of who they were.

While the nobles were holding their breath, watching the situation unfold, not knowing what might happen next.

The leader of the progressive faction, composing his expression and stepping forward, showed respect to Benjamin.

“Holy light to the Noxtan Empire. I greet the Second Prince, the holy guardian of the south.”

Benjamin’s green eyes, looking at the Würetti father and son, gleamed eerily.

“Yes, it seems the water here is still not very good. Judging by the lap dog prowling around.”