It was a place where every single word needed to be careful. She couldn’t help but feel tense.

However, Abel interpreted it differently. It was a place Cesare wouldn’t come to. It was clearly a place where other men’s entry would be restricted as well.

Abel raised his lips.

“A very desirable social gathering.”

“That’s true. A concert. What kind of music has been popular lately.”

Though they were completely thinking different things, both were satisfied nonetheless. Abel placed another well-cooked potato and meat patty on Marian’s plate. A rich buttery smell wafted up.

Marian’s clear eyes sparkled prettily.

“Eat quickly. The maids will be here soon.”

“Okay.”

Her cheeks had filled out slightly, though not enough to be noticeable. While Marian still couldn’t eat much, the high-quality meals seemed to be improving her health.

Abel smiled contentedly. It was the start of a day where everyone was smiling.

**

All eyes turned to Marian and Helena as they stepped down from the carriage together. The two arrived in a carriage bearing the Empress’s seal.

The Empress’s carriage represented the imperial family’s support for the two, and the twenty guard knights and servants they brought demonstrated their social position.

They were truly the imperial family’s precious treasures.

Marian wore a water-blue dress that matched her eye color. The dress that complemented her thin frame made Marian look thoroughly elegant. Additionally, the contrast between her pale skin and black hair made Marian look alluring.

In contrast, Helena was on the shorter side. She wore a bell-shaped pink dress. Unlike Marian, her appearance emphasized loveliness. Both were perfect in every way.

“My goodness. They said Princess Helena took a liking to Imperial Princess Marian. It seems to be true.”

“Indeed. It seems Imperial Princess Marian doesn’t mind Princess Helena either. Such a delicate person coming all the way here.”

The noble ladies whispered behind their fluttering fans.

“But…… something unusual around both their necks……”

“My goodness, what is that?”

The noble ladies’ eyes grew round.

Marian’s dress design exposed her neckline, but a necklace filled that emptiness. That was natural. However, the necklace was unusual. A blue ribbon was wrapped around her neck with diamonds fixed to the cloth.

Moreover, the sapphires densely embedded in the cloth sparkled and made Marian stand out even more. The ribbon Helena wore around her neck was slightly different. It was light pink like her dress, with small pearl-like beads and silver thread embroidery that added to its loveliness. Below it, a modest ruby necklace blended in harmoniously.

“……Where did they buy those? Which dress shop could it be?”

“My daughter has a long neck and it’s been quite troublesome, but a necklace like that would help!”

They succeeded in catching the noble ladies’ attention.

Marian smiled faintly. Her sharp mage’s intuition absorbed every voice.

‘Success!’

The Empress had prepared a dress exclusively for Marian after a long time. Thanks to that, it was neither too short nor too deeply cut. It seemed intended to prevent comparisons when standing next to Helena.

Marian and Helena walked slowly. Noble ladies flocked toward the two famous figures.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness. Have you been well?”

“Yes. I’ve been well.”

Marian responded to the noble ladies while naturally including Helena in the conversation. When Marian first suggested attending the social gathering, Helena had hesitated. But she agreed that naturally engaging in activities would help divert the imperial family’s attention.

Moreover, if Helena frequently went out, opportunities to naturally disappear would also increase.

“This shy lady is Princess Helena. She came from Jains for diplomatic friendship. Since she was looking for a formal gathering, I recommended this one.”

At Marian’s words, the noble ladies exchanged greetings with Helena with pleased smiles. They sat down in a warm atmosphere.

Before the concert began, refreshments were served, and at an appropriate moment, one noble lady asked Marian,

“That necklace you’re wearing is quite unique in style, may I ask where you purchased it? It’s so pretty.”

“I was curious about that too.”

“This was a gift from Princess Helena. I heard she bought it while preparing outfits because it particularly caught her eye.”

Helena shyly blushed.

They had judged it would be safer for the choker to be introduced and distributed through Helena rather than through Marian. So the choker was disguised as Helena’s gift.

“The Princess has excellent taste! Could you tell us where you purchased it?”

“I believe it was distributed by the Giverny merchant guild.”

Helena answered carefully.

“Actually, I received it as a gift myself…… The Master of Giverny sent it as a gift. There were various designs, and fortunately, there was one that matched the dress……”

“Ah! Giverny merchant guild!”

The noble ladies exclaimed. Since the Giverny merchant guild was inherently large-scale, it was easy to accept. Giverny was shrewd enough to send gifts to curry favor with the future Crown Princess. If the gift was a new product, it would serve as a promotion too.

Just like now.

“As expected of Giverny! Since there are various designs, I must visit!”

“I-I heard they supply various dress shops as well.”

“Oh my. That’s wonderful!”

The noble ladies chattered. Helena met Marian’s eyes and nodded slightly. Marian smiled brightly. Helena had done better than expected. Both in drawing attention and in appropriate acting.

Marian clenched her fist among the folds of her dress. This would give them some breathing room. Once it becomes trendy among nobles, it spreads quickly among commoners.

With this, Ellie could hide in a deeper place.

There was an unexpected gain as well. It became an opportunity to confirm the potential when Liebe, Rosette, Abel, and Marian joined forces.

**

Around the time Marian succeeded in hiding Ellie deeper, that is, around early late summer when chokers started becoming trendy…

Yulian was still hanging onto Cesare.

She knew that Imperial Princess Marian occasionally visited Cesare’s mansion. Each time, Cesare would give huge sums to the imperial family for whatever reason.

‘Damn wh*re. Can’t hide her street origins.’

Yulian knew Cesare secretly hoped for a child from Imperial Princess Marian. A child who would inherit Marian’s abilities.

‘That can’t happen.’

She would get pregnant before Marian no matter what.

Yulian drank the medicine and knocked on Cesare’s bedroom door.

Cesare, who had been drinking, raised his hazy eyes. He slightly furrowed his brows.

“Ellie?”

“Pardon?”

Yulian blinked.

“Ah. Yulian.”

Yulian also wore cloth around her neck like Ellie. It seemed to be trendy among women these days, which made finding Ellie more difficult.

“Where did that damn cloth come from?”

“Don’t you like it? Everyone’s wearing it these days……”

Yulian fingered the choker around her neck. It was top quality with red rubies set in black velvet. She had bought it after hearing it was effective in creating an alluring atmosphere against pale skin.

Cesare stared at Yulian for a moment.

“Should I take it off?”

“No. Come here.”

Cesare opened his arms toward Yulian. Being unable to possess her made him more thirsty, and not knowing her identity made him frustrated and angry.

Ellie was becoming Cesare’s thirst.

Yulian, completely unaware of his inner thoughts, fell into Cesare’s embrace. Yet her small head was recalling the name she had just heard.

‘Ellie, Ellie……’

It was a name Cesare sometimes called when drunk, but she didn’t know why it stuck in her mind so much.

‘I’ll look into it.’

Yulian’s eyes gleamed. If she was after Cesare like Yulian was, she wouldn’t let it slide.

**

While the choker was gaining explosive popularity, Marian was passionately developing beauty product with Liebe and Abel. After the choker’s success, they gained confidence in beauty product too.

Marian rubbed her lips while looking at the completed beauty product.

It was a beauty product that made the skin look bright and maintained moisture.

And it had wound healing effects at the same time.

‘Would it work on Abel too?’

Though they were old scars, if they could fade even a little…… if it could ease Abel’s pain even slightly…… Marian bit her plump lips hard. Though it wasn’t something she had done, Abel’s suffering still remained like a burden on her heart.

Marian rubbed her eyes.

She hadn’t been able to sleep properly last night either, plagued by nightmares until morning. Marian wandered through dreams as a helpless child who could neither run away nor save anyone.

“I won’t forget……”

Being born with a head that couldn’t forget anything might be a curse if anything was. Marian wiped the moisture from her eyes and opened them again.

She let out a deep, fluffy sigh.

Marian stared outside.

It was morning time when Abel would be back in his room after finishing training. Abel had been secretly training while everyone was asleep.

The fighting tournament preliminaries had suddenly come very close. The preliminaries would start next week.

Marian stood up holding the medicine bottle. Abel was too careless with himself.

She walked down the quiet corridor. Perhaps because their living conditions had improved, a warm atmosphere lingered in the palace. This too was thanks to Abel. Though her financial situation had improved much thanks to the choker’s popularity, they still had to rely on Abel’s wealth.

‘It will get better soon.’