“This is good. This will work.”

Selvia spent time preparing everything for the banquet, including flower decorations.

Knock knock knock.

“A moment, I’d like to talk.”

Beatus leaned against the door and smiled at Selvia.

How long had it been since she’d seen that face? It would have been better never to see it again, but that would be impossible.

Seeing that smile, Selvia’s expression froze coldly.

“Please sit.”

She set down her teacup with a clank and stared intently at Beatus.

“I trust the preparations for the delegation banquet are going well?”

“Yes, more or less. It’s awkward since it’s my first time, but I’m doing my best.”

“Ah. Well, I believe you’ll handle it well.”

Beatus stood up and stroked Selvia’s chin.

Her skin crawled as his hand slowly caressed her cheek.

Selvia maintained her composure as she grabbed Beatus’s hand and removed it from her face.

‘How dare you touch me with your filthy hands.’

How shameless.

“Thank you for your trust. I hope I can do well.”

“Yes, this will help maintain the queen’s dignity. And I want you to know this as well. I don’t show my face publicly.”

“I’m well aware of that. Thanks to that, there are all sorts of rumors since no one knows Your Highness’s face.”

While there were concerns about assassination, Beatus wanted to be seen as someone to be feared.

He believed people would watch their words wherever they were since no one knew his face.

They would be hesitant to speak ill or plot against someone whose face they didn’t know.

Selvia smiled with understanding.

“So, you’ll need to take full charge of this matter.”

“……I see. I’m glad I can be of use.”

“Yes, very fortunate indeed.”

Beatus smirked and leaned forward, bringing his face close.

Selvia’s expression subtly twisted as his face loomed over her.

However, she didn’t back away.

If she could just make connections with the Empire, there would be no reason to stay here. The question was whether what Selvia was looking for was in the Empire.

She was dying now. Though her power grew stronger as the darkness increased, so did the toll on her body.

Selvia was born to save the world.

She was the child of prophecy who would sacrifice herself by drawing in darkness to save people.

Fortunately, the days were still long in the Kingdom of Delpheron.

If they knew her as the child of prophecy, wouldn’t she have a chance?

Leliana wouldn’t speak of it herself since she had her own sins.

Therefore, there was nothing to worry about.

Though Beatus had finished speaking, he showed no signs of leaving.

His eyes curved prettily as they met hers, as if harboring other thoughts.

She had no choice but to reach out and cup Beatus’s cheek.

How disgusting.

“You’re always so impressive.”

“Am I? You resemble me quite unusually.”

Black hair and golden eyes. The still-shimmering aurora of light.

Yet the shadow of darkness that emanated from her remained.

“You have a strange charm.”

Beatus’s lips drew precariously close, almost touching.

Selvia’s face reflected in his slowly blinking eyes.

She slowly adjusted his collar while turning her face away.

Just as their lips were about to meet completely, Selvia placed her hand on his heart and struck it sharply.

“Ah……”

Beatus collapsed into her arms with a low groan.

Selvia carelessly laid him on the floor after he lost consciousness.

Should she just render him completely useless, like the beast he was?

‘Crunch.’

Selvia firmly stepped on his lower body.

This should keep him quiet for a while.

She looked down at the sleeping Beatus with contempt filled in her eyes.

With an utterly calm expression, Selvia picked up her teacup.

The fragrance still lingered faintly at the tip of her nose.

* * *

The banquet preparations were perfect.

While Beatus and Leliana whispered sweet nothings away from others’ eyes, she had perfectly completed her tasks.

“Your Highness the Queen, should I put this here?”

“Yes. That would look good. Is the food prepared?”

“Yes, everything is prepared without issue.”

“Tell everyone to stay alert and ready, as the delegation will arrive soon.”

The maid bowed and quickly disappeared.

Selvia was adorned more splendidly than ever before.

Beatus appeared wearing a mask.

Though there was no need to cover his face if he wouldn’t step forward anyway, he meticulously hid his identity.

“Today is an extremely important day, so do well.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t disappoint you.”

Selvia looked at Beatus with a slight smile.

He went behind the curtain with a satisfied expression.

Though others couldn’t see inside due to magic, Beatus could see everything from within.

Soon after, word came that the delegation had arrived. Selvia slowly descended from the platform.

“Welcome, we’ve been waiting.”

Selvia greeted them with a bright smile.

“I am Belrocan Bommel of the Bommel Marquis family, head of the Karina Empire delegation.”

According to information, he was the Emperor’s advisor.

Selvia greeted Belrocan and looked up behind him.

And there was Ian, whom she had met recently in town, smiling faintly at her.

Though he still wore a cloak covering his face, Selvia recognized him immediately.

‘……Ian Devorsel?’

She almost blurted out his name.

He smiled while secretly putting his index finger to his lips.

“Ah, this is Duke Harwin Grey who came with me. His Highness the Emperor requested him to guard the delegation.”

Duke Harwin Grey of the Grey ducal family was listed as the Imperial Guard Captain.

Selvia frowned. What exactly hadn’t he lied about?

And not just any minor family, but a duke at that.

Even his name was different from what she knew. Is that why she had sensed something different about his demeanor when they met before?

“I greet Your Highness, the Queen of Delpheron.”

Harwin bowed naturally.

Selvia unconsciously reached out her hand. He smiled gently and lightly kissed her hand.

As Harwin rose, he spoke quietly so only Selvia could hear.

“It’s good to see you again.”

Selvia stepped back at his words.

Harwin casually returned to his place and gave a look.

“Ah……”

Only then did Selvia remember Beatus watching everything from behind and quickly hardened her expression.

Belrocan Bommel possessed extremely high-level etiquette. He even perfectly executed Delpheron’s customs.

Above all, his respect for Selvia was clearly evident.

Since they had to share the first dance, Selvia and Belrocan joined hands and stood in the center.

Of course, she should have danced with Beatus, but that wasn’t possible as he was currently hiding.

She didn’t know exactly why he avoided appearing in public so much.

Above all, Selvia felt no need to ask, so she let him do as he wished.

The more she appeared in places like this, the more her importance grew, so it was actually better.

Belrocan Bommel, was it?

The man who contributed to bringing down the Kingdom of Sorenpia.

If he was sent as head of the delegation, he must have considerable trust from the Emperor.

Then Selvia needed to capture his heart by any means necessary.

Belrocan gently led the dance while meeting Selvia’s gaze obliquely.

“I heard you possess the power of the Light family.”

He spoke in a voice so quiet only she could hear. As if he had been waiting for this moment.

“Ah…… yes, that’s right.”

Selvia was grateful he spoke to her first.

Though she hadn’t been given any power of light, the Empire didn’t know this.

That wasn’t really important anyway.

Whether she had the power of light or not, being the child of prophecy was enough.

Only Selvia and Leliana knew this fact.

Leliana hovered around the banquet hall, never straying from Selvia’s radius.

With a bright smile, she kept her eyes fixed on Selvia.

“Though different from what I expected, you possess quite a strong power.”

Selvia’s brow furrowed strangely at Belrocan’s words. Very few could sense her power.

Worriedly glancing down, she saw her shadow was calm.

Then that would mean Belrocan had a body quite sensitive to magical power……

“Thank you for saying so. May I ask why you requested a friendship with our kingdom?”

In truth, it was closer to threats and showing off.

While they called it friendship, after absorbing other kingdoms, their reason for coming here was just one thing. It must be because of the prophecy.

Selvia asked while pretending not to know this.

“The reason……”

While dancing, Belrocan occasionally looked at Harwin who was watching them.

He nodded slightly while quietly observing Selvia and Belrocan.

Selvia’s gaze naturally tried to turn toward Harwin, but conscious of Beatus, she deliberately looked elsewhere.

“Well, as you probably expected, what interests us is not the Kingdom of Delpheron but……”

He hesitated for a moment before continuing carefully.

“I think it’s more accurate to say we were curious about the Queen of Delpheron. The friendship will depend on Your Highness’s actions.”

As expected, Karina seemed uninterested in friendship with the Kingdom of Delpheron.

He acted completely unconcerned about Beatus watching.

His confident attitude reached the heavens.

“I was curious as well.”

Selvia immediately smiled and responded to his words.

“Ah, I meant no disrespect, but if it sounded rude, please forgive me. However, it’s true that I have good feelings toward Your Highness.”

“That’s welcome news.”

Selvia swallowed hard.

Did this mean they came here specifically to meet her?

Her heart pounded at this unexpected opportunity.