A few days later, Ariel held a tea party at Leopold’s urging.

Since her first event hosted in the palace as the Empress ended on a sour note, Leopold thought it would be good to gather their hearts through a tea party.

His words were correct.

They also had to dispel the nobles’ distrust of the palace…

‘I’ve been away from Atlan for a long time, 10 years, so it wouldn’t be bad to build friendships with the nobles at this opportunity.’

She agreed as well.

When asked how Ariel would send out invitations for the tea party, Leopold replied that influential noble madams and ladies of notable families had already been invited.

On the surface, it was a tea party hosted by the Empress, but in reality, it was a tea party hosted by the Emperor.

Watching the tea party being prepared step by step, Ariel felt a small sense of anticipation about meeting someone she could share her heart with.

And finally, the weekend scheduled for the tea party arrived.

Although the weather seemed to have warmed up under the late spring sunshine, the shade was cool and even the wind was refreshing. Under the clear and sunny sky, the area in front of the palace gate was bustling with carriages from various families.

“Please follow me. Today’s tea party will be held in the palace greenhouse.”

May and a few maids guided the ladies. They gathered and moved with those they were friendly with. However, there was an exception. A lady who came in relatively plain attire walked alone.

Her name was Solviche Platanas, the daughter of Marquis Mac Platanas, who had been active as an archer in Helmir Forest.

As she adjusted her coat and looked up at the sky, she thought, ‘The weather is really nice.’

Having been raised by her grandmother since she lost her mother early, Solviche’s grandmother did not approve of her granddaughter, full of spirit, who was focusing solely on archery without getting married.

On top of that, Solviche had a grand dream of being by the Emperor’s side.

― Go out to the hunting festival that is being held this time. You need to see for yourself how excellent the Empress, who was once a young lady of the noble house of Clark, is! It wouldn’t be bad if you found a prospective match there as well.

Her grandmother had urged her to go on a hunting festival as a way to force her to face reality.

But this tea party was different.

Here, Solviche Platanas decided to come herself.

Upon hearing the news that the Empress, who had been filled with vitality at the hunting festival had fainted, she had been going to the temple every day, which she had rarely visited before, to pray fervently.

However, as soon as she recovered her health, it seemed that chaos had erupted once again at the palace.

‘If not now, I may never see Her Majesty the Empress again…’

If there was an opportunity, she also wanted to support a great hero by her side.

Upon hearing the sudden news that a tea party was being held, Solviche did not have suitable clothes to wear, so she had no choice but to wear the old dress her grandmother had thrown at her.

It was even something her mother had worn when she was alive.

‘Let’s not have high expectations. I’ll just see if she’s healthy and then leave.’

Just as Solviche was about to take another step forward…

“It’s cold outside. Let’s go in quickly.”

At the affectionate voice she heard from behind, Solviche turned her head.

Under the sunlight, a woman with shimmering silver hair, with large pupils, white skin contrasting with her red lips, and a perfectly straight nose that seemed sculpted by a master craftsman. The woman who seemed like a goddess of beauty approached Solviche.

‘Her Majesty the Empress… When she decides to dress up, there’s no woman in the entire Atlan Empire who can match her beauty…’

Solviche Platanas stared at Ariel, entranced.

“How rude. This is Her Majesty the Empress. Show your respect.”

At that moment, the chamberlain Richard noticed her gaze and reprimanded her. Solviche quickly bowed her head and then knelt down to show her respect.

“Please forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty. I am Solviche Platanas, daughter of Count Mac Platanas. It is an honor to meet you.”

“Lady Solviche Platanas.”

Ariel Diaz smiled. It turned out to be Solviche, the one who had been shooting arrows at the demonic beast that ravaged the hunting grounds.

“Your Majesty. “It’s an honor that you remember me.”

“How could I forget someone who tried to protect me until the end? I could never forget you.”

Ariel’s eyes trembled slightly.

The image of Solviche trying to save her until the end while surrounded by demonic beast wings came to mind.

“I may have greeted you too late, but I was truly grateful that day.”

“I couldn’t even save you.”

Solviche felt apologetic for Ariel’s greeting.

It wasn’t an action she did with any expectations. She had secretly decided to treat Ariel Diaz as her master

Besides, in the end, she had not been able to save her master and could only watch helplessly.

“No, knowing that there’s someone like you gave me such great comfort. Watching you hunt, I somehow felt a sense of camaraderie.”

Ariel faintly smiled as she led her hand.

‘I forgot. The fact that I received help from Solviche.’

Ariel’s eyelashes moved up and down.

She should have called her to the palace earlier to talk and acknowledge her efforts, but she had completely forgotten about it.

With an indifferent expression, Ariel led Solviche into the greenhouse by holding her hand.

“Enjoy yourself today.”

Ariel made eye contact with Solviche and then let go of her hand with her arm extended.

The gazes of those attending turned towards them.

Solviche lowered herself and hurried to sit in the seat prepared for her.

“Thank you all for accepting the invitation. On this beautiful sunny day, I am delighted to be with all of you. This is a tea party prepared personally by His Majesty. Enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content, and if there is anything lacking, please inform the maids. I hope you have a pleasant time.”

When Ariel finished her greeting, the noble madams and ladies sent applause and cheers. Among them was Solviche Platanas.

Ariel sat at the table prepared for the Empress.

“Your Majesty, you look even more beautiful today.”

“Was this dress made by the imperial seamstresses?”

Immediately after that, several noblewomen came to the table where she was sitting and started chatting with her. Ariel answered their questions politely and occasionally smiled.

But her attention was focused on Solviche Platanas at the adjacent table. Solviche was sincerely enjoying eating cake and cookies.

‘…Eating is what remains.’

Solviche muttered to herself as she ate with determination. Unaware that Ariel overheard her words.

‘Eating is what remains…’

Ariel Diaz’s lips twitched. She almost burst into laughter while listening to the ladies’ lofty stories.

Unaware of Ariel’s awkward situation, Solviche continued to focus on eating cake and cookies and drinking fragrant tea next to her.

At that moment, two elegantly dressed noble ladies approached Solviche. They sat on either side of her with meaningful smiles.

“Lady Solviche Platanas seems to have a somewhat old-fashioned taste.”

“Sara, did you know? The dress Solviche is wearing… it’s similar to the style my mother wore in her youth as I saw on a portrait.”

The two exchanged glances and chuckled at Solviche. Meanwhile, Solviche, sensing their intentions, raised her eyes as if unaffected.

‘Zero impact. How boring.’

It was a trivial game played by the noble ladies. They chose someone who seemed easy to target and belittled them to boost their own self-esteem.

This type of behavior was what Solviche Platanas disliked the most.

‘How should I deal with them…? Should I react as they wish?’

She must not ruin the tea party that the Empress graciously invited her to.

After a brief hesitation, Solviche took out a handkerchief from her handbag and gently wiped around her eyes.

“Sob….”

“S-Solviche? Why are you crying?”

As people’s attention turned to Solviche’s sobbing sound, the two young ladies looked around in confusion.

“This… This is a dress that my mother used to enjoy wearing in her lifetime. Since I was young, on such an important day… I wanted to wear this dress that my mother passed down to me at least once… But, but… to receive such ridicule!”

Solviche raised her voice filled with tears. She buried her face in the handkerchief to wipe away tears that wouldn’t fall.

‘What’s all this commotion?’

Even the Empress, Ariel Diaz’s gaze, turned to them.

“Oh… Is that so?”

“I apologize.”

Hearing that, the two flustered individuals hurriedly left their seats. Soon their mothers rushed over and scolded them for their rudeness in front of Her Majesty the Empress.

Only then did Solviche raise her face from the handkerchief and muttered.

“If you were going to retreat this easily, why did you provoke me.”

A smirk appeared on her lips. Then, as she raised her head to finish eating what she was eating, she met Ariel Diaz’s eyes at that moment.

‘To meet eyes with Your Majesty the Empress like this, of all times.’