Not long after, we returned to the garden.

My eyes narrowed as I noticed the garden seemed even more crowded than when we had left.

Just then, Margrit spotted me and approached with elegant but somewhat hurried steps.

“Your Highness, where have you been? I was startled when the butler said he hadn’t seen you.”

“Oh, I was looking around with my brothers and ended up getting lost.”

I continued brazenly.

Margrit’s gaze fell on the doll in Hasis’s arms and she flinched slightly.

Though she didn’t ask what it was, she seemed to realize I had met her sister.

However, instead of mentioning it, she smiled kindly and asked:

“It seems the young lord has acquired a new burden. Shall I have a maid take care of it for now?”

But I shook my head at Margrit’s suggestion.

“No. That won’t be necessary.”

“But—”

“I enjoyed the garden party today. I’ll be sure to tell Mother about your hospitality. So don’t worry about me anymore. I’ll just stay a while longer before leaving.”

My original purpose for coming to the Adler Marquis residence was to investigate whether they were involved with black magic or if there were any other suspicious signs.

However, I might have been mistaken from the start, as there wasn’t the slightest trace of anything related to black magic.

Why waste more time with Margrit? I should just let time pass and then leave.

Just as I was thinking this, from the inner part of the garden where people were gathered came the sound of approaching footsteps and a low, middle-aged male voice.

“My, Margrit. How have you been entertaining the Princess that things have come to this?”

My disinterested gaze suddenly sharpened with interest.

For good reason—the owner of the voice was someone I knew.

None other than the owner of this mansion and the person I most wanted to meet at today’s garden party: Marquis Adler.

‘What? When did he arrive? I didn’t see him in the hall earlier.’

Of course, a noble residence would have more than one entrance to the garden, so it wasn’t particularly strange.

However, the fact that he appeared precisely when I was getting bored revealed his cunning nature quite clearly.

Marquis Adler, who seemed to have returned from an outing as he was wearing an overcoat despite the heat, calmly removed his gloves and handed them to a butler.

Soon he stood before me and bowed with utmost courtesy.

“It is an honor to meet Your Highness.”

I stared at his face intently before casually accepting his greeting—with plenty of mockery added.

“I never expected to see Marquis Adler in person today. How surprising.”

“My many public and private affairs have led me to commit this discourtesy. I should have greeted you myself, but a sudden matter arose…”

What he meant was that his business was more urgent than attending to me.

This kind of speech was something I had experienced often.

When? When I was truly a child and he was a young man.

I gazed at Marquis Adler, who stood confidently with his blonde hair neatly swept back.

He had been my second brother’s playmate and friend, seventeen years older than me.

But despite the significant age difference, when he tormented me, he was as childish as a seven-year-old.

And just as cruel.

Though I regularly saw his face in the Senate, somehow viewing him through a child’s eyes made me feel like I’d gone back to those days.

Ridiculously, despite now having two daughters, he still disliked me.

From his perspective, he disliked “my child,” but it was all the same to me.

After thinking this far, I smiled brightly.

“It’s not really discourteous. After all, the host of the party is your daughter. Well, I’ll tell Mother that the Marquis had important business to attend to.”

Despite my blatant threat, Marquis Adler approached me with a relaxed smile.

Well, he’s not some small fry who would be flustered by something like this.

Seeing him approach, Hasis and Ilian moved closer to me.

Margrit bowed slightly and stepped aside. The Marquis then came forward and spoke.

Everyone’s eyes were on us.

“His Majesty is wise and would not be angered by such matters.”

“Is that so?”

“As Your Highness said, the host of the party is my daughter.”

“Then, what about my father?”

“The Lord is an immortal being who would hardly concern himself with human affairs. Even if he were angered by this, His Majesty would not allow it. His Majesty does not permit others to interfere in state affairs, even if it’s the father of his own child.”

He would allow it.

Why do these people call me a tyrant yet expect me to act reasonably?

Of course, if the child’s father were human, I wouldn’t have allowed it.

But this is Lerrhagen we’re talking about.

I could tolerate the intervention of other races if it strengthened me. Since they had no interest in power, they wouldn’t affect my political order.

But there was no need to explain all that here.

I opened my mouth with the utmost innocence.

“But if Father gets angry and just kills you, Mother can’t say anything about it.”

“…”

“Wouldn’t Mother actually like that? Mother is a tyrant, after all.”

“Your Highness, such words are against etiquette…”

“It’s fine. Mother said etiquette is something only inferiors need to follow. And I’m not an inferior, am I? Inferiors are separate.”

The impact of my words, delivered with an incredibly innocent face, was more tremendous than I expected.

Suddenly, the surroundings grew quiet, like someone had doused everyone with cold water. Those who had been standing around watching now seemed to grasp the situation properly, and I could clearly hear them drawing sharp breaths.

Marquis Adler’s face froze completely. My words were truly chilling and insulting. And this kind of language was probably something he had never encountered in his entire life.

I went a step further and smiled mischievously.

“Oh, I didn’t mean the Marquis is an inferior.”

“…”

“Well, your rank is lower than mine, but you’re not an inferior, right?”

Of course, no fool in this situation would believe my words were sincere. Proving this, Marquis Adler, who had been smiling leisurely until just now, was now looking at me like he wanted to devour me.

But what good would that do him? He was a marquis, and I was royalty. Not just any royalty—the emperor’s only daughter and the daughter of a Dragon Lord.

The only thing he could do was chew on this sudden insult.

“Margrit.”

After a long silence, Marquis Adler, having somewhat composed his expression, slowly called for his daughter.

Margrit, watching her father’s reaction, responded quietly.

“Yes, Father.”

“I’m afraid I have unfinished official business to attend to.”

“Ah… yes.”

“Make sure our guests receive proper hospitality.”

Oh my, I laughed inwardly.

After this long silence, what he chose was none other than escape.

Well, even he must realize that continuing a verbal battle with a young princess would yield nothing.

No, far from gaining anything, his pride and dignity were already thoroughly crumpled beneath my feet.

“Oh, Marquis, you’re leaving right after arriving?”

I asked the Marquis with a bright smile.

You could stay longer.

At my innocent gaze, Marquis Adler gritted his teeth and shook his head.

“No, I have unfinished business…”

“Really? Then goodbye.”

I responded to his farewell with one last display of impudence.

Marquis Adler left the garden quite quickly.

He would probably contact Duke Delmen or other nobles as soon as he returned to his room and make a fuss.

What would he say?

Would he shout that the impudent princess was more cunning than expected?

Either way, I was pleased.

‘Indeed. The most entertaining sight is watching someone who hates me yet can do nothing about it.’

I had been bored until just now, but it seems I came at the right time.

Though I hadn’t uncovered anything about black magic, I had issued a warning to Marquis Adler and his group.

A warning never to try such petty tricks again, and that I didn’t care about order, so they should exercise self-restraint.

I turned my head with satisfaction. At that moment, I caught Margrit staring at me.

On her gentle face was anger over the humiliation her father had just suffered.

Though she couldn’t express it directly, of course.

“Well, I’ll enjoy the party with my brothers. Lady Margrit, have fun too, alright?”

As if she could have fun now.

At my words, Margrit forced an awkward, obviously artificial smile before heading back to the large tree where she had been earlier.

I could see the boys and girls who had been with her surrounding her and saying something.

They were probably talking badly about me. And truthfully, I quite enjoy that level of gossip.

‘How frustrated they must be, unable to insult me to my face.’

Isn’t backbiting the only way the weak can vent their frustrations?

With that thought, I ignored all the glances cast my way and walked toward a spot somewhat separated from the crowd.

Though several people clearly wanted to approach me, I had no reason to listen to either provocations or flattery.

Of course, given the earlier situation, it was more likely to be flattery.