“You don’t think you need to tell your mother?”

The madness that had been ruling her since the emperor lost interest in her resurfaced.

Titania couldn’t stand it when someone ignored her. Especially if it was Kyle, the only one she relied on and loved!

Kyle wiped the frown from his face and spoke calmly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, mother.”

“Liar!”

Clap–!

Kyle’s cheek was hit hard. His skin burned and turned red.

But he didn’t even blink. Instead, he met Titania’s eyes unflinchingly, as if he could see through everything.

It was like a giant beast standing in front of her. Titania’s voice trembled without her realizing it.

“Is Kyle ignoring his mother too?”

“Of course not.”

The voice was so calm it sent chills down her spine.

Even in a situation where he was slapped for no reason, Kyle showed no emotions whatsoever.

Titania’s nerves were further agitated by Kyle’s attitude. Her hands trembled.

“I taught Kyle wrong. I shouldn’t have sent him to Arene,” Titania muttered venomously.

The paranoia that had plagued Titania for so many years had once again driven her into her own world. And as Kyle grew up without her, her symptoms worsened.

“I allowed it because I thought it wouldn’t harm the prince’s education, but I was wrong. He should have been by this mother’s side. He’s already trying to turn away from me.”

“Mother.”

“Yes. Vivian Rosiere. She was the problem.”

Titania’s eyes flashed.

“She was the problem, wasn’t she, Kyle? Otherwise, there’d be no reason for you to stay at that useless academy for two more years. I knew it. She’s been a bad influence on you since you were a little boy.”

“Mother.”

“A worthless woman. Useless. I need to call her out here and punish her–”

“Don’t talk about Vivian like that.”

For the first time since facing each other, Kyle’s voice contained emotion.

He was holding back tightly, but there was a faint hidden emotion.

It enraged Titania even more.

“How dare you take her side in front of me!”

“Restrain yourself, mother.”

“Prince!”

Crash. The vase on the dresser shattered into a million pieces.

Titania gasped for air as she threw the vase away after losing her temper. Her neatly tied hair fell down and blood vessels rose in her eyes.

But Kyle still stared down at her in silence. There was no contempt or any other emotion.

‘This is wrong.’

This couldn’t go on. Kyle couldn’t be left like this. She had to fix Kyle herself.

“Come with me, prince.”

She grabbed Kyle’s arm.

It was clear where Titania’s steps were headed, but Kyle did not escape her wrath.

***

It’s been three days since we returned home.

After returning to the capital, I thought I would lead a leisurely life, but it was quite the opposite.

As I had spent a long time in Arene, there were many things waiting for me when I returned.

Firstly, I went shopping with my mother at the boutiques in the capital.

According to my mother, I was wearing outdated clothes…

However, the capital was definitely the capital. While going around the boutiques with my mother, I realized how far behind Arene was in fashion.

Thanks to that, I got lots of new clothes!

Then I visited my brother’s house to see my sister-in-law and my cute niece Leti.

“Wow, how cute, what a little baby angel to show up in Rosiere!”

“Whoo-hoo, Vivian, too.”

Luckily, Leti looks more like my sister-in-law. It was a relief that she didn’t take after my brother.

And so, I only played for a few days before returning home.

“Miss, what shall we do with all these letters?”

“They’re from the Raisin family, saying they hope you’ll come to this literary salon.”

“Oh, my. What a surprise to receive an invitation from this place. I suppose I’d better write a decline.”

My house was flooded with letters.

‘Huh, am I an extra in a novel, but now suddenly popular?’

That wouldn’t be the case.

“There are so many people looking for Kyle,” I murmured as I shook one of the letters in the basket.

Perhaps their real target is not me, but Kyle, who returned from the Academy with me.

It was Kyle Ygritte who had risen to the rank of Sword Expert several years ago and was hailed by the emperor as a swordsmanship prodigy.

Moreover, rumors are rife that the emperor has recently taken Kyle under his wing.

It was even being suggested that Kyle might surpass Logan and become crown prince.

Originally, Kyle was a poor prince. He was smart from a young age but lacked legitimacy to become the crown prince.

That’s why Prince Logan, the empress’s son, was still the presumed next emperor, despite his lack of accomplishments.

However, having Logan outclassed and outmatched, there was a changing opinion among the nobility.

‘Prince Logan is the eldest son, and indeed the son of the empress, but seeing as he is already well past the age of maturity and has yet to become a crown prince, there must be something deeply flawed about his ascension to the throne.’

‘Hey, you should be careful! You might get into big trouble for saying things like that! No one knows what’s in the mind of Her Majesty!’

The empress’s powers prevented her from commenting publicly on the increasingly hot topic, but the important thing was that the number of people who believed in Kyle’s chances of success grew.

And it is the Marquis de Rosiere family, especially father, who had been in constant contact with Kyle, which is why these letters are coming.

It’s clear that I’m just an excuse, and that they’re trying to make a connection with Kyle somehow through me.

There’s no way Kyle would be attending all these trivial social events.

“I haven’t even seen Kyle’s face for a while.”

I let out a sigh and put down the letter I was reading.

He was supposed to come to my house after two days, but instead he sent a messenger to tell me that he couldn’t come see me for a while.

Kyle had returned to the palace after a long absence. I’m sure it’s because he’s busy.

‘Still, he seemed like he was about to confess.’

I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

“Phew,” I sighed and tossed the letters into the basket.

“Let them all know we decline politely, and if necessary, we can send a small gift along with it.”

“Miss, what about the letter from the palace? Should I handle it the same way?”

“…Palace? Can you give it to me?”

I frowned slightly as I took the letter Lisa handed me.

It was fine to ignore most invitation letters. In this empire, the Marquise de Rosiere was in a position to do so.

However, even someone like me had to be careful around certain individuals.

“An invitation to Princess Rosaline’s tea party.”

The royal family invited me to their tea party?

Even I can’t refuse…!

If I decline, it might lead to some unnecessary trouble.

“Why Princess Rosaline of all people?” I lamented. 

Rosaline was a character who was in opposition to Kyle in the original work.

She was the empress’s biological child, related to Prince Logan, the first prince of the Ygritte Empire.

I put my head down on the table and groaned.

“Lisa, do I really have to go?”

“Would you like to refuse due to poor health?”

“That’s what I want, but I can’t.”

Of course, I can’t.

There was no point in putting myself at risk as soon as I got back to the capital.

After all, I have to go to the tea party and make sure Princess Rosaline doesn’t get the wrong idea.

“Ugh, I don’t want to go!”

I really don’t want to go!

Why do I have to go through this ordeal!

I haven’t even attended the tea party yet, and I’m already violently wanting to go home.

***

The Marquis de Rosiere belongs to a prestigious noble family, but I am a mere young lady without a title.

How could I refuse such a royal invitation?

Exactly two days later, I was forced to cry and eat mustard to attend a tea party in the palace’s greenhouse.

I can only marvel that this all happened within five days of my return to the capital.

Ugh, I’m busy. Busy.

In front of the huge greenhouse made of crystal, I swallowed my saliva.

In the original book, Rosaline Ygritte was the picture-perfect villain.

Proud of her lineage, she didn’t like Titania, who had risen through the ranks from maid to the emperor’s mistress and then to concubine. Nor did she recognize her newly found brother, Kyle, as part of her family.

It’s better if they just don’t acknowledge him, right?

‘Ahaha, that’s so funny! Run more!’

Rosaline was the one who took the lead in bullying Kyle along with Logan.

She had even unleashed a hound on the garden where Kyle had been relaxing with a book and almost killed him.