The large and magnificent Hessen Castle overlooking the ocean from atop a cliff.

This place, famous since ancient times as a fairy-tale castle, opened its doors today.

It wasn’t the outer castle where the common people resided.

The gates of Hessen Kingdom’s inner castle, the main castle, were thrown wide open.

Splendid and expensive carriages from Aria and other kingdoms rushed to the entrance of Hessen Castle, creating a spectacular scene as dozens of carriage doors opened simultaneously.

Nobles dressed in beautiful banquet attire stepped down from their carriages onto the stairs.

As soon as their feet touched the ground, the cold energy of natural stone, not marble, rose from their toes and made their entire bodies cool.

Royalty and nobles were captivated by the beauty of the main castle, adorned with over a hundred subtle electric lights and ivy vines.

Particularly, the massive family portrait of the Hessen royal family hanging from the top of the castle down the outer wall clearly announced who the protagonists of today’s grand banquet were.

Eve holding Monette was at the center, surrounded protectively by the King and Queen and Count Crow, with Monica sitting in a wheelchair and Joan standing beside them.

“Goodness.”

“So it’s true that Hessen made a commoner their Princess.”

“Perhaps because she resembles the late Princess Melissa.”

“But who are those two women?”

The nobles tilted their heads curiously as they made their way into the castle.

The beautiful and lively chamber music soothing their ears made the nobles’ hearts flutter.

It had been several years since the Kingdom of Hessen had hosted such a grand banquet, since the death of Princess Melissa.

All the invited guests were filled with anticipation.

In response, Hessen Castle had an overwhelming presence from its very entrance.

“Wow!”

“Amazing.”

Two massive dolphin sculptures, symbols of Hessen, stood like pillars supporting the ceiling of the banquet hall.

“My goodness, how do they make something like this?”

The entire ceiling was adorned with mother-of-pearl mosaic pictures, brilliantly reflecting the light from the chandeliers.

The nobles, their gazes captured by this sight, forgot their dignity and tilted their heads back to admire the ceiling.

Then, someone else exclaimed in amazement:

“Look at that! They’ve decorated with coral instead of flowers!”

Beautiful and expensive corals of various colors were placed in vase-shaped aquariums. Corals decorated every corner of the grand banquet hall, and journalists who had been invited could be seen quietly taking photographs.

“They must have invited journalists too.”

“Indeed. Oh my, what’s that?”

Was that a small artificial waterfall and pond in the center of the grand banquet hall? Ornamental fish were gracefully swimming in it, swaying their tails.

“It’s less hot inside the castle, isn’t it?”

“The interior is cool, perhaps because it’s a high castle.”

“Yes, and the acoustics are good too.”

The cool stone walls were not only stylish but also functional.

Unlike the hot outdoors, the grand banquet hall was cool and comfortable.

The nobles, looking around to find their places, exclaimed in amazement again.

“Pearls? Goodness. Aren’t these top quality?”

“Oh my, I’ve been wanting one of these.”

Rare natural black pearl gifts were placed at each designated seat.

For men, there were cigar cases inlaid with black pearls, and for women, cosmetics containing black pearl powder.

The nobles were delighted like children upon receiving these expensive surprise gifts.

They had accepted Hessen’s invitation to the grand banquet firstly because it was a banquet hosted by Hessen after a long time, and secondly out of curiosity about Eve, who had become Hessen’s Princess despite her commoner status, and the royal granddaughter.

Above all, no nobles would refuse an invitation to a rare grand banquet hosted by a wealthy kingdom that was equal to, if not surpassing, the Kingdom of Aria.

‘Moreover, a theatrical performance directed and hosted by the Princess!’

The eyes of the entire world were focused on Hessen.

“Look over there!”

“Are they finally coming out?”

Suddenly, the nobles began to stir.

This was because the head chamberlain appeared on the landing of the central staircase of the grand banquet hall, clearing his throat.

It was the appearance of the hosts of the grand banquet.

“His Majesty King Peter Gion of Hessen, Her Majesty Queen Clara Gion, and Her Highness Princess Eve Gion!”

The King and Queen held Eve’s hands from both sides as they slowly descended the central staircase.

“Ooh!”

“Ah!”

The deep cobalt-colored cast iron railing and the white staircase created a stark contrast that highlighted Eve.

Her clean-styled dress, revealing milk-white shoulders, was adorned with hundreds of Hessen’s specialty natural pearls and top-quality diamonds.

Every time she moved, the jewels scattered light like chandeliers.

The nobles gazed in awe at her beautiful and noble appearance, which made it hard to believe she was a commoner.

They had thought she merely resembled the kind and elegant late Princess Melissa, but Eve also possessed dignity and charisma.

Eve descended the stairs and looked around with confident eyes.

Her elegant expression and dignified demeanor made the fact that she was of commoner origin disappear into the recesses of their minds.

Eve’s presence had already captured the atmosphere of the banquet hall.

The King and Queen standing behind her were proud, their shoulders raised.

Eve moved her upper body slightly backward and whispered to them:

“Father, Mother. Please do well on stage later.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry, dear.”

“Thank you.”

As the three royals completely descended the stairs, the royalty showed friendliness with smiles to the King and Queen of Hessen and greeted Eve with their eyes.

King Peter leisurely looked around at the hundred or so nobles and opened his mouth:

“I thank all of you who have accepted our invitation to Hessen’s grand banquet today. Our Princess Eve has prepared an excellent play, so I hope you enjoy it during your stay.”

Queen Clara also wore a benevolent smile and continued Peter’s words:

“Welcome to all our distinguished guests. Thank you for coming to meet Princess Eve and Royal Granddaughter Monette. Due to our royal granddaughter’s young age, we have substituted with her portrait on the castle wall. Ah, those who haven’t seen it are welcome to go out and look again.”

“Hahaha.”
The hall erupted in laughter.

It was too dangerous in many ways for Monette, who was only a hundred days old, to be present. Therefore, Monette was in the baby room, held by nurses.

Eve also bowed her head to each guest she saw, expressing her gratitude.

The nobles and royalty inwardly admired her confident gaze and attitude, while young lords and male nobles blushed.

Then it was time for Aria, a friendly nation.

King Peter spotted Herod and greeted him first:

“King Herod Hanover, thank you for coming.”

“Congratulations. A very impressive banquet.”

While the two kings exchanged pleasantries, Clara faced Former Queen Isabella and Queen Agnes.

Isabella, as if she had been waiting, said to Agnes:

“Agnes, please excuse us for a moment.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Agnes obediently stepped back.

Clara looked at her friend with puzzled eyes and said:

“Isabella, what’s wrong? I’m fine with her staying.”

Isabella looked around and led her to a place in the banquet hall where drinks were available.

“We need to talk over a drink.”

Isabella trailed off as she handed Clara a glass of champagne.

“Clara, I hope you won’t take offense at what I’m about to say.”

“What is it?”

Clara faced her longtime friend with calm eyes and replied:

“That you weren’t helping me, but telling me to leave immediately? To another country?”

“I was wrong to deceive you. And because I’m a commoner… you must have thought I was harmful to the Mikhail ducal residence and the royal family.”

‘Eve told me everything. Yes, that’s just like Isabella’s character. But you could have at least asked me first? Even if you thought Eve was a commoner, to just drive that poor child out across the border without any consideration…!’

Clara already knew what Isabella was going to say, but she quietly waited for her to speak.

With a face devoid of any smile, Isabella began:

“As you’ve seen in the newspapers, Eve is a commoner. On top of that, she seduced Duke Mikhail into committing identity fraud and fled with his baby.”

Suddenly, Clara’s eyes flashed fiercely:

“Isabella, it was wrong of Eve to deceive you. But are you saying Eve orchestrated all of this? That’s not the truth, is it? Rather, the former Duke Mikhail used Eve.”

“…Hmm.”

“Did you know all this and still drive a pregnant woman across the border?”

Somewhat taken aback by her friend’s thorny response, Isabella answered:

“Of course, I learned about the pregnancy later. But Clara, that’s not the important thing.”

“The Hessen royal family has already recognized Eve as the Princess. I don’t understand why you’re acting like this.”

“Oh, Clara. Don’t be fooled just because she resembles Melissa. She’s a commoner and a vulgar former actress. Come to your senses!”

“It’s you who needs to come to your senses, Isabella.”

Clara dropped the formal speech. Her eyes no longer held respect for her friend, the former queen of another country.

Isabella also became heated, her speech turning rough:

“Clara, you’ve really been bewitched by Eve.”

To this, Clara replied with even fiercer eyes:

“Isabella, watch the performance today and come to your senses properly. You’ll need to hold onto your sanity tightly.”

“What are you saying?”

Clara held up her untouched champagne glass and said quietly:

“Were you always this oblivious? This might escalate into a national issue soon.”

“What?”

“Did you think Eve just resembled Melissa?”

“…?”

“Driving that poor child out with nothing?”

“Clara, why are you treating me like this?”

“You knew I had special feelings for Eve. That’s why you’re acting like this to me now.”

“That’s right. That’s why I’m saying this. Don’t you understand I’m doing this for you?”

“If it was for me, you should have at least informed me before driving her out. We could have discussed what to do.”

“My Herod’s coronation was happening. She seduced Victor and lied about her status, and as a result, my nephew became a commoner.”

“Isabella, you keep trying to hide the truth. How much more will you disappoint me?”

“…”

Isabella couldn’t answer and swallowed.

“What does it mean to be royal? Commoners are also your subjects and mine. Instead of wielding the power given by heaven as you please, you should have shown more grace to poor Eve. What if she’s not a commoner but really my daughter?”

“What?”

“They say there are people in the world who look exactly alike, but what are the chances of that happening by coincidence, Isabella?”

Clara placed the glass she had received into Isabella’s hand, which was now wide-eyed.

“And you can drink all of this. We’re no longer friends or anything else.”

Then Clara turned around roughly and left.

‘Could it be… her real daughter?’

‘That can’t be possible, right?’

Former Queen Isabella bit her lip as she watched the retreating figure of Clara, who had been her only friend.

* * *

Victor was watching Eve from a distance.

He wanted to guard her by her side now too, but his mistress had told him to wait for a signal.

Eve was instantly surrounded by people and was shining brightly among them.

‘She’s breathtakingly beautiful.’

It was no wonder Queen Clara and Countess Monica were worried.

A few hours before the grand banquet began, the two had summoned him.

He had broken into a cold sweat as the Countess and the Queen took turns questioning him.

‘Hmm. Do I have two mothers-in-law?’

“You said you love Eve?”

“Yes. It will be Eve’s decision. But if you hurt her again, I won’t forgive you.”

After meeting them, he learned more clearly about Eve’s past and circumstances.

‘Yes, I love her, of course. She is my everything.’

While thinking this, Victor’s eyes remained fixed on Eve.

Irreverently, his heart rate jumped, and an unbearable hunger came over him.

The yearning for her blazed like fire in his chest.

Victor swallowed hard and calmed himself.

Now was the time to focus on guarding.

‘I wonder if Hogan and the other members are doing well?’

By now, the other special knights would be searching for the ‘Black Bulks’ who would be hiding somewhere in the inner castle.

‘Their leader will surely be near Lyudmila.’

Just as he was guarding near Eve.

The fact that these large men weren’t visible showed they were indeed formidable.

According to bob-haired Hogan, the leader seemed to be able to use a technique called ‘concealment.’

It was a technique Victor hadn’t learned due to lack of time.

What did that matter in the current situation?

Victor’s gaze, captured by Eve, suddenly brightened.

Eve was looking at someone.

It was Lyudmila, who was just entering the grand banquet hall.

And Eve caressed her white, long nape with her gloved hand.

It was the signal.