Chapter 46

“Nice to meet you, Lady Reina.”

Vivian responded a bit late to Reina’s greeting. She hoped her smile didn’t appear awkward.

As Vivian greeted her, Reina rolled her eyes to look at Rosie standing next to Vivian.

“What have you been mumbling about since earlier?”

“Well, I do appreciate getting straight to the point without any greetings, but do you really want to know what I’ve been saying?”

Reina frowned at Rosie’s words and then turned her gaze back to Vivian.

“It’s the first time since the winter banquet a few years ago, right? You’ve changed so much I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Really?”

“I heard about the Duchess. My condolences for your loss.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing Vivian’s slightly stiffened expression, Rosie stepped forward.

“What have you been up to these days? I heard rumors that you’re leading the unmarried ladies. Aren’t you getting married?”

At Rosie’s words, Reina’s red eyebrows twitched violently. But she quickly regained her composure and didn’t lose her smile.

“Can you just decide the most important thing in life based on age? What about you? Are you still throwing tea at your matchmakers and cursing them out?”

“Oh my. That only happened once, but has the rumor already reached your ears? At least I threw cold tea.”

Listening to their sharp conversation from behind, Vivian felt restless. The attention of the surrounding people was increasingly focused on them.

Countess Laila Langdne, seeing Rosie and Reina conversing from afar, looked like she wanted to run over immediately.

Vivian raised her hand to grab Rosie’s arm and try to lead her away.

“It’s just a rumor. And don’t worry about me. I’ve had someone in my heart for a long time.”

Reina said.

At Reina’s words, Vivian’s hand froze in mid-air. The phrase “someone I’ve had in my heart for a long time” stuck in Vivian’s mind.

Along with that phrase, she recalled the image of 10-year-old Reina openly displaying her possessiveness towards Louis.

“Who is that person?”

Rosie asked, looking Reina up and down. Reina smiled broadly and opened her mouth to speak.

At that moment.

“Empress Annette Lindez Tapeullon is arriving.”

At the Empress’ entrance, Reina closed her mouth again. As Annette appeared, all the noble ladies and young ladies invited to the tea party bent their knees to greet her.

“Thank you all for accepting my invitation.”

After Annette’s warm greeting, everyone took their designated seats. This year, the seat next to the Empress was occupied by Vivian.

Smiling at Vivian sitting next to her, the Empress spoke.

“There is someone I would like to introduce to you today. As you all know well, she is the eldest daughter of Duke Tereon Dinever and the fiancée of the Crown Prince, Lady Vivian.”

After the Empress’ introduction, questions poured in, such as “It’s been so long,” “You’ve become so beautiful,” and “Are you going to stay in the capital now?”

Vivian answered politely and kindly, and Annette looked at her lovingly.

The tea party was in full swing. Everyone enjoyed chatting, exchanging information, and strengthening their friendships. As the tea party was nearing its end, the Empress stood up and gathered everyone’s attention.

“With the winter banquet approaching this year, I am planning a big challenge.”

At the mention of the winter banquet, people’s ears perked up. Helping the Empress prepare for the winter banquet was a dream stage for many noble ladies.

It was an opportunity to form ties with the Imperial family and solidify one’s position in the capital’s social circles.

However, the word “challenge” from the Empress made the noble ladies exchange glances. They looked around to see if anyone had caught on to Annette’s hint, but no one seemed to know.

“This year, instead of noble ladies, I plan to prepare the winter banquet with the young ladies.”

As soon as the Empress finished speaking, the tea party venue buzzed with excitement. Vivian, too, was surprised by the Empress’ words and unconsciously gripped the hem of her dress tightly.

“Among the young ladies invited today, I would like Lady Reina Bynes, Lady Rosie Langdne, Lady Jennifer Moore, and Lady Vivian Dinever to help me prepare for the winter banquet.”

When the name “Rosie Langdne” was mentioned, Countess Laila Langdne let out a short scream. She quickly covered her mouth and blinked rapidly, looking at the Empress.

Not only Countess Laila but all the young ladies whose names were mentioned were equally surprised.

“Your Majesty, I beg your pardon, but the winter banquet is the largest banquet hosted by the Imperial family. Wouldn’t it be difficult to prepare it with young ladies who have no experience?”

Duchess Nesman, sitting next to the Empress, cautiously spoke.

Empress Annette smiled warmly at the Duchess Nesman and gently held her age-marked hand.

“Yes. While preparing with the young ladies, we will not hesitate to ask for help from the noble ladies where needed. I seek your understanding on this matter.”

At the Empress’ words, Duchess Nesman nodded, as if she had no choice. As the oldest and second highest-ranking person after the Empress at the tea party, her nod left the others with no room for complaint.

“Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Emperor Henry’s ascension. It’s a long time. We are looking at the young people who will lead the Tapeullon Empire in the future. In that spirit, we plan to prepare the winter banquet with the young ladies, and I hope you will follow willingly.”

After dropping this bombshell announcement, the Empress stood up. Even though the tea party had ended, many people, including Vivian, couldn’t leave their seats.

“Vivian.”

Rosie creaked as she approached Vivian.

“Do you think we can do well?”

It was an uncharacteristically unconfident Rosie. Vivian shook her head as she looked at Rosie.

“I’m not sure either.”

“But you’ve done a lot helping the Duke in Raspol. I…”

Rosie messed up her well-groomed hair as if she had a headache.

“If you’re that unsure, you should tell them you can’t do it.”

Reina said, looking at Rosie.

“Hey. I’ll do better than you, okay?”

“On what basis?”

Reina asked, raising one corner of her mouth. Rosie stood up, placing one hand on her hip and pointing at Reina with the other.

“Just wait! I’ll do an amazing job.”

Reina snorted and turned, her dress fluttering as she exited the garden. Her red hair stood out strikingly against the white of Dovelia Palace.

Watching her retreating figure, Vivian felt suffocated at the thought of preparing for the winter banquet alongside Reina.

“Vivi! Let’s do our best! We can’t lose to someone like her!”

Seeing Rosie quickly regain her vigor, Vivian burst into laughter.

It seemed she had found an unexpected benefit in Reina.

* * *

“Lady Vivian.”

As Vivian and Rosie were leaving the rear garden after the tea party, someone called out to her. Vivian, who had been chatting with Rosie, turned her head towards the voice.

“Hello, Sir Allen.”

The person who called her was none other than Louis’s aide, Allen.

“Hello, Lady Vivian.”

Allen bowed his head and greeted Vivian. He then looked up at her, smiled with his eyes, and scratched the back of his head.

“What brings you here…?”

“I came to see you, Lady Vivian.”

“Pardon?”

The fact that Allen had come to see her likely meant it was something related to Louis. Vivian’s heart began to race wildly at Allen’s words.

“Vivian? Are you okay?”

Rosie, standing next to her, looked worriedly at Vivian’s suddenly flushed face. Allen also blinked at Vivian upon hearing Rosie’s concern.

“Oh? Oh, yes, of course.”

Vivian, who could never reveal why she was blushing, lowered her head to hide her face behind her hair as she answered.

“Why did you come to see me…?”

Vivian asked in a small voice.

“Ah, well, it’s because Ian is currently at the Imperial Palace.”

“What?”

Vivian, who had her head lowered, suddenly looked up. Her loud voice startled both Rosie and Allen.

Vivian couldn’t believe her ears when Allen said her brother was at the Imperial Palace.

“The Ian you’re talking about, is it my brother… Ian Dinever?”

“Yes? Yes…”

Although several Ians popped into Allen’s mind, the Ian currently at the Imperial Palace was indeed Ian Dinever, Vivian’s brother.

“Why is my brother there…”

Seeing Vivian’s visibly shocked expression, Allen slowly began to explain.

“A few days ago, Ian Dinever requested an audience with the Crown Prince. So, today he came for the audience… Lady Vivian?”

Before Allen could finish speaking, Vivian lifted her dress slightly and began to stride away.

“Vivi. Where are you going!”

Allen and Rosie hurriedly followed behind Vivian. She walked quickly, and as the area where carriages were waiting came into view, she stopped.

Allen and Rosie, who were following her, also came to an abrupt halt behind her. Vivian turned around swiftly to face Allen.

“He’s at the Crown Prince’s Palace right now, correct?”

Startled by Vivian’s intense gaze, Allen almost nodded instinctively but quickly shook his head.

“He’s not at the Crown Prince’s Palace right now.”

“Then, where is he?”

Vivian took a step closer to Allen as she asked. Sweat trickled down Allen’s back under the force of Vivian’s presence.

“In the… Emperor’s Forest…”

As soon as Allen finished speaking, Vivian turned around again and walked briskly toward the carriage.

“Let’s go together! Vivian!”

Rosie began to walk quickly, almost running to keep up with Vivian.

As Rosie and Vivian climbed into the carriage, it quickly departed. Allen, who stood staring blankly at the receding Dinever carriage, took out a handkerchief from his vest pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Muttering to himself, Allen continued to watch the now tiny speck of the Dinever carriage until it completely disappeared from sight.

Inside the carriage.

Seeing Vivian clench her lips tightly, Rosie recalled the aide’s words about Ian Dinever being with the Crown Prince today.

Rosie thought that the reason Vivian was so angry was probably because Ian had entered the palace without her knowing.

But why did Ian enter the palace without telling his sister?

Rosie remembered how Ian used to look only at his sister when they were in Raspol. She had also heard the absurd story of Ian hiding in the luggage cart when Vivian came to the capital.

Rosie thought she might witness something quite interesting today. Her lips twitched with anticipation.