A special ball was held at the Imperial Palace. Grand banquets were typically held only for commemorative or celebratory occasions, but this one was specially organized at the Emperor’s discretion.

Being such a grand event, many attended, including nobles from prestigious families.

Lisette also attended the banquet. Concerned that she might be nervous at her first banquet, Claude assigned Viscount Essex to escort her.

Originally, Claude had wanted to escort her himself, but due to certain circumstances, he couldn’t attend this time.

‘If any problems arise, I’ll rush over immediately.’

Just seeing Claude’s reliable gaze, promising to come running whenever needed, made Lisette feel reassured.

With the Emperor’s permission, this was her first time walking around the Imperial Palace without wearing a black veil. Though she deliberately chose a modest dress, Lisette’s beautiful appearance couldn’t be concealed no matter how simply she dressed.

Consequently, Lisette unwittingly attracted the attention of many.

“Who is that lady? I’ve never seen her before. Which family does she belong to?”

Some were particularly curious because she had never shown her face before, while others who remembered the former Empress’s face looked at her with surprised expressions.

There were those who viewed her with disapproving eyes—the Empress and Natalie.

“Why isn’t that girl wearing a veil?”

“I don’t know either. I suppose His Majesty permitted it.”

The Empress asked Natalie, but since the Emperor had made the decision unilaterally, she had no way of knowing.

Natalie felt uncomfortable seeing Lisette without her veil. Somehow, she felt like all the attention she usually received had been stolen.

Why are things going wrong?

Natalie had been feeling frustrated by situations not going her way recently. Above all, what annoyed her most was failing to force Lisette into marriage with Baron Jerzy.

‘How could you try to marry her to such a man? Didn’t I acknowledge Lisette as my daughter? I never gave permission, so Empress, please inform the Baron accordingly.’

Before the marriage could take place, the Emperor noticed what was happening and immediately ordered the Empress to halt the marriage plans.

‘Oh my. That wasn’t the man I had in mind… There must have been some misunderstanding.’

‘From now on, I will take care of her personally, so the Empress need not concern herself.’

‘Wouldn’t it be better for me to take care of her rather than burdening Your Majesty with your busy schedule?’

‘No. I’ve been sorry for pushing my responsibilities onto the busy Empress all this time.’

The Empress maintained her innocence, but the Emperor’s gaze toward her was not particularly kind.

Natalie had to watch this exchange without being able to refute anything. In that situation, there was only one thing she could do.

‘You look displeased. If you’re angry about something, please let it out right now, okay?’

Natalie hid her nervousness and flirted with him, acting cute by his side. The Emperor’s hardened face softened at her aegyo.

‘No matter how much I act out, Father will always take my side.’

Only then did Natalie breathe a sigh of relief. She then tried to continue this momentum by attempting to frame the Usta family for treason, but…

‘What nonsense are you talking about? That’s impossible.’

She had planned to plant the idea first and then fabricate evidence, but seeing the Emperor’s serious expression, it didn’t seem easy.

‘How strange. This is the first time he hasn’t believed us. Has the effect of the drug worn off?’

The Empress also seemed to sense that the Emperor’s heart had drifted somewhat.

‘Can’t we get more of the drug?’

‘It’s difficult because the mage who made it has already died. It’s also hard to find a mage as skilled as that person.’

Hearing the Empress’s negative response, Natalie’s heart was filled with disappointment.

Everything that doesn’t go according to plan is because of Lisette, that woman.

Consequently, Natalie’s resentment was directed at Lisette, who was surrounded by many people.

She continued to look at Lisette with unfriendly eyes. It felt like her very existence kept ruining Natalie’s life, and she wished Lisette would just disappear from her sight.

The only good thing was that Lord Usta wasn’t by Lisette’s side. His presence was nowhere to be seen in the banquet hall today.

It was fortunate, because if she had seen them together, she might have gone crazy with rage.

‘Who do you think you are to decide to marry him?’

A man Natalie couldn’t have, Lisette shouldn’t have either. She needed to cause trouble somehow, but the problem was that the spy working in the mansion had been caught, so she couldn’t know how their relationship was progressing.

‘The marriage decision seems to have been made in anger after fighting with the Marquis. I’ve never seen him showing affection or longing for anyone.’

This was what she had managed to extract from the maid who had been spying, so Natalie believed it. It was the only way she could understand why Claude was being so cold to her.

‘So he’s not just like that with me.’

Thinking about Lisette, who would be coldly abandoned by a man who had made a mistake while intoxicated, Natalie felt a sense of magnanimity.

‘I should approach her first, being the kind person I am, right?’

Since it was proper for Natalie to greet her first, she approached Lisette and politely greeted her.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it’s been a long time.”

Lisette, who had flinched momentarily in surprise, also smiled and returned the greeting.

“You look beautiful without the veil.”

“Thank you. You look beautiful today too.”

Amid this artificial conversation, a psychological battle unfolded between them. Their mouths were smiling, but they exchanged unfriendly glances.

Just as they were silently contesting who would end the greeting first, the banquet began with the Emperor’s welcome speech, and the two naturally drifted apart.

“I extend my gratitude to all of you who have attended today. I have specially prepared many enjoyable spectacles, so please enjoy yourselves.”

As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, lively music began to play, and people started to go out to the dance floor one by one.

Many proposed to dance with Lisette, but she didn’t dance with anyone. She was too nervous to stand properly.

The banquet was held out of the Emperor’s consideration for her. It was both an opportunity to reveal what the Empress had done all this time and a special event for Lisette, who had never attended a banquet before.

Of course, there was another purpose for the banquet that hadn’t been mentioned to the Emperor.

There was a hope that the nobles attending the banquet would understand her grievances, and also, to bring down the High Priest who was respected by all, the judgment of many was more important than individual judgment.

In other words, today was the day to reveal everything, so Lisette couldn’t focus on the banquet she was attending for the first time. She was quietly waiting for the moment she had longed for.

When the banquet was in full swing, Marquis Usta brought Zela.

She had refused to testify about the High Priest, but changed her mind when she heard she would receive protection from the Usta family.

The biggest catalyst for her change of heart was Claude. Because he was such a famous war hero, Zela gained trust and found courage.

Exchanging nods with Marquis Usta from a distance, Lisette waited for the witness who had sent him the letter. The sender had left a cryptic message saying they would be recognizable at first glance, but she couldn’t predict who it might be.

Soon after, as promised, a woman dressed in a manner completely out of place with the banquet hall entered, presumably the one who had sent the letter.

Light pink hair, a woman wrapped in a cloak. She was so out of place that many people’s eyes turned toward her, and Lisette’s eyes widened when she saw the woman’s face.

Celia? Why is she here when she said she was running away for a while after being marked by the Imperial Princess? Could Celia be the one who sent the letter to the Marquis?

Lisette couldn’t help but be surprised, knowing better than anyone that Celia’s usual character was to never interfere in others’ affairs except when granting wishes.

Realizing that Celia was the sender of the letter, Marquis Usta exchanged glances with her and then approached the Emperor to whisper in his ear.

The Emperor nodded and stood up. At that moment, everyone’s attention focused on him.

“The banquet will be temporarily suspended.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the music stopped. In a situation where people should have been murmuring in surprise at the sudden interruption of the banquet, everyone kept their mouths shut, watching the Emperor’s reaction.

“You said your name was Celia? Come forward.”

As Celia slowly walked forward, the nobles beside her made way for her.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

Celia greeted the Emperor respectfully. Acknowledging her greeting with a nod, he shouted to everyone.

“There is a reason why I held this banquet and why I suddenly interrupted it. The mage Celia standing before me has a truth she wishes to reveal, which is why I specially called her here.”

A truth she wishes to reveal?

Unable to understand the meaning of the Emperor’s words, Lisette looked at Celia with surprised eyes, but all she could see was Celia’s face, looking straight ahead with a solemn determination.

It was a serious face Lisette had never seen before, so she was tense about what words would come out.

She wasn’t the only one who felt that way—the atmosphere in the banquet hall sank heavily, and everyone maintained silence, waiting to hear what would come from Celia’s mouth.

“Why did you say you came to find me?”

“In truth, I came to apologize for my father’s wrongdoing and beg for forgiveness.”

When the Emperor asked, Celia answered in a respectful and calm voice.

Her father’s wrongdoing? Lisette had briefly heard about Celia’s father from her.

Unlike Celia, he was an exceptionally skilled mage. However, blinded by money, he did things he shouldn’t have done and lived with regret for the rest of his life. Feeling guilty, he only drank alcohol and eventually died from a chronic illness.