“Wow, why is the High Priest’s speech so long?”

After the prayer meeting ended, Flaria grumbled and let out a long yawn.

Attending a prayer meeting for the first time turned out to be more tedious than expected. The meeting, which began with a greeting from the Crown Prince representing the imperial family, dragged on with a lengthy sermon by the High Priest, followed by an even longer prayer, before finally concluding.

After sitting through over two hours of the meeting, standing up left my body feeling stiff and sore.

“Right?”

Thanks to Travis stepping away to speak with the High Priest, sparing me the awkwardness of facing him, I was finally able to hold my head high and move confidently alongside Flaria.

‘I need to meet Count Kidne….’

I naturally glanced behind me.

Today was the deadline I had given him. I needed to hear his answer.

But the Count was nowhere to be seen, giving the impression he hadn’t attended the prayer meeting at all.

“Espin, let’s hurry and grab some refreshments. I’m starving.”

Flaria grabbed my arm as I looked around and pulled me toward the garden.

In the garden, refreshments had been prepared for those who attended the prayer meeting.

“Let’s sit over there.”

Flaria pointed to the nearest table.

“Please bring us some refreshments quickly.”

As soon as we sat down, Flaria requested refreshments, and I couldn’t help but wonder about something.

“Flaria, the Crown Prince was here. Shouldn’t you go greet him?”

At my question, Flaria, who had been smiling while thinking about the refreshments, suddenly froze.

“Why…?”

“Well….”

Because you’re in love with the Crown Prince….

According to the novel, Flaria, the daughter of a ducal family and the Crown Prince’s fiancée, had been rumored for some time to be his destined match.

Having always had the best of everything since childhood, Flaria naturally assumed that the Crown Prince and the position of Crown Princess were hers as well.

However, the Crown Prince didn’t find Flaria particularly captivating. Instead, he fell in love at first sight with Chloe, the illegitimate child of the Ameron Ducal Family, when she appeared.

This enraged Flaria, who couldn’t tolerate it, leading her to torment Chloe, the female lead.

‘But why does Flaria’s expression show no interest in the Crown Prince right now?’

Far from showing interest, her face looked closer to one of dislike.

“You and the Crown Prince….”

“Don’t say something so dreadful.”

Flaria cut me off with a stern look and then slightly furrowed her brow as she noticed someone approaching us.

“See? Now the Crown Prince is coming over because you mentioned him…. Why did you have to bring him up….”

Flaria whispered to me without moving her lips, her demeanor clearly not that of someone harboring a crush.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

The Crown Prince greeted us with a smile, and everyone seated rose from their chairs.

“Greetings to Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

The Crown Prince nodded with a smile.

“It’s been a while, Flaria.”

“Yes.”

Flaria answered curtly, avoiding his gaze, clearly uninterested in engaging in conversation with him.

The Crown Prince, however, smiled, seemingly amused by her reluctance.

“Now that I think about it, the imperial banquet is just around the corner.”

The Crown Prince looked Flaria up and down before suddenly shifting his gaze to me.

“You must be the lady of the Leon County family. How about I make you the star of this year’s imperial banquet?”

‘What is he saying?’

The Crown Prince was essentially offering to be my partner at the imperial banquet. And he was saying this right next to his supposed fiancée, to her friend.

‘No wonder he ended up falling for the female lead, Chloe, at first sight while still engaged.’

From Chloe’s perspective, it might have been a fateful love, but for Flaria, it was a betrayal.

She had always assumed the Crown Prince was hers, and everyone else thought so too. But then he claimed he couldn’t marry her because he had fallen in love.

Flaria had every right to be angry.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m not someone worthy of being the star. I’ll simply be grateful for Your Highness’s generosity.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll have to find someone else suitable for the role.”

The Crown Prince deliberately glanced at Flaria as he spoke, ensuring she heard him.

Flaria, however, remained completely unfazed.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. I have many nobles to attend to. Haren, let’s talk separately next time.”

“Yes.”

Haren, who had been so talkative earlier, now responded stiffly, embodying the demeanor of the deputy commander of the knights.

The Crown Prince left with a leisurely smile.

“Talk separately next time? What for?”

Once the Crown Prince was out of sight, Haren muttered under his breath.

Hearing this, Flaria furrowed her brows deeply and agreed with him.

“Seriously, what’s with him? So annoying.”

Flaria looked like she had more to say. Judging by the tension in her lips and clenched fists, it was clear she was holding back words she couldn’t say in such a public setting.

“Exactly. What’s with the whole ‘star of the banquet’ thing? He’s so full of himself.”

Flaria nodded vigorously, clearly agreeing with Haren’s words.

“Haren, you’ll be my partner for the banquet this time, right?”

“Of course. Anything for the peace of our family.”

“For once, I’m glad you’re part of my family.”

“Don’t mention it. By the way, Espin, who’s going to be your partner?”

As their conversation flowed naturally, Haren and Flaria’s gazes both turned to me.

“Me?”

“Yeah. Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be attending with your family this time and would find a partner instead?”

“Did I say that…?”

“Yes, you did. You even told the Count that you wouldn’t be going with your family because you already had someone to go with.”

At Haren’s words, Flaria tilted her head in confusion.

“Espin, do you have someone to go with? As far as I know, you don’t.”

Of course, I didn’t. Back then, Espin must have been daydreaming about falling in love with a prince from a neighboring kingdom and attending the banquet with him.

“No, I don’t have anyone specific in mind. I’ll just find someone….”

“Does that make sense? In a noble society, you can’t just bring anyone as your partner.”

Flaria suddenly lowered her voice and spoke quietly enough for only us to hear.

“There’s only one person who can pull that off.”

Flaria discreetly gestured with her chin toward the table behind her, where the Crown Prince was chatting with other noble ladies.

“Exactly. Flaria’s right. If you bring just anyone, it could lead to bad rumors about you.”

“Exactly. Just go with your family. Unless… are you uncomfortable going with them?”

At Flaria’s question, I reluctantly nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then… why don’t you come with us?”

Was finding a partner for a banquet really such a big deal? Being new to this world, I wasn’t sure about these things.

Why did the old Espin have to say such a thing….

As I hesitated, thinking about the situation, Haren suddenly clapped his hands, appearing to have thought of something.

“Oh! I know just the person. Wait here for a moment.”

Haren jumped up from his seat and headed off somewhere. Watching his hair bounce with excitement made me feel uneasy.

“Where is Haren going?”

“Who knows? Whenever he says he has a good idea, it’s never actually good.”

After thinking for a moment, Flaria cautiously spoke.

“He wouldn’t bring the Grand Duke, would he? Even Haren wouldn’t be that thoughtless.”

But my concerns were proven wrong as I spotted Haren walking back with Travis, the Grand Duke, at his side. Haren, completely unaware of the gravity of his actions, waved at us cheerfully.