“Welcome.”

The greeting that welcomed Sezlin was filled with a subtle smile. She already knew that smile wasn’t genuine. Sezlin, who hadn’t expected much from this mere figurehead, quietly bent one knee and then straightened it.

Her arm remained linked with Ludwig’s.

“Sezlin of Brioden greets the sun of Azelan. Thank you for allowing me to enter the palace.”

“What thanks? Forming ties with the Brioden family is a great celebration for this imperial family as well.”

‘Celebration, you say.’

Sezlin wasn’t stupid.

Well, the deliberate welcome was nice. The upturned lips were quite presentable. But the gaze that looked at Sezlin was extremely n*ked.

It was regret and exploration. A bit of curiosity toward prey.

Blue eyes rolled silently. The Emperor, Empress, and Friedrich were seated in the banquet hall. The moment she took in that disgusting profile, Sezlin turned her head with a smile. As before, just facing him made her want to vomit.

Fortunately, she endured it well this time.

“I greet the Prince. I am Sezlin Brioden.”

Having already greeted him earlier, there was no need to add more flowery words. After casually greeting Friedrich, Sezlin looked at the Second Empress beside him.

If the Azelan royalty were born with red eyes, the Second Empress, Mazelina, had flaming hair. Hair full of red hues poured like silk beyond the chair. Like Friedrich, she too hadn’t changed at all. A woman who had gone from a marquise to royalty in one breath.

She had heard countless rumors about Empress Mazelina.

‘The same must be true for Mazelina.’

As someone who had reached the pinnacle of current high society. Hearing one’s own rumors would be easier than eating a slice of cake.

“I greet Her Majesty the Second Empress.”

“Nice to meet you, Sezlin.”

Like flowing water, the name echoed in the banquet hall. It was an extremely natural call. Sezlin’s shoulders stiffened slightly. Mazelina, looking at Sezlin, curved her eyes.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just heard today that the marriage between you two has been formally arranged. I guess my joy at the thought of becoming family took precedence.”

“…”

“Should I still call you Lady?”

Sezlin swallowed the curse that had momentarily risen. She could have just apologized, but the reason for emphasizing family was too transparent.

‘She’s trying to entangle us.’

That Ludwig and herself were under her feet. She deliberately confirmed it.

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

The stiffened facial muscles gradually relaxed.

“Please, call me comfortably.”

Snake-like woman.

Sezlin raised the corner of her mouth. A rather innocent smile hung on her lips.

* * *

The dinner proceeded in a fairly convivial atmosphere. Magnificent chandeliers illuminated the hall where smiles never left. However, the servants at one end of the banquet hall never let go of their tension.

Though voices and laughter were unceasing, paradoxically, there was no greater silence than this.

“Love at first sight?”

The Emperor, holding his glass, laughed heartily. His wrinkled eyes creased deeply.

“To have hearts match with someone exchanging marriage proposals. Truly a celebration, isn’t it?”

A voice tinged with intoxication filled the banquet hall. Mazelina, holding her glass, wore a subtle smile.

“They make a very well-matched pair.”

Sezlin raised her glass as if responding to those words.

‘Sarcasm.’

Thorns carrying poison were subtly felt. Sezlin, who had shown respect by slightly raising her glass, slowly drank the wine.

The sweet liquid smoothly passed beyond her throat. But the moment she put down the empty glass, her face stiffened involuntarily.

Fortunately, no one saw it as it was such a brief moment.

“Sezlin?”

…Maybe.

“The wine is delicious.”

Sezlin deliberately jested while looking at Ludwig, who had turned to her. It had seemed fine earlier, but when her wrist inadvertently touched the table, a pain like being pricked by a needle arose.

‘Did I sprain it?’

It was too much fuss over just hitting a wall once.

Feeling disgust at her weak body, Sezlin picked up her fork with her other hand.

At this moment, an intense metallic sound was heard.

Friedrich, who had been cutting his steak, put down his knife.

“To keep her so close right away. Isn’t it like a fairy tale? Love, how romantic.”

Is he really in love with Lady Brioden? Doesn’t he have other intentions? The meaning of his words was roughly that.

Friedrich, while pretending not to, calmly uttered what he wanted to say.

“Friedrich.”

Mazelina carefully called her son. However, the satisfaction on her lips remained. It was just a courtesy call; in fact, she was agreeing with Friedrich’s words. Even the Emperor, who hadn’t noticed this, stupidly agreed, saying it was correct.

Instead of answering, Sezlin quietly smiled, sparing her words. But an answer flowed from an unexpected place.

“Romance, you say.”

All eyes in the banquet hall turned to one place. Mazelina’s brow, which had been looking affectionately at her son, narrowed slightly.

Ludwig, wearing an elegant smile, put down his knife. Unlike Friedrich, it was a quiet, calm movement.

“Isn’t that right?”

Following Mazelina, Friedrich’s face also changed suspiciously. If no one else, Ludwig was quite perceptive. Friedrich, who was certain that he wouldn’t misunderstand his meaning, bit his dried lips.

Sezlin also raised her gaze at his reaction. The red eyes that had been looking at Friedrich shifted to her.

“Romance is an essential element in fairy tales.”

Sezlin, whose eyes had accidentally met his, shuddered slightly. The feeling of seeing her own image fill his retina was more disconcerting than expected.

“I don’t usually like fairy tales.”

“…”

“But if meeting my wife is romance, then the accompanying fairy tale wouldn’t be bad either.”

Gulp!

Someone in the banquet hall hastily covered their mouth. Not only Friedrich but also Mazelina seemed rarely surprised. The Emperor too wore a blank expression as if he had been hit on the head by Ludwig’s response.

Where this line came from. No one in the world wouldn’t know.

The most famous play in the empire. A famous line from a play about love.

It was such a famous saying that even Sezlin knew it. Sezlin, who hadn’t expected it to be applied like this directly, clenched her hand that she had lowered under the table.

Of course, it was the best answer to Friedrich’s sarcasm. It was good for pushing ahead without tact and appropriate for acting as a couple.

But Sezlin, who hadn’t expected to hear it directly to her face, bit her tongue.

‘Is he crazy?’

Her insides churned.

* * *

The rest of the conversation continued simply.

If there’s anything uncomfortable in the palace, tell me anytime. I’ll help you as you’ll soon return to society, and so on. Kind proposals that might have been mistaken for goodwill if heard by a naive young lady were added.

However, what Sezlin needed was not Mazelina’s help. Especially in high society, a place where rumors and lies ran rampant. Even if she praised her to her face, she didn’t think it would be consistent behind her back.

“Let’s have tea sometime. As I get older, there’s no one to have tea with in the palace.”

After the meal was completely finished. Mazelina stopped the two who were returning to the palace.

“It’s an opportunity to spend intimate time with Her Majesty, I can’t miss it.”

“Oh my.”

Mazelina, who had placed her fan against her lips, uttered a satisfied exclamation. Perhaps she liked the more docile attitude than expected. Unlike the sharp beginning, she seemed somewhat softened.

“Let’s go in now.”

“I’ll see you later.”

An indefinite promise of an unknown time fell before Ludwig. He looked at Friedrich.

“It’s not right to hold back a busy person.”

It was a refusal disguised as kindness.

The cheekbone that had been stiff all along twitched. Soon, Friedrich, drawing an elegant smile, continued, saying it was fine.

“I pray for your peace always.”

Just then, Sezlin, who had finished greeting the Second Empress, approached them. Ludwig, conscious of Sezlin, slightly bowed his head.

A moment later. As Sezlin came closer, Friedrich’s face gradually hardened.

“Sezlin.”

Ludwig, having finished what he wanted to say, greeted her. Leaving his stiffened brother behind, he gently gripped Sezlin’s shoulder.

With Ludwig acting this way, Sezlin had no choice but to simply bow her head. Friedrich’s face finally relaxed somewhat. An artificial smile was assembled like a puzzle.

“Please go ahead.”

There was no further greeting.

Ludwig, turning his back, left his place without lingering. Sezlin, who was held by him, went along.

As the distance gradually widened.

Sezlin looked up at him.

“What were you talking about earlier?”

“Ah.”

His straight eyebrows curved irritably.

“Didn’t you hear the sound when he put down his knife earlier?”

“Sound?”

Sezlin recalled the dinner that had just taken place. Indeed, before Friedrich mentioned romance earlier, he had noisily put down his knife.

“So?”

“He doesn’t even know his own etiquette properly.”

Ludwig stroked with his twitching hand.

“I told him to learn more manners from mother.”

And the laughter he let out was quite mischievous. The face that had instantly made his brother seem childish was full of playfulness. At a glance, he seemed to be enjoying it.

Sezlin glanced at the mouth that had risen eerily.

As she had felt earlier,

‘Indeed.’

He is crazy.