“I greet the mistress of the Empire.”
Scattered throughout the ballroom, nobles and members of the imperial family bowed their heads, each offering their own greetings.
Letier also lowered her head slightly, maintaining proper etiquette.
The Empress, satisfied, smiled as she slowly made her way toward the innermost part of the ballroom, where the podium stood.
With each measured step, she ascended to the highest seat—a golden throne placed at the top of the platform.
Seated gracefully, she surveyed the room before finally speaking.
“It is truly unfortunate that His Majesty the Emperor cannot join us on such a joyous occasion.”
Yet, despite her words, not even a hint of regret could be heard in her voice.
Where is Prince Dante…?
Letier’s gaze wandered.
If Prince Aiden was here, surely Dante should have attended as well…
She discreetly searched for him while keeping her ears tuned to the Empress’s speech.
“This year marks the 128th anniversary of the founding of the Trillante Empire. Such a long and storied history, is it not?”
“It certainly is!”
A noble’s voice rang out from somewhere in the hall.
“I will not keep you all from enjoying this splendid banquet with a long speech. The ruler of this radiant empire is neither myself nor His Majesty the Emperor.”
Rosenthal’s voice carried clearly as she deliberately enunciated each word, sweeping her gaze across the room.
“The true pillars of Trillante’s prosperity are all of you.”
A hush fell over the ballroom.
Everyone was fully engaged, hanging onto her words.
“Continue to dedicate yourselves to the Empire. Move forward for the Empire. Pray for the Empire. And in return, the Empire shall reward you. May health and peace always be with all of you gathered here tonight.”
As she finished speaking, the Empress raised her glass, the liquid within shimmering under the ballroom lights.
Everyone below the podium followed suit.
Letier, too, lifted the champagne glass she had been holding all this time.
The Empress’s blue eyes gleamed as she surveyed the crowd, her expression radiating warmth.
“…To the eternal prosperity of the great Trillante.”
“To prosperity!”
The voices of the entire ballroom rose as one.
****
“Were you looking for someone?”
“Huh?”
Letier, who had been scanning the ballroom, turned her head toward the voice.
Standing beside her, Aiden gazed down at her with a slightly sulky expression.
Narrowing his eyes playfully, he spoke.
“You’ve been distracted this whole time, barely listening to me.”
“Oh… Have I? I’m sorry.”
Letier immediately apologized, her face showing genuine regret.
She couldn’t believe she had been so preoccupied that she ignored her own dance partner. That had never happened to her before at any banquet.
Seeing her remorseful expression, Aiden quickly softened and smiled.
“I’m just teasing. You don’t seem to be enjoying the banquet.”
“Oh, no… It’s not that it’s boring, but…”
Letier trailed off.
In truth, she was bored, and she wasn’t a good enough liar to pretend otherwise.
Watching her hesitate, Aiden shrugged.
“I understand. There’s nothing more tedious than a ballroom full of strangers.”
“But unlike me, Your Highness knows many people. You don’t have to stay with me if you’re busy.”
“No, I want to be with you.”
Speaking lightly, Aiden casually plucked a wine glass from a passing waiter’s tray and handed it to her.
When Letier accepted it, he raised his brows slightly, silently encouraging her to take a sip.
Nodding, she lifted the glass and let the wine touch her lips.
A hint of bitterness spread across her tongue, followed by a deep and lingering sweetness.
“Oh…?”
The banquet might be dull, but the wine was excellent.
Satisfied, she downed the rest of the ruby-colored liquid in a few gulps.
This is delicious…
“Don’t drink too much of that. It’s stronger than you think.”
“Okay!”
“Not that I should be the one saying that after offering it to you.”
Aiden chuckled, watching her with an amused smile.
Just then, a wave of murmurs rippled through the ballroom.
The low hum of hushed conversations grew louder, starting from the entrance and spreading quickly.
“Hm? What’s going on?”
Curious about the commotion, Letier set her empty glass down on a nearby table and instinctively tightened her grip on Aiden’s arm.
“Let’s go see!”
“Oh, alright.”
She briskly led Aiden toward the entrance, arriving just in time to see a man standing amid a growing crowd.
“Wait… P-Prince Dante?”
Letier stammered, taken aback by the sight.
Beside her, Aiden also stared at his brother with a rigid expression.
Dante stood awkwardly, running a hand through his tousled black hair.
He wore a white ceremonial uniform similar to Aiden’s, though he looked visibly uncomfortable in it.
His expression was strained, as if debating whether to push through the crowd or stay put.
But more importantly…
His face was visible.
Dante was not wearing his mask.
“That’s Prince Dante?”
“Apparently! I heard his aide call him ‘Your Highness’ just now!”
“But wasn’t he supposed to have a severe skin disease? He looks completely fine—no, actually…”
“…He’s incredibly handsome.”
The voices of the young noblewomen nearby were clear as day.
Blushing, they whispered excitedly amongst themselves before stepping closer, eager to see him up close.
Letier, standing beside Aiden, felt utterly bewildered.
What is happening…?
“What the…?”
She murmured in disbelief.
Hadn’t Dante once told her it was dangerous for him to reveal his face?
Then why now—without any warning—had he removed his mask and stepped into a crowded ballroom?
He once said he needed my help.
He was so serious, so desperate…
Yet after days of complete silence, he had suddenly chosen to reveal himself?
“Lady Letier.”
Aiden’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Still feeling lost, she turned to look at him.
He gazed down at her with a hard expression before speaking again.
“Did you completely cure my brother’s skin condition?”
“Ah…”
Letier hesitated, unable to answer.
The truth was, there had never been a disease to begin with.
But more than that, she hadn’t coordinated with Dante about this—she had no idea how to respond.
“…It’s been a long time since I’ve seen his face.”
Aiden murmured, turning his attention back to Dante.
His expression was a mix of relief and something else—something more conflicted, as if the sight pained him in a way he couldn’t explain.
Letier studied Aiden quietly.
He was the Empress’s biological son.
Was he someone she could trust?
She wasn’t sure.
“…I don’t understand any of this.”
Letier sighed internally, shifting her gaze back to Dante.
She stared at him, silently demanding an explanation, but he remained impassive.
Then, she turned her eyes toward the Empress.
Contrary to what she expected, Rosenthal did not seem shocked or displeased.
Instead, she looked utterly pleased, tilting her head as she gazed at Dante with an expression that suggested she had foreseen everything.
As if she knew exactly what was going on…
Letier frowned, an unsettling feeling creeping over her.
Even just standing in this ballroom was exhausting.
“Dante.”
At last, the Empress spoke.
The once-noisy ballroom fell into an eerie silence, all attention shifting toward her.
Smiling, she rested her chin on one hand before continuing.
“As you can all see, Prince Dante has completely recovered from his long-standing skin condition. The disease that once covered his entire body has now disappeared without a single trace—”
She paused, lips curving into a smirk.
“—as if it had never existed at all.”
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Whispers and murmurs filled the room as guests turned to one another, discussing this shocking revelation.
Some even approached Dante directly, offering words of sympathy for his supposed suffering.
Dante, however, remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Rosenthal waited patiently for the noise to settle before speaking again.
“And we have someone in this very room to thank for Prince Dante’s miraculous recovery. Lady Letier?”
“Huh?”
Letier, who had been lost in thought, snapped to attention.
She had spoken purely on instinct, startled by the sudden mention of her name.
Instantly, every eye in the ballroom turned to her.
Caught off guard, she froze, blinking rapidly.
The Empress, unconcerned by her clear discomfort, simply smiled.
“Lady Letier Lenever. It is thanks to you that the prince has been cured. You have done a remarkable job.”
“…….”
Silence hung over the room.
Some guests beamed at her, clearly impressed.
Others, however, watched her with unreadable expressions.
