Chapter 7
“Entering now! Bartol Panton, son of Baron Panton, from the Panton territory, and Lady Demeyra Panton, daughter of Baron Panton, also from the Panton territory!”
Roy’s voice rang out powerfully once more.
Bartol and Demeyra descended the banquet hall stairs, both wearing identical twisted smiles. It was clear they didn’t appreciate how often their family’s name, “Panton,” had been emphasized.
“If it weren’t for you, things would’ve gone terribly wrong, Ray.”
Roy wiped the sweat from his forehead, finally able to breathe after the tense moment.
To get caught up in the succession affairs of a ducal house—especially the Appellémion Dukedom—was a nightmare for Roy, who just wanted to live a quiet life, enjoying his wife’s homemade cookies.
“I told you to be careful with noble approaches. If you were going to accept bribes, you should’ve hidden it better.”
Ray chided him.
“T-That day, Bartol claimed he’d won money at Count Gideon’s gambling house and started handing out silver and gold to everyone at the tavern…”
“If it were me, I would’ve taken the silver and just bought a drink on the spot. If I’d known it was the Panton family, I wouldn’t have taken anything at all.”
“There was a rumor going around the capital that the Appellémion and Panton families were one and the same, so I believed it…”
“Did it never occur to you that the Pantons were the ones who spread that rumor? Just one look at the glances between the Duke’s daughter and the Panton siblings, and it’s clear their relationship isn’t good.”
“…I’ll remember that.”
Roy nodded heavily. His daughter had followed him and gotten a job as a low-ranked maid in the Imperial Palace, but she no longer needed his guidance.
Ray was sharper than he was. She had a natural talent for sensing noble customs and political dynamics, and she had instinctively learned how to deal with royals and nobles.
Just moments ago, she had even saved her father from a crisis.
“I’m always sorry to you.”
“There’s no need. I had an interesting experience because of it.”
Ray’s gaze moved toward the inside of the banquet hall. It seemed she was following the figure of Iris as she disappeared down the stairs.
“This is the first time you’ve seen the Lady of Appellémion too, right?”
“Yes. I heard that after the late Duke passed five or six years ago, she never appeared outside the mansion. And before that, she was too young to attend palace banquets.”
“She stayed secluded for five years? That woman?”
Ray asked again, lost in thought.
“What has she been thinking about all that time…?”
It was a brief but powerful encounter.
Iris was unlike anyone Ray had ever met before.
When Ray shed tears with intent, nine out of ten people would fall for it.
They would either believe her lies entirely or, if they saw through them, would still comfort her, thinking, She must have had a hard time to lie like that.
The other one out of ten were those who couldn’t be swayed by the tears of a lowly maid from the start. With them, Ray would quickly change tactics and suggest a deal instead.
For example, when she caught the 2nd Prince hiding a lover in the garden and he reacted furiously, she calmly said, “I’ll tell you when His Majesty has a meeting so you can send Lady Setora away then,” and defused his rage.
That’s how Ray survived. Her family’s difficult circumstances had significantly improved since she got the palace job. Although her background didn’t allow for grand promotions, at least they could survive.
But Iris was different. Ray didn’t know her, but Iris knew Ray. That alone meant Ray had already lost.
Even more fascinating was how Iris responded after seeing through Ray’s lie. She didn’t get tricked or angry. She simply made a counterproposal.
As if she was recognizing Ray’s excuses as a special skill. As if she could see past the lies and just accept Ray for who she was.
“Job transfer conditions…”
Ray murmured.
“Father, should I change jobs?”
“Huh? You mean to the Appellémion household? Isn’t the Panton family running the show there?”
Roy widened his eyes, unable to keep up with his daughter’s train of thought.
Ray gave a small smile and shrugged.
“For now, yes.”
But deep down, she could feel it—something was about to change.
And if Iris was the one causing that change… if she could witness it all up close…
Maybe then, Ray could go beyond survival and find the meaning of life.
With every step I took, hundreds of eyes followed me.
I descended the stairs slowly, scanning the banquet hall, desperately hoping he would be here.
And in that brief moment, I thought I found him—until I saw the smirk on his lips and remembered a different name.
…Prince Balthazar.
Dark blond hair, nearly brown. A breathtakingly beautiful face resembling his mother’s. Eyes so violet they looked almost red.
He grinned up at me.
Still has those snake-like eyes.
The last time I saw him, he had been cackling at the broken crest of Appellémion, shattered under a curse instead of protected by the Imperial family.
I looked around him. The Emperor and Empress were nowhere in sight.
I remembered what Bartol had said before we left.
“This banquet is for the 2nd Prince. It’s mainly for nobles under 25. So you better impress His Highness. If you embarrass yourself in front of him, I’ll tell Mother and she’ll scold you harshly.”
So this event was one of the many parties funded by the Empress to elevate her son to the center of the social scene.
To prove that, a magnificent golden statue of the 2nd Prince stood proudly in the center of the hall.
“Anthony, oh my!”
As we reached the bottom of the stairs, Demeyra suddenly waved at someone and ran off.
I was about to move to a corner of the hall when a tall young man suddenly blocked my path.
“This way, Lady Iris.”
Despite wearing formal attire, he had an unruly look about him.
“It’s too loud and chaotic here. I wouldn’t be able to have a proper conversation with a beautiful lady like yourself.”
Without asking for permission, he grabbed my shoulder and pulled me into a secluded spot behind the stairs.
Several other men quickly surrounded me, forming a wall.
In just a few seconds after entering the hall, I was cornered.
“…Viscount Damon Gideon, what is the meaning of this rudeness?”
“So you do recognize me.”
The unruly young man, Damon Gideon, grinned.
“I remember seeing you at the Appellémion tea party last year. I never imagined you’d become so beautiful…”
The men behind him chuckled.
“Of course, a proper woman should look at least this good.”
Bartol had joined them, smirking as usual.
It didn’t take long to realize that the men surrounding me were Bartol’s usual cronies—and that he had likely told them I wasn’t being obedient, prompting this orchestrated harassment.
“I asked what kind of rudeness this is.”
“The one being rude is you, my lady.”
Damon leaned in disturbingly close and whispered.
“You were going to walk off without first greeting His Highness?”
Just beyond his shoulder, I saw those violet-red eyes again.
“Damon is right.”
“…”
“Isn’t this a royal banquet? The guest of honor should be greeted first.”
Prince Balthazar elegantly extended his hand and kissed the back of mine.
His gaze swept over me from head to toe, and I felt a chill down my spine.
It was the kind of gaze that considered whether the being before him was a person—or prey.
“Fair skin, green dress matching your dark green eyes… It’s not a trendy design, but it suits you strangely well.”
He continued.
“If you dressed up this much, shouldn’t you show yourself to me?”
“…”
“Greet me now.”
When I didn’t respond, he raised his chin in command.
“Surely the Lady of Appellémion isn’t ignorant of basic etiquette?”
“Your Imperial Highness, the second sun of the Empire, Prince Balthazar.”
I met his gaze and began.
He nodded in satisfaction.
“Yes, lower your head and—”
“I apologize for not being able to greet you right away.”
“What?”
He frowned at my unexpected reply.
I smiled slightly and spoke again. It had been a while since I engaged in noble socializing, but if he insisted on politeness, I could play that game too.
And I knew from my first life—if I yielded now, the bullying would only worsen.
“In accordance with Your Highness’ words, I wish to show my respect for the Imperial Family.”
“What does that mean…”
“There is someone whom I must greet before Prince Balthazar.”
“The Emperor and Empress are not present.”
Balthazar growled, having caught on.
“You should just—”
“But there is another above the 2nd Prince, is there not? In terms of etiquette, I must greet him first.”
“My lady.”
“I will greet His Imperial Highness, the first sun of the Empire, Prince Karsiel, before speaking with you.”
I declared firmly.
“If you have something to say, please wait until after that.”
Balthazar’s face twisted instantly, and the young men behind him held their breath.
Crack—
I heard the sound of grinding teeth. There was no doubt I had touched Prince Balthazar’s sore spot.
