***
Delight is coming today.
So, I was already dressed in a dress with multiple layers of lace that made me wobble every time I moved, waiting for her.
Soon, Lianne will come to pick me up.
Today, she insisted on staying by my side, preventing Monia from getting close.
“No matter how much the princess likes Lady Shanen, she doesn’t have the right to command me as well! Serving the princess is my duty!”
Monia protested but had to withdraw quietly because I took Lianne’s side.
‘Monia, I’m sorry. Please forgive me just for today.’
If I hadn’t taken Lianne’s side, all the effort I’d put into pretending to like her would have been for nothing.
So, I had no choice.
Thinking of Monia’s dejected figure made me feel sad, but it would all be over by today.
Before Lianne arrived, I took out a well-hidden box from under the bed.
The hairpin I’ve been wearing until now was a fake one that Hiel brought me last time.
The real one was safely stored inside this box.
Today was the day I needed the real one.
I carefully placed the real hairpin in my hair and put the fake one back in the box.
“All done!”
I had just finished getting ready.
“Princess, shall we wait for His Majesty together?”
“Sure!”
At that moment, Lianne came to pick me up.
“Everyone is waiting.”
The imperial palace was busy preparing to welcome back the emperor after a long time.
Lianne, in particular, took the lead in organizing the banquet after hearing the news.
“How about having a banquet together when His Majesty returns?”
I agreed with her suggestion, and that one word gave her the justification she needed.
“Since His Majesty hasn’t arrived yet, let’s enter together, holding my hand.”
The hand Lianne extended to me gave her the authority to play the host of this banquet.
As soon as I entered with Lianne, everyone’s attention was on us.
Everyone present here was aware of Riane.
“Lady Shanen, you look particularly radiant today.”
“You look wonderful standing beside the princess.”
“It feels like the palace will become a much warmer place now.”
“I’m just glad I can be of support to the princess.”
People approached Lianne and me, greeting me while acknowledging the significance of the event.
They were less interested in the emperor’s return and more excited about what was going to happen afterward.
They were eager to see what I would say to the emperor and whether he would grant my request.
It was all according to Lianne’s plan.
These people were here to witness me saying that I had become part of her family in front of the emperor.
“I’m really looking forward to tonight.”
“Haha, me too. It seems like it’s going to be a very special night.”
The expectations surrounding Lianne and the others grew higher.
***
At that moment, there was a small commotion at the entrance to the banquet hall.
“You can’t enter.”
“I have the right to attend any event held in the palace. You can’t stop me!”
Serdin was protesting to the knights who were blocking his way.
“Still, you can’t enter. Please leave quietly.”
But they didn’t budge at all.
It didn’t look like they were going to let him in…
Serdin bit his lip anxiously as he glared at the knights.
The emperor is returning today.
At the banquet welcoming the emperor, Violyana will expose Lianne’s misdeeds.
‘I said I would help no matter what.’
In order to do that, he had to be in the banquet hall where the little one was sure to cause a commotion.
No matter what, he had to get inside.
Serdin glared at the door behind the knights, which seemed impossible to breach.
***
Meanwhile, Lianne was conversing with the nobles attending the banquet and occasionally communicating with the manager.
“Everything is being managed well.”
“Good. Keep up the good work. His Majesty will arrive soon, and it would be troublesome if there were any uninvited guests.”
“Understood.”
Lianne lightly nodded and then smiled at me before speaking.
“Seeing you here like this, you really do feel like my daughter, Princess.”
“Really?”
“Princess, how have you felt about the time we’ve spent together so far?”
“Of course, it’s been great!”
“Then, you know what to say when His Majesty arrives, right?”
Lianne asked for final confirmation, her face showing absolute confidence that I would nod in agreement.
“I’m fine with it!”
I nodded energetically, meeting her expectations.
“As I thought… what?”
Lianne’s eyelids twitched slightly as she belatedly understood the meaning of my response.
I deliberately widened my eyes and spoke more clearly.
“I’m fine! Thanks for teaching me all this time!”
Then I cheerfully waved my hand.
“…Princess? What are you saying?”
Lianne’s perfectly crafted smile started to crack as she realized what I meant.
“I’ve learned everything I need from Lianne! It’s a shame we won’t see each other anymore, but I think parting is the right thing to do!”
As I continued speaking, Lianne’s expression quickly became terrifying.
She was forcing a smile with all her might, but her elegant face was distorting into something absurdly grotesque as she held back her anger.
Her gaze toward me was so sharp that it felt like it could pierce through my face.
“There is a way for us to stay together, but you’re fine with parting?”
“Yes. I don’t want Lianne to overdo it.”
“No, not at all. It’s no trouble. Being with the princess makes everything worthwhile. I think you’ve misunderstood while worrying about me.”
“Really? Did I misunderstand?”
“Yes, that’s right. But now that you’ve cleared it up, everything is fine.”
As Lianne regained her composure, I slowly tilted my head in thought.
“Isn’t it because you want to become my mother and be crowned empress?”
“…What?”
For a moment, Lianne’s face was filled with shock, as if she hadn’t imagined I knew her intentions.
“Oh… isn’t it? Or do you want to be my maid?”
“P-Princess…?”
“But what should we do? That’s a bit difficult as well.”
I opened my mouth as if I was genuinely concerned.
“I’m already satisfied with Monia!”
So, you are disqualified from being either the empress or a maid.
“There is no one who knows me better and takes care of me more than Monia. So, I don’t need you, Lianne.”
At that moment, a soft laugh came from not too far away, followed by murmuring voices that began to grow louder.
“Pfft. Is Lady Shanen getting rejected by the princess right now?”
“It certainly seems like it, doesn’t it?”
“Then what happens now? Originally, this event was supposed to…”
“Shh. Watch what you say. It seems like the situation has completely changed.”
I could hear the people gossiping very clearly.
If I could hear it this well, there was no way Lianne hadn’t heard it either.
Every single word they whispered exposed the harsh reality of her situation in front of everyone—an outcome completely opposite to the grand glory she had dreamed of.
Her face twisted horribly in an instant.
“Princess, why are you suddenly acting like this? Are you upset with me? There’s no way that’s the case…”
Lianne lowered her head slightly, glancing at the top of mine.
She was so flustered by my sudden behavior that she checked to see if something was wrong with the hairpin.
“Oh, right. About this hairpin, I’m curious about something.”
“…What is it?”
“Where did you get this?”
“I told you, didn’t I? I specially ordered it for you, Princess.”
“I know what this is. You used this to try and make me like you and follow you.”
“That’s ridiculous…”
Lianne tried to protest but couldn’t finish her sentence.
Suddenly, anxiety swept over her.
She forgot her pride and reached out, trying to snatch the hairpin.
“Why are you trying to take it? Isn’t it meant to make me like you?”
Hah. As if I’d let her take it.
“…….”
As I dodged and innocently questioned her, Lianne’s empty hand trembled.
She nervously looked around.
Everyone was already looking at her with suspicion. Some of them even had expressions of certainty and disdain.
“No, no. Why would I do that? It’s really not…”
Lianne began to mutter to herself, completely lost.
“….…!”
Just then, she locked eyes with Duke Shanen, who was glaring at her coldly.
He no longer seemed inclined to support his daughter.
‘Pull yourself together. I must overcome this crisis somehow.’
Lianne forced herself to regain her composure and spoke up.
“It seems like the princess misunderstood my intentions. I don’t know where you heard such strange things, but…”
“Then do you want to wear this hairpin, Lianne?”
“What?!”
Lianne flinched and took a step back, clearly not expecting my suggestion.
“You’d look pretty with it in your hair, Lianne! Let me put it on for you!”
I removed the hairpin and reached out toward Lianne with it.
“I’ve worn it every day until now. Are you scared of it?”
“No, no. Of course not.”
She forced a smile, pretending to be calm, but the corners of her mouth were already trembling.
She seemed confused, wondering if I knew the conditions to activate the enchanted artifact.
“Or… do you think it wouldn’t match your hair? Then… it would look nice pinned to your dress instead!”
It didn’t necessarily have to be worn in the hair.
The enchanted item would activate as long as the person was wearing it.
“I’ll make it look pretty for you!”
As I moved to pin the hairpin onto Lianne’s dress—
Smack!
“Get that thing away from me!”
Lianne shouted as she fiercely pushed me away.
The hairpin flew out of my hand and hit the floor.
She had reacted instinctively, terrified that the enchanted artifact would activate the moment it touched her.
At that moment, she was as good as finished.
“T-that was an accident! I was just startled because the princess came at me so suddenly…”
“…….”
Her face was turning pale, but nothing she said would help her now.
As the atmosphere in the hall grew colder, a voice suddenly drew everyone’s attention.
“I’ve returned after a long time, and it seems something interesting is happening.”
At the entrance of the banquet hall stood a familiar face, one that immediately captivated the entire crowd.
Delight had returned.
