***
“But how do we go?”
No matter how friendly the atmosphere between the two nations seemed at the moment, it was merely a superficial relationship maintained by not crossing certain boundaries.
Even though that boundary appeared to be loose, it was always precariously holding together.
No matter what excuse Delight came up with, Ilnord would find a legitimate reason to desperately refuse his visit.
If he ignored all of that and still proceeded, it would be considered an invasion.
At the same time, it would mean war.
“We agreed to cease hostilities until a decisive advantage is secured.”
“That’s true.”
“It is not the right time yet.”
Zaire assessed the current situation calmly.
Delight was left speechless.
“I will help.”
Unexpectedly, Serdin, who had been listening to the discussion, stepped forward.
“Prince Serdin?”
Zaire looked at Serdin with a questioning gaze.
Delight also narrowed his eyes and stared at him.
“If I return to Ilnord, I will find where lord Luciel is.”
“If you do it that way…. definitely….”
Even if the method of rescuing Luciel was still uncertain, at least they would have a way to locate where he was being held within the imperial palace.
Hiel was intrigued by Serdin’s proposal.
“I came here with that purpose from the beginning.”
Serdin stated firmly, without a hint of hesitation.
“You came with that purpose?”
“To disrupt the Ilnord Emperor’s plans. To do that, I needed to know what his plans were, so I pretended to follow him.”
“How can we trust that?”
“……….”
“You once told me, didn’t you? That if you became the Emperor of Ilnord, the one who would regret it would be me.”
“My feelings haven’t changed.”
Serdin didn’t hide his sincerity.
He had never given up on his resolve to take the throne. In fact, his determination had only grown stronger.
Thus, he had decided to overthrow the Emperor of Ilnord.
“However, I will not follow Ilnord’s methods.”
“……….”
Delight silently watched the resolute Serdin.
“I want to help eliminate the counterfeit magic stones and the laboratory.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. I am serious.”
Over the past ten years, his resolve had only grown stronger.
Not even for a moment did his resolve waver on the way from Ilnord to Promian.
“I will do whatever I can.”
“I believe you.”
Delight spoke to Serdin.
“But in the end, I must go there myself if I am to rescue Luciel.”
He was the only one who could handle the unexpected variables and ensure a safe escape.
The biggest problem now was how Delight would infiltrate Ilnord’s imperial palace.
It was the most pressing issue.
***
Meanwhile, the banquet at the imperial palace continued.
It was scheduled to last until the main event of the Founding Anniversary was completed.
“His Majesty doesn’t seem to be attending today either.”
“Somehow, everyone seems a little subdued.”
Although the banquet hall remained crowded with people and lively music played, the atmosphere felt somewhat empty.
The day before, Promian had publicly announced the death of Hayron, the Archmage from Ilnord.
For a brief moment, people were thrown into confusion, wondering if this incident might lead to a major conflict between the two nations.
However, the next statement revealed that Hayron had actually been a fraud, and that Promian would ensure a smooth resolution with Ilnord to prevent any repercussions from this incident.
The series of shocking news reports had affected the atmosphere of the banquet hall, making it uneasy.
Additionally, the absence of a central figure—someone whose mere presence could have steadied the mood—contributed to the unsettled feeling.
Then, at that moment—
“It looks like everyone is enjoying themselves.”
Blueny approached a group of noblewomen who had been whispering about the banquet’s atmosphere and greeted them.
“Your Majesty the Empress, we greet you. You’ve come with the princess.”
“I was taking care of Ollia myself, and before I knew it, I had spent too much time.”
“Hehe, that just shows how much Your Majesty cherishes the princess.”
With just a few words from Blueny, the banquet hall regained its vibrancy.
Naturally, she then engaged in conversation with the noblewomen.
I quietly stepped away from that spot and turned around. As I did, several young ladies approached me.
“Your Highness, we missed seeing you around.”
“Finding a dance partner at a banquet is nice, but socializing among ourselves is just as enjoyable.”
“We were all looking forward to the chance to talk with you.”
“I will host a tea party next time and invite you.”
The young ladies, eager to get closer to me, smiled at the promise of a future gathering.
“Oh my—really?”
As the ladies surrounding me expressed their joy and anticipation for the invitations, one of them suddenly noticed someone and muttered to herself.
“Isn’t that Lady Bella over there? And next to her….”
“The prince from a kingdom across the sea. But they seem quite close, don’t they?”
The ladies’ attention shifted to the man standing beside Lady Bella.
“Could she be planning to marry into a foreign country?”
One lady cautiously speculated in surprise.
Bella Shanen.
I knew who she was.
When I was a child, pretending to be mute, I once invited children my age to a palace picnic as an excuse.
Bella Shanen had been among them.
Even as a child, she was always at the center of attention, surrounded by others.
But now, she was in a secluded corner of the banquet hall, meeting someone in what seemed like a secret rendezvous.
“Well, given what happened to the Shanen family, it must be difficult for her to stay here.”
“That’s true. It might be better for her to move to another country.”
“When we were younger, we all thought Lady Bella would make the best marriage. She had the luxury of choosing from so many suitors.”
“Yes, but things have changed. There’s nothing she can do about it now. She has to find the best possible match given her current situation.”
“That’s how marriage works, after all.”
Their conversation took on a slightly cynical tone.
They were surprisingly cold and rational in their assessment of the situation.
Rather than mocking or dismissing Bella, they were discussing the best possible choice she could make.
“I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Honestly, I’ve also thought about what it would be like to live in another country.”
“Me too. But leaving permanently instead of just traveling—it’s a little frightening.”
“It’s a gamble. You never know what kind of life awaits.”
“But if we can muster the courage, marriage is the way for us to do it.”
“……….”
One event never resulted in just one consequence.
Once something had happened, its impact rippled out into dozens, even hundreds, of different outcomes.
Some effects were intentional.
Others unfolded in completely unexpected directions.
It wasn’t anyone’s fault or mistake.
It was simply something that had already happened.
What came after depended on each person’s choices.
As I watched Bella conversing warmly with a Count from another kingdom, I thought about what the ladies had said.
Her decision could be interpreted in multiple ways.
She could be trying to escape from Promian.
Or she could simply be making the best possible choice given her current situation.
I was just about to turn away from the sight when—
“……Huh?”
Something suddenly struck me.
As I blinked slowly, Bella’s figure and the words of the ladies around me flashed in my mind like a backdrop.
I remembered.
A way to get into the Ilnord Empire.
‘I need to tell Delight immediately…!’
I instinctively turned around.
At that moment, I took in the surroundings.
Since Blueny and I had arrived at the banquet, people had been enjoying themselves but also subtly keeping an eye on us.
If I left the banquet hall now, it would stir up more curiosity and create another commotion.
I needed to wait until people’s attention dispersed before slipping away.
Even though my heart was racing with urgency, I forced a smile.
“What’s wrong?”
Blueny had approached me quietly, somehow noticing the shift in my demeanor.
She was always watching over me, paying close attention.
Lowering my voice so only she could hear, I whispered.
“I’ve thought of a way.”
“Then you should go discuss it immediately. It’s urgent.”
With just that one short sentence, Blueny understood everything.
That was exactly what I wanted to do.
But—
“Don’t worry.”
Blueny gazed at me with a gentle smile.
Then, she turned to the gathered noblewomen and young ladies and spoke.
“We haven’t had many chances to talk before, so I’m truly glad we can all connect and communicate today.”
“We feel the same way. I hope we can continue having such gatherings in the future.”
The conversation between Blueny and the noblewomen remained warm and pleasant.
“Of course, we must,”
Blueny said with a slightly sheepish smile, as if she found something amusing.
“But, you know….”
She trailed off, and the noblewomen tilted their heads curiously.
“It seems like our presence is making it difficult for everyone to fully enjoy the banquet.”
Of course, the banquet was still running smoothly.
“That can’t be true! Everyone just wants to spend more time talking with the two of you.”
“Yes, we would actually be sad if you left.”
The noblewomen waved their hands dismissively, denying Blueny’s concern.
However, Blueny maintained a subtle smile and continued.
“Hmm. That’s exactly why.”
“Huh?”
The women looked puzzled.
Blueny’s gaze shifted smoothly toward the young ladies, her expression like a perfect portrait.
“Am I the only one who noticed where all the young ladies’ attention is going?”
At her playful remark, there was a slight pause before everyone caught on.
“After all, the true essence of the Spring Banquet is elsewhere, isn’t it?”
With her lighthearted smile, laughter spread throughout the group.
“We were being thoughtless. We shouldn’t disrupt the special moments of this Spring Banquet.”
One of the noblewomen responded, prompting Blueny to nod slightly and add,
“Then, I shall take my leave with Ollia for a while. That way, everyone can enjoy themselves freely.”
“Your Majesty the Empress, how considerate you are of our daughters. We truly appreciate it.”
After all, most of the noblewomen here were the mothers of the young ladies attending the banquet.
“Ollia, this is your Spring Banquet as well, but would you mind stepping aside for a bit for the other ladies?”
“Of course. I hope everyone makes wonderful memories at the Spring Banquet.”
Thanks to Blueny, we now had the perfect excuse to leave the banquet hall while also revitalizing the atmosphere.
With that, we gracefully bid our farewells and turned to leave.
“Monia, where is my Dad right now?”
Only after completely leaving the banquet did I quicken my pace and ask the question.
“And Serdin?”
He was a crucial part of the solution I had just found.
