This is my chance!
I shot a quick look at one of the guards, silently directing him to head toward the Empress’s quarters. Then, with my hand still clasped tightly around Xian’s, I tugged him along, briskly walking away from the scene.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The loyal guards of Bermut wasted no time following my command.
In no time, the wrecked balcony was cleaned up, and I returned to the ballroom with Xian glued to my side.
“Your Majesty, we were wondering where you’d gone. It’s delightful to see you both return together so harmoniously!”
A group of noblewomen I’d befriended during the tea party earlier gave me teasing smiles and admiring glances.
“Oh dear, has so much time passed already? You must’ve been waiting,” I replied with an innocent, unassuming smile.
“Not at all. You’re right on time!”
Feigning obliviousness, I walked toward the center where the mountain of gifts awaited us.
It was time for the grand highlight of the ball: the gift unveiling.
Pa-pa-pa-paaa!
A cheerful trumpet fanfare filled the hall. Guests who had been dancing or enjoying refreshments turned their full attention to us.
From the back of the hall, I spotted Duke Simand standing stiffly between two guards. His disheveled appearance and labored breathing did nothing to mask the venom in his glare.
What are you going to do about it?
As far as I was concerned, the blame rested entirely on him.
While it was obvious he was trying to stir up trouble, even he had a reputation to maintain. A private resolution would likely be in his best interest.
You should thank me for sparing your miserable life because of our reputation.
I threw the trembling scoundrel a sweet smile before focusing on the task at hand, pretending none of this had happened.
“The circlet of sapphire, a specialty of the Kingdom of Liliana.”
“May it bless Their Majesties with unwavering happiness and prosperity.”
“Thank you, King Sestin. Please send my regards to the King for his continued health and well-being.”
The ballroom remained lively and cheerful, utterly unaware of the chaos that had nearly unfolded.
Given that these gifts were presented to Bermut, the strongest nation on the continent, each item was an extraordinary treasure. Cheers and applause erupted spontaneously with every unveiling.
“Oh, Your Majesty, you must feel so fortunate!”
“Hm? Why’s that?”
One of the noblewomen I had clicked with earlier leaned in to whisper conspiratorially.
“Just look at all these marvelous gifts! Yet, the Emperor hasn’t taken his eyes off you all evening.”
Curious, I glanced to my side. Sure enough, Xian was staring directly at me, his expression neutral.
“Oh-ho, you’re making it obvious you’re newlyweds! My husband used to look at me like that, too. So warm, I’m envious!”
Warm? Really, sis?
Beneath Xian’s icy, stoic mask was a simmering impatience that only I could recognize. If I weren’t holding onto his hand for dear life, he would’ve dealt with Duke Simand already.
What is this, a countdown?
No choice. Time to wrap this up quickly.
Plastering myself to Xian’s side like an emergency responder defusing a bomb, I looped my arm through his and sped up the proceedings.
“A gauntlet that can block second-tier sword auras.”
“A diamond blessed by Aurora herself.”
Thankfully, my efforts paid off. The last gift was finally unveiled without incident, and I raised a glass of 297-year-old wine alongside Xian.
Finally! Just the closing remarks left!
“Thank you all for blessing the Bermut Empire with your kind wishes. May peace across the continent and the bonds between nations continue to thrive—”
“Bonds between nations? What a contradiction!”
A derisive shout interrupted me mid-sentence, loud enough to make the crowd murmur.
Of course, the culprit was none other than Duke Simand.
The guards quickly moved to silence him, but the hall’s guests were already whispering among themselves.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
Seizing the moment, Marquis Renscul stepped forward to demand an explanation. The additional attention only emboldened Duke Simand, who shoved the guards aside and roared:
“I cannot overlook this insult any longer! I demand a formal apology for today’s events!”
A man of royal blood from a powerful nation, Simand had clearly prepared his justification. His timing was deliberate, hoping to humiliate Bermut on the grandest stage possible.
Of course. How predictable.
Feigning wide-eyed surprise, I let him continue.
“Earlier, the Empress herself invited me to the balcony under the pretense of giving me a gift. Anyone could misinterpret such behavior as a romantic advance!”
His raised voice sent ripples through the crowd, who began murmuring even louder.
“I thought it was nothing more than a fleeting affair between young adults! After all, isn’t the Empress notorious for her countless dalliances? I simply obliged her. Yet, out of nowhere, the Emperor attacked me!”
He gestured to his torn shirt and the bruises on his body.
“How can a foreign guest be assaulted so brutally? To speak of friendship after such violence—preposterous! I demand a public apology here and now!”
Duke Simand, sensing he’d seized the upper hand, puffed himself up with self-righteous indignation.
The commotion spread like wildfire, and the hall grew increasingly chaotic.
“What did he just say?”
“Assault? By His Majesty?”
At face value, I looked like a scheming fox with a murky past, and Simand appeared to be a poor victim.
Worse, Xian’s golden eyes were darkening, his temper rapidly unraveling.
The moment I realized this, I knew it was time to act.
“It’s a pity you think that way.”
I spoke with a subdued, sorrowful expression.
Simand smirked, emboldened by what he perceived as my resignation
“Your Majesty, the Empress, I demand a formal apology in front of everyone here. If so, I’ll graciously dismiss this as a simple romantic misunderstanding between two young people.”
“I was merely trying to give everyone an unforgettable memory,” I replied with a sweet smile.
“What? I—pardon?”
The abrupt response left Duke Simand stunned, and the crowd turned their attention to us, confusion evident on their faces.
“Your Majesty, I’ve arrived as requested,” Lindo announced cheerfully, stepping into the room with a wide grin and a box in his hands.
Nice timing, Lindo!
“I couldn’t let everyone who came to celebrate our marriage leave empty-handed,” I said brightly, opening the box.
“I’ve recently come across an item that’s greatly improved my quality of life, so I decided to prepare these.”
Reaching into the box, I pulled out a set of finely crafted brushes, carved from smooth, high-quality wood.
“Everyone here works so hard in their respective roles. These brushes are exceptional at relieving stress and fatigue.”
And now, for my ace in the hole!
These brushes, developed by the genius Lindo, were infused with a special blend of herbal extracts. As they were used, the brush bristles would release an invisible, odorless essence with incredible effects—helping with insomnia, relaxation, and mental clarity.
Unlike the earlier prototype brush I used on Simand, this was the real deal.
“Your Majesty! Could these be the gifts you mentioned preparing for everyone?”
“I can’t believe you’re giving us something so rare and thoughtful!”
Thanks to my groundwork—teasing the idea of gifting everyone a special item during our earlier social mingling—the mood shifted instantly.
Of course, you thought you were special, didn’t you?
I ignored Simand and Marquis Renscul’s shocked, darting eyes as I began distributing brushes to the guests.
“Duke Halstein, how is it?”
“Oh my! I’ve only used it briefly, but my chronic headaches feel so much lighter!”
“And you, Prince of Neveran?”
“Incredible! I’ve always felt this tightness in my chest from stress, but now I feel a soothing sense of peace.”
As one guest after another sang the praises of the brushes, the mood in the room soared. Even my friend Marquis Renscul, hesitant at first, tried the brush and looked pleasantly dazed.
“Wow… I couldn’t sleep at all last night because of my insomnia, but why do I suddenly feel so sleepy…?”
Meanwhile, Simand looked more and more flustered.
“Th-that’s impossible! When I used it, it had no such effects!”
Of course not, you fool.
The brush I gave him was an unfinished prototype, and he had foolishly flattered me about it, hoping to gain my favor. On the balcony, I had used that same brush as bait for his misguided advances.
“Misunderstanding my gesture is unfortunate, Duke Simand. I gave you the exact same brush on the balcony,” I said with a smile, my tone laced with feigned innocence.
The crowd, each holding their own brush, turned sharp, judgmental gazes toward him. Some even clicked their tongues.
“What’s with him? Did he think the Empress would only give a gift to him?”
“Such an ego. And now he’s making outrageous claims about something that wasn’t even exclusive!”
Simand, who had so confidently believed I was seducing him, turned beet red, his embarrassment plain for all to see.
“I simply noticed that the Duke seemed to like the brush a lot, so I handed it to him first without much thought. Was that careless of me?”
Feigning regret, I turned my expression somber, and the guests—thrilled by their gifts—rushed to reassure me.
“Not at all, Your Majesty! The Duke clearly misunderstood. His presumptuous behavior is entirely his fault!”
“Exactly! He acted rashly based on groundless assumptions.”
Even Marquis Renscul, who had been his ally moments ago, severed ties and sided with me.
“This isn’t fair! You can’t—Marquis!” Simand stammered, grabbing the back of his neck in shock.
“Duke Simand,” I said, giving him a pointed look, “you did say earlier that this sort of incident isn’t new for you. So perhaps you’re used to making such unfortunate misunderstandings.”
I emphasized my words, and Simand faltered, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
How many times have you pulled this nonsense, you shameless fool?
His mortified silence was all I needed to drive the final nail into his coffin.
Duke Simand, in his mind, had framed himself as the victim of a cunning vixen, trying to paint me as some deceitful seductress.
Instead, his poorly chosen words had backfired spectacularly, turning him into a self-proclaimed libertine in front of the entire ballroom.
The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and it was clear from his expression that this blow to his reputation was nothing short of catastrophic.
Ah, the sweet irony.
I smiled demurely, as though entirely oblivious to the fallout.
“Such misunderstandings are unfortunate, Duke Simand,” I said with feigned sympathy. “But I’m glad we could clear the air.”
He opened his mouth to protest but found no words. Around him, whispers and muted snickers spread like wildfire.
“Imagine thinking the Empress of Bermut would single him out for that.”
“Such a grand delusion. And then to complain so loudly about it? Embarrassing.”
“Didn’t he say this isn’t the first time? What a reputation to admit to!”
The weight of their judgment bore down on him. His face turned as red as a ripe apple, and for a moment, I wondered if he might bolt from the room entirely.
Suits you right, you pompous little pest.
Satisfied that I had thoroughly dismantled his credibility, I turned back to the crowd with a radiant smile.
“Now, let us all enjoy the rest of this beautiful evening together. It’s a celebration, after all!”
The guests, thrilled with their gifts and the drama-free resolution (or so they thought), raised their glasses in agreement.
Simand, meanwhile, stood frozen, clutching his ruined reputation like a shattered keepsake, unable to do anything but stew in his defeat.
