It had been a few days since I returned from my audience with the Emperor.
The birthday banquet was now only two weeks away, and I’d been so busy preparing for it that I hadn’t even had the time to think deeply about my transmigration and its connection to Eloise.
Inside the office, I set down the quill after completing the guest list for the banquet.
“As expected, it’s a massive list.”
Even after filling five sheets of paper provided by Harold, the butler, I had to add one more before the list was finally complete.
Initially, I hadn’t planned to invite so many people, but thanks to the Imperial Princess’s involvement, the scale of the event had grown far beyond what I had envisioned.
Because of this, not only nobles from the capital but also lords from provinces with whom I had no prior interactions had to be sent formal invitations.
In short, almost every notable noble of the Levant Empire would be receiving an invitation.
‘Of course, not everyone invited will actually attend….’
Even so, the thought of distributing invitations to this many people already made my head spin.
“There’s no way I’m handwriting all of these. I’ll have to ask Kyle for help.”
Resolving myself once more, I leaned my chin on my hand with a soft hum. As I flipped through Eloise’s notes to get some guidance, I found that, as Vivi had said, last year’s birthday celebration was surprisingly modest.
Fewer than a hundred nobles had been invited, and the budget allocated was embarrassingly small for the Grand Duchess’s birthday banquet.
‘Still, it’s better to go big like this year.’
If I had hosted another small banquet this year, I would’ve spent days agonizing over the guest list—who to invite and, more importantly, who to exclude due to strained relationships.
“…Sigh.”
Even as I tried to think positively, a sigh escaped me, and I closed my eyes tightly.
In truth, there was someone else who was really troubling me right now.
Sneaking a glance, I looked at the last page of the guest list and frowned as my eyes landed on the name at the very bottom—Hayden Roger, Duke of Roger.
“…He’s still a thorn in my side.”
Ever since that incident in the palace gardens, I couldn’t shake my suspicion about a connection between the Duke and the mysterious “friend” who had sent letters to Eloise.
Out of curiosity, I had even compared the handwriting on the invitation I received from Duke Roger with the letter’s handwriting. But whether he had deliberately altered his script or whether it really was someone else entirely, I couldn’t find any similarities at all.
Even so, an unsettling sense of dissonance told me there was definitely some kind of link between Duke Roger and that letter.
‘My romance fantasy reader’s intuition is never wrong.’
“Really, what should I do…?”
As much as I wanted to avoid him, there was no way I could leave someone of his rank—an imperial Duke—off the invitation list as the Grand Duchess.
“This is driving me crazy.”
Frustrated, I ran a hand through my hair.
My mind involuntarily flashed back to Duke Roger’s face from a few days ago.
“Whenever you need me, just say the word.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“…What exactly does he mean by ‘need’?”
Recalling his confident, enigmatic dark green eyes made my head throb once again.
Just as I was pressing my temples to alleviate the ache—
Bang!
“Grand Duchess!”
Without warning, the door burst open, and the Imperial Princess entered with an air of triumph.
“…Your Highness? What brings you here?”
“It’s perfect! Absolutely perfect!”
Ignoring my question entirely, the princess puffed out her adorable cheeks and exhaled through her nose with a smug grin.
“I’ve finished all the preparations for the birthday banquet! Now all that’s left is decorating the venue!”
“Well, that’s quite impressive…”
Before I could finish my polite reply, she strode up to my desk and slammed a piece of paper down in front of me.
Then, with an exaggerated clearing of her throat, she spoke with a flourish.
“Behold! I’m letting you take a look at my plan!”
I picked up the paper from the desk, glancing at the young and audacious princess with curiosity.
What sort of outrageous plan had this little firebrand concocted?
As I skimmed through the document, my eyes widened.
“…You did all this by yourself? You, Your Highness?”
The princess’s plan was thorough, covering everything from the banquet’s structure and schedule to the layout of the venue, the list of orchestra members, and the music program.
It was a textbook-perfect plan.
Seeing my surprised reaction, the princess let out a scoff.
“What do you take the capital’s leading trendsetter for? Something like this is a piece of cake for me!”
Her confidence, coupled with her raised brows, made me chuckle despite myself.
‘She’s adorable.’
She didn’t feel like an in-law; she felt more like a mischievous little sister.
“But what’s this part at the end?”
I pointed to the last section of the plan. Unlike the rest, which was meticulously detailed, this part had been blacked out as if intentionally obscured.
“Ah, that?”
The princess giggled mischievously, then placed her hands on her hips and declared loudly,
“It’s a secret!”
“…Pardon?”
“This is your birthday banquet, so there has to be at least one surprise, doesn’t there?”
Ah, she wasn’t going to tell me.
Judging by what I’d seen of her personality, there was no way she’d spill the secret until the day of the banquet.
“It’s a special event for the two of you, so look forward to it!”
“The two of us…?”
It was my birthday, so why was she referring to us as a couple?
In any case, it seemed she had planned something ambitious.
“Anyway! Grand Duchess, it’s approved, right?”
“There’s nothing to approve. Just submit the budget, and I’ll allocate it through Harold….”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
The princess opened her eyes wide.
“Of course, I’ll cover it with my personal funds. Budget? What budget?”
“…Pardon?”
“Did you really think I’d plan a banquet of this scale with the intention of irresponsibly using the Grand Duchess’s money?”
That’s what I thought…
Her unexpectedly responsible remark left me speechless, my mouth slightly agape.
Seeing my reaction, the princess puffed up her cheeks, sulking.
“What’s that look for? I told you it’s a birthday gift! And besides, birthday banquets are traditionally prepared by immediate family members!”
“Your Highness, you’re not exactly my immediate family.”
“I don’t care! Either way, I’ll do what I want!”
There it was.
The princess’s signature move: her stubborn refusal to yield.
Just when things seemed to be progressing smoothly, she always managed to throw a tantrum like this.
If I said another word, she’d probably end up throwing herself onto the office floor and stomping her feet in a fit—not even as a metaphor.
“Alright, Your Highness. Do as you please.”
“Hmph! That’s what you should’ve said from the beginning.”
At my response, the princess immediately perked up again, letting out a triumphant laugh.
With a loud thud, she grabbed the plan off the desk.
“Anyway, just wait and see! Focus on finishing your guest list!”
❖ ❖ ❖
Time flew by like the forcibly wound gears of a clock, and soon, the day of the banquet had arrived.
From the morning, the mansion had been bustling in a way I had never seen before.
Dragged out of bed at the crack of dawn by Vivi, I endured an hour-long bath and spent several more hours being groomed by a swarm of maids. By the time it was over, even the outdoor garden in front of the main wing of the Grand Duke’s residence—usually stiff and formal—was brimming with life.
“Madam…”
“Hmm?”
I turned my head at the sound of Vivi’s voice behind me as I stared out the window.
There she stood, her hands gently clasped over her chest, her eyes glistening with tears of emotion.
“I can die without regret now…”
Her voice was filled with sentiment.
“To witness such a grand birthday banquet for you with my own eyes… And I know it’s a bit self-serving to say this since I helped dress you, but today… your makeup and hair… you truly look like an angel descended from the heavens.”
“Vivi.”
“Yes, madam!”
“That’s enough.”
Her overly sentimental remarks gave me goosebumps.
At my dry rebuke, Vivi giggled mischievously.
“The master is waiting for you downstairs, so you should hurry down!”
“Alright.”
Holding up the hem of my unusually voluminous dress, I carefully descended to the first floor. The sight that greeted me was even more chaotic than what I’d seen from the second floor.
The servants were practically running themselves ragged, their feet barely touching the ground.
And whether it was Kyle’s handiwork or not, the magical ornaments placed throughout the residence made it sparkle twice as brightly as usual.
“…Goodness.”
Were birthday banquets always this extravagant?
As I stood there, dumbfounded by the scene, I felt someone’s presence nearby.
“You’ve arrived, madam.”
I turned at the voice, only to freeze momentarily upon seeing the figure before me.
After a brief silence, I murmured in a dazed tone,
“…You look incredible today.”
Ian, who was already handsome, seemed to be radiating light from his face.
The silver hair that swept slightly past his shoulders, his serene, azure eyes framed by long lashes, and his unusually bright complexion…
‘This… this is dangerous for my heart.’
The outfit he wore played a part in stealing my breath away as well.
I was dressed in an off-shoulder white silk gown adorned with blue accents and a full skirt, and Ian had matched me perfectly in a formal white uniform accented with blue embellishments.
I knew Madam Zed was keen on making us look like the perfect pair, but seeing it now, it was as if we were designed to stand out in the banquet hall.
‘We’re not just a pair; we’re practically a matching set.’
The thought made me feel strangely self-conscious. Without realizing it, I bit my lip and lowered my gaze.
Judging by the faint smile that crossed Ian’s face as he quietly observed me, it seemed he was thinking the same thing.
“There’s no need for me to flaunt with a brooch today,” he said softly.
…So we were on the same page.
Flustered, my cheeks grew warm, and I instinctively turned my head away.
It was then that Ian took a step closer and gently took my hand.
• • •
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