What did I just hear?
“Single….”
“Single.”
Before I could stutter a response, Diana cheerfully repeated herself, firmly driving the point home.
Sure, I had been anxious when she arrived, thinking about how I had suddenly fallen for Ian and worried about her presence.
But I had at least prepared myself to be resented by her.
And yet, here I was, unprepared, listening to my favorite character unexpectedly declare her intent to remain single.
Before I could even process what was happening, Diana smiled with a bright, innocent face.
“So, I just wanted to let you know not to worry, Your Grace. Honestly, since back in Biblos.”
“…Lady Lawrence….”
“This is exactly why I wasn’t too keen on returning to the social scene.”
Diana muttered lightly before turning her gaze toward me.
“In any case, what I meant to say is that if I’ve been weighing on your mind, there’s no need for that. After all, it was always one-sided on my part.”
Before she fled to study abroad in Biblos, that had certainly been true.
Though, to be fair, even back then, I had intentionally been colder to Ian to keep him from being drawn to Diana.
“Truthfully, I’m very grateful to you, El… Your Grace. Really.”
Seeing that I still couldn’t quite shake my bewildered expression, Diana smiled brightly, her face genuinely refreshed.
So, the heroine of the story had returned as a self-proclaimed single woman. And, to top it off, apparently, it was because of me.
‘Is this even real?’
I couldn’t think of a more absurd situation if I tried.
“Oh, by the way, Your Grace.”
“…Yes, go ahead.”
Caught off guard, I reflexively nodded in response.
Suddenly, Diana clasped my hand tightly and looked up at me with her clear, sky-blue eyes.
Her gaze sparkled so brightly that it almost seemed like stars were spilling out of them.
Wait a second, this feels familiar. Where have I seen this look before…?
“Actually, there’s something I’d like to ask you for.”
“A favor?”
“Would you try wearing a pair of shoes I make sometime? Preferably at a big event where there are lots of people, like today’s banquet. Just once is enough.”
“…What?”
The moment I heard her request, I realized why her gaze felt familiar—it resembled the look I’d seen in the eyes of the princess and Madame Zed. Though Diana’s sparkled with a slightly different kind of determination.
“I did some research before attending this banquet after returning. I don’t have many connections in the Empire, so I was thorough about it. Turns out, Your Grace personally discovered a tailor and made them the most sought-after figure in the capital. You even designed an accessory as a gift for the princess’ birthday banquet. Everyone says the social scene of Levant revolves around you lately, Your Grace.”
“…That seems a bit exaggerated.”
“I did think you weren’t an ordinary person when you gave me the answer I’d been seeking.”
“That was just because the princess’ hairpiece happened to come to mind….”
But no matter what excuses I made, it seemed none of my words were getting through to Diana.
She went on to plead her case, explaining how she desperately needed a high-profile model to showcase her work and how I was the perfect candidate. Her rapid-fire words were filled with earnestness, and her expression was unwavering.
Looking down at Diana’s hands clasping mine and her sparkling blue eyes, I pressed my lips together.
There was no point in arguing further; I’d already realized it was a lost cause.
“Would you consider it? Please?”
“…Well.”
“Please, El.”
The moment Diana called me by a more familiar name, the last bit of resistance within me melted away.
‘Well, if it helps Diana, I suppose it’s fine….’
Still, was this the kind of conversation we were supposed to be having right now?
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t shake the absurdity of the situation.
Meanwhile, Diana continued to look at me with those star-filled eyes, and in the end, I raised the white flag and nodded.
“All right, I’ll do it.”
Diana’s face lit up.
“Really? You promise? Hurray! Thank you so much!”
Her face practically glowed as she cheered, “Hurray!”
Wait, we were just talking about the man you used to love a moment ago.
If nothing else, I was now certain that all the worries I’d been agonizing over for weeks had been entirely unnecessary.
Diana squeezed my hand one last time, her face full of gratitude, and promised to contact me soon.
“Then I’ll be in touch soon. Don’t forget, okay?”
❖ ❖ ❖
Even after that, Diana spent several more minutes passionately explaining her grand ambitions and plans following her return.
As ridiculous as it seemed, Ian was no longer even a thought in her mind.
Sure, this was the outcome I had once hoped for, but now that it had suddenly come true before my eyes, I couldn’t help but feel disoriented.
A few minutes later, still unable to fully process what had happened, I returned to the banquet hall to find the atmosphere in full swing.
Among the dancing and chatting groups of people, I spotted Ian and quickly made my way to him, clasping his hand tightly.
“Eloise.”
“Have you been waiting long?”
“Did the conversation go well?”
Almost simultaneously, Ian and I clamped our mouths shut after asking our questions.
It was Ian who broke the silence first, letting out a chuckle.
“Not at all. You came back rather quickly.”
It was because there was no need for a lengthy conversation with Diana anymore.
I couldn’t say it aloud, so I repeated it internally and forced a mechanical smile.
“Oh, right. And…”
I was about to add something else when the soft music that had been playing came to an abrupt halt, and a chamberlain’s booming voice filled the room.
“His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and Her Highness the Princess are entering!”
Every noble in attendance immediately turned to the golden doors at the central staircase of the banquet hall—the entrance reserved solely for the imperial family—and bowed deeply.
As the paused music resumed softly, the doors opened, and the Emperor, Empress, and Princess descended the two-story staircase to take their seats in the high place overlooking the hall.
Amidst the sea of lowered gazes, I awkwardly lifted my head and stole a glance at them.
‘Oh.’
Perhaps it was a coincidence, but my eyes met the Emperor’s.
She looked at Ian and me, standing side by side with barely a hand’s width between us, with a pleased expression before clearing her throat and turning her gaze away.
“Raise your heads,” the Emperor commanded.
At her words, the nobles straightened their backs one by one.
However, the atmosphere remained tense, as though everyone was holding their breath.
After all, not a single noble in attendance was unaware of the purpose of this banquet.
The Emperor, her gaze lowered slightly, surveyed the hall before speaking again with a hint of amusement in her voice.
“Are you all enjoying the banquet?”
Only she wore the expression of someone blissfully unaware, her eyes crinkling in an easy smile.
After a moment of silence as she overlooked the banquet hall, the Emperor began to speak again.
“As you are all aware, the reason for holding such a grand banquet today is to share joyous news with you.”
Her azure eyes gleamed transparently under the dazzling chandeliers.
“It has been many years since I ascended to the throne. It’s about time I designate an heir.”
Given that the Emperor and Empress had no children, the meaning of “heir” was self-evident, and naturally, all eyes turned to one side of the hall.
“I’m not one to enjoy excessive formalities, so I’ll keep this brief. I intend to appoint Princess Louisa as Crown Princess.”
With that, even the eyes that had lingered on the Emperor shifted entirely to Princess Louisa.
Usually busy walking around with her head held high, even the Princess seemed slightly burdened by the attention, clearing her throat awkwardly.
Though, truthfully, even that was rather endearing.
“This appointment should have happened long ago, but my overly cautious nature caused delays. Therefore, I plan to skip any cumbersome procedures and proceed as quickly as possible.”
After a brief pause, she continued.
“The official coronation for the Crown Princess will take place a month from now.”
Typically, preparations for a coronation of such magnitude required at least six months, if not more.
Compared to that, a month was an extraordinarily short time frame.
However, there wasn’t a single person in the room who expressed surprise at this.
That was because everyone knew that preparations for the Princess’ coronation had already been unofficially underway well before the Emperor’s announcement today.
If anything, the real news that would stir the nobles was yet to come.
“And, one more thing.”
The Emperor’s gaze shifted slightly in Ian’s direction as she continued.
‘Oh, here it comes.’
“Since Grand Duke Ian Cloud has renounced his claim to the throne, Princess Louisa will be the sole heir to the crown.”
For a brief moment, silence fell over the banquet hall.
While most had anticipated this, they hadn’t expected such an announcement to be made in this manner. The shock on their faces was clear.
‘Not a bad reaction.’
Feeling satisfied as I glanced around at the surrounding nobles, I suddenly froze.
I had spotted a familiar figure.
‘…Hayden Roger?’
In the corner of the banquet hall near the throne, Duke Roger stood with a stiff expression, staring at the Emperor.
• • •
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