“Lady Katrina, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh my, young lady. Your dress is absolutely stunning today.”
The praises showered on a five-year-old child were not genuine but mere flattery.
However, the child, unable to distinguish sincerity from flattery, responded with a triumphant smile.
“The Empress gave it to me! She wanted me to look the most beautiful.”
“It suits you perfectly.”
Someone else chimed in agreement.
“It’s dazzling. Oh my, is this a pink diamond?”
The woman, looking at the pink jewel on the dress, asked with wide eyes.
“Yes, that’s right. The Empress thought it matched my eyes and added it to the dress.”
Katrina proudly opened her eyes wide to show off her grayish-pink irises.
“They truly are identical!”
“Wow, that’s so enviable. To have eyes like pink diamonds!”
As the stream of flattery continued, Katrina’s shoulders practically soared to the sky.
“The Duke of Loenbaum and Lady Rose are entering!”
The entry of the Duke of Loenbaum, who had set hearts aflutter with his single appearance last year before disappearing, made the young ladies squeal softly.
Once again, the Duke of Loenbaum looked dashing today.
His white suit embroidered with gold thread was elegant, and the ruby in the center of his cravat added the perfect finishing touch.
Above all, the tender smile he wore while holding the young lady melted the hearts of many young ladies.
‘If only that smile were mine.’
As everyone basked in their shared daydreams, Lady Katrina’s face crumpled.
“Who is that girl?”
Katrina, the precious youngest daughter of Marquess Whiteheart and the apple of the Emperor and Empress’s eyes, could not stand anyone else drawing attention.
She disliked how the focus had shifted to an unfamiliar girl.
Pouting with jealousy, Katrina moved to approach the girl when she overheard someone murmuring.
“Her eyes are such a lovely pink. They’re so beautiful.”
“Exactly. Look at the fresh flowers in her hair. Isn’t that adorable?”
“Yes, it reminds me of childhood memories.”
The women exchanged heartwarming remarks, but all Katrina heard was the mention of pink eyes.
“Pink?”
Katrina glared at Rose, who was nestled in the Duke’s arms.
‘They’re really pink!’
Seeing the girl’s vibrant pink eyes, which outshone her own, Katrina clenched her fists.
Until now, whenever someone mentioned lovely pink, it was always in reference to her.
But this young lady had eyes even more vivid than hers.
It felt like the title of ‘lovely pink’ was about to belong to this girl instead.
‘Pink eyes should be mine! I must be the only one with pink!’
Katrina wanted to pluck those eyes out.
But the girl with the pink eyes was a noble young lady.
Marquess daughter could not surpass the Duke’s young lady.
As she clenched her teeth and trembled with uncontrollable anger, a clear, jewel-like voice called out to her.
“Lady Katrina?”
“What?”
Frowning, she turned to see a girl with silver hair looking at her.
“And who are you to talk to me?”
Despite Katrina’s sharp words, the girl elegantly bowed and introduced herself.
“I am Yekhaterina, the daughter of Viscount Wistel.”
“Yekhaterina?”
The name sounded familiar.
As she searched her memory, she recalled her father mentioning a clever young noblewoman who had become the Crown Prince’s friend just a few days earlier.
“Oh, Zeke’s friend?”
Yekhaterina beamed brightly.
“That’s right. His Highness, Crown Prince Siegfried, often speaks fondly of his beautiful and adorable cousin.”
Katrina swelled with pride.
“Of course. Zeke loves me so much.”
“Yes, he even said your pink eyes are absolutely charming.”
In an instant, Katrina’s face hardened.
“I find them truly adorable as well,”
Katrina glared at her.
Although the words were compliments, something about them unsettled her, making her feel uneasy.
“What are you playing at?!”
At Katrina’s harsh shout, tears welled up in Yekhaterina’s eyes.
“It seems you’ve misunderstood. I meant every word.”
“Meant it? That was sincere?”
“Yes! Your pink eyes are truly enchanting. But I thought there was only one person with pink eyes like that. I didn’t expect there to be another.”
Although Yekhaterina’s voice was gentle, Katrina’s anger surged further.
Yekhaterina placed one hand on her chest and the other on her cheek as she sighed.
“But it’s a little upsetting.”
“What?”
“Until now, it’s been Lady Katrina who made pink eyes so endearing.”
Katrina’s eyes wavered.
“But now, someone else appears and steals that distinction. I feel so wronged and upset for you.”
“…Stole my distinction?”
Yekhaterina stepped closer and whispered.
“Those eyes… don’t they seem fake? It’s as if she deliberately chose pink to imitate you.”
“Changing eye color?”
“Of course. It’s possible to alter eye color with magic.”
Singing her response, Yekhaterina took Katrina’s hand.
“That kind of fake should have her eyes removed and be banished, don’t you think?”
From the emerald ring on Yekhaterina’s finger, black mana began to seep out, crawling toward Katrina’s hand.
It then sank into Lady Katrina’s body.
Her grayish eyes darkened momentarily before returning to their original color.
“…You’re right. Fake eyes should be plucked out and cast away.”
“But that person is a noble lady. If we lay a hand on her, we’ll face severe consequences.”
After finishing her sentence, Yekhaterina leaned in and whispered.
“So just kill her instead.”
Katrina flinched.
“…Kill her?”
“Yes, kill her. I’ll help you. That way, no one will suspect you.”
Stepping slightly away from Katrina, Yekhaterina flashed a bright smile.
“You’ll accept my help, right?”
Katrina also smiled widely.
“She’ll be dead.”
***
“Grand Duke Edelmar Spenbaum is entering.”
Even at the servant’s announcement, Ian didn’t turn around.
“Rose, this is orange juice. Do you want some?”
“Mmm.”
Rose shook her head and pointed her finger at a red drink.
“I want that one.”
“Rose, that’s alcohol, so you can’t have it.”
“You can only drink alcohol when you’re an adult.”
At the sound of a voice from behind, Ian frowned.
But he still didn’t turn around.
“Are you not going to work?”
With a sigh, Ian turned his body.
“Uncle Edel!”
When Rose stretched out her arms, Edelmar scooped her up into his embrace.
“Rose, you look very cute today.”
“That’s not true! Uncle always says I’m cute.”
Edelmar chuckled softly.
“That’s true.”
“Yes!”
“Rose, do you want the red drink?”
Rose nodded.
Edelmar gestured to a servant.
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
“Bring cranberry juice for the young lady.”
“Yes.”
Rose hugged Edelmar’s neck tightly.
“Thank you, Uncle Edel.”
Receiving Rose’s thanks, Edelmar proudly glanced at Ian.
The slight crease in Ian’s brow suggested his displeasure, but since it was something done for Rose, he couldn’t say much.
“Rose, come here.”
“Ummm.”
“Uncle Edel has to work.”
Rose gave Edelmar a sorrowful look.
“It doesn’t matter since my brother isn’t here yet.”
“It matters to me.”
As Ian reached out to take Rose away—
“His Majesty Emperor Charles, Empress Juliette Spenbaum, and Crown Prince Siegfried are entering.”
At the announcement of the imperial family’s entrance, Ian quickly dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
Footsteps echoed on the podium, and the Emperor’s voice resonated through the banquet hall.
“Rise your head, all of you.”
Ian stood up, picked Rose up in his arms, and pulled out a watch from his inventory before handing it over.
“Here you go.”
“Alright.”
As they moved further into a corner to avoid attention, Ian noticed a servant looking around with drinks in hand.
“Over here.”
He signaled the servant and took the drink, bringing it to Rose’s lips.
“Ahh, sip.”
“Si…sip?”
Ian found Rose’s frowning expression so adorable that he kissed her cheek and spoke.
“Shall we stop drinking now?”
“No. Since Uncle Edel gave it to me, I want to keep drinking it.”
“Alright, but just a little at a time.”
While Ian and Rose were having their sweet exchange, Edelmar approached the Emperor.
As all nobles did, he knelt on one knee at a proper distance.
“Your Majesty, chosen by the gods.”
“Edelmar? What’s the matter all of a sudden?”
The Emperor, surprised by his younger brother’s formal greeting, asked, as Edelmar usually approached him without any such courtesies.
“Your Majesty, are you aware of the wristwatch item released by Rose’s Shop?”
The Emperor nodded.
“Yes, I’ve heard of it. A fascinating object indeed.”
There was a hint of regret in the Emperor’s voice.
The Emperor had wanted the wristwatch when he first saw it.
However, maintaining his dignity as Emperor meant he couldn’t visit an ordinary jeweler like <Rose>.
Attempts to purchase it through his chamberlain had failed as all the watches were sold out.
As a result, watching nobles proudly roll up their sleeves to show off their wristwatches at court meetings had pained him.
“A few days ago, the head merchant of <Rose> approached me. He said that without Your Majesty, chosen by the gods, the wristwatch could never have been completed. He expressed a wish to present the very first ‘Royal’ grade wristwatch to Your Majesty. However, being a commoner, he couldn’t attend the banquet, so he asked me to present it on his behalf.”
The Emperor’s eyes widened.
🍓; By the way, it seems there’s a typo by the author regarding the relationship between Katrina and Siegfried. If Katrina is the youngest sibling of the Empress, then she must be the Crown Prince’s aunt, not cousin.
