95. Before the Banquet

“I was planning to, but I’ll stop.”

He said with a slow smile, leaning against the tree. His black hair tangled briefly with the tree bark before falling free again.

His dark hair against the newly planted white birch made him look like a statue in this forest. His pale skin made him seem even more like a sculpture, perfectly crafted from his deep-set eyes to his high nose.

I looked at him, then quickly turned away. I needed to stop my feelings from growing any further.

The bird, after observing for a moment, fluttered briefly in the air before settling on my shoulder. Its gentle pecking on my head was endearing.

* * *

“So, you’ve chosen this dress?”

I nodded. In her hands was the dress I had seen on the table in the separate residence.

Even though I hadn’t chosen it myself, I had no other options. Dresses that hadn’t been moved to the separate residence were handed over to Philip, leaving my wardrobe empty.

I took out the dress, neatly folded in a box. The black dress shimmered brilliantly.

The fabric clung to my body. It was high-necked and open at the back, giving it a seductive appearance. From the front, it looked modest, but when my hair was tied up, my back would be completely exposed.

Of course, the maids didn’t tie my hair up. They tried to minimize any exposure.

They brushed my hair and tied it into a half-up style, securing it with a clip. It was a black butterfly-shaped clip that matched the dress. When I told them to decorate me as they saw fit, they brought a new hairpin that matched the dress.

“Lady Leonie, it’s good to have you back.”

One of the maids who had gone to the separate residence with me whispered as she pinned my hair. Her hands were gentle and familiar.

“I’m not back for good. I’ll be going back soon.”

“Still, being invited to the banquet contradicts the rumors. You have no idea how terrible the rumors in the streets are. People speak without knowing the truth.”

She turned my head towards the mirror. A woman with cascading red hair and a black dress looked back at me.

“People will be shocked to see you. They’ll realize that the rumors of your being cast aside aren’t true, and those who spoke thoughtlessly will be ashamed. So, don’t worry too much.”

She tried to cheer me up, noticing my somber expression.

“Do you know when Lady Isella is joining?”

Deon hadn’t told me. Maybe he didn’t know himself.

He might just follow the instructions from his secretary, taking the carriage to her house or dressing up to meet her at the mansion entrance. Deon was a man who was indifferent and focused on his own tasks, even when dealing with his lover.

“This time, the two of you are partners for the banquet, but she might enter without an escort. Countess Arinne’s due date is imminent. It seems urgent. The whole family is gathered there.”

She also brought up Elizabeth. The situation seemed more serious than I had thought.

“Is her condition that bad?”

“Yes. It’s strange. According to a maid working there, the atmosphere in the Arinne household has been unsettled for some time. The count seemed to know something was wrong even before things got worse. He’s been bringing in all kinds of doctors for weeks. There isn’t a doctor in the capital who hasn’t crossed that threshold.”

Count Arinne might remember what I told him. At the hunting festival, he dismissed it as nonsense, but he was diligently protecting his wife more than I expected.

“Anyway, after the banquet, there are a few days before you go back to the separate residence. Take your time and rest. A maid mentioned that a painter will be coming to make a portrait of you after the banquet.”

“A painter? But…”

I was surprised.

The conversation with Deon in the hallway resurfaced in my mind. His stern warning that he wouldn’t allow anyone to paint my portrait was still vivid.

The maid gently tapped her lips with her fingers, signaling me not to worry.

“A small portrait for a tiny frame shouldn’t be an issue. Because it’s small, it can be completed quickly,” she said reassuringly.

Her words offered a bit of comfort.

* * *

I flopped onto the bed. The soft sensation enveloping my body felt luxurious. The bed was incredibly plush. The reality of being back at the Imperial Mansion finally sank in.

At the separate residence, my room was next to the lake, so the bedding was always damp. Despite closing the window facing the lakeside, the room smelled musty, and everything felt perpetually damp. The floor near the door was worn out, likely due to long-term exposure to moisture.

In contrast, the bedding at the Imperial Mansion was wonderfully dry.

I rolled around on the large bed for a while before realizing that the banquet was fast approaching and quickly turned off the light.

The banquet was tomorrow. Time had flown by after seeing the bird and trying on the dress.

I hadn’t known the exact date of the banquet, but now it was right upon me. I understood why Deon had hurried down to the separate residence himself.

If I had delayed a bit longer, I might have missed the banquet. Or worse, I might have had to attend the banquet in a rush, wearing something shabby.

Either way, the current situation wasn’t bad. I could gain a new experience and leave a portrait in the mansion.

I turned to lie on my side. The table, with even the candlestick I had left behind, remained as it was. It had only been kept dust-free.

Thinking of placing a portrait frame on the bare table made me feel satisfied.

I hugged the pillow and rolled around until sleep slowly took over. Even though I had slept in the carriage, my body was still tired.

* * *

The carriage jolted. The pin in my hair became dislodged with the sideways sway. I awkwardly adjusted the pin back to its original position.

Deon had already entered the banquet hall. Now formally part of the royal family, he entered the palace as one of the hosts. I was following behind him, wearing the dress the maids had helped me put on and riding in the carriage.

I saw a long procession of carriages lined up in front of the palace. Pressing my forehead against the window and leaning to the side, I could see the entire line at a glance. Seeing the lined-up carriages made my heart race unexpectedly.

The banquet at the palace was being held in the separate palace to the right.

The carriage at the front of the line stopped in front of the separate palace. A young lady and gentleman, who appeared to be siblings, disembarked near the large iron gate adorned with blooming roses.

Once past the gate, they seemed to undergo a brief security check before walking the rest of the way.

There were only a few carriages left in front. I watched absentmindedly as nobles stepped out of their carriages. Waiting patiently, I knew it would soon be my turn.

The carriage moved forward, then stopped again, repeating this several times.

Unable to bear the boredom, I decided to get out of the carriage before it reached the front. I knocked on the door a couple of times, and the coachman, understanding my intent, jumped down and opened the door for me.

“I’ll walk from here.”

My body felt stiff. I stretched briefly.

The nobles in front of me were a family—a young couple with a child.

Their carriage, adorned with gold trim and drawn by black horses, stood out. Perhaps they were from a viscount’s family.

A knight standing by the gate handed them thin cloth bracelets. The woman tied one around the child’s wrist, tightening it securely.

It was a mark to identify the invited nobles.

As I approached the line, my turn came.

Just as I was about to follow them in, a knight stepped in front of me, blocking my way with an outstretched arm.

“I was invited too,” I said.

“Do you have an invitation with the royal seal?” he asked.

“An invitation?”

He scrutinized my face with a doubtful expression before glancing at his documents. Suddenly, something seemed to dawn on him.

“Are you Lady Leonie Sien?” he asked.

His abrupt question caught me off guard, leaving me no chance to question his rudeness. Though he was simply asking my name, there was a peculiar unease in his demeanor.

“Yes,” I replied calmly.

He quickly recited a predetermined response.

“Lady, you need to enter through the back gate, not here.”

“What?”

I asked in surprise, unable to hide my shock.

“Why? I was formally invited. I even have a guarantor.”

I couldn’t believe he was treating me as if I had bought my invitation to sneak in.

“I understand, but… you’re not on the guest list for this banquet. You need to use the back gate.”

His explanation was hard to comprehend.

“Is it because I confirmed my attendance too late and wasn’t added to the list?”

“No, you were never on the list.”

An uninvited guest. That’s what he was implying.

“There must be a mistake. I…”

I stopped myself from saying that Deon had invited me.

Was I officially invited by the royal family?

Deon had brought me as a guest. I had agreed to come to the capital in his carriage after his persuasion, but I had never seen an actual invitation with my name on it. Not even now, right before the banquet.

What if I was being deceived again?

I wasn’t sure.

I kept my mouth shut and stared at the gate that wouldn’t open for me. The knight continued.

“I was instructed to guide you to the back gate. I will give you an entrance ribbon. Tie it around your wrist and enter through the back gate.”

He pointed to a side gate at the back of the separate palace.

His guidance was brief. Unlike a knight serving nobles, he showed no courtesy.

He handed me a yellow ribbon and called for the next carriage. The sound of wheels rolling seemed to echo hauntingly.

I stared at the ribbon in my hand. The bright yellow ribbon was beautiful but felt like a noose tightening around my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

The cloth trembled lightly. I thought it was the wind, but it was my trembling hand that made it shake. I gripped the ribbon tightly, feeling the end fluttering in the breeze.