Chapter 66
Held in the main hall of the Crown Prince’s Palace, the <Crown Prince’s Little Friends’ Social Exchange Tea Party> was as glamorous as its name.
As the host, she walked in before the guests arrived, and she was in awe of the hall.
“Wow…!”
The main hall of the Imperial Palace was so high, grand, and huge that it could easily host any national event.
The diamond ornaments and white and light blue flowers decorating the entire hall made her feel like it was early summer, fresh and bright.
They’re all fresh flowers…!
The crystal chandeliers in the main hall were dazzling.
‘I wonder how much that costs.’
Is this the money of the imperial family that doesn’t pay taxes? No, they’re royalty, so they must pay taxes.
Wow, this is tax-paying imperial money!
“Ck.”
Intuiting money bullshit like the breath of a royal made her reflect on her past self, who at best wanted to swim in a pile of gold, and at worst wanted to shoot banknotes to make it rain on shrines.
“From this day forward, my dream is to be tax-free.”
She learned a lesson.
You don’t have to be covered in gold to show off your wealth!
As she pumped her fists in the air and reflected on her new dream, the twins at the next table gave her an odd look.
“The Halberns are a public family, so they’re supposed to be exempt from taxes, right?”
“…!”
She said.
“So, if I win the lotto, I don’t have to pay taxes?”
“That’s a different kind of tax, you’ll get hit.”
“Eh.”
Okay.
“Even if you don’t pay taxes, the Five Dukes still have to pay compulsory contributions and levies.”
“But there’s a perk: businesses run by the Five Dukes are exempt from tax under a certain size.”
“Really? You want to start a business?”
Noel beamed.
“Allerilin, if you’re going to be in business, you’re going to be with us.”
“Business is Sperom!”
Sperom was contemplating what he could sell to the twins, who had turned to stalk their prey.
“Arellin!”
Pession’s voice greeted her, a voice she hadn’t heard in a long time.
***
Like a dog looking for his master, Pession entered the hall and immediately found Arellin.
“Arellin!”
Most of the time, Pession’s gaze was always on the same place.
Without consciously realizing it, his gaze was fixed on one person in particular without the person next to him noticing.
“I missed you!”
Pession immediately clung to Arellin and felt a sense of security.
The anxiety, nervousness, irritation, anger, inflammation, and boredom washed away.
Over the past week, one thing had been more difficult for Pession than his busy schedule.
Not seeing Arellin.
Life doesn’t feel like life, time slows down, and each day dries up fresh and colorful.
‘You’d laugh at me if I told you that this week felt like a year.’
“Pession, we’re not alone here. People are watching.”
“What does it matter?”
“It matters a lot.”
Arellin scowls as she slips out of Pession’s arms. Pession was disappointed.
“We haven’t seen each other in a week.”
“Have we?”
“Didn’t you miss me?”
“…”
Arellin paused.
“I miss you.
At times like this, she felt the gap between their feelings, but she couldn’t show it. she couldn’t help but be grumpy.
“Did you get everything ready for the party?”
“Yeah. The twins helped.”
“The twins, they helped you?”
Pession sounded ever so slightly, slightly annoyed.
“Yes. I tried to prepare it myself, but somehow it happened.”
He wanted to help.
Pession suppressed a little bit of bitterness and irritation.
The twins, who had now taken their places behind Arellin, were now in sight.
“Your Highness, did you not see us?”
“Are you that fond of Arellirin?”
The twins’ eyes glinted as if they had a chance to tease, but Pession had only one thing on his mind.
“Stay away from Arellin.”
“…?”
“…?”
“You’re sticking too close.”
The lesser demon twins had always clung to Arellin. It was frustrating, but at the same time, they found Pession’s knee-jerk reaction refreshing and puzzling.
‘What is this? Does Noel know?’
‘I don’t know, but does Ciel?’
Just in case Aaron did, the twins glanced back at the Mubisk table to see only Aaron, who had moved away at the sight.
“What is it, this feeling?”
“I mean.”
As the twins began their internal exploration of this new mood of ‘frustration’, Arellin looked at Pession with a puzzled expression.
If Pession was feeling more like a hedgehog with a sharper edge than usual, was it a mood?
“Did you prepare well, Pession?”
“Yes!”
Pession didn’t lift a finger. He was demoralized by not seeing Arellin. Instead, he was proud of the thoroughness with which the palace had prepared him.
“I assume you’ve been working out?”
“Hmm.”
“You haven’t, have you?”
“I did…”
She didn’t.
Pession laughed at the rolling eyes.
Arellin was not good at this kind of lying. Seeing Arellin’s eyes on him made Pession feel good.
He felt self-conscious that he should be so lightly amused by the fact that she cared about him, but he couldn’t help it.
Good things are good things.
“After the tea party, be ready.”
“Resolve?”
Arellin gasped.
“I’m screwed.”
Pession smiled brightly at Arellin’s contemplation.
***
She received a murder warning.
“What the hell are they going to do, and what are they going to do to me?”
It was so creepy, it scared her.
She was supposed to be welcoming guests soon, but her mind was wandering off into space.
“Arellin, wake up.”
“The Empress is here!”
Empress Ageni appeared before the guests arrived.
The true host of this tea party was, in fact, Empress Ageni.
“Everyone has worked hard to prepare. Let’s enjoy ourselves today.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Empress Ageni smiled gracefully, receiving stares that were somewhere between envy and admiration, respect and awe.
“The guests have arrived.”
One by one, guests arrived, invitations in hand.
“Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Guests were to greet the Crown Prince and Empress Ageni, the true hosts of this tea party, and take their seats at the designated tables.
Once all guests were seated, they were invited to enjoy tea and refreshments served by Empress Ageni and Crown Prince Pession.
This was the order of the first part of the tea party.
“Guests are now entering.”
As they arrived, the various noblemen filed in and filled the seats with courtesy.
They appeared in such distinctive places that it was easy to recognize the field of geniuses they had befriended.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a tea party like this.”
“Why would a wizard come to a tea party?”
Oh, the brilliant wizards of Matap.
“Scholars don’t get invited to social gatherings like this, haha. You’re in good company, thanks to your apprentice.”
“Indeed.”
Renowned scholars of the Golden Pavilion, and even renowned knights of various orders.
Even if they didn’t have a title or weren’t noble, their abilities and reputations were unassailable.
‘Wow, wasn’t he in the Albrecht Times last week?’
She remembered glancing at it when she went to Mehen’s office because he subscribed.
‘I think he was in there for some kind of thesis, and I think he was in there because he was some kind of genius.’
What were their names? She trying to remember.
Drat.
She heard a chair being thrown and saw all the knights standing up.
“Grandmaster!”
A single figure greeted reverently, each knight in full regalia of their respective orders, each with a stiff salute.
“It is an honor to meet you!”
Gazoo of Mubisk, a military duke.
Hailed as the pinnacle of swordsmanship, the Duke of Mubisk has arrived.
An imposing presence, he smiles at the envious knights.
“Haha. I see many familiar faces here. I’m just a guest, so make yourselves at home.”
“Old…!”
“Well, we’ll talk when we get a chance.”
The knights were moved to tears, as if it was a family honor to be recognized and spoken to.
The Duke of Mubisk smiled a familiar, manly smile and turned to his seat.
‘That must be Aaron’s father.’
Her eyes met his.
“…?”
She asked.
“Hmm.”
His eyes softened with interest.
