The banquet held along the Ener River had many sights to behold.
The main venue that Kaela had prepared was open to the cool summer night breeze from the river, with only light white curtains and drapes hanging. Round lights glowed everywhere and were also floating on the river.
The invited guests either looked down at the river from high places or went down the stairs to enjoy boat rides. Everywhere was filled with high-quality alcohol, sweet food, and joyful music.
Abundant flowers decorated the pillars and tables, and filled the railings leading to the river. However, the splendidly dressed people were no less impressive than the banquet hall’s decorations.
Right away, Crown Prince’s fiancée Princess Keruzhan had changed into a new dress adorned with sparkling jewels.
Among the many nobles and invited royalty showing off their family heirlooms, the Grand Duchess of Lusenford appeared wearing what journalists called the “Angel’s Halo” tiara again.
With many historic jewels on display and beautiful ladies and handsome gentlemen everywhere, there was plenty to see. On top of that, the gathering of those with the highest status provided plenty to hear as well.
“Will the Grand Duchess and Lady Ravalley meet at this engagement party?”
This was the combination most people secretly hoped for. Everyone waited with mischievous hearts for Kaela and Beatrice to meet at least once during the engagement ceremony, expecting major gossip.
“If they meet, Lady Ravalley won’t leave the Grand Duchess alone with that personality of hers. The Grand Duchess is so quiet and gentle after all.”
“If they meet now, Lady Ravalley would be at a disadvantage. How could they even compare?”
As soon as that firm statement came out, those who had been hoping for a trashy romance novel to come to life fell silent.
“The Grand Duchess of Lusenford can just sit and fill up the empty Lusenford jewel vault now. Mines keep being discovered in Lusenford, and both husband and wife are equal regents.”
The ones speaking in sharp voices were mostly middle-aged to elderly noble ladies. They were all people who had helped block opportunists who tried to approach Kaela, who had lost her mother early, at every banquet.
“How can you compare someone who couldn’t even pay their debts and lost a perfectly good house, and is still unmarried, just a noble in debt, with someone of different blood altogether?”
“Being a member of the imperial family, they’re not even in a position to be compared.”
“Of course. I hear she’s doing a proper job as mistress of the house, even expanding Lusenford Castle.”
“When Duke Monde collapsed, Lady Ravalley managed the Monde household similarly but couldn’t properly resolve the debts.”
The biting remarks were so sharp they stung. The elderly ladies, who were already unhappy seeing Kaela, a member of the imperial family, being pushed around by Lady Ravalley because of Peon, had found their opening.
“No matter how popular Lady Ravalley is with men and how entertaining she might be, there’s still a clear hierarchy.”
“The late emperor would have been furious if he saw this. How dare they compare Duke Ostein’s daughter with a gambler’s daughter?”
“Honestly, Lady Ravalley has no substance. Beauty doesn’t last long.”
Some criticized these elderly ladies, saying they were acting this way out of jealousy towards Lady Ravalley. There were also those who called these strict elderly ladies’ talk of propriety and status old-fashioned thinking.
Haven’t the strong boundaries between social classes become somewhat looser than before? This is a world where even the emperor’s illegitimate child can become crown prince. Lower-ranking nobles within the existing noble hierarchy were desperate to climb upward at this opportunity.
If possible, everyone’s instinct was to want to mix their blue blood with purple blood. Those with particularly strong such instincts had already joined the Crown Prince’s faction and taken Lady Ravalley’s side.
“Us? Oh, we’re fine, we’re fine.”
The Duchess of Monde, who had reappeared gorgeously dressed representing the Monde duchy, was surrounded by them.
“Regrettably, we must dispose of things properly and pay our debts. Yes, that’s what’s right. We’re fine.”
The Duchess of Monde, who very openly and proudly acknowledged the news about selling the beautiful Hillhouse first, took a glass of wine from a passing golden tray and took a sip.
The wine served at the engagement party was chosen by Kaela after giving the Marchioness of Schroz her beloved puppy. It was sweet and rich in flavor, fitting for an engagement party.
Behind them now, wine bottles packed in boxes were being frantically taken out and opened to endlessly fill new glasses.
“Well, Beatrice and I are still young. Yes indeed.”
The Duchess of Monde laughed hohoho and enjoyed the party, actively conversing with people just as she had before the palace entry ban was issued. She had a natural talent for making people laugh with entertaining stories all night long.
Anyone who wanted to hold their belly laughing just needed to hover near the Duchess of Monde. She was thoroughly excited by the people flocking to her after her long absence from parties, the delicious wine, and the beautiful engagement party venue.
“Speaking of which, where is Lady Ravalley?”
No matter how excited the Duchess of Monde was, she wasn’t foolish enough to say that her daughter was currently handling magical tools in the Soleil Palace’s magical tool room.
Beatrice had gone to check the magical tools once more because the collapsed emperor kept getting irritable and anxious.
“She’ll be here soon. Young people these days take so much longer to get ready than we do. Oh my, they have so many things to do! Ah! There she is! Beatrice!”
The engagement party venue became very lively as important guests, including the Crown Prince, started arriving. The celebration of the Crown Prince’s engagement, who would lead the Crania Empire in the future, could lead to many other marriages.
With royalty from various countries present, nobles were desperately trying to marry off their daughters and sons, breaking through the walls between noble and common marriages.
While the Crown Prince and Princess Keruzhan danced first, young men and women searched for dance partners.
Gentlemen in white ties tried to gather courage, and ladies in flowing summer dresses asked their elderly chaperones to bring specific partners they fancied. After all, few gentlemen could ignore an elder’s request.
“Are you thirsty? What would you like to drink, Kaela?”
The cool breeze from the river that dispelled the day’s heat rustled Kaela’s aqua-colored dress.
Before marriage, whenever Kaela stood in a sparkling banquet hall, she always checked the corners first. As the Duke of Ostein’s daughter, she would make minimal greetings and quickly look for a place to hide.
Since no one would approach or ask her to dance anyway, she hid quickly before being embarrassed. Then she would peek at the party’s main characters from behind the wall created by the elderly ladies.
Even at the rare parties held at Lusenford, she sat quietly apart. No one spoke to her. The feeling of being a main guest at a party held on such a summer night felt unfamiliar after so long.
“We have to dance right away.”
And no matter how she thought about it, the fact that she had a partner and that partner was Peon still felt strange.
She awkwardly pointed to the Crown Prince and his fiancée. After they finished, the next to dance would be Peon and Kaela as imperial family members, along with Duke Ostein. Duke Ostein would dance with Lady Keruzhan.
Kaela knew Peon’s dancing principles well. Once with Beatrice. Occasionally once with the energetic Duchess of Monde when unavoidable. And that was it.
“Shall we dance first then?”
Peon, wearing the formal attire Kaela had specially ordered, extended his hand to her. He looked so dazzling that he could have been called the main character of this party rather than the Crown Prince.
People of all ages from around the world kept expressing their admiration for him. He was perfect from head to toe. Even having experienced death, whenever he extended his hand, Kaela always felt terribly inadequate.
It was an unforgettable memory for Kaela – the hand reluctantly extended out of courtesy by the most outstanding man, who could barely hide his displeasure. That’s why she always both wanted to dance and didn’t want to dance.
“If you’re tired, should we dance later?”
Kaela became increasingly timid when there were many watching eyes. Getting angry once last night wasn’t enough. Peon slightly bent his waist to meet the eyes of the noblest and most beautiful lady he knew, while still holding out his hand.
“Or do you not want to dance?”
She quickly shook her head and placed her small hand on his. Her hair, which had been elaborately styled during the day, was now more comfortably loose.
She was truly angelic with her already magnificent platinum blonde hair crowned with the tiara that journalists kept calling “Angel’s Halo” and desperately wanted to know the origin of.
While others were making a fuss about wearing different jewels for day and night, Kaela carelessly put on the same ones she had worn during the day, just grabbing whatever was within reach.
Anticipating this, Peon had already replaced the five diamonds in the tiara with five aquamarines and prepared a new aquamarine jewelry set to perfectly match her aqua dress and blue eyes.
If a wife is careless, the husband can diligently change what that careless hand picks up.
People whispered about how wealthy Lusenford must have become, with diamonds during the day and equally high-carat pure aquamarines at night.
While he could tolerate other things, he couldn’t stand seeing Kaela being pushed around by the noisy Duchess of Monde or Princess Keruzhan. Wasn’t it true that Kaela was always the most striking and beautiful woman?
“If you’re tired, we can dance just once and rest.”
“I’m not tired.”
Her hair swayed, and her dress rippled with the light movements and river breeze. The aqua chiffon wrapped around his legs.
The unpleasant and sticky summer air retreated, and the scent of osmanthus, lemon, and southern roses enveloped him in his arms. A lady adorned head to toe in what he had offered was the highest honor a knight could receive.
Usually, that honor included affection, but Peon had long since stopped hoping for affection. There was no more affection from Kaela in his life. Once, he had received Kaela’s love far beyond what he deserved, but he had ended that himself.
Since the love ended, everything ended. He wasn’t a fool who wished for something he could never have again. Just being able to dare ask her for a dance was enough.
“Perhaps…”
The Crown Prince and Princess withdrew to applause, and the music started again.
The Grand Duchess of Lusenford, whom gentlemen would carefully watch before daring to ask for a dance, knew all the dance pieces. As she twirled gracefully without any unnecessary movements, she quietly murmured, and Peon slightly raised his eyebrow.
“Yes?”
He heard it. So she should continue.
“Did you sleep with me earlier?”
“Yes.”
But those weren’t the eyes of someone who had slept. Up close, Peon somehow looked tired.
There were no shadows under his eyes, nor were they bloodshot. But his gaze was tired. Before Kaela, he seemed to be forcing himself to appear fine. Come to think of it, his jawline had become sharper.
“I slept well.”
Somehow it sounded like a lie. Despite having no reason to think so, it did. Kaela hadn’t seen Peon sleeping recently. She had always fallen asleep first.
“What about you? Did you sleep well?”
She had slept very sweetly. When Kaela nodded, he smiled like a young boy, genuinely pleased. As if he hadn’t anxiously checked her breathing and pulse.
