Chapter 3

Contrary to her earlier complaints, Erenia’s maid managed to bring six dresses within just a few hours.

Since the styles Erenia had requested were unfamiliar at this point in time, bringing around two dresses that actually matched her instructions was a passable achievement.

She’s not bad at thinking on her feet. Still, that doesn’t mean I’ll keep turning a blind eye to her.

Erenia intended to make use of the maid for the time being and then replace her with a new one.

After all, she could not expect genuine loyalty from a relationship built solely on exploiting someone’s weaknesses.

“Princess, what do you think of this dress?”

Although it was not made of the silk Erenia had specifically requested, the maid carefully offered her opinion with a noticeably more respectful attitude.

“It was brought from the most popular dress shop in the Empire. It’s also a design by the same designer whose dresses Princess Joanna favors.”

Erenia, however, had a different opinion.

“I’m tired of dresses like that.”

“I-I apologize! Then, perhaps there is a dress here that you like…?”

Erenia did not take long to decide which of the six dresses she wanted.

“Don’t wear dresses in colors this pale. Sister looks better in bright red and flashy dresses.”

It was the simple, light-pink silk dress that Joanna had always discouraged her from wearing.

Erenia immediately held it up in front of the mirror.

…Just as I thought.

Truthfully, Erenia had wanted to wear dresses like this even in her previous life.

But whenever her opinions clashed with Joanna’s, she had convinced herself that her own lack of taste was to blame and suppressed her own judgment.

Even when the styles Erenia had wanted eventually became wildly popular throughout the Empire…

Why did I never think to trust my own judgment? My instincts had been right all along.

Erenia regretted how she had been unable to express herself because she had been so concerned with Joanna’s opinion.

From now on, she intended to stop caring about anyone’s gaze and do exactly as she pleased.

“…You look beautiful, Your Highness.”

Even the maid, who had reluctantly followed Erenia’s orders while helping her get dressed, spoke as though she were entranced.

She looked incomparably more beautiful than the ridiculous figure she had presented in the past.

“We should go to the banquet hall now.”

The sun had already set, and the banquet was about to begin.

She was already late enough that arriving on time was impossible, but Erenia did not care.

Whether she arrived on time or late, she was already equally out of favor with everyone.

There was no longer any reason for her to force herself into the standards of the Empire.

I’m going to abandon this Empire anyway.

Haiyen Imperial Palace — Grand Banquet Hall

The banquet hall had been decorated more lavishly than ever, with dazzling golden ornaments and flowers in full bloom.

The Emperor’s affection for Princess Joanna was evident everywhere.

Besides the nobles of the Haiyen Empire, envoys from all kinds of foreign nations filled the hall, making it feel even more lively with the heated summer-night atmosphere.

“Princess Joanna de Haiyen and Sir Lucius von Dmitri are entering!”

When the atmosphere of the banquet had grown sufficiently lively, the two protagonists of the evening entered side by side.

Joanna wore a turquoise dress, her ash-tinted blonde hair braided into a single long braid down her back. She entered with a bright smile.

Her deep amber eyes sparkled brilliantly.

Unlike Joanna, Lucius, who stood beside her, seemed somewhat stiff, but no one paid any attention to that fact.

“Oh my! Princess Joanna! You look absolutely beautiful today!”

“You’re already this beautiful at your engagement banquet. How radiant will you be at your wedding?”

“Congratulations on your engagement, Princess!”

The young unmarried ladies who followed Joanna eagerly showered her with praise.

“Having such a beautiful and wise princess is truly a great blessing for the Haiyen Empire.”

“Oh, no. Princess Erenia is much more beautiful than I am.”

“…Your Highness is far too kind.”

“It’s true. By the way, has Sister not arrived yet?”

At Joanna’s innocent question, the young ladies exchanged awkward looks.

“That’s what I mean. It’s her only sister’s engagement banquet, yet she hasn’t even shown herself by the time the guest of honor has arrived…”

“Perhaps she’s jealous because Princess Joanna has already found such a wonderful husband and that’s why she decided not to come?”

“Well, I suppose it would be enough to make anyone jealous.”

Sharp remarks about Erenia passed between the fluttering fans of the young ladies.

“Oh, come now. Even if Sister is a little late, I’m sure she’ll find a good husband someday.”

While pretending to defend Erenia, Joanna had subtly pointed out the fact that Erenia still had no suitors.

“…Hmm. Do you think so?”

“Hehehe. Who knows?”

No one readily agreed, and the atmosphere began to turn somewhat awkward.

Then—

“Princess Erenia de Haiyen is entering!”

The doors to the banquet hall opened at the servant’s announcement.

“Oh my. She appeared right after we were talking about her, as though she had been listening in.”

The moment the lady who particularly disliked Erenia finished speaking, everyone turned their attention toward the banquet hall doors.

What pathetic appearance will she show up in this time?

The faces of those who had been eagerly preparing to scrutinize Erenia from head to toe instantly changed to ones of bewilderment.

“…That’s…”

“E-Erenia… Princess?”

“That’s impossible.”

The Erenia who appeared beyond the doors of the Grand Banquet Hall was more beautiful than she had ever been.

No.

The word beautiful was not enough to describe her.

There was an unmistakable air of nobility about her.

She had straightened the shoulders that had always been hunched from constantly worrying about others’ opinions and held her head high.

Unlike her usual self, Erenia walked calmly into the hall, receiving the attention of every noble without appearing affected by anyone’s gaze.

Rustle. Rustle.

With every step she took, the silk dress brushed gracefully against her body, shimmering with a subtle pink hue depending on the angle.

The delicate color made her fair skin stand out even more.

The design, with silk flowing elegantly along the contours of her body, was somewhat unfamiliar, but its uniqueness only drew more attention.

Above all—

Her radiant platinum-blonde hair was loosely swept up, while her turquoise eyes were like clear lakes reflecting the light.

Together, they proved that she had inherited the purest bloodline of the Haiyen Imperial Family.

She was the only member of the Imperial Family to have inherited the appearance of the First Emperor in its entirety—a visage even the current Emperor did not possess.

That was Erenia.

For this moment, no one in the banquet hall remembered that Erenia was the daughter of the disgraced Empress who had allegedly plotted treason.

They saw only the legitimate heir of the Imperial Family that had ruled this Empire for generations.

As everyone in the banquet hall was overwhelmed by Erenia as she walked toward the center, Joanna could not hide the displeasure that filled her face.

“Was the First Princess always so… elegant and beautiful?”

“And I’ve never seen a dress like that before. The curves that form whenever the hem moves are so beautiful… What shop designed it?”

The admiring comments from the young ladies who had been praising Joanna only moments ago grated on her nerves.

What is this?! Why is that pathetic girl acting like this today?! Today was supposed to be my day!

Joanna was supposed to be the victor tonight.

After all, today was the day she had taken Lucius—the secret lover Erenia had shamelessly kept hidden for so many years.

Erenia had always obediently accepted the ugly dresses Joanna chose for her.

Of all days, why did she have to appear today wearing clothes and a hairstyle that actually suited her?

For a moment, Joanna was consumed by rage.

Then she suddenly became alarmed and glanced at Lucius to see his reaction.

Just as she feared.

Lucius was staring at Erenia with a dazed expression.

Joanna’s intense humiliation surged.

She tightened her grip around the arm she had linked with Lucius.

“…Hmm.”

Only then did Lucius hurriedly compose his expression.

But Joanna was already furious and could not calm herself.

Whether Erenia knew what Joanna was thinking or not, she stopped in front of Joanna and Lucius.

“Oh my, Sister… I was worried something had happened because you were taking so long to arrive. I’m glad you were merely late because you were dressing up so beautifully.”

Joanna pretended to admire her while subtly belittling Erenia.

“And you’ve even chosen such a completely different style from usual. What happened?”

You want to mock me in front of the nobles for making such a spectacle at your engagement banquet.

But Erenia had no intention of falling for her provocation.

“It is my duty as your sister to make an effort at the engagement celebration of my only sibling. And as a princess of the Empire, it is only natural for me to pay attention to my dress.”

Rather than backing down, Erenia spoke as though subtly teaching Joanna a lesson.

“Sir Lucius, congratulations on your engagement. You two truly make a wonderful couple.”

To make matters worse, she smiled brightly and offered them her sincere congratulations.

Joanna’s lips tightened as confusion filled her eyes at Erenia’s completely different behavior.

She had bitten her lower lip so hard that all the color had drained from it.

Now I can finally see it.

I can finally see how cunning you really were.

That was not all.

Erenia completely ignored Lucius’s gaze, which he could not seem to tear away from her.

Lucius.

Whatever your circumstances may have been, you were the one who abandoned me first.

And just like that, she completely severed the feelings she had once held for the first love who had tormented her so deeply in her previous life.

“Joanna? Are you all right? You don’t look well.”

Erenia added the question after noticing the gazes of the surrounding nobles.

Joanna and Lucius had remained silent for so long even after Erenia congratulated them that it was only natural for people to start finding it strange.

“Thank you, Sister.”

“I am honored, Your Highness, First Princess.”

Leaving the two who had answered reluctantly behind, Erenia turned her head toward the direction where the delegation from the Troka Empire was gathered.

And at that very moment—

Erenia’s turquoise eyes, holding the pale color of clear water, met Seirn’s crimson eyes, resembling blazing flames, across the banquet hall.