NTWBR 08

Chapter 08

“Her Highness the Princess.”

No words reached Irene’s ears.

Her mind was simply in turmoil. All because of the condition that Fern V had just offered her.

Ten minutes ago, in Fern V’s study.

“Irene de Istana. If you refuse so stubbornly, I shall set one condition upon you.”

“What is it, Your Majesty?”

“Bring me a justifiable reason to refuse this marriage by the end of your birthday celebration. I will decide the fate of this marriage after reviewing it.”

“Is that all?”

“It must be a legitimate reason, not just that you do not wish to marry. This marriage is a matter between nations, so breaking it off requires a valid rationale!”

As soon as Fern V finished speaking, the Duke of Wellbrun gave his consent.

Following the Duke of Wellbrun’s agreement, Marshal Marshall, though looking reluctant, also assented.

The only one who did not agree was Marquis Aberton, but judging by his expression alone, he too seemed to have accepted Fern V’s condition.

From their reactions, Irene realized she was in a position where she had to accept this condition.

If she accepted it and failed, she would surely be dismissed as nothing more than a spoiled child throwing a tantrum.

“I… accept, Your Majesty.”

“Good. Lady Failin. And Crown Prince Franz.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It seems I will be able to give an answer regarding this marriage in a week’s time. Is that acceptable?”

“…It is acceptable, Your Majesty.”

Though reluctant, Crown Prince Franz, who was also the other party to the marriage, gave his consent, and Fern V’s expression brightened considerably.

Marshal Marshall and Marquis Aberton also rose from their seats with much brighter expressions.

However, only the Duke of Wellbrun remained seated.

“Well, I suppose it’s time to leave.”

It was a dismissal.

But the Duke of Wellbrun simply smiled and flatly refused.

“Brother-in-law, may I borrow your study for a moment? I have something to say to my niece.”

“Hmph!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll return your niece shortly.”

Though the Duke of Wellbrun spoke informally to Fern V, no one could stop him.

Fern V, who was listening, nodded at the Duke’s words and promptly disappeared.

Irene watched their exchange and then sat down in the nearest empty seat.

“My dear niece. Quite bold, aren’t you?”

“Did you see it that way, Duke?”

“Come now, let’s speak as uncle and niece.”

“If you consider yourself my uncle, why haven’t you shown your face even once all this time?”

“Ahem, ahem!”

At Irene’s pointed remark, the Duke of Wellbrun let out an embarrassed cough.

Irene began to scrutinize this Duke of Wellbrun carefully.

True to his title as the continent’s youngest Sword Master, the Duke of Wellbrun was dressed as a warrior.

However, even his attire could not hide his handsome features, and Irene’s thoughts grew complicated.

‘I wonder… was my mother as beautiful as the Duke?’

Pushing her thoughts aside, Irene looked at the Duke of Wellbrun, who had said he had something to tell her.

Was he about to offer advice that would cool her troubled mind, or something else?

She was curious.

“Listen, niece. What are you going to do?”

“Pardon?”

“I sided with you because I liked your spirit, but niece, what are you going to do now?”

“Well… What do you mean, Duke?”

“Bold, but politically astute, niece.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I meant it was very good.”

“…….”

The Duke of Wellbrun’s words, which sounded like praise yet not quite, were indeed complimentary.

But Irene wondered if it truly was praise.

Irene looked at the Duke of Wellbrun once more.

“Oh my~ Is that look supposed to scare me, niece?”

“I at least know that you are not that kind of person, Duke.”

“Come now, are you going to keep calling me ‘Duke’ forever?”

“Until I figure out what your intentions are.”

“Good, good. An excellent attitude.”

“That sounds like a sarcastic remark.”

“No. It’s praise.”

“If it’s praise, I will gratefully accept it.”

Despite Irene’s sharp response, the Duke of Wellbrun continued to smile.

Irene tried to hide her growing impatience but did not take her eyes off him.

She just wished this conversation would end soon.

She felt she needed to tell Ernst about this and seek his advice.

“How did you find out about that?”

“What do you mean?”

“About Crown Prince Franz’s scandal. It couldn’t have been easy to uncover.”

“…….”

It was exactly as he said.

He was asking how she, a mere princess with no political power, had learned of something the imperial family of another nation was trying to hide, and even brought it up.

Irene could only smile bitterly.

‘So this is what it was about.’

“I heard it through rumors.”

“The Empire of Mestia would have been blocking such rumors effectively. But anyway.”

“I simply pieced together the rumors that were circulating.”

“Is that all?”

The Duke of Wellbrun’s eyes gleamed.

Irene felt that gaze with her entire body and understood.

That was the look of a beast of prey that had caught its quarry.

Still, she had no intention of revealing all her cards so easily.

“I merely pieced together rumors, Duke.”

“It’s hard to do that with just rumors, niece.”

“It is possible, just like this time.”

“Isn’t it because you knew it wasn’t just a rumor, niece?”

“So, what exactly are you trying to say, Duke? No, Uncle?”

“That face, those eyes. Very pleasing to see.”

“Stop beating around the bush. I don’t want to hear it.”

At Irene’s sharp words, the Duke of Wellbrun smiled.

Irene wondered what his intentions were, but one thing was clear.

He was testing her.

Whether she would fall for the test or not seemed to be up to her from now on.

“Alright, niece. Keep that look in your eyes, just like that.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll take your side, my niece.”

“What on earth…!”

“I said I’ll take my niece’s side. Go ahead and cause a ruckus.”

With those words, the Duke of Wellbrun left the study.

Irene too had to get up now.

Urged by the attendant that she could not be late any longer, Irene rose, feeling flustered.

‘Cause a ruckus? What on earth.’

What exactly had the Duke of Wellbrun wanted to say?

Did he mean he would truly be on her side, as he said, or was this another test?

She couldn’t understand.

“What on earth did he mean by that….”

“Your Highness?”

“Ah… Sir Ernst.”

It was Ernst’s voice that finally snapped her back to reality. Irene looked ahead.

She saw the bewildered faces of the attendants and finally grasped the situation.

“Ahem.”

“Your Highness?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing. Announce my arrival.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Her Highness Irene de Istana, the First Princess, Lady Failin, the guest of honor for today’s banquet, has arrived!”

At the attendant’s proclamation, the heavy doors swung open, revealing the ballroom.

A magnificent chandelier, nobles in equally splendid attire.

Food that looked delicious at a glance.

Even musicians ready to play at any moment.

It was all so extravagant.

Today’s party was not only a birthday celebration but also the debutante ball for Irene, a princess of the empire.

As such, the empire’s prestige was at stake.

Hence, a party as splendid as the empire’s name had been prepared.

Step by step.

Walking proudly and naturally down the path cleared by the crowd, Irene arrived at her seat.

Beside Irene sat her younger sister, the current darling of the imperial family, Princess Arturia.

“Irene unnie.”

“Yes, hello. It’s been a while.”

“Unnie, happy birthday.”

Irene brushed off Arturia’s words casually.

Even in her past life, Arturia had been showered with the imperial family’s love, a stark contrast to herself.

That was why Fern V and Empress Laila had even allowed Arturia to choose her own marriage partner.

And Arturia had married the eldest son of Marquis Aberton, the man she chose, and lived happily.

As this memory resurfaced, Irene’s mouth tasted bitter.

Both born as princesses—one became the subject of a political marriage and met an unjust end, while the other was blessed with love and happiness.

She couldn’t say she felt no envy.

But as the eldest, she had endured it.

Now, however, she no longer needed to endure.

She had refused to be a pawn in a political marriage.

As she was lost in these thoughts, a small, ornate box appeared before Irene’s eyes.

“……?”

“Unnie, it’s a birthday present.”

The box was offered to Irene by Princess Arturia.

Irene looked down at the box and then handed it to Ernst beside her.

Arturia immediately pouted, looking pitiful.

To anyone watching, it seemed quite sad.

But Irene, who sensed it was an act, put on a regretful expression.

“I’ll look at it later, Arturia. Now doesn’t seem like the right time.”

“But still! Open it now, please.”

“I don’t think now is the time. Can I open it later?”

Their eyes met.

In the past, Irene would have always avoided such a gaze, which was almost like a glare from Arturia.

But not anymore.

She stared directly into Arturia’s eyes for a long while.

“…Yes, unnie.”

Finally, a word of agreement came from Arturia.

Irene tried to recall the gift inside the box Arturia had offered, but nothing came to mind.

It must have been something so trivial she didn’t remember it.

Still, it didn’t feel good.

Whatever the gift was, she doubted it carried good intentions.

‘I think it’s time for me to strike first. Yes, whatever it is, I’ll take the lead.’

“Never mind, Arturia.”

“Why?”

The reply came back sharply.

Irene took the box she had given to Ernst and opened it immediately, careful to keep it out of sight of the onlookers.

Just as expected.

It was a rose-shaped brooch made of yellow amber.

“Thank you, Arturia. But I think it’s too much for me.”

“Wh-what do you mean, unnie?”

“Look at my attire. Don’t you think it wouldn’t suit me right now?”

“Uh, uhm……”

“I think it would suit you much better than me.”

Irene immediately took out the brooch and pinned the yellow rose brooch on Arturia’s chest, right over her heart.

Arturia’s face began to flush red.

The language of the yellow rose is jealousy, envy, and perfect achievement.

But what about a jeweled yellow rose?

Simply put, giving someone a jeweled flower as a gift meant you were preserving the meaning of the gift like a jewel, rendering it useless.

‘So even Arturia was looking down on me! Why hadn’t I realized this until now?’

Irene inwardly berated her former self while looking at Arturia.

Arturia, now sporting an amber brooch on the chest of her splendid dress, which clashed with the outfit, could only stare with wide eyes.

“It suits your flashy attire much better than my modest one.”

She quietly reached out and stroked the brooch pinned on Arturia’s chest.

Arturia’s face grew even paler.

Of course, the nobles watching Irene’s every move also had their expressions sour.

Without even a moment to notice the change in the ballroom’s atmosphere, Irene turned and sat down.

Only after sitting did she realize people were looking at her.

‘I wonder if I’ve made somewhat of an impression…?’

Irene felt a flicker of worry inside.

This was her debutante ball, and foreign envoys were present due to her marriage issue.

And she had just displayed a clash of nerves among the imperial family members in such a setting.

‘Well, so what. Everyone does this much anyway.’

Irene glanced at Fern V and Empress Laila.

Surely Fern V or Empress Laila must have tacitly approved.

Otherwise, Arturia wouldn’t have dared to give such a gift. And her guess was correct.

As expected, Empress Laila’s expression was sour.

From Empress Laila’s reaction, Irene could tell.

That Empress Laila too held no fondness for Irene.

‘To think I clung to a woman like that. How foolish I was.’

Just as she sat down and tried to collect her thoughts, Fern V stood up.

“I wish to take this time to introduce Lady Failin to everyone! Lady Failin, come forward.”

“…….”

Called out suddenly, she stepped forward in front of Fern V.

With Irene before him, Fern V began a long speech.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy about it.

Just as people were getting bored with the speech, full of rhetorical flourishes,

“I hereby commence Lady Failin’s sixteenth birthday and her debutante ball!”

“Hooray!”

“Congratulations!”

Cheers and congratulations from the nobles followed.

With the musicians beginning to play, everyone looked at Irene.

They were eager to see who the guest of honor would share the first dance with.

“Ernst……”

Just as she was about to call out to Ernst, the only person she knew in society, and ask him to dance, a familiar voice reached her ears.

“Your Highness, would you care to dance with me?”