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n“I know you are beautiful, but today you’re awesome! So beautiful. I was carried away with your beauty for a moment, Tia.”

nMy father, who smiled faintly, looking at me blushing, reached out to me.

nI took my father’s hand and climbed into the wagon to head for the palace. When I saw his silver hair like mine and his navy blue blue eyes looking at me warmly, I felt warm deep in my heart. As if he didn’t mind when I babbled like a child, held in his arms, he just kept stroking my hair with a bright smile. I felt my fatigue melt away.

nThe crown prince said he would attend the banquet later because he had to take care of some work with the emperor. So, I entered the banquet hall with my father.

nI greeted Duke Lars and Duke Verita who welcomed my father as soon as they saw him.

nThey weren’t enthusiastic about the banquet, but they were excited to see my father who usually didn’t attend these sorts of events. Besides, as they were so busy these days, they rarely saw my father. So, I could understand why they were so happy to see him. When Duke Verita asked me kindly how I was doing, I felt a little uncomfortable because I thought of Allendis unconsciously, but I greeted him with a smile.

nAfter I was with them for some time, I left after asking for their understanding. Even before I walked a few steps, I was surrounded by several young ladies. As I was filtering out the information I needed while talking with them, Lady Genoa and her followers approached me. She smiled awkwardly at me, conscious of their nervous look, and said, “Hello, Lady Monique.”

n“Ah yes, hello Lady Genoa.”

n“Well…”

n“Um? Do you have anything to say to me? ”

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nI thought she would say no, but she nodded after hesitating a bit.

n‘What does she want to say to me? Is she confronting me? Has there been a clash among the ladies of the factions overnight? No way. If there was, other ladies wary of her would leak it anyway.’

nAfter silencing the ladies around me, who were opposed to engaging her, I went with her to a corner of the banquet hall, which was not visible to others.

n“I don’t think they can see us here. So, what do you want to say to me?”

n“… What are you going to do with the princesses?”

n“What are you talking about?”

n“You have a father most trusted by the emperor, and you also have a solid base as the child of God’s prophecy. If you had strongly opposed it from the beginning, the princesses would not have come to our empire. Then, why did you tacitly agree to their coming here? Are you going to break off your engagement to the crown prince like they say on the street?”

nAs she asked me the question bluntly, I just eyed her, so she could continue to talk.

nInitially I thought she was a poor manager, given how she dealt with her followers, but it seemed that she understood the situation well enough.

n“I’m sorry to tell you this, but did you know that the princesses began to look down on you because of the recent accident? Aren’t you going to be the next empress? Nonetheless, why are you allowing them to be rude to you?”

nAs I had nothing to say, I was silent for a moment. Unless the imperial family first announced the breakoff of my engagement, it would be disloyal for me to tell them about it first. When I was pondering over how to respond, someone spoke to me in a very arrogant voice.

n“Oh, you are here, Lady Monique. I’ve been looking for you for a while because I didn’t know you are in this place.”

n“Princess Naima?”

nPrincess Naima, wearing a gorgeous see-through red dress with lots of makeup, smiled at me. I knew that after seeing me bow to Princess Moira, the princesses began to look down on me, but I was dumbfounded when Princess Naima openly ignored me. However, I held back the urge to rebuke her, deciding to put up with this kind of mockery.

n‘Yes, I have to hang in here for my goal.’

n“Well, as you are so small, it would be hard for me to find you even if you were not here.”

n“…”

n“I guess the crown prince must be very worried as you are so small. Even considering your age, you are so small. That’s why Princess Moira was put to shame in public. Anyway, I think you should eat a lot to grow more,” she said, sticking out her chest proudly and examining my body from head to toe. When she said that, I saw Lady Genoa flinching for a moment. Even if she was a princess, she was from a foreign country. Accordingly, Lady Genoa felt upset as I was ignored by this foreign princess even though she hated me.

n“What are you doing in this corner?”

n“Hi, Princess Beary, I hope you are doing well.”

n“Well, I’m not sure if I’m doing well. ”

nEven today, Princess Beary, gorgeously dressed up as usual, glanced at me up and down like Princess Naima did. Then she said, looking at me disdainfully.

n“Oh, I see the necklace and earrings he gave you the other day. It looks like he also gave you a new dress. ”

n“Yes, you’re right.”

n“Oh my god, don’t you know he gave it to you to save your face. How come you are happy about the new dress when he gave it to you as a replacement for the original dress he gave to the princess? How can you say you are his fiancee with any pride?” She said, clicking her tongue as if I was so pitiable.

n‘Did the two agree to slander me like this? How come they are acting like twins?’

nI made a fake laugh in spite of myself. Lady Genoa’s face turned white as was holding her skirt tightly. Obviously, she wanted to get angry with them, but she held it back because I was silent.

nWhat should I do with their mockery and insult? Should I rebuke them right now? Or do I have to put up with them to the end? I was agonized for a moment, but as I have put up with them up to now, I decided to stay the course. If I couldn’t stand it in a fit of anger and strengthened my position as the future empress, my years of efforts to disengage from the imperial family would come to nothing.

nAt that moment, I heard someone calling me coldly from behind, whose voice was very familiar.

n“Oh, you are here.”

n“I’m honored to see you, the Little Sun of the Empire.”

n“The emperor is looking for you. Let’s go together.”

n“Ah yes. Majesty.”

nI stiffened as he acted unusually cold, so I came out of the banquet hall with some fear.

nAs I walked a few steps along the hallway, he said with a low voice, “How vulgar they are!”

n“Pardon, Your Majesty?”

nHe stopped walking suddenly, then turned around abruptly. He was staring at me coldly with his deep blue eyes.

n“Why, why were you standing silently without retorting?”

n“Pardon?”

n“Why did you put up with their insults?”

n“… ”

n“Do you hate me so much that you don’t even want to refute these frivolous women who are making a mockery of you?”

nI looked puzzled at his angry voice. Why is he getting angry with me? He is not upset just because I was insulted. Does he think the imperial family was disgraced because I, as a future member of the imperial family, turned a blind eye to their rudeness?

n“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

n“Um?”

n“I didn’t intend to disgrace the honor of the imperial family.”

n“That’s not what I mean!” He screamed nervously, sweeping up his hair.

nI momentarily flinched and stepped back. At that moment, I saw his blue eyes trembling.

nWhen I blinked, thinking I saw it wrong, he sighed deeply, looking at me silently.

n“Let’s hurry up as the emperor is waiting.”

n“… Yes, Your Majesty. ”

nAlthough he told me to hurry up, he rather walked more slowly than before. I walked behind him along the long corridor of the Central Palace.

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n“I’m honored to see Your Majesty, the Sun of the empire.”

n“Oh, come on. Have a seat.”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

nI sat next to my father who seemed uncomfortable and checked his face.

nWhy is he showing that expression? He looked okay until I parted with him at the banquet hall.

n“Are you curious why I called you suddenly?”

n“Yes, Your Majesty.”

n“Um, you know I’m going to announce who will be the crown prince’s bride soon. Before I announce that, I wanted to hear your opinion.”

n“You mean what I think, Your Majesty? ”

n“Right. Who do you think is the best candidate as his bride?”

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