An elegant smile and an aloof stride.


    I walked deeper into the hall, and though no one had given any order, the crowd of guests parted to make a path for me.


    As my purple eyes shed everywhere from behind the ck veil I was wearing, exmations rose up from the guests. Contrasted against the many white and light-colored dresses, my ck satin dress,cking any sort of decorations, drew eyes to it like a dot in the middle of a piece of paper.


    CaMother, why are you here!


    What do you mean, why are you here. I couldnt stop worrying and had toe.


    Rx your expression a little. Is this a ce I dont have ess to?


    I narrowed my eyes at Lania whod immediately blocked my way.


    Lanias eyes shook slightly, unable to withstand the re through my narrowed eyes and barely managed to recover, crinkling her ring eyes into a smiling expression.


    I was a little surprised. I had thought I was helping you by hosting the celebration instead, since Mother has said in the past that you found it ufortable and tiring to take on this role


    Until when can I keep burdening my daughter with such heavy obligations.


    But will you be okay, after all, this position is by the Emperors side.


    Its not okay, just get the fuck out of my way already.


    To say such words with such elegance and grace, she was very talented.


    But I wouldnt back down easily, since Ide here with a purpose.


    At this time, around thirty beavers were lying on the grass holding their front teeth.


    Theres no need to worry about me. Im more worried about my eldest daughter.


    What would make Mother worry about me-


    Since youre unnecessarily standing in my stead as hostess.


    ..


    *Grind*


    Each time I gave her another answer, I could see Lania putting a little more pressure on her teeth.


    I didnt miss a single beat and gave friendly greetings to the approaching noblewomen.


    My, it looks like youvee to help my eldest daughter.


    El-eldest daughter, then are you really


    It looks like you dont know who I am. You all spoke very well about my illness and seemed to know much about me, so I assumed that you knew me very well.


    AhHaha. We only spoke of you out of worry


    If you are worried, feel free to visit me, and I will wee you at anytime with open arms.


    I wont bite. As long as you guys can keep a muzzle on me.


    The noblewomen simultaneously gulped as I took a good look at them one by one.


    Lania looked like she wanted to skin me alive, but she knew exactly who was here.


    I lightly ignored Lanias frozen form and bowed deeply to the star of todays show.


    I give my humble greetings to His Excellency, the one blessed by the Supreme Lord Therez. I am Duchess Evendell, surnamed Catherine.


    I bent my knees in greeting the way Lady Mellow taught me.


    The pressure shooting out from his eyes alone tickled my forehead.


    Rise.


    I am honored.


    So this is the famous tyrant.


    It felt like time slowed down as I waited for his permission to lift my head.


    For a cold-blooded viin, his voice had a pleasant pitch and was quite dignified.


    Like one Id heard somewhere before


    Ah


    Nah, Im just imagining things.


    The moment I looked up and met his eyes, my head was dazed by the unrealistic beauty of the emperor.


    Whats wrong? Do you have something you want to say to me?


    N-no, Your Majesty.


    Can a viin be this good looking?


    I had nothing to say except that God must have put superfluous effort into this guy.


    I didnt want to act like a country bumpkin whod drool at the sight of a mans face, but I was someone who wasnt even qualified to be a country bumpkin as one whod turn into a swan every now and then.


    Wow, this is.


    After Id transmigrated, the men Id always seen consisted of aged workers at the Dukes Household, so I couldnt help butpare them to what I was seeing now.


    Of course, Id seen other men when I went out to town that time a few days ago, but it was difficult to think of the man in front of me as the same kind of human being as the rest of us.


    Hm.


    Anyway, the glint from his eyes had a lot of pressureing from them.


    My heart btedly pounded as the emperors red eyes stared at me. The pressure in his haughty blood red eyes rxed a bit as if he became interested in something.


    So youre seeing Jihm for the first time?


    Of course. When else could I have seen you before.


    How interesting. You seemed to look at me as if you knew me.


    Thats entirely impossible, Your Majesty.


    Unable to hide my confusion, I tried to broaden my smile.


    I wasnt stupid, and it was a sin to not remember someone with this much beauty.


    But how can I bring Haniel up in a natural way while in conversation with him.


    It would have been difficult to forget my purpose foring here. They hadnt publicly announced the princesss disappearance yet, so I couldnt even bring up anything about Haniel.


    I needed to be on the lookout for an opportunity for us to be alone together.


    I checked to see if there was a window of time I could use to do this, looking at him sideways time to time, but failed.


    ..


    It wasnt just because he was the emperor, but also the presence he had was good enough to be the main character wherever he went. Even as time passed, it was hard to withstand the countless gazes heading towards the person next to me.


    I guess I cant do it right now.


    While I was taking a step back for the moment, his low voice echoed throughout the hall.


    What are you all doing? Have you alle to this ce just to spectate Jihm.


    But we can only begin if Your Majesty begins the dance.


    Dance?


    Hah.


    His face turned cold as if he was listening to a bunch of nonsense. The handsome guy next to this handsome guy no, I surmised him to be an imperial prince stepped back with resignation on his face. The emperor shook his head inplete annoyance.


    Do what you normally do. Whether you dance or wield your swords around, I wont care about any of it, so just


    Immediately get your eyes off me.


    No one could reject the emperors short, unspokenmand, which seemed to work like a charm.


    *Fwip,* people turned their heads away at once in natural motions and smoothly segwayed into dancing.


    It was still unnatural for so many people to now not look only at this ce, but at least the gazes were now gone.


    Really a tyrant.


    Despite feeling disconcerted, I also felt admiration rise.


    I thought Lania and Reba were the typical boring viiness characters, but this tyrant seemed a little different from the others.


    I couldnt understand why he wasnt able to be the main character of the novel with that appearance, but I could roughly guess how hede to earn an infamous reputation.


    Its that terrible temper.


    So its obvious why his younger sibling ran away.


    As I remembered the frightened, shivering Haniel, I continued to keep my guard up against this man.


    Fortunate or not, I wasnt the only one who showed interest in him.


    Your Majesty, the crowded hall must seem a bit stifling.


    Lady.


    I deeply apologize that I was not able to properly serve you when you have graced us with your presence. Would you like to go outside for a moment to avoid the eyes of other people?


    Always looking for an opportunity, Lania naturally slid in next to him.


    She spoke eloquently, as if shed prepared her words in advance for such situations.


    Though its rather conceited for me to say, thete Empress admired the scenery and walkways around this area. I also believe the newly-constructed gymnasium and stables are worth looking at. We also acquired a new white stallion from the Levante Pce, if Your Majesty likes the sound of it, we can escort you to the stables for you to ride the horsewould you like to go together?


    With who?


    Ah


    Lanias smile faltered at the emperors inquiring yet indifferent set of eyes.


    Of course, as the eldest daughter of the Evendell family, I will escort you


    I believe the head of this household is your stepmother.


    .


    Oh my, to think that I would receive the support of the tyrant in my lifetime.


    *Taptap.*


    I slowly started to smooth out my dress, my movements rxed.


    Knowing my eldest daughter, I could guess that my turn wasing up.


    Three, two, one.


    That may be so, but my mother still has not greeted the guests. Isnt that right, Mother?


    What was that?


    See, whatd I tell you.


    Smoothing out the creases in my dress, I looked at her with a bright, innocent face.


    Though Id purposefully drawn the emperors gaze towards me, I lifted a hand to my mouth with a confused expression.


    Ah, are you asking me, Duchess Evendell, if I wanted to be the escort?


    As I thought, that would be tiring for you, no? Youve been confining yourself and have hardly been outside. You wouldnt know the ces I had just mentioned-


    Youre absolutely correct. How could I possibly know a ce like the gymnasium or the stables.


    See that, Your Excellency! Mother-


    I know only about the Padium Lake.


    .


    Lanias brightly smiling face cracked.


    Before she could open her mouth again, I quickly lowered my head in a shy manner.


    Its merely the only ce in Rohan that is home to the big-beaked birds, white swans from Ingka, tortoises the size of that chandelier, and the legendary lenox with its seven-colored fur.


    .


    And one of your siblings lives there, too.


    As I looked at the emperor through my veil, his face morphed into a funny expression.


    He seemed to be holding back hisughter, but before I could take a proper look, he resumed that polite expression of his.


    Hm, that doesnt sound too bad.


    Thete empress expressed how much she liked theke as well.


    The noble eyes that neared me with his approaching step traveled down from my face.


    Just where are you looking.


    His red-eyed gaze descended until they became fixed on my shoulders, and my head followed his gaze.


    But before I could ask what he was looking at, he suddenly lifted his hand toward me.


    Oh, oh my,


    Save me!


    I then opened the eyes that Id tightly closed.


    Seriously, I thought that I was already being cut down!