THSMW 57

Chapter 57

The next afternoon, I sat at my dressing table wearing a cream-colored dress layered with lace. The waiting maids approached and gently applied powder to my face.

My naturally pale skin looked even paler, so the light pink blush brightened my complexion as if it had been waiting for the perfect moment.

Several hours passed as I continued putting on makeup and styling my hair.

Finally, when I stood up, I was the picture of perfection. Over the translucent thin silk gloves I had bought yesterday, I wore a pink diamond ring. On the other hand, I adorned a finger with a pinkish pearl.

Hmm. Come to think of it, the necklace, hair accessories, earrings, even the silk stockings and shoes—all were practically gifts from Siegfried. I was completely hooked.

“Ariel, we’re going to be late. Let’s head out,”

Avysion called as he found me smoothing my outfit in front of the mirror. He was my older brother, and truly handsome. And Miliad—

“What?”

Miliad said nothing else.

“Nothing. Why is your jacket cream-colored? Did you match with me?”

“Ugh, no! Wait a minute, please. I’ll change into something else.”

“Hurry up.”

Miliad didn’t seem interested in explaining. He just seemed annoyed. Anyway, I accepted Avysion’s escort and got into the carriage first.

“You look happy,” Avysion said with a smile. I smiled back at him. It was my first time attending a party at the empire, so there was no reason to feel bad. But why was Miliad so late coming?

“Sorry, sorry. Let’s go.”

I tapped on the carriage window and stared intently at the entrance. Soon, Miliad came running out. Once he boarded, we set off toward the royal palace.

Before I knew it, the sun had set, and the sky was painted with sunset hues. The party was to start at dusk, and I was looking forward to it immensely.

I wanted to see the charming Siegfried quickly. He must have grown a lot since the last time I saw him.

Maybe now it was more fitting to say he was handsome rather than pretty. I vaguely recalled him telling me once to call him handsome instead.

Since we were finally reuniting after five years, I planned to compliment him on how handsome he was until he got tired of it. It would be fun to see him blush and get embarrassed again.

After some time, the carriage arrived at a hall in the palace reserved for the party. Holding Avysion’s hand, I stepped down and took a deep breath, thinking, “So this is the air of the royal palace.”

“Ugh, seriously…”

Miliad was slowly trying to sidestep away from me. I grabbed his arm and linked mine through his.

Walking in with two handsome men on either side, the gazes of the nobles inside the hall landed on me like physical touches.

I marveled anew at how much effort everyone had put into dressing gorgeously. Everyone glittered.

By the way, Avysion had told me in the carriage that today, Aisa had officially announced she would become the crown princess.

According to the novel, Aisa should have approached me while Siegfried was at war.

But either she obeyed the warning not to touch me or Siegfried’s cautiousness from our public romantic rumors made her keep quiet—whatever the reason, she had stayed silent for five years.

Now, however, it seemed Aisa was finally desperate. The party’s main figure was Siegfried, but Aisa was trying to divert attention by pretending to be seeking the crown princess title.

“Hello, Count Avysion.”

A noblewoman standing nearby straightened her waist and spoke with a slight nod.

Miliad and I didn’t recognize her, so we just stared blankly at Avysion.

“Sorry for the late introduction. This is my sister Ariel and my brother Miliad.”

“Oh my, I recognized you the moment you came in. You’re as beautiful as the rumors say.”

The lady greeted Miliad and me in turn, then resumed talking to Avysion.

Hmm. The woman clearly had a daughter about Avysion’s age. Avysion was nearly thirty, so it was about time to think about marriage. I decided to give them some space for his future and moved aside with Miliad.

“Sis, can I drink wine?”

“No.”

“Hey, Ariel, you used to sneak wine from brother’s room when you were underage.”

“Go ahead, drink all you want. Just keep it secret from Avysion.”

I laughed irritably and playfully hit Miliad’s shoulder. Miliad complained a bit, but then a passing servant brought us two wine glasses.

Now that I think about it, didn’t he and Siegfried secretly sneak wine to drink together when Siegfried stayed at our mansion? Because of that, I had a hard time dealing with Siegfried’s ribbons.

Back then, I had tried hard to cut off Siegfried’s feelings for me, but in the end, it didn’t really work out.

“Let’s toast.”

Miliad clinked his glass against mine. Just as I was about to savor the sweet scent of wine and take a sip—

“I recognized you from when you came in. You’re the daughter of the Elifritz Count family, right?”

A man dressed impeccably in the latest fashion, obviously a noble of the empire, approached me. I smiled and answered.

“Yes, that’s right. This is my younger brother Miliad.”

“The three siblings look so alike. All of you are beauties.”

“Ah… yes…”

I felt good being told I resembled Avysion, but including Miliad in that comparison was a bit awkward.

I responded somewhat unenthusiastically, so Miliad poked my side. He hated being told he looked like me just as much. I laughed, pinching the back of his hand.

“To think you had to go to war leaving such a lovely lady behind, I can somewhat understand the prince’s feelings.”

The man acted exaggeratedly as if performing on stage. That’s when I realized his intention.

“But five years have passed, and during that time His Highness hasn’t returned even once…”

So what? What of it? I muttered inwardly.

Although Siegfried was busy, he had continuously sent me letters. Almost no one else knew about that.

This man was subtly trying to feel me out, hoping to catch me off guard.

In fact, while Siegfried was away, several men had approached me like this. The promise to wait for him was a private one between Siegfried and me.

Since receiving the vineyard, the number of suitors had definitely decreased. For some time, there was none at all. But they hadn’t completely disappeared.

Apparently, this man thought it would be good to try once before Siegfried and I reunited.

As he glanced at my expression and tried to speak again—

Suddenly, there was a commotion near the hall entrance as nobles rushed in a group. Then a fanfare echoed through the wide hall.

“His Highness, Crown Prince Aisa Xeser von Felicita!”

I craned my neck to watch Aisa walk inside on the red carpet.

Wow. He was truly handsome. A man so beautiful he could easily disperse all other men around him like seafood friends.

So that was the villain who was supposed to be my fiancé?

Seeing him in person was quite a revelation. For some reason, my middle finger itched. My precious vineyard… I was a grudging person.

Aisa had long black hair like Siegfried, tied high in a ponytail. His pale skin and sharp eyes contrasted with the thin lips curled into a crooked smile. He looked somewhat displeased.

…Which wasn’t strange at all.

Soon, I lost interest in Aisa. I decided not to exchange even a word with him. Evil.

But I was probably the only one thinking that way. Young ladies of marriageable age quickly surrounded him. There were rumors that Siegfried was threatening Aisa’s position, but Aisa was still the crown prince.

The ticking clock struck the exact hour.

“His Highness, Prince Siegfried Lashion Yan Felicita!”

Wow, what a booming voice! I almost spilled my wine. How could a person’s voice be louder than a fanfare?

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one surprised; Miliad started coughing, claiming the finger food he was eating had gotten stuck.

I patted his back hard while turning my gaze back to the entrance. Finally…! My heart pounded as if it had lost control.

But no matter how long I waited, Siegfried did not appear.