Chapter 11

The Gloriam Hall, where Princess Elena’s birthday banquet was being held, was more splendid and dazzlingly decorated than ever before.

Amid the sea of guests, one figure naturally drew every gaze—the protagonist of the day herself, Elena Del Child. Though she was Crown Prince Kairos’s half-sister, she was the Empire’s only princess, and thus always the center of public attention.

Despite sharing a different mother, Elena had always been adored by both the Crown Prince—who doted on his younger sister—and the Emperor, who cherished his only daughter. Because of them, she had long been an object of admiration and envy.

Her beauty alone was flawless, so exquisite it seemed to embody the very word “radiance.”

What captivated people most were her clear blue eyes, visible beneath delicately upturned lashes. In contrast to Kairos’s own eyes, her gaze held an uncanny depth—like looking into a tranquil lake that could swallow one whole.

Her neatly arranged silver hair, styled into an elegant updo, enhanced her refined aura. Around her stood people of all genders, all eager for even a brief exchange.

“Happy 20th birthday, Your Highness!”

“Thank you, Lady Dalson.”

“It is an honor, Your Highness.”

Even such brief exchanges were enough to leave them entranced. Those who spoke with her wore expressions of bliss, lingering nearby as though unwilling to leave her presence.

“Your Highness, you are even more beautiful today.”

“To be able to speak with you even for a moment is an honor!”

To outsiders, it almost seemed as though they were devotees worshipping a divine being. A faint madness lingered in the air around them.

Elena watched them silently for a moment before offering a gentle smile.

“Thank you all for your congratulations.”

Her smile lingered only briefly. Soon after, her sharp blue eyes flickered, scanning the hall as though searching for someone.

One of her attendants, noticing this, spoke first.

“Your Highness, did you not say that Lord Laces, the young duke, would be attending today as well?”

At that, Elena nodded once and smiled faintly—like a young girl in love. A light blush colored her cheeks as her gaze drifted over the crowd.

“However, the young duke is quite busy with his duties. I should not expect too much.”

“But it is Your Highness’s birthday banquet. Surely he will attend!”

“Indeed! He is the one most suited to stand beside Princess Elena.”

Elena lightly circled her finger in the air, as if to calm them.

“Such words might place unnecessary pressure on the young duke. Please be careful.”

“How kind you are. Is there truly anyone more gentle than Her Highness?”

But before anyone else could continue, Lady Meryl of House Dalson spoke up first.

Still toying with the hand she had shaken with Elena, her gaze—once clear—had grown hazy, like fog creeping into glass.

“For a mere baron’s daughter, Lord Laces is far too high a match.”

The moment she spoke, the surrounding young ladies chimed in one after another, glancing at Elena for approval.

“Ah, yes. That shameless girl who’s clung to that position for ten years?”

“She must know she’s unworthy, which is why she never appears at official events with him.”

“She wasn’t even invited to the princess’s birthday banquet, after all.”

Before long, their conversation naturally shifted toward Isabella—the absent fiancée.

As if gossip had been their intention from the beginning, the negative sentiment toward her spread effortlessly through the crowd.

“Isn’t it obvious they’ll break off the engagement anyway?”

“Of course. The ducal house must have already deemed her unworthy.”

Soon, even the recent scandalous rumor of their broken engagement was brought up.

Elena frowned slightly and rose to her feet. Instantly, the voices that had been chattering ceased, all attention turning toward her.

Her cold gaze settled on Meryl, the one who had started the discussion.

“It is unsightly to speak ill of someone who is not present.”

Her voice was like frozen ice.

Meryl looked momentarily flustered.

How dare she ruin the princess’s birthday with such behavior.

Those who had just been agreeing with her now turned on her as well, glaring in disapproval.

Feeling suffocated by the sudden pressure, Meryl swallowed hard and quickly bowed.

“Princess Elena, please forgive my mistake.”

She berated herself for speaking so lightly, as though possessed, and begged for forgiveness.

But Elena had already lost interest in her.

“You may leave now, Lady Dalson.”

“Your Highness, please—just once—!”

At the dismissal, Meryl’s face turned ghostly pale. And just like that, the surrounding nobles lost all interest in her, as though she had vanished.

“Please excuse me, everyone.”

There was someone she had been waiting to meet.

Leaving behind the disappointed guests, Elena stepped out of the Gloriam Hall.

Night had already fallen, yet the palace and banquet grounds were illuminated as brightly as daylight.

Her blue eyes swept across the grounds and settled toward the distant annex. A figure was walking out from the path leading to the main palace.

“Ikaneul!”

Her voice was bright with joy, but his expression remained cold and unmoving.

He turned and bowed respectfully.

“I greet Your Highness, Princess Elena.”

Elena stepped lightly toward him, her cheeks faintly flushed.

“Shall we return to the banquet hall together? I’m sure it will be fun.”

“I am afraid I have prior duties. I cannot accompany you, Your Highness.”

The refusal came without hesitation.

She pouted slightly but refused to back down.

Even though she had confessed her feelings to him many times before, he had always rejected her on the grounds that he already had a fiancée. But now that obstacle no longer stood in her way.

“Still… just for today, please do as I ask. It’s my birthday, after all.”

Elena grasped his wrist, trying to pull him along.

But Ikaneul immediately removed her hand from his arm.

There was no hesitation in his gaze. No lingering warmth. Only clear displeasure.

“As I have stated before, I have a fiancée I have been with for a long time.”

His words about the engagement again irritated her.

Elena forced a smile, regaining her composure.

“But you’re going to break it off soon anyway.”

“That is nothing more than rumor. I will not be breaking off my engagement with Lady Ledia.”

“That’s a lie—”

“Now, now. Why is the star of the banquet out here?”

A familiar voice cut between them.

Both Elena and Ikaneul turned.

Not far away stood Kairos, observing the scene with a faintly amused smile.

Elena’s expression instantly blossomed like a flower in full bloom.

She stepped forward gracefully, curtsied, and then naturally linked her arm through Kairos’s.

“Brother! Why are you so late?”

“Happy birthday, Elena.”

“Fufu. Thank you.”

He gently patted her head before shifting his gaze to Ikaneul.

A subtle tension passed between the two men.

“Elena, you should return to the banquet. The guests are waiting.”

“But I was still talking with Ikaneul—”

“The young duke is a busy man. Don’t be stubborn.”

At Kairos’s firm tone, Elena reluctantly gave in.

She knew better than to insist when he had already made up his mind.

“Yes, Brother.”

With a faint, obedient smile, she bid farewell and left.

Silence settled between the two men as her figure disappeared.

Neither spoke for a long moment.

Finally, Ikaneul broke it.

“Is your friend still within the palace?”

“Why are you so concerned about my friend?”

Kairos’s tone made Ikaneul’s jaw tighten.

Then, with deliberate calm, Ikaneul spoke.

“There will be no more baseless rumors about a broken engagement.”

Kairos smiled faintly.

“Is that so?”

Unlike Ikaneul, who seemed tense, Kairos remained completely composed.

He gave a small, dismissive nod—like a farewell.

“Still… you never know what might happen in the future.”