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Chapter 17
How long had they been running?
By the time the carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace, the two of them got out.
As she had expected, no mishap of falling down occurred the moment she stepped out of the carriage thanks to Basilio.
Lucy carefully made sure not to let her eyes wander to the surrounding scenery.
She was a bit astonished by the magnificent palace she was seeing for the first time, but she couldn’t show it.
No matter how much she lived away from the main palace in a detached residence, she was still a member of the imperial family.
Looking around the palace in awe would only make her a target for gossip.
“Sir Basilio, would you escort me?”
Lucy extended her arm toward him.
Basilio stared blankly at her for a moment, as if he didn’t understand, then slowly extended his own arm.
Lucy lightly placed her hand on his forearm, and together they arrived at the palace gate.
The gatekeeper surprisingly recognized Lucy and greeted her.
But as she was about to enter, he blocked her path.
“Who is your companion?”
The gatekeeper asked Basilio.
“I am Basilio Faraday of the Duke Faraday family.”
“I’m sorry, but your name is not on the invitation list.”
The Faraday ducal family was well known to anyone, yet the gatekeeper remained strict.
He asked Basilio to show proof of identity, but Basilio had nothing with him.
Seeing that she might not even make it into the palace and thus fail the quest, Lucy stepped in.
“My guest.”
Lucy grabbed Basilio’s arm with both hands and moved closer to him.
“Any problem?”
She shot the gatekeeper a firm glare, and he could no longer stop them.
As Basilio followed Lucy inside, he looked at her quietly.
So she’s completely different outside.
Her tone and atmosphere were entirely different.
No—that wasn’t all.
Basilio finally realized that her kindness was not something she offered to just anyone.
I only have Sir Basilio, after all.
He recalled what she had once said.
Had there ever been someone who wanted him this desperately?
It was the first time.
The first time someone treated him as though he was someone necessary to the world.
Basilio shook his head and snapped out of his thoughts.
Lucy led him toward the banquet hall.
Wow.
Lucy, who had promised herself not to show her surprise, could not hide her admiration upon entering.
Sunlight streamed through arched windows, illuminating the marble floor brilliantly.
Rows of pillars were intricately carved, and the high ceiling was adorned with a grand mural.
The gold-decorated candle holders were as tall as a person.
There’s an enormous difference compared to my detached residence.
She suddenly realized how shabby her living quarters were.
“Sir Basilio.”
Lucy released his arm and looked at him.
“I need to go meet His Majesty now.”
She leaned slightly toward him and lowered her voice.
“You remember what I said, right? Please do as I asked. And let’s meet again when the time is right.”
“Understood.”
Basilio nodded.
Lucy took a resolute step back from him.
From here on, I’ll have to proceed without Basilio’s help.
As she distanced herself, her body gradually felt heavier.
She hadn’t even taken a few steps before she felt out of breath.
She steadied her breathing so she wouldn’t look disgraceful before the Emperor.
Just then—
A sweet floral scent swept past her.
“Lucy.”
She turned her head.
Elisha was standing beside her.
Lucy’s lips parted slightly as she looked at her.
She really dressed up for this.
She looked like a woman attending her ex-boyfriend’s wedding.
That was how striking Elisha looked today.
Standing next to her, Lucy in her plain dress seemed almost invisible.
“Let’s go see Father together.”
Elisha smiled gently.
Matching Elisha’s fake smile, Lucy also smiled.
The two of them looked like sisters with a very close relationship as they walked side by side.
They headed toward the Emperor.
The Emperor sat on the throne atop a raised platform.
Elisha curtsied slightly, holding up her dress.
Lucy quickly followed her example.
“We greet Your Majesty.”
“Be at ease.”
The Emperor gestured for them to relax.
The two sat in chairs to the left of the Emperor.
Of course, Elisha sat closer to him.
The Emperor turned his gaze to Lucy.
“How is your health?”
Though it sounded like concern, his tone was cold.
As if he were asking out of obligation.
Lucy simply nodded.
She worried what would happen if he asked further questions.
But contrary to her concern, the Emperor showed no real interest in her.
He immediately turned to Elisha instead.
“Elisha, I hear you’ve been focusing on painting lately?”
Lucy barely suppressed a look of disbelief.
The Emperor’s favoritism was blatant.
He called Elisha by name affectionately and knew all about her recent activities.
Lucy had to sit there like a background decoration while the two conversed.
No wonder Lucy’s personality became timid.
When she had played the game, she used to criticize timid, indecisive Lucy.
But now that she was experiencing this cold treatment herself, it made sense she would become that way.
Whatever pleased him so much, the Emperor laughed warmly at everything Elisha said.
After a long conversation, he finally looked away from Elisha.
With a faint smile, he spoke to a servant.
“Begin the imperial banquet.”
Ding!
[Imperial Banquet Quest Started!]
[Show your talent at the imperial banquet and catch the Emperor’s attention!
Good luck!]
Lucy looked at the system window and then shifted her gaze.
Musicians began to play.
Guests at the banquet started eating the prepared feast.
The performances of Elisha and Lucy would come at the end, as the finale.
Naturally, the most skilled performer should go last—but Elisha had generously “yielded” that position to Lucy.
It was to show off her own brilliance first, then highlight Lucy’s lack of talent and make her look even more foolish.
Lucy lifted her champagne glass and took a sip.
The Emperor’s attention was still on Elisha, and she was no more than a piece of background scenery.
So she decided to just look around the banquet hall.
“Hm?”
Then she noticed something strange.
Among the many people present, only three emitted a faint golden glow.
One of them was Cecil.
Lucy smiled brightly when their eyes met.
Cecil returned a polite bow a beat later and looked away.
Her gaze moved to the other two.
Just then—
Ding!
[Name: ?? Age: ??
Traits: ?? Affection: ??]
The same window appeared above both of them.
Lucy finally realized that the glowing figures were the male leads of the game.
She looked at the man on the far left.
Tall, well-built.
Red hair and golden eyes like a beast.
That must be Logan.
The knight commander—cold and stoic, but the type who was warm only to “his woman.”
He was the kind who struggled to maintain more than a few words in conversation.
Lucy’s gaze shifted to the next man.
Golden hair, red eyes.
Delicate features and a faint smile gave him a softer atmosphere than Logan.
Patrick Helio.
The eldest son of House Helio and another male lead.
Feeling her gaze, Patrick turned toward her.
Startled, Lucy quickly looked away.
She lifted her champagne again to hide her expression.
After all, Patrick was the character she disliked the most when playing the game.
Unlike his appearance, he was completely insane.
Lucy shuddered.
No matter that she had to achieve the endings by targeting the male leads—she absolutely did not want to get involved with Patrick.
