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Chapter : 44
“Wow… Even though it’s a face I see all the time, it’s really a remarkable one.”
Luciano, dressed in sky-blue attire with an earring cuff, looked incredibly handsome. He was exactly the kind of male lead a writer would fall for.
That face, seemingly reflecting everyone’s ideal taste, never failed to make one admire it every time it appeared.
“Shall we go, Luciano?”
When we arrived at the palace gates, dozens of carriages were lined up in a row.
“So it’s true that there are far more nobles attending this banquet than last year.”
“Why so many more?”
“The princess of the Etoa Kingdom came to the empire. Naturally, the nobles have come to see her.”
Luciano spoke as if it were obvious, then stepped down from the carriage.
“Shall we hurry, my lady? If we dawdle, we might end up arriving later than the royal family themselves.”
Luciano and I quickly made our way into the banquet hall.
“His Highness the Grand Duke and Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”
Since it had been a long time since I had been possessed, even the lavish banquet hall now felt extremely familiar to me.
“Her Majesty the Empress.”
Perishan, wearing a red dress with her hair elegantly piled high, looked stunning.
“Your Majesty.”
“Everyone, please raise your heads.”
Perishan walked past them and took her seat.
“Her Highness Princess Rebecca of Etoa.”
Rebecca, in a light green dress with her yellow hair tied neatly, looked utterly charming.
“So… she’s the princess of the Etoa Kingdom.”
The nobles who had never seen Rebecca whispered in astonishment as they looked at her.
“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”
“May I pay my respects to the sun and moon of the empire, His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”
When Lissiansus and Khalid arrived, both dressed in perfectly matching golden outfits, the banquet finally began.
“This banquet is personally prepared by the Empress to celebrate the spring festival marking the birth of life. I hope everyone enjoys it fully.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As expected, the highest-ranking attendees—Khalid and Lissiansus—danced first. Then came Khalid with Perishan, and the third pair was Luciano and me.
“As always, your dancing is flawless, my lady.”
“I’ve been learning since I was a child. Naturally, it would be perfect, wouldn’t it?”
I answered his comment with a playful smile.
When the dance ended, Perishan immediately spoke.
“It’s the first royal banquet the princess attends in the empire, so it wouldn’t do to skip dancing entirely. His Majesty has already danced twice; why doesn’t the Grand Duke dance once with the princess?”
Finally, I remembered what Perishan had said at the morning tea party.
‘Ah… So since it’s hard to attack the Empress, she’s attacking me instead?’
I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
After all, I knew that Luciano and I would divorce, and that fate would naturally bring him and Rebecca together, so Perishan’s actions were simply laughable.
“Her Highness the Empress is correct.”
Dotae and the marquis laughed lightly, siding with Perishan.
Khalid seemed about to say something, but Luciano shook his head at him.
If Luciano refused here, Rebecca’s honor would be in question.
No matter that she was from the Etoa Kingdom—she was still a princess.
Luciano let out a heavy sigh and then sought my understanding.
“My lady… I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, Luciano. This situation was created by Her Highness the Empress; there’s nothing you could have done. I am fine with it.”
Luciano apologized again before making his way toward Rebecca.
“Your Highness. May I have the honor of dancing with you?”
Rebecca glanced at me, realized there was no way around it, and took his hand.
“The honor is mine, Grand Duke.”
As Rebecca and Luciano danced, the noblewomen glanced at us—at me, Rebecca, and Luciano.
“Estellein…”
Lissiansus looked at me with pity, clutching the edge of his dress tightly.
“Empress.”
“You couldn’t even stop such a childish prank from the Empress?”
Suppressing his anger, Lissiansus whispered to Khalid.
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“You humiliated me with such a minor thing, and now you are humiliating my brother as well. I resent the Emperor, I resent the Grand Duke, and I utterly despise that princess.”
Unable to hold back, Lissiansus rose from his seat and approached me.
“Are you alright, Estellein?”
“Your Majesty…”
“The Empress has certainly played a ridiculous trick this time. That the Emperor and Grand Duke could not prevent it… And that princess is treated with such respect for what?”
“I am fine, Your Majesty.”
Lissiansus held my hand tightly. In truth, I really was fine.
Holding Rebecca’s hand as we danced made my heart race again.
Just as Cardinal Chris had said, it felt hotter than before.
“Your Highness…”
“Yes?”
“Nothing, Your Highness.”
“You seem very close with the Grand Duchess.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Rebecca glanced at Luciano briefly, but he never returned her gaze. He only danced and occasionally looked at me.
“Thank you for the honor of dancing with me, Your Highness.”
“The honor is mine as well, Grand Duke.”
After the dance, Luciano immediately went to where Lissiansus and I were standing.
“Your Majesty, my lady.”
“Is the dance over, Grand Duke?”
Lissiansus glared at Luciano.
Seeing that hostility, I had to watch both Lissiansus and Luciano carefully.
“I believe, Your Majesty, you are well aware that it was the Empress’s prank.”
Confirming Perishan was far away, Luciano spoke to Lissiansus.
“It’s a problem because she played a prank, isn’t it? Or do you disagree, Grand Duke?”
“You needn’t concern yourself, Your Majesty. So there is nothing to worry about.”
Lissiansus glared at Luciano one last time, then released my hand and returned to his seat.
“I need to step away for a moment. Luciano, you have your own business as well.”
I approached Erion, who was enjoying the banquet with Lily Stura.
Yet Erion’s face was cold, and she next to him showed no expression either.
“My brother.”
“Grand Duchess.”
As I called his name, Erion came over.
“I think we should talk for a moment, my brother.”
Erion excused himself to Lily Stura.
“I will just step away briefly, Your Grace.”
“Of course, go ahead, Your Grace.”
I led Erion to the far end of the banquet hall.
“What is the matter, my brother?”
“What do you mean, Grand Duchess?”
“Please speak freely; no one is around.”
“Alright. What exactly are you trying to say, Estellein?”
“Why did you ask Lady Stura for a breakup?”
I spoke directly, and Erion clutched his head as if in pain.
“You need not concern yourself.”
“My brother…!”
At that moment, Lissiansus approached us.
“My brother, Estellein. I see you are together.”
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“Speak freely, my brother.”
“But why are you with Estellein?”
“Now that my sister is here, you should tell me. Why are you requesting a breakup?”
At my words, Lissiansus also looked at Erion.
“You asked Lady Stura for a breakup? My brother, no? Estellein must have misunderstood.”
“It is true I requested Lady Stura’s breakup. However, Lissiansus, Estellein, this is none of your concern.”
Erion did not explain his reason to us.
“How can it not concern us? We know your aim is to unite the Emperor faction through marriage to the Stura family.”
Angrily, Lissiansus led Erion and me to a deserted terrace.
“Have you fallen for someone, my brother?”
“No, Lissiansus.”
Erion’s cold, blunt words made Lissiansus raise his voice.
“Then why! You are not the kind of person who would do this. You always prioritized family and faction, and now you suddenly ask for a breakup?”
“My sister is right, my brother.”
Erion shook his head.
“The union of the Emperor faction can be achieved by other means.”
“Why take the harder path when an easier one exists, my brother?”
“My decision is made. My marriage is my concern, and I will handle it to avoid causing trouble for you.”
“But Lily Stura…”
I stopped mid-sentence.
“I will handle Lady Stura properly myself, so do not worry.”
Erion spoke coldly and left the terrace.
“Sister.”
“When the breakup is announced, both families and the royal court will be in upheaval. Only then will my brother realize the seriousness of this matter, so there’s no need to worry. For now, let’s observe.”
“Understood, sister.”
Lissiansus held my hand, and we left the terrace together.
