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Chapter 73
Boom. Silence fell for a moment.
Agnes was the first to recover her senses. She quickly clapped her hands together and said:
“Ah-ha~ You mean the battlefield of high society!”
“What’s high society?”
“……”
“Well, I don’t really know, but mm-hm, once the young countess picks up a sword, she’ll be perfect!”
Agnes, Sylvia, and Calliope all grew serious.
Children’s eyes, after all, have always been honest and sensitive to beauty.
“How did our lady end up being seen as a general material…?”
“Seriously. Do I really look like someone who goes around slicing everything up?”
“Well, I mean…”
“Sylvia, read the room.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As the atmosphere suddenly turned heavy, Arsen’s face crumpled.
“I-I just thought Lady Calliope looked like the goddess of war I saw in a picture book…”
“Hm?”
“Oh, so that’s what you meant!”
While Calliope tilted her head in confusion, Sylvia quickly caught onto Arsen’s words.
“You mean our lady looked so beautiful, confident, and imposing that she reminded you of the goddess? Right?”
“Yeah! That’s right!”
When Arsen’s face lit up and he nodded vigorously, Agnes added from the side:
“Well, it’s true. The young countess’s dress today is just perfect for the occasion.”
“For today? Why today…?”
Puzzled, Calliope tilted her head. Agnes and Sylvia exchanged meaningful glances.
Then Agnes clenched her fists solemnly and declared:
“To show your future husband who’s boss!”
“On the bed, of course.” Sylvia added with a sweet smile.
Inevitably, Calliope’s expression crumpled at once.
If you were a young noble of the Empire, you longed to receive an invitation to Calliope Verdi’s engagement ceremony.
That invitation alone determined your standing and influence in society.
Even older nobles were not exempt, for Calliope’s grandfather, Archibald Verdi, was a figure coveted by both the Emperor’s faction and the Nobles’ faction.
For established aristocrats desperate to befriend the Verdi March, Calliope’s engagement was a prime opportunity.
Thus, her engagement ceremony became the Empire’s hottest topic.
“Did you get a pink envelope?”
For a while, that single question—whether one had received an invitation—became the standard greeting in high society.
So it was no surprise that the attendance rate reached one hundred percent, and everyone who arrived wore bright expressions.
Of course, there were… minor rivalries.
Just because they all knew Calliope didn’t mean they were friendly with each other.
“Oh my, fancy seeing you here.”
“Hah, so you got invited too? Calliope really must have a generous heart.”
“Says the one who’d never have gotten an invite if not for being in the same Academy magic class with her!”
“You think you’re any better?”
Some bickered in corners.
“Haha, I’ll have you know I’m quite close to Marcher Archibald himself.”
“Don’t exaggerate. You’ve only greeted him in passing a few times. If anything, it’s thanks to your fathers’ connections that you’re here at all.”
Others tried to one-up each other, flaunting their influence.
The tension only grew hotter when Archibald and Arsen finally appeared.
“It should be about time for the main couple.”
Just then, gasps rippled from the mansion side of the garden.
“It’s Lady Calliope…!”
And at last, the heroine appeared, walking gracefully as the crowd parted before her.
Admiring exclamations burst out:
“Most women would’ve chosen white, but of course Calliope Verdi is different.”
Her deep crimson gown, falling elegantly to the floor, created a graceful silhouette with every step.
Jewels matching the dress sparkled from her ears, neck, and wrists.
But even without adornments, she herself shone most brilliantly of all.
Everyone has arrived without exception.
Calliope exchanged polite greetings with the guests as she entered.
Archibald and Arsen, already waiting, came to congratulate her.
“The Ninth Prince is rarely seen, yet here he is.”
“They already seem close. That just shows how remarkable Lady Calliope’s connections are.”
As envious eyes turned toward her, noise stirred again near the same mansion entrance.
“The Seventh Prince has arrived!”
He strode forward—sleek black hair combed back, golden eyes gleaming, sharp nose, enticing lips, and a strong jawline. His deep navy formalwear fit his muscular frame so perfectly it took people’s breath away.
Without glancing at anyone else, he walked straight to his waiting fiancée.
After ruffling Arsen’s hair affectionately, he took Calliope’s hand.
Play along.
He mouthed the words silently, bowing slowly. Thinking he meant to kiss the back of her hand, Calliope smiled softly.
Not bad. He’s learned how to act the part without being told.
Since the whole audience was watching, this kind of display was fine.
But just as she smiled in satisfaction, Lerazie flipped her hand over and pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist.
“…!”
Calliope screamed silently. The nobles gathered to celebrate the couple’s official debut collectively gawked, mouths agape.
“Ha-ha… His Highness does have quite the mischievous streak, doesn’t he?”
Forcing a smile, Calliope grabbed Lerazie and dragged him aside.
“Are you crazy…?”
“What? Why?”
“You really don’t know? That kiss means—”
“Wow, Calliope. Your face is so red. You look like an apple asking me to be friends.”
His shameless response left Calliope utterly dumbfounded.
Moments later, once she regained her senses, her hand came down on Lerazie’s back in merciless punishment.
After the commotion, Calliope asked:
“Anyway, why did you come out later than me?”
In the Empire, it was customary for the groom to appear first to greet guests, while the bride followed.
“Sylvia told me to.”
“Sylvia?”
Why would she say that? Calliope turned, but Sylvia, sensing her gaze, quickly looked away.
“She said since the Verdi family is hosting, it’d be better if you greeted the guests first.”
“Hm…”
Calliope realized it was Sylvia’s scheme but only shrugged.
“Well, it doesn’t really matter who goes first.”
As long as the ceremony went smoothly, that was enough.
Still, where are those troublesome relatives of mine?
Her eyes swept across the garden. Lerazie asked:
“Looking for someone?”
“My nuisance relatives.”
She’d have gladly thrown them all out, blood ties or not. But family was family.
Not seeing them, Calliope called for Harold, the butler.
“Where are Uncle Roman and his family?”
“Strangely, they haven’t appeared yet. Could they be skipping the engagement?”
“With Grandfather here? No way. They’ll come.”
Sure enough, Gilbert soon arrived, looking unusually pleased.
“He seems to be in quite the good mood,” Lerazie murmured, surprised.
“Yeah… which only makes me uneasy,” Calliope agreed.
“Don’t worry too much, my lady. With this many people here, they won’t dare cause trouble.”
“They’d better not.”
Just then, Agnes, who had been handling preparations, came to report.
“All invited guests have arrived and are seated. Everything is ready.”
She too was dressed impeccably, befitting her role as the ceremony’s coordinator.
“Good. Let’s begin.”
“Yes, my lady!”
Harold relayed to Archibald that the ceremony was about to start. The old man sat in the front with Arsen.
And together, Calliope and Lerazie stepped up onto the platform.
