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Chapter 38
The Spring Banquet (1)
The engagement between Berenice and Naion was dissolved quietly, without a sound.
If anyone tried to explain the reason for it, they’d have to start by mentioning how Naion had an affair with an actress. Because of that, the Count had begged for the matter to be handled discreetly.
The Marquis agreed—it would do Berenice no good for this scandal to become public anyway.
“I’ll reveal it at the banquet.”
Whether the two families knew she was thinking that or not, they kept silent, and in that silence, the incident faded quietly from memory, forgotten by the public.
The truth was, people simply didn’t have time to care; the upcoming festival demanded everyone’s attention.
The Spring Banquet marked the beginning of the new year. It was both the coming-of-age ceremony for young nobles and the grandest celebration announcing that spring had arrived in the Empire.
It was also one of the few events that the entire Imperial family, including the Emperor himself, attended.
“Although… Prince Kaiden hasn’t appeared in the past few years, so maybe not the entire family.”
Even though the First Prince, Lucadin, held an unshakable position as Crown Prince, there were still quite a few who looked at Kaiden—so much like the Emperor in his youth—and whispered about him being the next in line for the throne.
Kaiden was well aware of those whispers. To show that he neither desired the crown nor sought to challenge the Crown Prince, he had refrained from attending any official Imperial events for the past several years.
The Emperor and the Crown Prince had understood his intent and said nothing about his absence.
However, now that Kaiden had chosen to attend this major event—the first since the Crown Prince’s death—it was inevitable that people would talk.
“His Majesty’s wariness will only grow stronger now.”
Every time Kaiden returned victorious from war, every time tales spread of how ruthlessly he dealt with his enemies, the Emperor’s suspicion of his son deepened.
Perhaps it reminded him of the tragedies he had inflicted upon his own half-brothers. For the Emperor, that wariness was only natural.
But it wasn’t how a father should treat his son.
Berenice thought so and shook her head slightly.
“Milady, you must go to bed early tonight,” said Nadia.
“I know.”
“We’ll have to start preparations early tomorrow morning. If you don’t get enough sleep—”
“Yes, yes, I know. The makeup won’t sit properly, right?”
“Please take this seriously, my lady.”
“I am taking it seriously.”
Berenice laughed softly as Nadia sighed heavily.
Ever since the broken engagement, Nadia had been on edge—determined that Berenice must be the most beautiful woman at the coming-of-age ceremony, that Naion should see her and regret everything. Her eyes practically burned with that resolve.
But the dress code for the ceremony allowed for little extravagance.
Since it was a formal event to mark their entry into adulthood, they couldn’t wear heavy makeup. At most, Berenice could add a few extra accessories or sprinkle more gemstone dust on her gown.
Still, Nadia was determined to find some way to make her lady shine brighter than anyone else.
“You must be the most beautiful person there.”
“And second place goes to Iona, right?”
“Even Lord Lowell will make an exception this time and let you take first place.”
Berenice nodded, recalling how furious her twin brother had been about the engagement being broken off.
She could count on one hand the number of times she had seen Lowell that angry in her life.
“So please, go to bed early.”
“I said I will.”
“You promise?”
“Yes.”
There was no reason not to look her best at a rare gathering where every noble in the Empire would be present.
With that thought, Berenice went to bed early as Nadia instructed.
But the next morning, as Nadia—already bustling before dawn—dragged her into the bath to begin preparations, Berenice began to regret that decision.
Maybe it’s fine if I’m just… slightly less beautiful than perfect?
The preparations, which started at daybreak, continued until the sun dipped westward.
The banquet wouldn’t begin until midnight—it was, after all, a nighttime affair.
She had taken a short nap around lunchtime, but even so, the day-long preparations left Berenice utterly drained.
“I’m hungry…” she muttered.
“Hold it in, my lady. If you eat now, the dress might burst.”
“I didn’t say I’d eat that much.”
“If you start eating now, you’ll end up eating that much.*”
All day, Berenice had survived on thin soup and salad—nothing but light meals, all for the sake of fitting beautifully into her dress.
Dinner was off-limits entirely. Once she reached the banquet hall, she’d only be able to nibble on a few finger foods.
“The person who invented corsets was definitely a man.”
“Please don’t talk—hold your breath!”
“No woman would ever design something like this for herself.”
“Milady, breathe!”
Thankfully, Berenice had a slender waist, which at least allowed her to speak while being laced in.
If she’d had a bit more flesh, she’d likely be clinging to a bedpost right now, holding her breath with all her might as the maids struggled to fasten one more button.
It was tough when I was living on the run… but at least the clothes were comfortable then.
Whether it was the corset’s pressure clouding her mind or not, Berenice found herself missing a time she should never long for.
Fortunately, time never stopped for anyone.
As she was being pulled this way and that by Nadia and the other maids, the sky darkened, and the moon rose over the eastern horizon.
The Spring Banquet would begin when that moon reached its highest point in the sky.
They had to enter before then, but since the order of entry was determined by rank, the Wiltiera family could afford to leave later than most.
After some time in the gently rocking carriage, it came to a stop.
Usually, the twins would disembark first and wait for their parents, but tonight’s stars were Berenice and Lowell.
So, the Marquis and Marchioness stepped out first and turned to await their soon-to-be-adult children.
The moment Lowell, dressed in a pristine white suit, and Berenice, in a matching white gown, stepped down from the carriage, every head nearby turned toward them.
They had been praised for their beauty since childhood—twins whose looks promised great futures.
Now that they had dressed to perfection, it was only natural that all eyes were drawn to them.
And with Berenice’s silvery-white hair, a shade few in the world possessed, she exuded an ethereal charm that made even breathing seem difficult for those watching.
“Berenice, this is your fault.”
“What did I do?”
“Can’t you see everyone staring at us?”
“So? Are you embarrassed?”
“Do you think I’m you?”
“If you were me, you wouldn’t be embarrassed. But you’re Lowell.”
The twins exchanged a picture-perfect smile, whispering to each other as if posing for a portrait—thankfully, no one overheard their conversation.
Except, of course, their parents.
“That’s enough, both of you,” said the Marchioness.
“But Mother, Berenice—”
“Lowell.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Berenice, you too.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Will they ever grow up?
Even on the day of their coming-of-age ceremony, the twins showed little sign of maturity, and the Marchioness let out a weary sigh.
“My lady, the twins will never grow up,” the Marquis remarked.
“…Thank you for sharing the truth I never wanted to hear.”
“Just doing my duty, my love.”
“Was that really gratitude you heard from me?”
“…No?”
As always, their affectionate bickering filled the air.
While their parents’ banter went on, the twins subtly pinched each other’s arms and began walking toward the banquet hall.
Their timing was perfect—no sooner had they arrived than the herald called for the Wiltiera family’s entrance.
“It’s changed…”
As they waited at the doors for their name to be announced, Berenice felt it clearly.
Since returning to the past, she had made countless different choices, but this—this was the first time she truly felt she was living a life different from before.
I’ll change it.
This time, she would do what she couldn’t do before.
As the grand doors of the ballroom began to open slowly, Berenice’s amber eyes gleamed with determination.
