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chapter 31
Christopher recalled the first time he met Elion.
Elion had been sent to a provincial estate right after birth, but around the age of five, he had once visited the imperial palace.
His maternal grandfather and grandmother were with him.
Perhaps the carriage journey, which had taken nearly ten days, had been exhausting.
Upon arriving at the palace, young Elion, along with his grandparents, immediately came down with a fever.
Thanks to the palace’s exceptional medical skills and expensive remedies, Elion and his grandfather’s fevers subsided within three days, and they gradually regained their strength.
However, his grandmother, who had always been frail, did not recover as quickly.
She had to remain bedridden for over ten days, and during the brief stay at the palace, young Elion, despite his tender age, always stayed by her side whenever he had no special engagements.
The palace was full of foods and entertainments that were rare in the provinces, yet despite being highly susceptible to new stimuli, Elion consistently chose to remain with his ailing grandmother.
At first, Christopher had thought this behavior odd, but twenty years later, his perspective had changed.
“Perhaps… it was simply a child’s compassion for someone weak and sick. A child of only five years old.”
For Elion, who had no interest in human matters beyond combat, appealing to his sympathy might be the only way to reach him.
Christopher decided to place his hopes on Lady Payson.
This time, he resolved to be firm.
If he wanted results entirely different from before, he needed an entirely different approach.
“Elion, attend the party hosted by the Duke of Burnett this weekend. Go and personally assure those still fearful that the capital is now safe.”
“I believe, Brother, you are well aware that I have no intention of entering the capital’s social circles.”
Elion refused firmly, but Christopher was firmer.
“As a member of the royal family, isn’t that the least you could do? And this is not a request—it is an order.”
“…Understood.”
Faced with the word “order,” Elion had no choice but to bow his head.
Christopher did not stop there.
“You will need a partner for the party. Attend with Lady Payson, or with Lady Sophia O’Hara, the daughter of the Marquis. I will personally arrange a meeting for Lady O’Hara. So, what will you do? The choice is yours.”
“Brother!”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
Christopher only smirked at Elion, who raised his voice in protest.
“Wouldn’t that be imposing on both ladies?”
“Imposing? What nonsense is that, Elion? Who would refuse the chance to partner with you, my only brother and the sole heir to the Grand Duke’s position?”
“….”
Elion twitched his lips to argue further but ultimately gave up and closed his mouth.
Christopher and he simply could not communicate. It had always been that way. It was pointless to argue.
At that moment, Miranda stepped forward.
“Your Highness, even if only for the brief time you’re in the capital, it would be good to show your face in society once or twice. Once you leave, you won’t have another chance for a long time, so it would be wise to make use of this opportunity.”
Though her words were polite, Miranda’s intent was clear: leave the capital as soon as possible—and don’t return for a long while.
‘Still so blunt,’ he thought.
It was exactly what he had hoped for. A small smile escaped him.
Even after enduring further imperial pressure, Elion finally managed to leave the palace.
He was walking at a brisk pace along the palace corridor when a familiar figure approaching from the opposite direction made him frown—but his expression soon relaxed.
“Greetings, Saintess.”
“Hello, Your Highness.”
The two friends met and exchanged gentle smiles.
“What brings you to the palace?”
“I was summoned by His Majesty and am on my way back after a brief visit.”
“Why would His Majesty summon you?”
“The Emperor’s concern is always the same.”
Seeing Elion sigh, Florencia asked cautiously:
“…Marriage?”
“Yes. His Majesty seems to treat my marriage as a lifelong duty.”
Despite clearly seeing Elion’s irritation, Florencia felt a pang of anxiety.
Even if Elion had no interest in marriage or family life, he could not simply ignore the Emperor’s pressure entirely.
“Marriage… wouldn’t it make you less lonely?”
Florencia spoke words she did not truly mean, hoping to probe Elion’s heart.
Elion let out a short, incredulous laugh.
“Why are you saying that, Saintess? Who says marriage prevents loneliness?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
Florencia shrugged and smiled awkwardly.
And she felt relieved.
‘It’s clear he has no intention of marrying. That’s a relief.’
Until yesterday, Florencia had been disappointed in Elion.
She had planned to scold him thoroughly.
Why hadn’t he waited for her and simply left?
Had dinner at the Payson estate been more important than her?
Couldn’t he even show his face for a moment?
Yet now, having coincidentally met him, all her disappointment and annoyance melted away.
She was simply happy to see him.
‘I really…’
Whenever she stood before Elion, she became the innocent girl she had once been, and she found it astonishing.
And that made Elion all the more precious to her.
She wanted to keep him by her side at any cost.
“I trusted only you, Saintess… how did it come to this?!”
Empress Miranda exclaimed, her voice full of complaint.
“This time, our Crown Prince had the perfect chance to accomplish something great. We shouldn’t have dragged it out; we should have dealt with it swiftly from the start.”
“Your Majesty is correct. I intended to approach it with caution, given its importance, but the timing went completely awry. I have failed. I am truly sorry.”
Florencia bowed to Miranda.
To soothe Miranda’s mood, she judged it best to begin with a bow.
Her judgment proved correct. The deep furrows on Miranda’s brow began to fade.
Florencia, with a solemn expression and tone, spoke as if making a promise:
“I will consult with Duke Miren and draft a plan that allows the Crown Prince to achieve great success. Please wait a little until the outline is ready.”
Miranda brightened at Florencia’s suggestion.
“Of course, Saintess. Who else could I rely on? I trust only you and Duke Miren.”
“Thank you for saying so, Your Majesty.”
“Now, about this…”
Miranda glanced at Florencia with a delicate smile before speaking softly.
“I think it would be wonderful if you accompanied the Crown Prince to the party at the Duke of Burnett’s estate this weekend… What do you think, Saintess?”
“Excuse me? A party at the Duke’s estate?”
Florencia’s face stiffened at the unexpected proposal.
Since her divine powers manifested at age twenty, Florencia had never attended a social party.
Though she had received invitations, she had declined them all.
Her duties as a Saintess attached to the Grand Temple left her no time.
On days with fewer external duties, she spent her time in prayer to calm her mind and body.
She had no energy to waste on the ever-changing fashion trends and scandalous gossip of society parties.
Even palace parties held during important national events were often skipped if she had a valid excuse.
Florencia looked Miranda in the eyes and spoke firmly, though politely:
“I do not attend social parties at all, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, I understand. But that is why I am saying this: wouldn’t it be wonderful if you, who have never attended a social party before, were to stand alongside our Crown Prince at your very first one?”
“….”
Florencia could not respond and simply stared at Miranda.
Perhaps encouraged by her silence, Miranda’s voice brightened further, almost singing as she continued:
“Duke Klitzman will also be attending the party that day.”
“Duke Klitzman?”
“Yes, by order of His Majesty the Emperor.”
As far as Florencia knew, Elion had never attended a social event in the capital.
Yet he would be present at this weekend’s party.
‘He didn’t mention a word just now… so the Empress wants to drag me in as well. She plans to use me to prevent all attention from being focused solely on Elion.’
Florencia clenched her teeth discreetly, hiding her frustration.
