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Chapter 73
Since I was the host of the party, of course I invited Silla as well, but the answer I received was unexpected.
<Sorry, I have something going on that day, so I can’t come.>
I always thought they wandered around looking for interesting things, but it turns out they have scheduled plans too. Truly surprising.
I checked and saw there was no officially announced event from the Magic Tower.
The Tower usually only holds public events once every ten years or so, and otherwise doesn’t interact with the outside much, so I assumed that was it.
Then is it something related to Blue Bird?
“T, how is your family back in your hometown doing?”
“Oh, come to think of it, it’s been quite some time since I last contacted them. I should ask what they’ve been up to lately.”
“If they’re your family, then they’re my family too. Even if it costs money, contact them quickly.”
Cassie was waiting motionlessly to drag me to the bathroom, so Ted and I used our secret signals to talk.
“Family” meant the members of the spider-web organization, and asking how they were doing meant checking Blue Bird’s surveillance situation.
Saying to contact quickly even if it cost money meant to use a magical carrier pigeon.
“Yes, I understand.”
As Ted left the room, Cassie walked up to me with a wide grin.
“My lady, it’s time!”
She had already filled the tub with warm water and chattered about which scented oil I’d like to use.
“Choose whatever oil, lotion, and perfume fits your plan.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Cassie, ecstatic, gestured to another maid waiting by the bathroom, and I surrendered myself to their hands.
The preparation that felt like it would never end finished just in time before evening, when the party would officially begin.
“Ta-da! Tonight, our lady is a daffodil blooming in the night!”
In the full-length mirror before me, I saw myself in a softly shimmering white dress, wearing an opal necklace and earrings with a faint yellow glow.
My long black hair was calmly brushed and tied halfway back.
“You said you would prepare the red diamond necklace?”
“I wanted to, but the heart of a daffodil is yellow, isn’t it?”
Cassie looked deflated, while Lena beside her looked pleased. I figured it was Lena who pushed for the opal.
And the other maids followed her lead.
“We’ll save the red diamond necklace for next time. There will likely be a grand party after the crown princess selection ends — that would be more fitting.”
“Yes!”
Cassie brightened immediately and beamed as she finished the last touches before we headed down to the lobby to greet guests.
“Oh my, Roa. You look so beautiful. You dazzle even me, and I’m your mother.”
“You look gorgeous too, Mother. I suddenly understand how Father fell for you at first sight.”
“Oh, if only he hadn’t fallen for me at first sight, that would’ve been better.”
Mother shook her head with mock regret, and her playful air made me laugh.
I was the host, but I invited a wide range of guests, so I asked my parents to attend as well. Father had said he’d be a little late since he had to leave the palace first.
Once the appointed time came, people began arriving, and I greeted them with a gentle smile.
Mother slipped into the hall when her friends arrived, likely to ensure people clearly recognized that I was the host.
I stayed in the lobby to welcome guests and check who was attending.
“Welcome, Marchioness Kreta. And Countess Bens, you’re here as well.”
“Oh-ho, so Lady Reviang is holding a ball before me.”
As always, not missing a beat.
“Thank you for coming, Lady Maritney.”
“I’m here too.”
Stella appeared behind her mother, linking arms with her fiancé, and gave a little wave.
“Welcome, Stella. Good to see you as well, Lord Stein.”
Some familiar faces arrived.
“Welcome, Sir Bellang.”
“Thank you for inviting me, Lady Leviang.”
Sir Bellang, whom I owed a favor to recently, had come to the Reviang estate.
Before we could exchange proper greetings, Calvin appeared in knight uniform. My brother scanned the changed interior and approached me.
“Sir Bellang, I hope you enjoy the party.”
“I don’t usually attend parties, but thanks to your generosity, I expect to have a pleasant evening.”
Calvin grinned ear to ear, excited to be at his sister’s party — until his eyes widened at our conversation.
“Huh? You two know each other?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
He narrowed his eyes and looked between us suspiciously.
“We met by chance.”
“By chance? Sir Bellang is busy and rarely attends parties. Where would you have met him?”
I wanted to avoid explaining I ran into the crown prince while visiting the slums, so I tried to smile it off — but Calvin was persistent.
Sir Bellang looked flustered, so I subtly tugged at his sleeve and spoke.
“Well… actually, I saw him before at the palace. During that knights’ event.”
Most knights attended that event, so surely Bellang had been there.
“Oh… really?”
Thankfully, it seemed he had.
“Yes. Remember how you said I looked pale that day?”
“Mmm, yes. You looked so pale. You said you only did heavy makeup.”
“Eventually, I felt sick and slowed down. A knight helped me. That knight was Sir Bellang.”
I lightly shook Sir Bellang’s arm.
“Isn’t that right, Sir?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. That’s right.”
He wasn’t good at lying, but he wasn’t clueless; he agreed, and Calvin, though suspicious, couldn’t refute it.
“Hey, Cal!”
Thankfully, one of Calvin’s colleagues came over and called him away, shifting his attention.
I took the moment, while no one was around, to whisper to Sir Bellang.
“I’m so sorry for dragging you into that lie.”
I clasped my hands and dropped my shoulders dramatically.
“Actually, I kept the slum visit and the encounter with the crown prince secret from my family.”
“You went to the slums alone with no escort…? That was dangerous, my lady.”
“I got caught sneaking around alone and ended up grounded.”
I shrugged sheepishly, and the stern air around him softened somewhat.
“I never mentioned seeing His Highness. It felt wrong to casually talk about meeting the crown prince outside the palace.”
Since he was the prince’s guard, I tried to phrase it in a respectful way.
“I just thought it might relate to His Highness’s safety or something.”
“I heard some rumors. They said you suffered harsh words.”
Yet Sir Bellang replied sharply, making my concern feel unnecessary.
“I’m embarrassed such shameful gossip even reached you.”
I covered my mouth as though flustered, and Bellang looked troubled, as if unsure whether he misspoke.
“Thank you for understanding today, Sir.”
“It was only right. And I should be thanking you — for shielding my lord’s dignity.”
To ease the awkwardness, I spoke first, and Bellang visibly relaxed.
“Then please repay me by enjoying the party to the fullest.”
“Haha, I will.”
I went into the hall to survey the atmosphere and find friends who could keep Sir Bellang company so he wouldn’t feel out of place.
When I returned to the lobby, a servant announced someone had arrived from the Magic Tower.
“Let them in.”
Soon, following the servant, appeared one mage in a robe and three attendants.
“We have come under the order of the Tower Master to greet Lady Reviang.”
Each of the three attendants carried an armful of flowers.
The mage in a light brown robe bowed and conveyed Silla’s message in a clear voice.
“The Tower Master regrets being unable to attend due to business and hopes you will forgive him by accepting these flowers.”
Instantly, many eyes turned toward us.
“I almost sulked thinking Sir Silla forgot about me… but he sent flowers the same color as my eyes. I can hardly stay upset now.”
I made sure to say “flowers the same color as my eyes” loudly enough for everyone to hear — and felt the room stir.
“May I invite you to join the party, Mage?”
“I thank you for the offer, but I must return immediately.”
After a polite bow, the mage and attendants left.
I had the maids arrange the enormous red roses — each bloom the size of a grown man’s fist — around the venue.
Everyone but Father seemed to have arrived, so I instructed the servants to close the entrance.
“Wait.”
Right before the doors closed, someone stepped in — the very person who always made my heart tremble.
“……Welcome, Lexian.”
