The weather was still too chilly for the tea party to be held outside, so the countess arranged for it to be held indoors.

The Merze estate had a special drawing room specifically designed for gatherings. It was about twice the size of an average drawing room.

There were several tables that could comfortably seat all twenty guests, with enough room left for the maids to serve tea and snacks.

There were four tables, each accommodating up to six people. Four or five guests would sit at each table, leaving one chair empty for Countess Merze to use as she moved around, greeting the guests.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well, Your Highness?”

Fatima, seated at the same table as Sienna, greeted her. Fatima was the only unmarried woman at the party besides the Silver King.

“I’ve been well. Princess Fatima, you’ve been in the Empire for quite some time now. If you ever face any difficulties, feel free to come to me.”

“Thank you for your kind consideration, Your Highness.”

Fatima tried to maintain a calm expression, but meeting the Silver King made her feel as if her stomach was in knots.

‘Does Lord Kuhn truly have feelings for the Silver King...?’

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand. He had spoken of finding “a lifelong companion.” Such a phrase wouldn’t make sense if he was speaking of unrequited love.

‘There’s no future for the two of them. Am I misunderstanding something? Could it be someone other than the Silver King?’

For the Silver King to be with the Marquis, a non-Empire noble, they would have to be in an epic love story that would remain a topic of conversation in social circles for eternity. Yet, looking at the Silver King's cold expression, she didn’t appear to be a woman in love.

Though she was not as agitated as Fatima, Sienna also felt uneasy.

‘I didn’t expect Princess Fatima to be here.’

Countess Merze’s tea parties generally had an older crowd. Indeed, Fatima was the only other unmarried woman present apart from Sienna. Fatima’s name hadn’t been on the guest list Sienna had obtained in advance.

The countess had invited Fatima to cheer her up since she had seemed quite dispirited lately. It was implicitly allowed to include a special guest residing in the host’s residence at a party held there.

Sienna wasn’t familiar enough with the customs of high society to know about such exceptions. Had she known, she would have considered attending a different gathering. She preferred to avoid Fatima if possible. Fatima’s dark and brooding emotions were unsettling.

The maids began to serve the tea. Soon, a fragrant aroma gently filled the room.

The high-quality tea and sweet desserts that Countess Merze had painstakingly obtained were pleasing to everyone’s taste. In the cheerful atmosphere, conversations flourished at every table.

At Sienna’s table, Countess Schrei helped to liven things up. With her ample build and slightly loud voice, she spoke non-stop. Her lively storytelling, despite being loud, had everyone laughing. Sienna, too, occasionally smiled.

“Oh, I heard something amusing the other day. And the person in question is right here. Princess Fatima.”

“Me? Are you talking about me?”

“There’s a rumor going around about you and the Marquis of Raad. They say the two of you had a lovely date together!”

The teacup in Sienna’s hand paused halfway to her lips.

“Ah…”

Fatima blushed and lowered her head. Countess Schrei, her eyes gleaming with interest, pressed on.

“Oh my, why can’t you answer?”

“It’s just that… I had a brief conversation with the Marquis while walking, and he simply escorted me home afterward.”

“That’s what a date is!”

Sienna’s eyes narrowed slightly. A rumor was just a rumor. But it was clear that Fatima hoped the rumor was true.

‘In the future, you might have been Kuhn’s lover, Fatima.’

But even in that future, the two of them did not end up together.

‘Even in that future, you died, didn’t you?’

Sienna put her teacup down and spoke.

“The most interesting story recently isn’t that, though, is it? I thought I’d hear about it today.”

Countess Merze, who was sitting with them, asked, “What interesting story, Your Highness?”

“The two overlapping parties. The Marquis of Raad and my mother. I’m sure everyone knows.”

The nervous noblewomen exchanged glances.

“I heard everyone’s been debating which party to attend. Haven’t you all decided yet?”

“I have decided, Your Highness.”

Fatima responded.

“I will be attending the Marquis of Raad’s party.”

Their eyes met. After a moment, Fatima lowered her gaze. She couldn’t bring herself to look straight into the Silver King’s golden eyes, feeling an inexplicable sense of guilt. Clenching her teeth, Fatima swallowed her feelings of defeat.

The corners of Sienna’s lips curved slightly. Fatima’s provocation had stirred her competitive spirit.

“So, we’ll meet at the Marquis’s party, Princess Fatima.”

“…Your Highness. Are you attending the Marquis’s party?”

Countess Merze asked again to confirm.

“Yes, I plan to go to the Marquis’s estate that day. I’ve already informed the Marquis of my attendance.”

The table fell silent. The chatter from other tables, where people had been eavesdropping on the conversation at the Silver King’s table, also died down. Before long, the entire drawing room was filled with silence.

“Countess Merze, is there any reason I shouldn’t attend the Marquis’s party?”

“No, of course not. It’s just that I assumed you would go to the royal palace party...”

“I received the Marquis’s invitation first. I already agreed to attend. My first commitment is the one I honor.”

“But… the Red King might be disappointed.”

“The Red King knows well that I value principles. She will understand.”

Sienna gestured to a maid who was standing by. The maid approached the Silver King, carrying a small bundle wrapped in cloth. She had been holding it since entering the drawing room with the Silver King earlier.

“Countess Merze, I have a favor to ask.”

“Please, command me, Your Highness.”

“As I mentioned, I will attend the Marquis’s party. However, seeing how things are going, I’m concerned that everyone might flock to the royal palace party. A party should be bustling with people, and it would be embarrassing for the Marquis, who invited me if his party were to have a poor turnout, wouldn’t it?”

Countess Merze carefully listened to the Silver King’s words.

Sienna instructed the maid to hand the bundle to the countess. The bundle was placed next to the countess’s teacup.

“You have a wide circle of acquaintances. Could you distribute these for me?”

The countess untied the bundle and unfolded it. Inside were dozens of neatly stacked white envelopes. She picked one up and checked the front. Her eyebrows twitched. She opened the envelope and pulled out a folded card.

“…These are invitations to the Marquis of Raad’s party.”

“Yes, they are. They’re blank invitations.”

The letter Sienna sent to the Marquis of Raad’s estate two days ago was to obtain these blank invitations.

Countess Merze’s reputation was well-earned. All the attendees at the tea party wielded significant influence in the social scene. The news that the Silver King had distributed invitations to the Marquis of Raad’s party quickly spread.

Until then, the general consensus was, ‘If you have to choose one, it has to be the royal palace party.’ Despite the Marquis of Raad being a rising new power, the Red King, a long-standing pillar, was formidable.

There was also a certain degree of psychological resistance to the rapidly emerging Marquis of Raad.

But with the Silver King’s involvement, the situation changed. The contest wasn’t just between the Marquis of Raad and the Red King anymore; it was now the Marquis of Raad with the Silver King against the Red King.

What on earth was going on? Had the Silver King defied the Red King? Was there tension between the mother and daughter? All sorts of speculative talk circulated.

However, no one hastily concluded that this was a political clash between mother and daughter.

Had the Silver King allied with another powerful figure, there might have been talk about her planning to break away from her mother. But linking the Silver King and the Marquis of Rad seemed far-fetched.

People speculated that the mother and daughter had clashed over something, and the Silver King was using the Marquis of Raad.

“So, have you decided yet? Are you going to the royal palace or the Marquis’s estate?”

“I’m still thinking about it. I’m careful because I don’t want to fall out of favor with the Red King.”

“I’m going to the royal palace. The royal palace party is still the best. You can’t compare a party held at a private residence.”

“I’m going to the royal palace as well.”

“I’m thinking of going to the Marquis’s estate. I feel like it might be more interesting there.”

The situation hadn’t completely reversed. The Red King was still ahead. But whereas before nine out of ten would have chosen the royal palace party, now it was down to about seven.

The date of the parties was drawing near. The social scene was abuzz with people who still hadn’t made up their minds.

And then, someone no one expected stepped into the fray: the Emperor.

Instead of studying, the Emperor summoned Count Bart.

“I seem to have noticed a crack in one of the columns in the banquet hall. If left unattended, it could lead to a serious accident in the future. Examine it carefully and report back.”

Count Bart was so shocked that he immediately knelt. The Emperor’s direct mention of a structural flaw in the palace left the count flustered and unsure how to respond.

“Your Majesty, I have no excuse for failing in my duties.”

The count immediately gathered officials and inspected the banquet hall. Over the course of an entire day, they examined all the columns but found no problems. Relieved, the count reported back to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, after a thorough inspection, we found that the columns in the banquet hall are fortunately very sturdy.”

“I must have been mistaken. Perhaps it wasn’t the columns but a sunken floor. Check again carefully.”

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I did not examine it thoroughly enough. I will inspect it again and report back.”

The count and his officials re-inspected the banquet hall. Over three days, they examined every corner of the floor and walls, including the columns they had already checked. Still, they found no defects.

The count dug out the old construction plans stored in the palace archives. He reviewed them for any possible design flaws. He summoned construction experts to re-inspect any areas that might have been poorly maintained based on their opinions. Still, no defects were found.

There was nothing wrong with the banquet hall. In fact, it was confirmed to be exceptionally well-built. It wouldn’t have a single crack in the walls even after a hundred more years.

But the count hesitated to report back to the Emperor. Something still bothered him. While he was brooding over this, he overheard one of the officials grumbling.

“Honestly, how long do we have to keep doing this? It’s like trying to find a flaw where there isn’t one.”

A light bulb went off in his head. He immediately sought an audience with the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, I have a report. We discovered a crack in one of the columns in the banquet hall.”

The count’s tense shoulders stiffened. If he was wrong, he would be admitting to a mistake that hadn’t even been made.

“Just as I thought. I wasn’t mistaken, was I?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“It’s a defect that must not be left unattended, is it?”

The count, still bowing his head, darted his eyes back and forth. He was desperate to read the Emperor’s true intentions.

“I believe an inspection and repairs are necessary, Your Majesty.”

“While repairs are underway, the banquet hall will have to be closed, won’t it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How long will it take?”

The count wracked his brain. He had realized by now that the Emperor wanted the banquet hall closed. But why? Was something going on there? There was supposed to be a party there in a few days.

‘Ah!’

“Your Majesty, it will take at least five days. Please forgive me for failing in my duties.”

“Make sure the hall is thoroughly inspected and repaired so that nothing like this happens again. That will be sufficient.”

The count let out a sigh of relief. He had guessed correctly.

“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s mercy.”

This took place three days before the two most talked-about parties in the Empire were set to occur.

In the courtyard of the Sun Palace.

The chief attendant approached the Emperor, who was enjoying his tea time, and bowed.

“Your Majesty, the Red King requests an audience.”

The Emperor gave a small smile.

“Let her in. There’s no need to prepare more tea. She won’t stay long.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shortly after, the Red King entered. Seeing the Emperor leisurely sipping tea at the table, she clenched her skirt tightly.

The two rarely encountered each other unless there was an official event. She could hardly remember when they last shared a bed. Though they were husband and wife, their relationship was worse than that of strangers.

Patricia had always found the Emperor, who was much older and distant by nature, intimidating. Their union was a political alliance. She had never heard a single kind word from him.

Looking back now, she was grateful. He had never shown her affection, so she had never suffered the humiliation of longing for her husband’s love only to wither away. Instead, she chose power over her husband’s affection.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

“This must be important if you’ve come to interrupt my rest.”

“I came to ask Your Majesty to retract an unreasonable order.”

“Unreasonable?”

The Emperor propped his chin on one hand.

“I was notified that the banquet hall will be unavailable for the next five days due to repairs. This was done without any prior notice, and suddenly at that.”

“Why come to me with complaints about the inspection of the banquet hall?”

“Are you honestly saying, Your Majesty, that you had no intention of disrupting the party I’m hosting three days from now?”

“Let’s get the facts straight.”

The Emperor’s voice turned icy.

“It was you, Red King, who first disrupted my affairs.”

Patricia’s eyes flickered.

“I assigned the Marquis of Raad an important task. Are you unaware of my intent to support him actively for some time?”

“But this is different…”

“It is not. The task I entrusted him with requires the cooperation of the nobility. It would be troublesome if the Marquis of Raad does not establish himself adequately in the social circles. Set aside your petty pride.”

Patricia could do nothing but grit her teeth in frustration at the humiliation.

“Red King.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Know your limits.”

Patricia’s shoulders flinched.

“Remember, I am tolerating you.”

“…I will remember, Your Majesty.”

Patricia left without achieving anything. She could only confirm that the power she had struggled so hard to accumulate was nothing more than a trivial effort in the eyes of the Emperor. Suppressing her humiliation, her gaze was filled with venom.

The next day, the Red Palace announced that the royal palace party was temporarily postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. People realized that the Red King had backed down due to the Emperor’s interference. For the first time, the Emperor had exercised his influence in the social scene—on behalf of the Marquis of Raad.

The Marquis of Raad’s reputation soared. Although it had already been quite high, even those who were skeptical of the Emperor’s intentions now fully believed, “The Emperor supports the Marquis of Raad.”

Everything about the Marquis became a hot topic once again. His status and wealth had already been talked about extensively, so people found new topics.

While the controversy over the overlapping parties was at its peak, the Marquis continued to work without any apparent agitation. He visited five ducal houses, excluding the Bless Duke’s, and obtained permission to access their libraries. He also sifted through the royal palace archives and transported old records to the investigation office. People marveled at the Marquis’s audacity, discussing his bold nature.

Two days before the party at the Marquis’s estate, chaos ensued as people scrambled to get their hands on invitations. The blank invitations distributed by the Silver King became incredibly valuable.


<PREVIOUS | NEXT>

Previous
Next