“This isn’t a bunch of kids, so what on earth do you think you’re doing in a public room where the lower ranks can see everything?”
Alexius’s gaze was unusually firm.
Quite different from the way he had acted earlier in front of Contrat.
Thanks to that, Britani’s volcano-like anger also subsided slightly.
“… Oh, Brother.”
“Britani, haven’t I always told you? As the eldest daughter, you must set an example. Have you forgotten my words?”
“… I’m sorry. I didn’t realize what I was doing.”
She bit her lip for a moment, then obediently bowed her head.
This time, his gaze shifted to Isabelle.
“Isabelle, the same goes for you. Even though your sister started the argument, you were also very rude.”
“… Yes, I’m sorry.”
Isabelle bowed slightly, but inwardly, she felt a strange doubt.
She knew her sister had indeed been the one to start the quarrel.
Does that mean Alexius has been eavesdropping on their conversation all this time?
“No matter how much you enjoy your father’s favor, you must never disregard the sibling bond. You are part of our family. Don’t forget that.”
“I will remember.”
Family…
Isabelle barely suppressed a snort that involuntarily escaped.
Not once.
Not even once had she ever felt they were truly family.
If anything, if she ever let her guard down even slightly,
these people would probably take the opportunity to sneak in and devour her flesh like demons.
“Alright, what you said to Father earlier was impressive. I learned a lot myself.”
Though it sounded like gratitude, for a moment his eyes flickered strangely.
There was a faint flicker of suppressed something in his pupils.
Isabelle did not miss it.
“That’s too much praise. It was just luck…”
“Luck, huh? I suppose that’s possible. Well then, go on. Don’t keep me here too long.”
Putting aside the strange feelings, Isabelle quickly bowed again.
As soon as Isabelle disappeared, Britani’s expression darkened with displeasure.
“Brother, are you just going to let that insolent woman get away with it?”
“… So? Are you seriously suggesting an assassination?”
Assassination—especially of royalty—is absolutely unthinkable.
Yet Alexius’s eyes were calm.
No, perhaps even solemn.
As if he had truly considered the matter.
“Even if not that—anyway, I can’t just let her be.”
“What are you thinking now?”
“For this ball, be my partner.”
Alexius’s influence within the kingdom was quite solid.
The eldest son of the Stauffen House, favored by the company.
As the first prince of Arian, he was already being hailed as the next king.
On top of that, his caring and thoughtful personality, handsome appearance, and outstanding capabilities all combined to make him formidable. Of course, Contrat still found him unsatisfactory.
“… What do you want to do?”
“I heard Isabelle is bringing a savage from the republic. Probably her father’s doing. So, Brother, you and I should appear together—”
“You want to disgrace Isabelle? With something as trivial as that… hmm.”
“What?”
Would such a method even be effective?
Alexius, who had unintentionally been about to object, fell silent.
“No… do we have to go this far for such a minor conflict? We’re family.”
“Hmph. She’s not family, unlike you, Brother. That filthy gypsy blood…”
“Enough. That’s enough. There are ears listening.”
“Anyway, have you promised me? No backing out later.”
Taking a step closer, Britani’s eyes brimmed with passion.
Was it the look of a concerned older brother? Or something beyond that?
It was hard to tell.
Alexius feigned ignorance and nodded.
“… Fine, how could I refuse a request from my beloved younger sister.”
“Good. Let’s make sure to put that insolent woman in her place later.”
With his consent, Britani’s expression noticeably brightened.
After chatting a little longer, she disappeared to prepare for the ball. Watching her retreating figure, Alexius clicked his tongue lightly.
“Hmph. It would be better if she were more bold…”
Should he push her more?
If the two of them just clashed outright, they could pressure Isabelle more directly.
Britani was good but lacked tenacity.
But what choice was there? Who else was there as a good card as her?
Turning his head, he looked down the hallway in the opposite direction.
The way Isabelle had gone.
“That filthy gypsy…”
There was a coldness in his expression that hadn’t been seen before.
Amidst the mingling emotions of these various figures—
The grand ball of the Arian royal palace opened its splendid curtain.
***
Contrat had intentionally promoted the ball widely.
Using messengers, letters—he even employed expensive magical communications.
He spent a great deal of money on the festival held in the city as well, which was also part of the promotion.
His intention was clear: to erase the bloodshed from Niran.
But no complaints had surfaced.
No one wished to return to those brutal times.
The mercenaries employed by the Stauffen House busily resumed their work.
“This festival, the ball, the country poured so much money into it all.”
“Indeed, there’s no one who cares for us like Lord Contrat.”
Thanks to that, the streets of Niran soon brimmed with anticipation.
It was hard to believe this was the same place that had been soaked in blood and cries not long ago.
“Long live King Contrat!”
“Long live Arian!”
Such an atmosphere naturally affected the nobles’ minds as well.
Would they be purged next?
Should they seek refuge with the Empire even now?
Such anxieties gradually faded.
Within a day, dozens of messengers had raised their flags and ridden out of Niran—
Dozens of carriages carried many nobles into Niran.
“Ugh, I always feel riding in a carriage for so long is such a hassle.”
“Tell me about it, madam. Should we get a magic carriage ourselves?”
“Do we have the money? And what about connections with the Magocracy?”
“Hmph. Just saying.”
Even nobles far from Niran showed their faces.
Missing such a significant event in Arian was a disgrace to any noble.
Especially since this time, the royal palace was blatantly using the shadow of the recent civil war as a political tool. Hence the lavish spending without hesitation, and anyone missing this would be marked as opposing the royal palace.
***
A splendid room.
The makeup room before the ball officially began.
Numerous young ladies were fiercely grooming themselves.
It had to be that way—their beauty was their weapon at the ball.
One young lady sat at each spot, a large mirror in front of them. And two assistants, sometimes more, busily worked on them.
Makeup, outfit selection and coordination, jewelry recommendations—those present were all veterans.
The products—cosmetics, pins, jewelry—were all the finest quality.
“Could you redo the eyeshadow here?”
“The dress feels too tight. Can it be adjusted?”
Notably, the nobles here made their requests using honorifics.
It was no surprise—the staff waiting here were not mere servants.
Handpicked by the Stauffen House, trained and polished experts. Moreover, these staff were directly managed by Princess Britani and Princess Isabelle. No bold young lady would dare to make careless demands.
Anyone who did would quietly disappear without a word before the next ball.
Among many young ladies, two particularly striking women chatted.
“Tessa, have you seen Princess Isabelle yet?”
The one who spoke first was Amelia Belmore.
The eldest daughter of the Belmore family, rising lately through the carriage parts business.
Her lively beauty matched her hazel eyes.
“No, Lady Amelia. I haven’t yet… but she said she’d meet us during makeup, so she should be here soon.”
The one answering was Tessa Lindelway.
The second daughter of Count Lindelway, with strong influence in shipbuilding and transport.
She was also a gentle beauty with soft brown hair.
“I wonder why the princess asked for a private meeting? Hmm… surely not to discuss business here?”
“That’s quite possible. The princess is a remarkable person, after all.”
“This ball is quite splendid. The city festival happening alongside is also grand.”
“You know, young lady, what the real purpose of this ball and festival is.”
“Ah.”
Amelia understood Tessa’s words but refrained from saying them out loud. There was no need to bring up such a grim topic as civil war in such a splendid setting.
“By the way—her partner for this ball is supposed to be ‘that person,’ isn’t it?”
“The grand prince of the Republic of Lepent… yes, that’s what I’ve heard.”
“If the Lindelway family’s informant confirmed it, it must be true. Ah, it’s so frustrating. Why of all people does the princess have to take such a role?”
“Careful, there are many listening.”
“But it’s true, isn’t it? You must have heard the rumors too.”
“… Well, honestly, I do feel a bit sorry for the princess.”
Why such a savage man…
Tessa swallowed the words hard.
“The grand prince from Lepent… Glenn, right? His reputation is notorious.”
Amelia’s hazel eyes furrowed sadly. Tessa felt the same way.
The reason was clear.
Both had received help from Princess Isabelle and were firmly on her side. But—the man named Glenn, infamous for his role in the recent Niran civil war… was nothing like her.
Therefore, they pitied Isabelle’s position.
“‘Butcher,’ ‘Firebrand,’ ‘Nokan’s Devil,’ even ‘Destroyer’… really, it’s too much. The princess deserves better.”
The nicknames attached to the man called Glenn were all like that. Even before coming to Niran, he had similar names.
He was a notorious rogue even in Lepent.
Amelia vented as if it were her own business,
and Tessa quietly shook her head.
“… We have no choice. Princess Isabelle’s abilities are too outstanding, you know?”
For the sake of diplomatic relations, they could not neglect Glenn, the commander of the Niran civil war forces. Of course, there was Princess Britani as an option too—but she was hardly the right person.
At least, if they did not commit a diplomatic blunder, it would be fortunate.
On the other hand, Isabelle’s political skill and sociability were top-notch. Naturally, she had to be Glenn’s partner—or rather, his handler.
“Haah—still, this is too much. Princess Britani is partnering with Prince Alexius, right?”
The man who entered the social hall as a partner was, frankly, the most conspicuous ornament.
Furthermore, as the first prince, Alexius was well-known for his looks and status among young ladies in Arian.
In other words, Britani was adorned with the most expensive and finest ornament in the kingdom.
But… what about Isabelle?
A man carrying the nicknames ‘Butcher,’ ‘Destroyer,’ and ‘Rogue’ as a partner.
“Ugh—what will become of our princess?”
The feud between Britani and Isabelle was an open secret—or rather, it was famous enough that almost no one in Arian’s social circle was unaware.
Yet to start out with such a handicap…
Amelia sincerely pitied Isabelle.
Any woman in a similar situation would feel the same sympathy.
“The situation is set. So, the two of us should help the princess as much as possible. At least to get through the first day of the ball safely.”
The first day at the ball was the most important.
In fact, the influence wielded over the social scene was largely decided on this day.
“Yes, we should keep our wits about us and support the princess.”
As the two young ladies made this silent vow,
Creak—
Suddenly, the door of the makeup room opened.
“Oh my, what a thoughtful idea.”
Dressed in a gorgeous red outfit—
Princess Isabelle appeared.