Chapter 15

“It seems the imperial family has taken notice of the book you wrote.”

“…A princess invited you? That’s amazing.”

While Alexis and Callard belatedly came to their senses and showed surprised reactions, Marcella was suspiciously quiet.

Meanwhile, I slightly opened my mouth to eat a piece of meat I had already stabbed with my fork, but—

“Stop right there.”

When a cold voice pierced my ears, my hand froze in mid-air.

“There should still be dressmaking shops open, so we need to inquire immediately and have a new dress custom-made. Katarina, what are you doing? Get up right now.”

About two-thirds of the main dish in front of me remained.

However, overwhelmed by Marcella’s fiercer momentum than ever before, I had no choice but to put down the fork I was holding.

‘I should have finished eating everything including dessert before talking.’

I eventually got up from my seat. Led by Marcella’s hand to visit a dressmaker, I received intensive care while several maids under Marcella were assigned to me.

“…I’m hungry.”

When the day finally came to meet the princess—

I had already had all sorts of etiquette drilled into my head, had my meals and sleep regulated, and wore the newly tailored dress that fit perfectly.

Rather than going there to get indigestion, I had a strong feeling I’d need to restrain myself from wolfing down food to fill my empty stomach.

Princess Selena sent a very ordinary carriage to Baron Blaine’s household as promised.

“Don’t make any mistakes and have a good trip.”

“You haven’t forgotten what this mother told you, right? You must chew over things at least three times before answering carefully.”

“Come back and tell us what you talked about.”

Normally at this time, each would be doing their own things.

I nodded weakly while looking at my family who had come out to see me off at the door. From last evening until now, all I had consumed was various teas.

I was planning to ask the chef to make food loaded with spicy seasonings as soon as I returned.

The carriage I boarded so weakly—

‘It looked ordinary on the outside but the ride is comfortable.’

The soft seats and the constantly changing scenery outside the window through which I could watch made for a pleasant journey.

An ordinary carriage that passed through the capital streets and entered the inner part of the imperial castle without being inspected even once.

How many imperial palaces had I already passed?

Even though I had traveled quite far from what seemed to be the starting point of the imperial castle, there was no sign of stopping.

After giving up to some degree and looking outside while passing through the maze-like imperial castle, when it finally came to a complete stop at one location—

“Lady Blaine, we have arrived.”

Hearing the voice from outside the door, I made eye contact with Chloe sitting across from me.

After adjusting my outfit and hair once more, when I opened the door, the first thing I saw was a guard extending one arm and waiting.

When about twenty guards lined up came into view, my lips went dry.

‘Why are there so many?’

After safely getting out of the carriage, an attendant who had been waiting with a kind smile approached and spoke to me.

“Her Highness the Princess is waiting for you. Let me guide you to the prepared place.”

I followed behind him as he moved at a somewhat slow pace.

Massive doors that opened as I approached even though no one opened them.

‘Surely this can’t all be gold.’

The golden doors that sparkled blindingly even had intricate patterns carved into them.

I walked while interestingly observing the magical devices and decorations that passed by, and when I began to see more and more neatly dressed maids—

“Thank you for your precious visit. Everyone inside is waiting for you.”

Stopping in front of the most magnificent door I had seen so far, a woman who appeared to be the head maid approached me.

‘At times like this, I should just give a light bow.’

Recalling the imperial etiquette I had hastily learned once more in my mind, I now entered inside following the guidance of the maid rather than the attendant.

As soon as the door opened, when I met Princess Selena, I would immediately utter the greeting for the first star.

I planned to immediately put into action the manual I had memorized thoroughly, but—

“Nice to meet you, Lady Blaine.”

“Welcome. Was the journey here alright?”

“I’m Amelia!”

Witnessing the scene unfolding before my eyes, I was at a loss for words.

Princess Selena was certainly the one who invited me to the meal, so why were four people in gorgeous dresses sitting there?

As if proving they were blood relatives, three of them had identical golden-colored eyes.

And the only different one had sea-blue eyes—one of the emperor’s two consorts.

“I’m pleased to see the young lady of Baron Blaine’s household. Thanks to you, this gathering seems to shine even brighter.”

When Imperial Consort Rielen looked at me and smiled brilliantly, I quickly came to my senses and could utter my greeting.

“It’s an honor to meet Imperial Consort Rielen, the empire’s wise sea.”

I lifted the hem of my dress slightly with both hands and bowed forward.

Only after greeting the other three princesses in turn could I sit down, and although I tried to appear calm, my heart was beating so fast it felt like it might burst.

‘Let’s just eat lightly.’

…Save me.

I wanted to go home immediately, but survival instincts kept a bright smile on my face throughout.

Am I going to be okay like this?

As I got closer to the table, their eyes, which became even more clearly visible, took on a strange gleam.

---

The center of high society was none other than the imperial family.

Based on the powerful imperial authority of the mighty empire, Imperial Consort Rielen and the two princesses each held tea parties or social gatherings to solidify their positions.

Since the empress originally had no interest in such things, she rarely appeared except at official occasions.

If Imperial Consort Rielen mainly gathered noble ladies, Selena and Rosabel gathered young ladies of similar age with whom they could communicate.

“Lady Mariel, by the way, did you acquire the publishing house you mentioned last time?”

“…No, I acquired a different bookstore instead.”

“Oh my. My brother also acquired a bookstore recently—may I know the store’s name?”

What Selena had invited to the tea party she casually held in the imperial garden were the young ladies of Duke Versia’s household and Count Merdy’s household.

Having maintained steady exchanges since childhood, the advantage was that they didn’t need to put on airs compared to other gatherings.

While listening to their conversation, Selena was surprised not only that Mariel was acquiring a publishing house, but even more so that she had acquired a bookstore.

Mariel reads books?

Nonsense.

Selena unconsciously looked at her with suspicious eyes, but seeing her endlessly serious face, she was uncertain.

“There’s a book that’s recently popular… would Your Highness like to read it once as a pastime?”

As if to resolve Selena’s curiosity, Count Merdy’s daughter Alissa, who had been quiet, smiled brightly and spoke up.

Currently, Count Merdy operated the empire’s largest trading company. If her brother was the heir, he should be busy with successor lessons, so suddenly acquiring a bookstore was also strange.

That night, Selena focused only on reading and repeated it about twice before going to bed.

‘And I can’t be the only one reading this.’

As soon as dawn broke the next day, she sent a book each to Imperial Consort Rielen and Princess Rosabel’s palaces.

Also, following yesterday, she called Alissa and Mariel to share stories about Masked Ball without mentioning the title.

“A message has arrived from Imperial Consort Rielen.”

Two days later, she had lunch with the two who had likewise read the book Selena sent.

When Knights of the Sky later came out into the world, they gathered once more and realized that Masked Ball was not the author’s lucky break.

“I want to actually meet Karma.”

Everyone present agreed with Selena’s casually thrown remark.