“This is an invitation that came directly to me. It would be disrespectful to decline.”
Ignoring the invitation with the name on it was like ignoring the family. So this invitation must have been sent from the beginning, determined not to let me refuse.
So I got curious, who sent me this invitation, Marquis of Sios, or Lize with her? You’ll find out when you get there. If Lizena Youngae didn’t know, she would be very surprised to see me.
I handed the party invitation to Helan and said.
“Tell the butler that I’m going to the marquis’s party tomorrow.”
“Yes, my lady.” Just before Helan left the room.
I lay on the bed feeling tired in my other complicated head.
“Lady, would you like Ruby earrings? Or Garnet earrings?” the maid asked, showing me two shiny red jewelry earrings.
“Yes.” Rubies looked better on loose hair with curly curls. Then the maid put down the garnet earrings she was holding and carefully hung the ruby earrings. Finally, all the decorations were finished.
A young maid who was helping the maids dress up smiled at me. “You’re so beautiful, miss.”
Serious or not, looking at the young maid whose eyes twinkled toward me, I smiled. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such innocent eyes.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
Unlike the hairstyle that was always gracefully arranged to suit the Empress’s dignity, today, she let her hair down like before the marriage.
Silver hair with thick waves and vivid color makeup. The purple dress without silver embellishments was the same color as my eyes.
At that time, I drew a satisfied smile looking at me in the mirror, which felt like I was back in the past, and I heard a knock on the door.
My father walked into the room and paused at me. Then he soon drew a soft smile.
“Yes. Even if you go now… it’s not early.”
“Yeah…. It would be nice if I could go with you, but I’m sorry that something happened today…”
Today, my father couldn’t go to the marquis party with me because something happened to the duke’s estate. I smiled at my father who was chasing and kicking his tongue if it bothered him to let me go alone.
“It’s okay, I’m not going to stay long and I’ll be back soon.”
“Yeah, sure. You’re leaving soon anyway, so you don’t have to get involved with them anymore. And I’ve booked a ship.”
“When is the departure day… Ah, Dad, I think I should go first. Let’s talk when we get back.”
When I asked him that when he had caught the departing ship, I checked the time shortly before the start of the party and exchanged words, and lifted the clutch.
“Okay, let’s go and talk later. I’ll take you to the carriage.”
“Thank you.” I took my father’s hand and hurried to the carriage.
After running for so long, I felt the carriage stop with the squealing of horses. “Young-ae, you have arrived.”
Without stepping out of the wagon, I stood still for a moment and looked at the Marquis’s party hall, where bright lights were flowing out.
The same party hall that I came to with Raymond. As I was holding Raymond’s hand on the stairs leading to the party hall, I and his image passed right in front of me.
Before I left the Empire, I never thought I’d be here again. But when I arrived, I hesitated to take a step in the complexity of my mind, but I let out a short breath and let go of my thoughts.
Just show your face and go back to being a peacock. (T/N: peacock = confident)
I pulled myself together and headed to the party where the soft music played.
“Ellie Croft Young-ae has arrived.” The servant’s voice rang loudly, and as I entered the hall, countless eyes turned to me at once.
Gazes mixed with bewilderment and surprise. Those eyes said they didn’t know I would come here.
I was uncomfortable with people’s eyes, but I was tired of living as an empress and drawing attention, so I skillfully walked to the center of the hall, where the main characters were.
“Thank you for coming, Miss Croft.” As I approached the place where the marquis’s ceremonies were located, the marquis was the first to greet me.
I answered with a smile on my face. “Thank you very much for inviting me to a good place. Marquis,” I said hello to him and turned my gaze to Lizena.
Lizena, who met my eyes, said with a painted smile. “Thank you for illuminating us like this, Miss Croft.”
“········No. Sios Youngae.” Lizena was not surprised to see me.
That means that it is not only the Marquis’ intention to send an invitation. Why? Why the hell did you call me here? I couldn’t understand her mind. Is she worried that I might have a different heart for her son like the marquis…?
No, I’ve never lost to her before to say that. Even if we weren’t close, we weren’t so far apart that we didn’t know each other’s personalities.
You wouldn’t know I wasn’t the one to stop Edmund’s path. At that moment, when she felt strange in her heart, whom she did not understand, the voice of a servant announcing the arrival of the guests resonated loudly in the party hall.
“The Sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor, has arrived!” When I heard that Raymond had arrived, my expression shook greatly.
He set an example for Emperor Nanhuang, who was bewildered by his unexpected appearance.
“…Everyone, get up.” Raymond’s voice came from overhead. I slowly got up. As I raised my head, I naturally met Raymond’s dark eyes. “Why are you here?”
Lizena’s voice split between us as he looked at me with a pitch-black gaze.
“Your Majesty, thank you so much for coming here for Edmund.” Raymond’s gaze, which had been on me, turned to Lizena.
“It’s Edmund’s last birthday with you as a marquis, so of course I have to come.”
Last birthday with his mother? I was wondering what Raymond said. And Lizena’s face hardened a little when she heard those words.
Regena will become Empress, so why is this the last birthday that he’ll spend with his mother? Does it mean the end of being a marquis?
I thought his words were strange, but I stopped thinking at the voice of the marquis that followed. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for coming.” The Marquis greeted Raymond and spoke to the nobles.
“Happy birthday to Edmund today, I would like to thank all of you for visiting Marquis here to give it to me. Then, please enjoy the party with a happy heart.”
Soon the hall was filled with music at the marquis’ words to mark the beginning of the party. Listening to the music, the nobles gathered as if they were enjoying the party, but the eyes were still on Raymond, me, and Lizena. I should get out of here.
Had I known Raymond would be here, I would not have come to the party.
I thought he wouldn’t come here because of the reputation of the future Empress Lizena. It was my misjudgment that I did not expect that his feelings for Lizena and Edmund would be so great.
So it was good for me to leave this place even now. Now that I’ve come to Raymond, I’ve become an uninvited guest at the party.
I told Lizena Young-ae. “Lizena Young-ae, then I’ll go back.”
“Yes, I thought I’d better go back.”
At that moment, I felt Raymond’s gaze toward me. But I didn’t look away from him. When I was about to leave this uncomfortable relationship thinking that Lizena would not want it, Lizena grabbed my arm.
“Young-ae, how can you go back like this already? I don’t feel comfortable if you go back this way. I thought you were truly celebrating Edmund’s birthday for accepting my invitation”
Lizena was looking at me with a sorry expression. But what she said didn’t sound like she was really sorry to me. What she said now was definitely something that could undermine my reputation.
Even though she and Raymond were divorced, she pretended not to be okay, but in fact, she couldn’t relieve her discomfort, so she didn’t leave as soon as she came to the party.
I blinked slowly, wondering if it was Lizena Young-ae who just spoke. However, as if it was not an illusion, Lizena Young-ae’s face did not change.
I moved my lips slowly. “……that can’t be true.”
“If so, I hope you’ll stay a little longer and shine this place while eating delicious food”
“…Yes, Young-ae.” As if there was no malice at all, Rizena looked at me and smiled.
What is the reason for suddenly showing hostility to me, who has resigned from the position of the Empress?
When Rizena’s hearing was available, Raymond’s voice was heard. “I’m going back, so have a good time with Edmund.”
“Your Majesty, please spend some more time with Edmund. It is already starting, If you go, Edmund will be saddened.”
As soon as Lizena finished speaking, the marquis came and said “You do, Your Majesty. Edmund doesn’t seem to want you to go either.”
“Your Majesty ····.” Edmund, in the arms of the Marquis, smiled and reached out to Raymond.