Ch#30

Episode 30

Stealing guests from a rival's ball in social circles is a time-honored tradition.

This time, the situation just unfolded on a slightly larger scale.

The noblewomen of the Capital's social circles now stand at a crossroads of choice.

'Will they participate in my party, even risking being cast out by the Empress, the mistress of the inner palace, and Evangeline, who already reigns as the flower of social circles?'

Or.

'Will they ignore me, who hasn't even received formal recognition as Crown Princess, and side with the Empress and Evangeline who hold vested power?'

They might all ponder a bit, but.

The conclusion is practically already decided.

'Of course, they'll side with the Empress and Evangeline.'

If I had built some standing in social circles over time, it might be different, but.

I just holed up in Delphin Residence.

Aside from getting the Artanoos Hall from the Emperor, I haven't shown any ability.

So who would take a risk and believe in me?

'...Well, I have to make them think that way!'

The method to make them believe this was simple.

"...I don't know what to do. I have no close friends, and I can't ask Her Majesty the Empress for help either."

Letting out a sigh full of worry and expressing anxiety, Viscountess Filern sympathetically grabbed my hand.

"Oh my! How pitiful, Your Highness. You couldn't even hold a proper wedding ceremony; you must make the wedding banquet a success."

She pretended to be on my side.

"I'll try my best to encourage people around me to attend. If you give me the invitations, I'll diligently distribute them!"

"Oh my, thank you. Madam! You are truly my real friend."

Suppressing disgust, I held her hand in return.

In fact, this was a veiled mockery.

It's the wedding banquet of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Moreover, held at the Artanoos Hall, the highest-ranking hall where coronations are held.

What would happen if a minor noble like Viscountess Filern went around begging her acquaintances to attend such an event?

'Of course, it would lower the banquet's prestige. It would also be like advertising that there aren't enough attendees.'

The reason Viscountess Filern says she'll do that now is for the same purpose.

To lower the prestige of my banquet and advertise that there are no attendees.

And this news would reach the Empress and Evangeline's ears.

'That's even better.'

I had a maid bring invitations stamped with the Crown Princess's seal.

"Please distribute them to as many people as possible."

Viscountess Filern, delighted as she received the invitations, asked in a low voice.

"But did His Majesty the Emperor permit the use of the Crown Princess's seal?"

I shook my head.

"No. But His Highness the Crown Prince gave it to me, saying I could use it."

I didn't forget to blush slightly, playing the role of a new bride rejoicing in her husband's affection.

I could see Viscountess Filern eagerly taking the bait I threw.

And I scattered a very decisive piece of bait.

"Also, I had a brilliant idea, you know? Want to hear what you think about it?"

Viscountess Filern's eyes lit up.

"What kind of brilliant idea?"

* * *

Viscountess Filern, who had secretly changed clothes and gone to see Evangeline, spilled all the information she had gathered in one day.

Holding the invitation stamped with the Crown Princess's seal, Evangeline snorted.

"How dare she use the Crown Princess's seal arbitrarily. This alone could be a sufficient problem."

"She doesn't seem to know that either. Well, she did say His Highness the Crown Prince permitted it......"

Then Evangeline's expression immediately crumpled.

"So what! Only His Majesty the Emperor can grant permission to use an imperial seal!"

"Right! Exactly! That foolish woman doesn't seem to know that either!"

To appease Evangeline's unnecessarily flaring temper, Viscountess Filern whispered the biggest piece of information she had brought.

"She seems terribly afraid there might be no attendees for the banquet in about a month, to the point she's even willing to make a desperate move."

"A desperate move? What kind?"

Evangeline's green eyes gleamed.

"Well. She said she plans to spread a rumor that His Majesty the Emperor might attend the banquet that day!"

"What?"

Evangeline's eyes widened.

This was certainly significant information.

"Really? That idiot said she'd spread a false rumor?"

"Yes. If the Artanoos Hall banquet fails, it's practically a situation where she can't be recognized as Crown Princess, right? So she seems to want to force people to attend by any means."

"That's true."

Moreover, the Empress and Evangeline had already declared that those who attend the banquet that day would face exile from social circles.

So no noblewoman would brazenly attend the Artanoos Hall banquet that day.

And a banquet lacking noblewomen wouldn't be swarming with men alone.

After all, social activities revolve primarily around noblewomen.

That's why salons are also hosted by their mistresses.

"Even if she's desperate, that's too much. Trying to gather people by falsely selling His Majesty the Emperor."

"That woman said, since His Majesty specially granted the Artanoos Hall, if she spreads a rumor that he'll attend the banquet, everyone will believe it."

It wasn't a wrong statement.

For the Emperor to grant the Artanoos Hall to that extent was an unusual event.

"She did use her head a bit."

But only to end up in the palm of my hand.

A spiteful smile hung on Evangeline's lips.

She muttered as she tore the invitation stamped with the Crown Princess's seal to shreds.

"This is how it will end soon anyway."

Still, to be cautious, Evangeline checked through her mother.

Whether the Emperor would truly set foot in the Artanoos Hall that day or not.

And she heard from the Empress that the Emperor had no intention of attending.

"He said he'll decide whether to recognize that woman as Crown Princess based on whether she succeeds in the banquet that day or not."

Then, the outcome is practically already decided.

* * *

Soon, rumors with the exact opposite content began circulating together in social circles.

"I heard His Majesty the Emperor plans to attend the Artanoos Hall banquet in a few days and acknowledge the son and his wife?"

"I heard it's not true. That Duchess Delphine spread a false rumor to gather attendees."

"Would she really spread a false rumor about His Majesty the Emperor?"

"She's desperate because it seems no one will acknowledge her."

"Well. How humiliating would it be if that famous Artanoos Hall is completely empty?"

The story that Hilia was lying was more plausible than the Emperor personally attending for a daughter-in-law who suddenly rolled in through marriage by abduction.

There wasn't a noblewoman unaware of how cold-hearted the Emperor was.

Moreover, wasn't this side a more stimulating and interesting story?

Among them, bets were even placed on this fact.

"Will His Majesty the Emperor really attend the Artanoos Hall that day? I bet the newly bought thoroughbred horse that he won't!"

"I'll bet the newly tailored formal dress I got this time that he won't come either!"

"Wait, then the bet can't happen. No one is betting that His Majesty will come!"

Mocking conversations about this topic went back and forth from all sides.

Amidst this, fatal news arrived for Hilia, who was already in a practically lost atmosphere.

"Marchioness Quinibel suddenly declared she'll host a ball that day?"

Hilia heard the news through Viscountess Filern.

"Yes, Your Highness! Marchioness Quinibel is one of Her Majesty the Empress's closest friends. Moreover, this time she's said to have the honor of being granted the second largest hall in the Empress's palace as the banquet venue!"

Hilia's complexion turned deathly pale.

This was the Empress essentially declaring, through Marchioness Quinibel, that she would ruin Hilia's banquet.

"This is unbelievable! If that happens... the banquet will even fall behind Marchioness Quinibel's......!"

Then no one would recognize Hilia as the true Crown Princess.

Not even the Emperor.

* * *

Watching Viscountess Filern crossing the garden through the window, I chuckled.

"Ah, the bait worked harder than I thought."

Thanks to that, the board grew larger.

Which is, of course, better for me.

"Ah, I'm looking forward to it."

Because I was proceeding with necessary preparations step by step, and Viscountess Filern was playing her role very well.

Translator: Nox