The forthcoming imperial banquet and meeting that I eagerly anticipate are set to unfold three weeks from today.

Time seems to have swiftly passed by – every day, the address of 'Your Imperial Majesty' from the servants continues to carry a sense of unfamiliarity. Despite hearing it repeatedly in the recent weeks, its reality has yet to fully sink in.

It feels good to hear, but it still didn’t feel like it’s mine, however hard I try to remind myself of the reality that I’m already the empress of the Ruivenfiere Empire. I wonder how long it will take me to get used to it. Meeting the nobles might look like a pleasant event, but it’s not different from a battlefield.

The initial day will feature a banquet attended by various nobles hailing from high society – encompassing individuals ranging from dukes and marquesses to those holding lower titles such as barons and knights.

The second day is reserved exclusively for the dukes, while the remaining duchesses will partake in a separate gathering, likely a tea party.

This division acknowledges that not all women share a keen interest in political affairs.

Despite the refusal of four noble houses in Marrossi to accept my invitation, what holds significance is the confirmed attendance of various dukes and duchesses from diverse regions, along with some of their sons and daughters who already came of age.

The prospect is daunting as this event marks my inaugural hosting endeavor, yet it presents an ideal opportunity to formally introduce myself.

It is a pity that my mother is incapable of personally introducing me to the guests due to her deteriorating health. She experiences shortness of breath, chest pains, mental distress, frequent mood swings, and a drastic loss of weight from the mercury poisoning.

I can’t show her to everyone in that state because the blame will be on me even if I'm not at fault when she had high mercury exposure. Her survival thus far is nothing short of miraculous, considering the lethal nature of mercury inhalation.

Though expressing deep-seated pain and resentment towards her on a daily basis may serve as my sole outlet, it is a coping mechanism for the years of anguish I have endured.

I let out a sigh as I reflect on my insecurities. I got what I wanted, yet what I'm feeling is the opposite of joy. This isn't how things should be like.

The gentle autumn breeze wafted through, lifting strands of my hair. Appreciating the soothing coolness of the weather, I closed my eyes, seeking solace in the contrast to the usual scorching temperatures.

“You seem exhausted, Eviona. Have you grown tired of everything?” I opened my eyes upon hearing the familiar voice – it was my father, Elliot Ruivenfiere, the former emperor of the empire who stepped down to take care of me in exile.

Even if he’s the only person who can fully understand me, I’m not sure if I can trust him the second time around, for I disobeyed his last warnings. It was an ugly memory of him stopping me from returning to the capital to overthrow the empress, and now …

“I’m not sure if you’re mocking me, but I admit that I’m a bit relieved to see you here, father,” I couldn’t look at him in his eyes because seeing him makes me feel vulnerable.

“I was merely asking if you’re tired. You seem to be in deep thoughts, being in this garden alone,” Without further words, he sat next to me on the bench, as we were in the private garden in the palace. “I’m not trying to mock you, but I want to know how you’re doing.”

Now that I think about it, he must’ve snuck into the palace by teleportation. Because if he went through the gates, someone will inform me of it.

“Where’s Marius? Did you bring him with you?”

“I have. I can no longer find an excuse since he kept on asking where his mother is. The good thing at least is I won the heart of that child. He’s comfortable with me even though we didn’t know each other for long. He’s only composed at first, but he’s fond of playing when he loosens up. I heard that he never experienced playing back in Eurhyia because Corianne had been too strict to make him study different things.”

Winning the heart, he said. Father has always been good at winning people’s hearts. He knows how to deal with the most intimidating people with his warmth. If it wasn’t only for me, he sure will have reigned as a great emperor who cares for everyone, including the servants’ well-being.

He’s not expressing his thoughts, but I can hear them loud and clear – that he’s disappointed in me, yet he wants to lead me to the right path. Is he even capable of anger? I was expecting him to rebuke me, but he didn’t.

His presence removed my feeling of isolation, and him being by my side alone was enough. I know that there are serious things we have to talk about, but he set all of those aside.

Father's eyes were distant, and I saw sadness glinting in them. I can imagine that it's because visiting this palace reminds him of the good and bad memories he had here. Most of those are bad knowing that his marriage with my mother didn't end well. Will he visit her?

“Have you heard of what happened to the former empress?” I observed how he’ll react, but he kept his expression blank.

“We Ruivenfieres have a bad habit of spying on people we dislike in secret. It runs in the blood, I know. So, yes. It must’ve been hard for her.” His words rang bells in my ears.

We indeed tend to watch people from afar without their knowledge, and it's exactly the reason why Heloise created a mirrored passage that connects Marrossi’s palace to Corianne’s room in the Eurhyian palace. It was meant to check how she's doing, as she feels guilty about what she's done to her sister whom she threw away out of jealousy.

“I can’t believe you feel bad for her. You’re impossible, father,” I let out a small smile. “You’re far too kind.”

“Those were the exact words Heloise told me back then. I was far too kind to discipline people. I dreamt of leading an empire where people will follow because of authority, not by tyranny. But she wanted to be a tyrant and we’re not on the same page. Our disagreement didn’t mean that I despised her, though. But let’s not talk about that,” He forced to smile back, even though I know that it wasn’t sincere. The thing about him is that when he experiences pain, he'll reflect on it daily as if he'll mourn for it for the rest of his life.

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"Do you remember the old days when you were young? Those times when I told you to spend leisure time with your brothers. Yet, even in your younger years, you isolated yourself from them."

“Azriel is still missing, while Hervouet said that he’ll stay in his estate in Greizenne for a while since he can’t stand the sight of me who betrayed him. So, I’m by myself now, father. You’re the only family I have left, including Corianne. I wouldn’t call her a friend but just like you, she understands why I'm doing all this."

“Well, I’m here, my child,” Hearing him call me that was enough to feel that I’m not alone. He might scold me sooner or later, but I’ll understand that.

He may not be here to support me, but he’s here because I’m his daughter.

“Say, father. What if I won’t get the support of high society? What should I do?”

"The dukes are my relatives, and, indeed, you haven't met most of them. Just show them who you are and give them a reason why they should respect you. But in this world, you can’t please everyone. Let them be.”

The dukes are his relatives, but the only grand duke isn’t.

“But you’re not related to the grand duke by blood,” I pointed out unmindfully.

"Ah yes," he chuckled. "Are you still fond of him? During your school days, you almost begged me to marry him. What kind of spell did he cast on you? That you, of all people, fell for him? It's been around 16 years since you last met him. Now that he's a grand duke, he might have a wife now.”

“I held my first tea party out of curiosity, and I invited the ladies from Herzoyona Eskal. I tried to befriend them, and I heard that he kept on rejecting marriage proposals as if he was not interested in marriage,” Realistically speaking, even if he’s not married, it’ll be complicated for us to be together, because he can’t abandon Herzoyona Eskal for personal reasons.

However, I have not received any communication from Lady Louvienne. Despite instructing her and manipulating the situation to gather information about Raleigh, no letter or message has reached me. Should I consider contacting her regarding this apparent disobedience?

“It’s not that I’m discouraging you, but I believe it’s time to leave the past behind. He’s not the only man in the world. He's the only heir of his deceased parents so he can’t leave his duchy for that.”

He didn’t have to tell me. But I can’t help but be curious about him. At least, I’d like to have the freedom to think about him.

I know, however, that it’s not like me to sit down and watch.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

As the day of the banquet dawned, a myriad of emotions swirled within me – a blend of excitement, pride, fear, and anxiety.

This concoction of feelings prevented me from getting any sleep. This marks the most significant day of my life – the inaugural encounter with individuals in high society, presenting an ideal opportunity to forge valuable connections.

The grand banquet hall was filled with people of different ages. It was almost sunset, and I overhear conversations where people are mumbling.

‘She must’ve forced the former empress to abdicate the throne. How shameless.’

‘The banquet is grand, but some nobles are missing. Is it a way to show that they don’t support her?’

I held the glass in my gloved hand tightly until it broke into pieces. I incinerated the shards before they could reach the ground, ensuring that no one noticed the discreet flames.

Damn it. I have to change public opinion towards me. I can't mess up.

I had the servant give me a new glass of wine, but long before I approach someone, the banquet door opened – revealing a man with an icy expression and captivating purple eyes, arm-in-arm with a lady wearing a midnight blue layered gown embroidered with gold, floral patterns with white tulle and lace trimmings at the bottom.

The lady's gown harmonizes with the color of the man's suit and cloak. The crest of the roaring lion, subtly embroidered on his suit, may not be overtly prominent, yet it still captivates attention.

Its understated presence is sufficient to identify it as the emblem of Herzoyona Eskal.

Their arrival made a grand entrance that instantly seized the attention of the nobles in the banquet hall, almost as if they orchestrated a deliberate delay to ensure all eyes were drawn to them.

The rationale behind Raleigh accompanying Lady Louvienne remains unclear to me. The announcement of their entrance eluded my attention as I was engrossed in observing their presence.

Despite the passage of years, Raleigh's appearance appears relatively unchanged, except for his noticeable growth in height.

Witnessing him escorting a different woman evokes a sense of discomfort within me. The sight of him with another woman feels unsettling and unfamiliar. Moreover, I used to be in Louvienne’s place many years back.

This must be Lady Louvienne’s first appearance at a banquet held in Marrossi, but her dignified smile left people in awe. The nobles began whispering, saying,

‘Oh my, she’s the grand duchess of Eskal? She’s stunning from all angles. Her exquisite attire appears to be a strategic move aimed at setting a new trend in the fashion industry.’

‘Who would’ve thought that the grand duke will marry someone?’

‘Thanks to the lady's allure, all eyes are now fixated on them, drawing attention away from the empress.’

‘The grand duke may look cold as usual, but maybe the lady softened his heart, who knows? I want to know more. The curiosity is killing me.’

The intrusive thoughts and whispers surrounding Raleigh and Louvienne became unbearable, as the gaze of my people shifted towards them. It’s time to take action.

I made my way between crowds. They parted, as though I was a running water flowing through a rocky stream. The nobles kept their attention fixated on me, so much that I can feel their burning gazes at the back of my head.

I can hear their voices well louder than the music playing in the background.

'She walks with pride as if she knows her worth. Who does she think she is?’

‘Her posture shows confidence within her.’

‘Though the empress is an epitome of elegance, she’s like a stranger who only called herself an empress.’

I wanted to yell at the top of my lungs, but I couldn’t. The appearance of the two ruined everything – and I can no longer think of anything to say to my guests. It was as if, my first appearance in high society is also the ending, as I dug my own grave.

How did things end up like this?

“I’d like to ask for your attention, everyone,” Everyone looked behind them – from the center stairs where I came from. There was Hervouet, standing in a regal manner as if he were the emperor. I thought he won’t come to the banquet?

“You people are shameless," his eyebrows were furrowed, and anger is written all over his face. But due to his distance and the mixture of thoughts I'm hearing from people around me, I couldn't hear what he was thinking.

"I can no longer feign ignorance. Most people here are talking ill behind Her Majesty's back – no, as a matter of fact, it was loud enough to be heard by her. How can you say those in her face?”

The banquet fell into an eerie silence, almost as if the attendees acknowledged their complicity in the situation. Could it be that he is attempting to spare my reputation, given the undeniable truth that the event has only just commenced, yet I am already struggling to oversee it effectively?

“I believe, people have the right to have doubts,” I looked back upon hearing the words – words I never expected coming from Raleigh himself. “Ever since we were outside, people are talking about the new empress, because many nobles assume that she forced the late empress to abdicate the throne. Not only that. She never had an appearance in high society, so people hardly know her. I suppose you’re willing to explain yourself, Your Majesty?” Raleigh said while flashing a wry smile.