JBOWS 07

⟡Chapter 7⟡

Before she knew it, the day of the Emperor’s birthday banquet had arrived.

It was the first imperial event in several months.

On top of that, news had spread that both the Crown Prince—currently the hottest topic in high society—and Anneliese would be attending together.

Excited nobles, thrilled by the long-awaited banquet, filled the ballroom to the brim.

Anneliese slipped in early, while the place was still relatively empty, and tucked herself away behind a pillar in a corner.

‘I’ll just kill time here until the appointment… then disappear before the Crown Prince arrives.’

For once, she was grateful for the fact that members of the imperial family entered later than the nobility.

She ignored the whispers circulating among the nobles.

“Look over there. That’s Count Solarichen’s daughter.”

“I heard she was ill, but she looks healthier than before.”

Thanks. It was all because she had followed the Grand Duke’s advice and regularly soaked up sunlight like she was photosynthesizing while staying at the estate.

It seemed like she might get through quietly—but every now and then, someone proactive would approach her.

Anneliese had been rereading the speech she prepared overnight—<Marriage Proposal – For the Revival of the North>—when it happened.

“Oh my, Lady Solarichen. You’ve come to the banquet as well?”

It was one of the ladies who had sent her a tea party invitation.

Ah. She didn’t have time for this when she was still figuring out how to appeal to the Grand Duke as a marriage candidate.

Still, Anneliese greeted her with proper etiquette.

The lady flicked her fan and gave her a sideways glance.

“I was so surprised when I heard the news. I came because I was worried about you.”

How kind of her.

Of course, she hadn’t come out of genuine concern.

“To refuse the Crown Prince… I wondered if your standards had risen above the heavens. Though I suppose your personality is a bit unusual! Still, where in the Empire could you possibly find a better match than His Highness?”

Anneliese had already heard that exact sentiment at least five times.

Instead of answering, she pulled out a sheet of paper from beneath her notes.

With a polite smile, she slipped it into the lady’s side.

The lady blinked in confusion.

“What is this?”

Anneliese leaned in and whispered conspiratorially.

“If he’s such a great match, why don’t you take him?”

“…Pardon?”

The paper contained everything about Crown Prince Robert.

His hobbies, his favorite foods, the places he frequently visited—everything.

“I’m giving this to you alone. I foolishly threw away such a good match, but I think you might be able to win him.”

“M-Me?”

“I believe in you. Good luck.”

“Th-Thank you…? I’ll do my best…?”

Still dazed, the lady accepted the paper.

As she read through it carefully, her eyes slowly filled with emotion.

“Oh my… how thoughtful.”

A moment ago she had been glaring, and now she looked completely charmed.

“I won’t let Lady Solarichen’s advice go to waste—I’ll truly do my best!”

After bowing deeply, she hurried off toward the location Anneliese had indicated.

Problem solved.

Using this method, Anneliese had already fended off six noble ladies today.

‘Why do they keep picking fights with me over the Crown Prince? If they’re that jealous, wouldn’t it be more productive to spend that time trying to catch his eye?’

So she helped them be productive.

‘Please, keep him busy for as long as possible.’

Anneliese sincerely wished them success.

Moments later, yet another person approached her.

As she reached for a seventh paper, she relaxed upon seeing who it was.

“Lady Anneliese. I bring a message from Her Highness the Princess.”

The “Crown Prince’s close ally” she had mentioned to Anna Rose was none other than Princess Rozelia.

The princess’s maid quietly handed over a note and disappeared.

Avoiding others’ gaze, Anneliese unfolded the note behind the pillar.

Anneliese, be careful. It seems my brother is preparing a public proposal at the birthday banquet.

Also, I received the freesia bouquet you sent. I’ll be sure to pass it on to Mother. Did you grow them yourself? The fragrance is very strong—she’ll love them.

Reading it, Anneliese clicked her tongue.

I knew it.

A public proposal… just hearing it is horrifying.

Fortunately, she had already secured Princess Rozelia’s cooperation in advance.

Earlier that afternoon, before the banquet, Anneliese had gone to visit her.

Even aside from the Crown Prince, the two had been on friendly terms.

Though they were raised by the same parents, unlike her brother, Princess Rozelia was intelligent and considerate.

The princess had greeted her warmly—but upon hearing her proposal, her expression turned serious.

[What? You’re going to propose to the Grand Duke today? Anneliese… don’t misunderstand me, but… have you been under a lot of stress lately?]

[No. I’m perfectly fine.]

Even after she said she was fine, the princess clearly didn’t believe her.

[Marriage to the Grand Duke? No matter how hard things are, you mustn’t make such an extreme choice.]

[Is it really that bad?]

[Anneliese. I’ve seen that man’s face. That… was not the face of a human.]

‘So this is how most people react?’

If anything, such an extreme reaction only made her more curious about the Grand Duke’s appearance.

[It was horrifying. Truly unbearable to look at—he’s incredibly ugly.]

[Alright, alright! Your Highness, please calm down!]

She had been so horrified that it took considerable effort to soothe her.

[Don’t tell me you’re trying to sacrifice yourself because you’re worried he might be angry about that day? Why are you so kind? You should just accept my brother’s proposal instead…]

It seemed she had misunderstood something, but explaining would have been too complicated, so Anneliese let it be.

‘Anyway, since the princess promised to do her best to stop the Crown Prince, things should work out, right?’

Ending her brief recollection, Anneliese adjusted her outfit.

It was time to leave.

The meeting place—the corridor of the northern tower—required a bit of a walk from the ballroom.

‘I thought the northern tower hadn’t been used for a long time.’

Though it was maintained out of formality, the empty corridor felt eerie, with no one stationed there.

As she reached the staircase connecting the ballroom building to the northern tower—

She heard footsteps following the path she had taken.

‘Who is that?’

Quickly, Anneliese hid in the empty space beneath the stairs.

The person chasing after her in hurried steps was the Crown Prince.

“Anneliese? I’m sure I saw her heading this way…”

The moment she heard him muttering, her face twisted in irritation.

‘Even with the princess and all those ladies distracting him, he still forced his way out.’

This was supposed to be his mother’s birthday banquet—was this really the time to be chasing after a woman?

What an unfilial son.

‘He’s definitely not fit to be emperor. Anna Rose needs to bring in the Third Prince soon.’

She waited for him to leave, but the Crown Prince was persistent.

He went up and down the stairs, scanning the area—until he came dangerously close to where she was hiding.

And of all places, it was a dead end. There was nowhere to run.

‘That lady I sent earlier went toward the palace garden… I need to lure him there somehow.’

Suppressing a sigh, Anneliese prepared to step out.

Just as she was about to move—

Her mouth was suddenly covered.

An arm wrapped firmly around her waist.

“Shh.”

Someone whispered into her ear.

In the midst of the ongoing ball at the imperial palace—

A man dressed in black slipped quietly into one of the palace buildings.

It was the residence of the Imperial Consort—the husband of the current Empress.

“Count Solarichen appears to be staying in his territory for the time being, using poor health as an excuse. Only his two daughters are in the capital.”

“…We’re too late.”

The mercenary’s report was disappointing.

Lamierre Hildegard, the Imperial Consort, frowned.

His plan to summon the Count to the capital and keep him there as long as possible had failed.

“He barely comes to the capital even after his leg injury. This complicates things… tsk.”

To bring the Count back under a plausible pretext, they would have to wait for another opportunity.

Ever since Anneliese Solarichen rejected the Crown Prince’s proposal, Lamierre had been in a foul mood.

‘Everything was proceeding according to plan… so why did she refuse?’

Hadn’t she always been quiet and obedient?

Who would have thought she’d have the audacity to reject the Crown Prince?

‘There wasn’t even the slightest sign. I had no time to prepare.’

Where had things gone wrong?

Because of it, he had wasted more time than expected revising his plans.

‘And at a time when I’m already busy with the Third Prince.’

The mercenary, still kneeling, asked,

“What should we do about the Grand Duke? Shall we find another treasure to win him over?”

“Forget it. Since he rejected a deal with the imperial family, he’s no longer of use.”

If he had become an ally, he would have been a great asset—that was why they had tried arranging a marriage with his daughter.

But the Grand Duke had proven to be no easy opponent. Lamierre swallowed his disappointment.

“As rumored, he has no interest in women. Let him stay holed up in the North. As long as he remains neither ally nor enemy, that’s enough.”

The Grand Duke had never once involved himself in imperial politics.

‘Which means he won’t side with the Third Prince either.’

“He’s probably already on his way back to the North. There’s no reason for him to remain in the capital any longer.”