~Chapter 93~
After breaking off her engagement with Johann, Patrizia started showing up at every ball without fail.
Her outfits and accessories became even more extravagant than before.
She was afraid people might look down on her just because she got dumped by the Duke of Blumhardt.
Today was her half-brother’s birthday celebration—a major event attended by many high-ranking nobles—so she put extra effort into her appearance.
“From head to toe, I’m dressed in the best. No one’s going to look down on me.”
Now that Johann was officially engaged to a commoner, the stares might be even worse than usual.
But avoiding the ball would hurt her pride too much.
“Why should I back down and give others the satisfaction?”
Even when her mother told her there was no need to go, she still showed up.
“He wouldn’t actually bring that commoner girl to the ball and humiliate me, right?”
That thought suddenly gave her chills.
But surely, Johann wouldn’t do something so insane—he still had his social image to consider.
“Even if Father acknowledged that girl as a noble, she’s still a commoner at heart!”
But what if he really brought her? How could she face people if that happened? She bit the inside of her cheek, nervous.
“……Now entering!” the attendant announced as the ballroom doors opened.
Patrizia immediately started scanning the room for Johann.
“Huh? Is that… Leah?” Florian mumbled while looking toward the entrance.
“……It’s her!”
Patrizia turned her gaze and saw Johann entering—with Leah.
“Patrizia.”
Burning with anger, Patrizia was about to stomp toward them, but her mother Narcissa grabbed her wrist tightly.
“I told you last time—you’re a princess. Not some low-class market girl,” Narcissa said calmly but firmly.
“But Mother…” Patrizia whined, clearly upset.
“You should’ve known this could happen. They’re engaged, after all. You should’ve been prepared. And that woman… she’s the biological mother…”
Narcissa stared closely at Leah.
“Why does she look so familiar?”
As she slowly walked with her children, the memory came back.
“Right. She used to claim to be Lady Blumhardt’s nanny.”
“She had the nerve to lie to me. I should’ve just snapped her neck that day.”
Finally, Narcissa and her group stopped in front of Johann and Leah.
—
Leah swallowed nervously as Narcissa approached.
“May the blessings of Goddess Hecate be with you. I, Johann of House Blumhardt, greet Her Majesty the Empress, the radiant moon in the heavens,” Johann greeted formally.
Meanwhile, Leah locked eyes with Carmen standing behind the Empress.
Carmen’s icy blue eyes were full of hostility, glaring at her as if trying to kill her with just a look.
“Why is she staring at me like that?”
The open hatred made Leah uncomfortable.
“May the blessings of Hecate be upon you too. It’s been a while, Duke Blumhardt,” Narcissa said while keeping her gaze locked on Leah.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Johann replied.
“Duke, would you please introduce your new fiancée?” Narcissa asked with a smooth, unsettling smile.
“This is my fiancée, Leah von Blumhardt,” Johann said, expressionless as usual.
“May the blessings of Goddess Hecate be with you. I, Leah of House Blumhardt, greet Her Majesty the Empress, the radiant moon of the heavens,” Leah said with a polite curtsy, remembering what Isabella had taught her.
“You shameless girl… claiming to be a nanny,” Narcissa muttered quietly, loud enough for Leah to hear.
Leah’s face froze.
“Right… I lied to her about being Raffi’s nanny that day.”
She hadn’t expected Narcissa to remember that brief meeting.
“What if she starts questioning why I lied?”
Her palms grew sweaty.
If the Empress picked a fight, even Johann might get dragged into trouble. Leah bit her lip nervously.
“……Now entering: His Highness the Crown Prince, Her Highness the Crown Princess, and His Little Highness the Crown Prince’s son!” the attendant shouted just in time, announcing the arrival of the Crown Prince’s family.
The Crown Prince, Matthias, walked toward Narcissa with his wife and child.
“I didn’t expect Your Majesty to attend my birthday celebration,” Matthias said with a polite smile.
“As your mother, it’s only natural for me to come,” Narcissa replied.
“My birth mother rests in the arms of the Goddess…” he said.
“The Crown Prince is my child in spirit. Don’t push me away like that,” Narcissa said as she shamelessly took his hand.
“…You have such a generous heart, Your Majesty,” Matthias said with a forced smile. “Since His Majesty the Emperor isn’t coming today, may I ask Your Majesty to give the blessing speech at my birthday banquet?”
Still smiling, he escorted her to the stage where the royal family’s seats were.
“Phew… thank goodness the Crown Prince arrived.”
Leah let out a quiet sigh of relief as she watched them walk away.
—
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending today’s celebration for the Crown Prince’s birthday…” Narcissa began her speech.
After her speech, attendants brought out a huge four-tier cake decorated with fresh flowers and placed it in front of the Crown Prince’s seat.
Matthias cut the cake with his daughter Lucia, then the gift presentation began.
Leah and Johann soon stepped forward to offer their present.
“We sincerely congratulate Your Highness on your birthday,” Leah said.
“Thank you. And congratulations on your engagement, Duke Blumhardt and Miss Leah,”
Matthias said with a gentle smile.
Looking at him up close, Leah felt a strange sense of familiarity.
“This is supposed to be my first time seeing him, but… it feels familiar. Just like when I visited the Crown Prince’s palace.”
While Leah was lost in thought, Johann handed their gift to the Crown Prince’s personal attendant, who checked it and passed it to Matthias.
“Oh! It’s a painting by Celine Brace!” Matthias stood up in shock.
Celine was a famous artist who lived deep in the woods and only gifted her work to people she liked.
Even as Crown Prince, her art was hard for him to get.
“How did you even get your hands on this?” he asked, clearly amazed.
“The previous owner passed away recently, and it was put up for auction,” Johann replied.
“…It was at auction and I didn’t even know?” Matthias said, frowning as he sat back down.
“What matters is that it’s yours now, Your Highness,” Johann said calmly.
He had been keeping an eye on that black market—not because of illegal activities, but because of possible connections between the Empress and dark magic or monsters.
“Ah… so I should just pretend I don’t know where it came from, huh?” Matthias chuckled.
“Since I’ve gifted Your Highness this rare piece, I hope you’ll turn a blind eye just this once,” Johann added.
“…You’ve got a point. I’ll be generous today,” Matthias said, still staring at the painting.
“Your Highness, perhaps you should admire it later at the palace,” said the Crown Princess, gently touching his arm and handing the painting to an attendant.
“Ahem. I’ve been so distracted by the painting that I’ve completely ignored Miss Leah,” Matthias said.
“Not at all, Your Highness,” Leah quickly waved her hands.
“…Johann, since you’re engaged now, you should bring Leah and Raphaella to visit the palace next time,” Matthias said.
“Yes, Miss Leah, please do visit,” the Crown Princess added.
Unlike the Empress or the princesses, the Crown Princess—Josefina—had a soft impression, but there was real strength behind her calm voice.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Leah answered shyly.
—
Once the gift ceremony ended, the real party began.
The first dance was performed by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
From the second song on, the nobles joined in.
“Leah, don’t be nervous. Just dance like we did last time,” Johann whispered as he led her to the center of the ballroom.
Maybe it was because of his gentle tone, but Leah felt surprisingly calm.
She started off a little stiff and nervous, but as the music flowed, she relaxed—her expression softened, and her movements became graceful.
A soft smile appeared on her lips, filled with pure enjoyment.
The nobles who had been eyeing her with contempt were now staring blankly, caught off guard.
Even Florian, dancing with another noble lady, stumbled when he caught sight of Leah.
Seeing that, Johann moved to block Florian’s view of her.
“…I want to gouge out the eyes of every man who looks at Leah like that.”
