Chapter 118
The banquet to welcome the Northern Empire’s envoys was held with extra grandeur.
Many high-ranking nobles from the capital attended. An orchestra of more than ten musicians played classical music from one side of the hall.
Nobles chatted, danced in small groups, and enjoyed their food freely.
I sat beside the Emperor, eating whatever he placed on my plate, while looking around the hall. I recognized some faces — Duke and Duchess Tradi, Oscar, and Yudis.
Yudis was holding baby Yubel in her arms. Next to her, Boris looked extremely uncomfortable, poking at his food with his fork.
“Your Grace.”
The envoys from the Northern Empire sat not far from us.
Winter wasn’t by my side today as “Baron Illin.” Instead, he sat with the envoys in the traditional clothing of the Northern Empire, as “Duke Winter Orsches.”
The envoys seemed nervous sitting near him. They kept glancing at him as if they wanted to speak, but no one dared to start.
Finally, a beautiful woman I remembered was named Palemon couldn’t hold back. She pointed to Winter’s chest and asked:
“Whose child is that?”
“Hm?”
Winter had Shuran clinging to his chest. He glanced at Shuran and calmly said:
“My child.”
“…What?!”
The envoys were shocked. Palemon forced a shaky laugh.
“Oh, this must be one of your jokes, Your Grace! Hahaha! You always did have a great sense of humor.”
“Haha! Of course, it’s just a joke!”
Winter stayed silent, so their fake laughter quickly faded.
“Daughter.”
While staring blankly at the envoys, I heard someone call me. I quickly looked up.
The Emperor was glaring.
“…Wipe your mouth.”
“…Slurp.”
When did that happen?
Trying not to look embarrassed, I dabbed my mouth with a napkin.
The Emperor sighed softly.
“Why don’t you go mingle with the other young nobles?”
Reluctantly, I stood up. As I left the head table, it felt like the noise in the hall quieted a little — maybe my imagination.
Not knowing where to go, I looked around and started toward Oscar — my “safe zone.”
But before I reached him, a familiar older lady blocked my way.
“Marchioness Haiga!”
It was Ersha Haiga. I was so glad to see her that I almost jumped.
Her neatly tied silver hair and elegant appearance were just as I remembered.
“My lady, if I told you I always knew you would bring great fortune someday, would you believe me?”
She smiled warmly and held my hands.
I didn’t bother hiding my smile. In a way, I owed my current comfortable life in the palace to her — she was the one who told the Emperor about me, which led him to find me while he was disguised in Rohia.
We began walking together naturally.
“When I heard His Majesty made you his goddaughter, I was surprised… but also, I somehow expected it. I thought you would win Silis’s heart one way or another. Even if not this way, you would.”
She spoke happily, telling me more.
“The day I first met you, he sent me a letter. It said, ‘I think I’ve found a good friend for Irina. This girl can eat three buns in one bite — she might cure Irina’s shyness.’ Irina is my only granddaughter, and the future heir of House Haiga.”
“I’ve heard a lot about Miss Irina from His Majesty. When we first met, he said he wanted to introduce us so we could be friends.”
The Marchioness glanced around and sighed.
“My son Yuron, Irina’s father, is sickly and not fit to be head of the house, so we plan to pass the title directly to her. But she’s a bit too shy, which worries me…”
I guessed Irina might be here too, so I looked around, but the Marchioness shook her head.
“She came, but large crowds scare her. She must have hidden somewhere.”
I understood she wanted me to befriend Irina.
“I’d be happy to approach her if I see her! I’d really like to be her friend.”
“Thank you. She always wears a hairpin with a red rose, so you’ll recognize her.”
She laughed softly, then we walked once around the hall before she encouraged me to meet other nobles my age.
As she left, I heard her mutter,
“People with talent like hers always live in the storm’s center… but to catch his eye, of all people…”
Sigh. Totally a misunderstanding.
But I couldn’t correct her — because soon, I would have to make that “misunderstanding” look like the truth.
After parting from the Marchioness, I wandered for a bit, then returned to the hall.
Winter was watching me. I straightened my clothes and nodded at him.
Palemon, who had been waiting, stood and announced:
“Your Majesty, on this special occasion, His Majesty the Glass Emperor of the Northern Empire has sent a gift.”
The Emperor, putting vegetables on my plate, replied,
“I wasn’t told this was a special occasion.”
“Today is the day His Grace, Duke Winter Orsches, asks for Lady Izana Rohia’s hand in marriage.”
The Emperor nearly dropped his tongs. The hall fell silent as nobles exchanged shocked glances.
I tried my best to look surprised — covering my mouth with my hands, raising my eyebrows — but it felt too fake, so I stopped and just watched the Emperor.
He seemed to be trying to stay calm.
“…Perhaps you don’t know, but that duke already proposed once and I refused. Under Western Empire custom, he must present three specific gifts here and now to regain his right as a suitor.”
“Of course, the Duke is prepared. And our Emperor sent a gift to show his wish for this marriage to succeed.”
Palemon’s tone was smooth, but the Emperor’s voice stayed cold.
“Such matters can be discussed after the proposal succeeds. First, let the Duke present the three gifts now.”
Palemon’s smile slowly faded. He set down his glass and spoke with quiet force.
“His Majesty the Glass Emperor says that if Lady Izana Monica Rohia comes to the Northern Empire, he will gladly forgive your Empire’s remaining debt.”
The hall erupted in shock.
The Western nobles, who had been enjoying the drama, now looked pale at Palemon’s final words.
