It seemed like their older sisters were slow to react to unexpected situations, as none of them stepped forward.
At that moment, Lilliana thought this was a perfect chance to step in as the older princess and mediate the situation—if she set an example, she could earn points.
Lilliana stepped onto the stage where Sasha and Nanaen were, putting on a deliberately stern tone. “What kind of reckless behavior is this in front of His Majesty? Apologize at once, Rosasia.”
“I have nothing to apologize for.”
Lilliana cheered inwardly. Wasn’t Sasha practically handing her the perfect excuse to press her further?
“Sasha, no matter how much older you are than Nana, this is unacceptable. What kind of disgraceful behavior is this for a princess?”
“…”
“It’s not too late. Apologize properly to Nana for your rudeness.”
“I already told you I haven’t done anything wrong that warrants an apology.”
“Ha, this won’t do. You’re determined to invite punishment, aren’t you?”
Having secured her justification, Lilliana’s orange eyes gleamed. She didn’t even realize that her face was openly lit up with joy. She came up with a suitable punishment to humiliate Sasha without dirtying her own hands.
“Your dress has wine on it, Nana.”
“Huh? Oh, yes. Just a little.”
“Sometimes, the best way to teach someone who doesn’t understand their mistakes is to put them in the same situation. Go ahead, spill the wine too.”
Her gesture as she handed a wine glass to Nanaen was exceedingly gentle. The hand that handed Nanaen a wine glass was impossibly gentle. Caught off guard, Nanaen took it, looking visibly flustered.
“…I think that’s a bit much. I don’t want to make a big scene.”
“It’s your rightful claim. As your older sister, I give you permission. Go ahead.”
“…”
Nanaen glanced nervously at Sasha out of the corner of her eye. Sister Sasha, this is taking way too long. What do I do now?
But Sasha only kept her gaze fixed on the floor, her expression unreadable. Just as the delay was starting to feel unnatural, a new figure stepped onto the stage.
“Can’t do it? Want me to help?”
“Ah—”
Sehera grabbed Nanaen’s wrist and swung it with a forceful motion. By the time Nanaen blinked, the situation was already over. In her line of sight was Sasha, her face drenched in wine. As Nanaen stood there, stunned by the sudden turn of events, Sehera shamelessly spoke up.
“Oh my, what a shame. My hand slipped a little while trying to help Nana.”
“…”
It took Sasha a moment to finally open her eyes. Droplets of red wine dripped from the tips of her eyelashes. As Sasha stood there in her pitiful state, Sehera and Lilliana smirked with satisfaction. It was then that someone shouted.
“Lo-Look at the floor!”
The white rose petals that had fallen onto the spilled wine were disintegrating as if corroded.
“Po-Poison! It’s reacting to poison!”
“The glass Princess Golden Deer offered to Princess Silver Bird was poisoned…!”
Sasha brushed her damp bangs back and spoke. “I told you I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Nanaen, as if waiting for this moment, shoved Sehera’s shoulder aside and approached Sasha. Tears clung to her deer-like eyes. “Si-Sister…! Poison?! I had no idea…!”
“Yes, I know. When I refused the glass, you tried to drink it yourself.”
“Was that why you stopped me from drinking it…?”
“You’re annoying, but you’re still my sister.”
At Sasha’s words, Nanaen dramatically covered her mouth with her hands. Her pitiful, as if deeply moved, was perfect for swaying the audience.
Gasps of admiration erupted from various corners of the banquet hall. The atmosphere had completely shifted now.
Sasha and Nanaen exchanged glances. The look they shared was far from the tender display they had just put on—it was cold and calculating.
This should be enough. The warm act ended here. It was time to let the chill set in.
Sasha slowly turned her head. Lilliana and Sehera, who were at a loss and visibly flustered, flinched under Sasha’s gaze. Sasha spoke. “There’s always a reason when older sisters remain silent. The wise ones seemed to be observing the situation. Sister Lilliana, perhaps you should’ve waited until things were clearer.”
“…!”
There’s nothing more painful than being compared to someone else. Lilliana, whose abilities as the older sister were being criticized, trembled with anger.
“And you, Sister Sehera.”
“W-What?”
“You always resort to violence the moment you get an excuse. If you abuse your status as a member of the imperial family, how can the people below trust and follow you?”
“You…!”
The nobles, who had long been dissatisfied with Sehera’s behavior, nodded in agreement. With just one remark, the nobles began to empathize with Sasha, seeing their own situations reflected in hers. The nobles whispered among themselves.
“People have always said Princess Early Summer is hard to serve. She’d slander anyone she dislikes.”
“Princess Silver Bird handled this so gracefully. Honestly, it’s hard to tell who’s the older sister now.”
“Right? One helps her younger sister even if she’s annoying, while the other tries to slander her own sister…”
“Honestly, doesn’t it seem like Princess Early Summer is just jealous of Princess Silver Bird? This is why you can’t trust rumors.”
Realizing she was utterly defeated, Sehera’s eyes widened in fury. As Sasha passed her, she whispered, “This is what happens when you keep crossing lines.”
“…!”
At that moment, Sehera grasped the entire situation. Not because she suddenly grew smarter but because her tendency to blame others inadvertently led her to the truth.
“Sasha! This was all your—!”
Deng-Deng—the sound of the bell drowned out her outburst.
“The voting period has ended!” Marquis Osbond’s booming voice quieted the banquet hall.
Servants bustled about, preparing to tally the votes. In the meantime, Sasha pretended not to notice Sehera’s murderous glare piercing her cheek and composed her expression. After wiping the wine a few times, the handkerchief quickly became unusable. Regen, who had approached silently at some point, held out his own without a word.
“Thank you.”
“…”
He didn’t even say the usual ‘You’re welcome.’ Regen’s actions were kind, but his lips were tightly sealed and his expression cold.
He’s angry. Really angry. Sasha wanted to sigh.
Unable to use Regen’s handkerchief out of guilt, Sasha held it awkwardly—until someone else approached her.
“Please accept this, Your Highness.”
“Sir Yulis?”
The knight with the stern demeanor offered her a handkerchief. A quick glance showed that Lilliana was too preoccupied arguing with Sehera to notice. Yulis’ gesture of goodwill was clearly independent of Lilliana’s intentions.
Sasha revised her opinion of Yulis. Just because he seemed devoid of emotion, like he was imitating an inanimate object, didn’t mean he lacked his own will. She quietly accepted the handkerchief, and Yulis returned swiftly to his master without waiting for a word of thanks. Using Yulis’ handkerchief, she wiped the back of her neck.
Watching her, Regen unconsciously opened his mouth. “Why that one?”
“Huh?”
“…”
When Sasha looked up, as if she hadn’t heard him properly, he clamped his mouth shut again.
Regen realized that complaining about her using another man’s handkerchief was not something a knight should say aloud. Still, he couldn’t completely suppress his displeasure, and his brows furrowed briefly. Of course, even that expression only added to his charm, causing a few onlookers nearby to stifle their gasps.
The Favor Coins were standardized items, making them easy to measure. There was no need to count them one by one; weighing them on a scale was enough, so the tally was completed quickly.
“I will now announce the results.”
Banners embroidered with the symbols of each princess were hung on flagpoles and raised one by one. The height at which the banners were hung represented the rankings of the competition. And the highest banner hung was a gray-white one embroidered with a bird.
“First place goes to Princess Silver Bird’s knight, Sir Regen.”
At the very last moment, Princess Rosasia turned the tables and won first place. The dramatic twist brought a round of applause from the nobles.
