“Alright, everyone, sit down!”

“Yes, sir.”

Whoosh, whoosh. At the snap of his round little fingers, the whole Zebret household moved like toy soldiers.

Crisis resolved.

Sigh... The young lady shook her head, her sigh full of despair.

Just as Rubian was about to sit back down properly, she suddenly lifted her head as if remembering something. Then, cautiously, she turned around.

“......!”

Her eyes locked with Marchioness Averich, who had been staring blankly.

“Hello. Um, my name is Rubian, and I ended up sitting in the front row... I’m sorry. They’re my family, and this is our first time at something like this, so I guess we got a little too excited...”

“Ah—no, no. It’s fine, my lady...”

The Marchioness stammered back without meaning to.

“Thank you for understanding...”

Rubian bowed politely and turned forward again.

“Uuugh. So embarrassing...”

Her family—shameful no matter where she took them. Rubian buried her face in her hands.

“Strange... doesn’t it feel like the embarrassment is falling on that little girl instead?” someone whispered behind.

“Look at that... she controls the entire duke’s household with just her fingertips...”

Murmurs spread through the sanctuary.

“I also heard she’s been undergoing terrifying training with the Zebret Knights.”

“What? Among those brutal northern knights?!”

“She looks as soft as cotton, but maybe she’s unbelievably strong?”

“Wow... maybe that’s why she covers her face. Like a true warrior, hiding her identity.”

“That could be it. Look, even the knights treat her with the utmost respect!”

“Sir Leon Shuzerk just handed her something. Oh my, such a solemn look. Is it a new northern weapon? So scary...”

The whispers grew louder, fueled by exaggeration, swelling all the way to the back where the poor doorman stood.

“Sniff.” The doorman’s face fell as he sniffled.

“I’ve been shouting for ages, but nobody... nobody listens...”

Still, he bravely wiped away his tears.

I am the doorman. My loud voice is my one strength. I’ll fulfill my duty one more time.

“His... His Majesty the Emperor...”

Is here, you fools!! Stop gossiping and listen to me!!

The emperor chuckled at the doorman’s outburst, even patting his shoulder in comfort.

“That’s enough. Their attention is already focused elsewhere.”

The doorman bowed deeply in shame. The emperor lifted his gaze, his eyes landing on the silver head in the distance.

“Ah, I see.”

“So the true power of the North... is right there.”

The prayer gathering ended smoothly.

Everyone kept sneaking glances our way—it seemed the entire Zebret household appearing at the Verdant Festival was a major event.

Honestly? I was bored.

There wasn’t much to do except sit quietly. Prayers were boring.

On top of that, Licht only showed his face briefly before leaving, and neither Olivia nor Titi was here. I had no one to talk to.

I must’ve yawned about 120 times.

Thankfully, my mask hid it. Lucky!

“The Emperor has summoned you.”

“Eh...? Did he catch me yawning...?”

“What nonsense. Look.”

Dad snorted, pointing ahead. A smiling attendant bowed deeply toward me.

An invitation from His Majesty the Emperor!

So instead of going back to the ducal residence, I headed for the emperor’s villa.

My brothers went off to do their own business, and Grandfather and Mom Rosetta were busy with nobles. That left just Dad and me.

“Wow. So shiny.”

Though it was called a villa, it looked like a smaller version of the Imperial Palace itself. I thought we’d head to an audience chamber, but instead, the emperor awaited us in a cozy tea room.

“Welcome, young lady.”

“Y-Your Majesty, I...”

I clumsily grabbed my skirt and bent awkwardly.

The emperor laughed heartily. He looked exactly like Licht—an elegant man, though his laugh was surprisingly boisterous.

“Hahaha, that’s enough. This isn’t the real palace. Be at ease.”

Really? Am I allowed to?

I peeked nervously at Dad.

Dad just chuckled, bent down, and smoothed the wrinkles in my skirt.

“That’s right, Rubi. Stand tall—you’ll ruin your pretty dress if you hunch. You’re wearing something lovely.”

Aaargh, Dad, what about etiquette?!

I whispered sharply:

“Is a dress more important? What if I grow up into some hopeless kid with no manners at all?”

“Hm. Just the fact that you said that means I don’t need to worry.”

He pinched my nose lightly.

The emperor chuckled softly as he watched. Guided by the attendants, we sat down.

“So, why did you summon us? Please, just tell us directly.”

“Hmm.”

Dad’s sharp tone made me hunch over in embarrassment.

“Well... no real reason?”

The emperor spoke casually, as if it were nothing. Huh, is this just their casual culture?

“I’m weak to powerful people, you see.”

His green-blue eyes swept over me kindly.

“I heard there’s a rising power in the North, so I thought I’d get along with them.”

He even winked.

Well, Dad is technically the power of the North.

I just nodded absently.

Soon, maids brought in refreshments. The emperor gestured for me to eat first. I bowed politely.

“Wow. Thank you for the food!”

A strawberry macaron stuffed full of cream—delicious just to look at!

I grabbed one and went straight for my mouth—

“Mmff!”

Ah, right. I was wearing a mask.

The macaron squished against it instead of going in.

Dad laughed helplessly, brushing crumbs off my clothes. The fragile macaron crumbled into sugar dust on the floor.

“Oh no...”

“It’s fine. Just take it off and eat.”

I slowly slipped off my mask. Once Dad confirmed it, he handed me a fresh macaron. One bite—and sweetness filled me from head to toe. So good!

“Having a daughter... really is nice.”

The emperor leaned on one hand, watching me with a gentle smile.

Dad subtly shifted to block his view.

“Don’t look at her with those greedy eyes. She’s mine.”

“Unbelievable.”

The emperor frowned slightly but didn’t argue. His eyes instead fell on the pale-blue cloth folded neatly on the table.

“By the way, young lady. Is your health still unwell? I truly regret that you were caught in such an unfortunate incident.”

“Oh, no, it’s alright.”

It wasn’t the emperor’s fault, after all.

I munched on another macaron and glanced around.

“By the way... where’s Prince Licht?”

“Hmm, good question. He rushed out when he heard you’d be invited... Ah, here he comes.”

The heavy door opened in a hurry.

Licht entered, his soft lemon-colored hair slightly tousled, his usually tidy collar a little messy. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

“Rubian, hello.”

His eyes lit up with joy when they met mine.

“Hello! ...Ah, hello, Your Highness!”

I almost greeted him casually, but catching the emperor’s gaze, I quickly corrected myself. Licht laughed, his eyes crinkling.

“Don’t worry, be casual. It’s fine.”

He hurried closer, followed by an attendant carrying something.

“Eh?! That cake is—”

“I thought you liked it last time... so this is for you.”

It was the limited strawberry cream cake from Jake Tea Salon!

Of course, our villa also received regular deliveries, but we’d already eaten all of that flavor, and the next wouldn’t arrive until two days later!

“Thank you!”

Excited, I quickly grabbed a fork. Licht sat across from me, smiling brightly.

“How is he? He’s my son, but isn’t he wonderful?”

The emperor ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ slid the plate toward me.

“Young lady, never let your perspective grow narrow.”

“Huh?”

Did I mishear?

“Fate is always found close by...”

Crash! A teacup slammed down hard beside me.