“Are you enjoying the banquet?”

“Does it look like it?”

“You certainly seem more dressed up than usual.”

“……”

“I mean, you look uncomfortable.”

“I see.”

He still had the knack for toying with people with his words. Violet briefly pitied the woman who would become Roen’s wife, whoever she might be.

“I heard you were partnered with His Highness.”

So, where’s your partner? Roen’s unspoken question made Violet smile. She had used the excuse of being tired to leave unilaterally, but the blame would fall on Rajaden anyway.

“I’m tired.”

“Hang in there a bit longer.”

“You look tired too.”

“Do I?”

“Yes.”

“Should I smile more…?”

Violet stopped herself from saying more. Instead, Roen brightly smiled and made another suggestion.

“I’ll let His Highness know, so you can go back first.”

“Is that really okay?”

“Of course, I can’t do this much for my beloved sister?”

“……”

Violet’s eyes narrowed in a critical gaze. Roen smiled as if accustomed to such a reaction.

Let’s see if you can say that to Cairn too. While still glaring, she accepted his kindness.

* * *

In truth, Roen sending Violet back wasn’t just because she looked tired.

“How can someone be so beautiful… I thought His Highness was the most beautiful.”

“Of course, His Highness is beautiful too, but… It feels different.”

With everyone’s admiration gathered in one place.

“Hello, Aileen. How have you been?”

“B-Brother Roen?”

There she was, the girl who had come to this place to achieve what she most admired and desired.

Roen decided it was better to send Violet back than to let anything happen again by having the two of them face each other.

He smiled at his cousin.

“…It’s been a while.”

Aileen smiled ‘shyly’, clearly hiding her discomfort.

“Yes, I was worried since we hadn’t heard from you. I’m glad you’re well.”

After casually engaging with Cairn, Roen, as usual, smiled at Aileen.

His snake-like eyes narrowed.

* * *

The second day of the banquet, the atmosphere remained lively.

Violet chose a less extravagant dress compared to the previous day. She had worn a glamorous dress on the first day to make an impression, but she had no intention of torturing herself throughout the entire celebration.

In contrast, Rajaden was still dressed ostentatiously. Perhaps he thought that, given his striking appearance, his clothes needed to be equally adorned to match.

He looked visibly disappointed by Violet’s simpler attire.

In a slightly petulant tone, he remarked,

“You left early yesterday.”

“I was tired,” she replied.

It seemed his disappointment was not about her outfit but about her leaving early the previous day. Violet quickly adjusted her thoughts, gritting her teeth toward Roen, who had promised to handle it but hadn’t.

“Do you plan to leave early again today?”

“I will if I get tired.”

“You don’t even pretend to say you’ll stay until the end.”

“As I said, I will if I’m not tired.”

“……”

Rajaden looked taken aback by Violet’s indifferent response. Regardless, Violet expressionlessly asked him to escort her.

In truth, Violet was now reproaching herself for allowing Rajaden to be her banquet partner.

But what could she do about something that had already happened? All she could do was hope this day would pass quickly instead of wasting time regretting it.

Unable to say anything more, Rajaden led her. His expression betrayed his disgruntlement, but he didn’t voice it.

There were no notable incidents on the second day of the banquet. If there had been any incidents the previous day, they would have been the talk of the hall today.

“My goodness, she really has no shame…”

“Exactly. It seems she really is of low birth.”

Or perhaps there was something to talk about. Violet looked around the more chaotic hall compared to the previous day and spotted a certain young lady amidst the crowd.

“……!”

The girl who met Violet’s eyes was smiling brightly.

Aileen, dressed in a cute, fluffy outfit that barely adhered to the formal etiquette of the banquet, approached them.

“Hello!”

The murmurs momentarily paused. Violet debated whether to point out Aileen’s rudeness or her ignorance.

Her dilemma was short-lived, as Rajaden acknowledged Aileen’s greeting.

“It’s been a while.”

“I came early yesterday because I wanted to see Your Highness, but I couldn’t find you. I’m glad I can greet you today! And, oh, Sister! I heard you became partners with His Highness the Crown Prince. You look beautiful today as well!”

Violet doubted her own eyes and ears. However, the reality before her did not change.

She hadn’t expected Rajaden to entertain Aileen’s conduct, which completely disregarded the proper etiquette toward the imperial family.

“If it’s alright, would you dance with me today?”

“Well, it’s rare for a lady to ask for a dance first.”

Moreover, these two seemed very familiar with such conversations.