Chapter 11
The Glorium Hall, where Princess Elena’s birthday banquet was being held, was more splendid and extravagant than ever.
Amid the crowd, the one who drew everyone’s attention at a glance was undoubtedly the birthday’s protagonist, Elena Del Child—the imperial princess and the half-sister of Kaelus. As the only imperial princess of the empire, she always attracted the eyes of society.
Although they shared different mothers, the Crown Prince who doted on his younger sister and the Emperor who loved his only daughter ensured that Elena was always the object of admiration.
Moreover, her flawless beauty made her the very embodiment of the word “radiance.”
What especially captivated people was her clear blue eyes, like a tranquil lake, framed by slightly upturned lashes. Those eyes, so different in color from Kaelus’s, held a mysterious charm that made one feel as if they were sinking into deep waters just by looking at them.
With her silver hair neatly tied up, she exuded an even more refined aura, and around her gathered people of all genders, all eager to speak with her at least once.
“Happy 20th birthday, Your Highness!”
“Thank you, Lady Dalson.”
“It is an honor, Your Highness.”
Even though the conversations were brief, simply speaking with Elena seemed to be enough to leave them ecstatic, and those who had talked with her continued to linger around her with blissful expressions.
“You are as beautiful as ever today, Your Highness.”
“It is an honor just to be able to speak with you!”
Like devotees worshipping a deity, there was even a sense of near-madness among those around her. Elena, who had been silently observing them, slowly parted her lips to express her gratitude.
“Thank you all for celebrating with me.”
She smiled at the crowd, but only for a moment—her sharp blue eyes scanned the hall with keen awareness. As if searching for someone, her gaze drew attention, and one of her attendants spoke up first.
“Your Highness. I heard that Lord Ikanuel of House Rasseles is also attending today’s banquet?”
Elena nodded once, then smiled softly like a girl in love. Her cheeks were faintly flushed as she surveyed the crowd.
“But the young lord is very busy with work, so please do not expect too much.”
“It is your birthday banquet, Your Highness. Of course he will attend!”
“Indeed! He is surely the one most suited to stand beside Princess Elena.”
As if trying to stop them, Elena gently waved her finger in a small circle.
“Those words may burden the young lord, so please be careful.”
“How could anyone else be as kind as Your Highness…”
However, as if waiting for her cue, Lady Meril of House Dalson spoke first. Fiddling with the hand she had just shaken with Elena, her previously clear eyes had turned hazy, like fog had rolled in.
“A mere baron’s daughter is far too unworthy to be the fiancée of Lord Rasseles.”
As soon as Meril spoke, the surrounding ladies glanced at Elena and began chiming in.
“Oh, you mean the girl who has clung shamelessly to that position for ten years?”
“Yes. She must know she is lacking, which is why she avoids public appearances.”
“She wasn’t even invited to Princess Elena’s birthday banquet.”
Before long, their conversation naturally turned toward Isabella, who was not present at the party. As if gossip had been their original intent, the negative sentiment toward Isabella swelled endlessly among the crowd.
“Isn’t it already a matter of breaking off the engagement anyway?”
“Of course. Even from the ducal house’s perspective, she must have been an unworthy fiancée.”
Soon after, when talk of the recent scandal of the broken engagement spread, Elena slightly frowned and stood up. Immediately, those who had been freely gossiping fell silent as all eyes turned to her.
Elena directed a cold gaze at Meril, who had started the conversation.
“It is unbecoming to speak ill of an absent lady.”
Her voice, cold as ice, carried sharp reprimand. Meril looked momentarily flustered.
How dare they ruin the princess’s joyful birthday. The others, who had moments ago been complicit in the gossip, now turned their reproachful gazes on her.
Under the suffocating pressure, Meril struggled to suppress the feeling that her heart might leap out of her chest and quickly bowed deeply.
“Princess Elena… please forgive my lack of judgment.”
As if possessed, she reproached herself for speaking too freely and begged for forgiveness. But Elena already looked disinterested, as she spoke again.
“Lady Dalson may leave now.”
“Your Highness, please, just once—!”
At the dismissal, Meril’s face turned deathly pale. As soon as Elena finished speaking, the crowd treated her as if she no longer existed.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, everyone.”
It was time to go find the guest she had been waiting for. Leaving behind those who looked reluctant to see her go, Elena exited Glorium Hall.
By now, night had fallen, but the palace and the areas surrounding the banquet hall were brightly lit as if it were still daytime.
Her blue eyes scanned the surroundings and turned toward the direction of the detached palace. From the path leading back to the main palace, a figure was walking out.
“Ikanuel!”
Her voice was full of joy, but Ikanuel’s expression remained cold and stiff. He slowly turned and bowed.
“I greet Your Highness Princess Elena.”
Standing before him with light, fluttering steps, Elena’s cheeks were slightly flushed.
“Would you like to return to the banquet hall with me? I am sure it will be fun.”
“I regret to inform you that I have work scheduled afterward, Your Highness.”
The immediate, unhesitating refusal made her pout.
But she had no intention of backing down.
For a long time, even when she confessed her feelings to Ikanuel, she had always been rejected because of his fiancée. But now that excuse was gone—he could no longer avoid her.
“Even so. Please do as I wish just for today. It is my birthday, after all.”
Elena grabbed his wrist, trying to pull him toward the banquet hall. But Ikanuel immediately shook off her hand.
Not a trace of interest, regret, or hesitation could be seen in his eyes or gestures. Instead, there was clear displeasure on his face.
“As I have said before, I already have a fiancée whom I have been with for a long time.”
Once again, he used his fiancée as a reason to refuse her. It felt infuriatingly evasive.
Elena forced a smile and steadied herself.
“But you are going to break off the engagement soon anyway.”
“That is only rumor. Lady Lydia and I will not be breaking off our engagement.”
“That’s a lie…”
“Hmm. Why is the birthday girl out here instead of inside the banquet?”
Before she could finish, a familiar voice interrupted them.
Both Elena and Ikanuel turned toward the sound.
Not far away, Kaelus approached with a faint smile, as if observing something interesting.
Elena immediately brightened like a blooming flower and curtsied gracefully, then casually linked her arm with his, speaking in an affectionate voice.
“Brother! Why are you so late?”
“Happy birthday, Elena.”
“Fufu. Thank you.”
After gently patting her head, Kaelus’s gaze shifted to Ikanuel standing silently before them. A subtle tension passed between the two men.
“Elena, you should return to the banquet. The guests are waiting.”
“But I still wanted to speak with Ikanuel…”
“The young lord is a busy man. Do not be stubborn.”
Kaelus’s firm tone left no room for argument.
Elena knew better than to insist further. No matter how much she pushed, Kaelus would not change a decision he had already made.
“Yes, brother.”
With a compliant smile, she nodded, exchanged brief farewells, and left first.
Until Elena’s figure disappeared completely, Kaelus said nothing. Neither did Ikanuel. Only a heavy silence stretched between them.
“Is your friend still inside the palace?”
“Why are you concerned about my friend?”
Ikanuel frowned slightly at the discomfort in Kaelus’s tone, clenching his fist without realizing it.
Then, tightening his lips, he spoke with a loaded meaning.
“The rumors that I will break off my engagement will no longer exist.”
“Is that so?”
Unlike the increasingly tense Ikanuel, Kaelus remained calm and amused.
He tilted his head slightly as if bidding farewell.
“That remains to be seen.”
