Empress Florina’s composure cracked for the briefest mont. Her eyes darkened.
Was this child playing word gas with her—in front of everyone?
Empress Florina: "And why would you object?"
Evelyn: "If Your Majesty intended to revise tradition, I would have said nothing. However, since we are bound by the will of our founding empress, I, as a subject of Cristiane, must object to this decision."
The Emperor Consort, Curtis, interjected—his voice steady, though curiosity and unease crept into his expression.
Curtis: "What are you implying, Princess Evelyn?"
Evelyn t his gaze without flinching.
Evelyn: "According to one of Cristiane’s founding traditions, the rightful resident of the Crystal Palace must be an adult. If Your Majesty wishes to bestow it upon the Second Princess, then she must wait until her coming-of-age ceremony. Otherwise, this act would go against the very foundation of our empire’s tradition."
Silence fell.
A thick, suffocating silence.
The entire hall froze.
The air seed to shiver with tension.
Guests held their breath—every noble, every servant, even the musicians dared not play another note.
Because what Princess Evelyn said was true.
There was indeed such a tradition.
The Crystal Palace was no ordinary residence. It symbolized the next ruler—the chosen heir to the throne. The founder of the empire, Empress Elencia de S. La Cristiane had personally decreed the tradition: The heir must be of age.
Even if there was only one child, they could not be declared heir—or receive the Crystal Palace—until they reached adulthood. This tradition had never once been broken in a thousand years.
Every Sovereign before Florina had upheld it without question.
And now, the First Princess had just reminded the empress of it... in front of the entire nobility.
Empress Florina stared at the daughter standing before her—composed, poised, and far too sharp for a child her age.
She had always known Evelyn would be trouble.
Dangerous trouble.
Yet she quickly masked her irritation with a serene smile, voice calm and graceful as ever.
Empress Florina: "It seems you’ve taken great care to morize the history of Cristiane."
Evelyn returned the smile with one of her own—polite, innocent.
Evelyn: "Not really. I just happened to read it once and it suddenly ca to mind, so I said it."
A flicker of sothing unreadable passed through Florina’s eyes, but she let it go.
Empress Florina: "I see. Since you’re here today, I wonder—did you bring a gift for your sister?"
Evelyn: "Of course, Your Majesty. How could I attend a celebration without a present?"
With that, she made a small wave of her hand.
From the side, Gerald stepped forward, holding a beautifully wrapped gift box—elegant in black and silver ribbon, adorned with delicate ivory flowers.
Evelyn: "I only hope Her Highness, the Second Princess won’t find my humble gift lacking."
Curtis chuckled lightly and smiled.
Curtis: "How could she possibly dislike a gift from Your Highness?"
He leaned toward Rosalia, gently patting her head.
Curtis: "Co, Rosa. Let’s see what your elder sister has brought you."
With a subtle gesture, one of the palace maids stepped forward and took the box from Gerald. She carried it with careful hands before Rosalia.
Rosalia unwrapped the box slowly. Rosalia, wide-eyed with curiosity, unwrapped the final ribbon. As the lid lifted and the soft silken paper inside unfolded, a gentle gasp escaped her lips.
Rosalia: "WOW!!"
And her eyes lit up like a child seeing magic for the first ti.
Nestled within the velvet-lined box was a delicate crystal music box, shaped like a miniature castle. Its spires shimred in soft pastel hues under the chandelier light, and tiny enchanted figures of animals—rabbits, deer, birds—circled around the palace when the chanism was wound.
Beside it, tucked gently into a corner of the box, lay a bracelet of silver and moonstone, woven with fine white-gold strands. At the center sat a small blue opal, glowing faintly with a calming effect—a protective spell crafted for peaceful dreams.
Rosalia’s eyes grew wide with awe. Her small hands hovered gently over the music box as it began to play a soft, lullaby-like tune. The room fell silent, the enchanting lody captivating even the most composed adults.
Rosalia: "Woah... It’s so beautiful!"
She looked up at Evelyn, her eyes shining bright.
Rosalia: "Did you really pick this for ?"
Evelyn offered a quiet smile.
Evelyn: "I wasn’t sure what the Second Princess liked, so I chose sothing I thought might suit her. I hope she will like it."
Curtis looked a bit surprised but composed himself.
Curtis: "That’s a wonderful gift, your highness. Rosa, say thank you to your highness."
Rosalia: "Thank you, Sister!"
Evelyn gave a slight nod, her smile soft and fleeting—like morning mist that disappears before it settles.
Evelyn: "I’m glad you like it."
So nobles exchanged surprised glances. Hadn’t they heard the First Princess was rude, arrogant, and unloved? Yet here she was, composed and gracious before the Empress herself.
All eyes subtly shifted to Empress Florina, curious how she would respond now that Evelyn had so effortlessly shifted the atmosphere.
Empress Florina took a slow sip of her champagne, her smile poised but strained, her eyes unreadable.
Empress Florina: "It seems the First Princess has a talent for drawing attention."
Though her words were light, the sharp undertone cut through the hall.
Evelyn turned slightly toward her mother, unbothered, the faintest hint of amusent in her eyes.
Evelyn: "If showing sincerity is considered drawing attention... then I suppose I must be quite talented."
There was a hidden aning behind her words—an unspoken reminder to the Empress of a ti long past, when she had sincerely begged for her mother’s love, endlessly chasing after her affection. Yet no matter how earnestly she reached out, the Empress never once looked her way.
The nobles held their breath.
Curtis glanced between mother and daughter but said nothing.
The Empress did not respond, simply turning her head away.
Evelyn excused herself gracefully and stepped aside, remaining close enough to observe. She needed a mont—there was sothing she had to confirm.
As the nobles and dignitaries one by one stepped forward to present their gifts, the atmosphere buzzed with polite murmurs and careful glances. The presents ranged from exquisite jewels to rare artifacts, each more lavish than the last.
Then Grand Duke Rochester stepped forward, followed closely by Edrick. The air shifted subtly as all eyes turned to them.
Rosalia’s gaze caught sight of Edrick, and for a mont, a strange, fleeting light flickered in her erald eyes—an unfamiliar spark of emotion, deep and intense. Evelyn noticed the subtle change and allowed a slight, knowing smile to cross her lips, as if finally got the answer to her question.
The Grand Duke bowed gracefully before presenting the gift. It was an exquisite necklace set known as "The Star of Seraphiel"—a rare masterpiece crafted centuries ago by the royal jewelers of Cristiane.
Crafted from rare sapphires mined from the distant northern part of the empire, the necklace sparkled with a brilliance that seed almost otherworldly. The pendant, a brilliant star-shaped sapphire surrounded by delicately woven silver filigree, was said to possess not only imnse monetary value but also a protective magic.
A low murmur swept through the crowd. Such a treasure was rarely seen outside the highest echelons of nobility.
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