Chapter 39 : Glory, Envy Beneath Admiration
"Your Highness, why did you accept the confernt and drag into it?"
Before the royal family and nobles arrived, two young girls sat at the banquet table in the hall, sneaking pastries.
Yiwen ate while stuffing a pastry that looked delicious but tasted strange into my, Loka’s, mouth.
The confernt from the Emperor was about to happen soon, yet you were here sneaking pastries, looking completely unconcerned.
"I have no interest in being so old man’s granddaughter. If he weren’t useful to , hmph."
Yiwen saw the confusion in my heart and, to shut up, grabbed another piece of cake and stuffed it into my mouth, then leisurely picked up a pastry for herself.
"You work better on a full stomach. Hurry up, soone’s coming!"
When the servant in charge of the event pushed open the door, we had already slipped away through the wide-open window.
As the bell signaling the start of the banquet slowly tolled, nobles, ministers, and so representatives of the commoners entered the opulent golden hall.
Emperor Miles today deliberately wore his most regal attire, his spirited appearance showing he was in high spirits, despite being drenched in sweat from threats just yesterday.
The Empress maintained the deanor of the banquet’s hostess, but her slightly trembling fan betrayed her inner agitation and jealousy.
She looked as if ants were crawling all over her, itching to tear up the banquet guest list in her hand.
Having the person who hated her the most arrange and host the banquet for her confernt—Yiwen had proposed this idea with a plan to kill with kindness.
As the other protagonist of the banquet, Yiwen sat beside , Loka, with the cautious Grand Duke of Saito’s at her side.
Despite reluctantly accepting this grandfather’s identity under Knight Kyle’s diation, Yiwen insisted I accompany her throughout.
The old general, who usually wore a cold expression even toward his own son, stood awkwardly nearby, wanting to approach and build rapport but was t with Yiwen’s cold stare.
"So, eating beforehand to work better ant dragging onto the stage to stand through the entire banquet with you?"
When Yiwen was about to take the stage for the Emperor’s summons, Lina suddenly pulled into the dressing room to change into a beautiful dress.
Having not worn a long gown in a while, I felt sowhat unaccustod.
Looking at Yiwen, whose appearance had been ticulously refined, I instantly understood why I was brought here.
"I don’t like those people. You’re the only one I can barely tolerate."
Though being trusted felt good, Your Highness, have you noticed the murderous glares around us?
The gazes of the surrounding people focused on the two of us talking—so with flattering praise, so with quiet comparisons, and so discordant whispers of jealousy or resentnt from the corners.
One was the star of the event, the Sixth Princess recently favored by the Emperor, and the other was the cherished daughter of the Alva Duke’s Mansion, the talk of the empire.
As two of the empire’s major families, the nas of the Emperor and the Duke were well-known. Seeing the two of us so close, people couldn’t help but speculate.
If you looked closely, you’d notice several hostile, even murderous, glares.
No need to guess—my enemies were already plenty, and the Sixth Princess’s? Even more.
The First Prince, furious with jealousy and resentnt over the Sixth Princess’s comndation, and Balesha, who cowered after I beat him up.
Then there was the Second Prince, who always kept himself aloof, and his sister, who seed genuinely detached from worldly affairs.
Of course, the most direct malice ca from my dear Duke father’s eyes—that constant desire to kill , yet every ti he was powerless to act.
The grand Duke of the Alva Family, unable to deal with an insignificant illegitimate daughter like —what a laughingstock among the nobles.
Unfortunately for him, I now had a stronger backer.
As long as I wasn’t completely killed, one day I would thoroughly cleanse this hypocritical Alva Duke’s Mansion.
As the guests gradually arrived, the banquet’s host, Emperor Miles, slowly stood.
The nobles bowed to the sun of the empire, while other key figures nodded slightly, showing respect to the host.
"Everyone is here, so I won’t keep you in suspense. Today, we gathered to witness an important mont."
"My beloved child, Yiwen Kelake, her mother, was my dearest love. Her sudden passing caused to neglect them."
"Now, in the presence of all, I will make ands. Yiwen, co forward, with your grandfather."
This was the final agreent between the Emperor and the Grand Duke—acknowledging Yiwen’s mother’s identity and publicly recognizing Yiwen with the Grand Duke of Saito’s.
Though the Grand Duke had countless tis wanted to kill this hypocritical, heartless man for his poor daughter, for the sake of friendly relations between nations, he reluctantly accepted this compromise after much deliberation.
Yet the killing intent in his eyes didn’t waver, chilling the necks of those passing by.
This was a warning to all who plotted against Yiwen or sought to harm her—Yiwen was family to the Grand Duke of Saito’s, protected and supported by the Caesar Family.
Only then did the crowd turn to the Grand Duke of Saito’s, who had been quietly waiting, and realized a shocking truth.
The Sixth Princess Yiwen was the child of the Grand Duke’s long-lost daughter, his descendant!
The Grand Duke of Saito extended his hand to Yiwen, only to be coldly dodged.
She grabbed , Loka, who was watching the scene, and pulled my innocent self forward.
Helpless, the Grand Duke quietly followed behind.
"Hey, Your Highness, are you trying to make a target for everyone?"
Seeing Yiwen’s triumphant smile, I knew I’d been played by her again.
By following her onto the stage, I was clearly declaring myself as her ally, a blatant claim of loyalty to those who might want to win over.
This loyalty, however, put on a knife’s edge. I only had to deal with the Duke before.
Now, the Empress’s people, those eyeing the Sixth Princess, and even the paranoid Emperor on the throne.
No matter how I tried to avoid unnecessary trouble, under everyone’s gaze, I was now inescapably tied to Yiwen.
"You said you were sincere to , didn’t you? What if I get killed by soone else?"
Yiwen openly admitted her plan, even gleefully gripping my hand tighter.
"Since you want to kill , you’ll just have to make sure no one else does, my knight lady."
"Tch… As you command, my Highness."
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