Viana's eyes shifted toward the entrance, and she saw a young man walk in, followed by his aide.
The young man had blond hair, striking vermillion eyes, and deeply tanned skin, just like all the people in his Empire, who were healthy and sunburned from constant exposure to the sun.
However, this Prince always had a mischievous smile despite his handso face. His formal attire fit snugly around his tall, lean body and broad shoulders.
As far as Viana knew, this Prince was always surrounded by single noblewon, which made her dislike this playboy of a man.
And sure enough, a few young noblewon started trying to get his attention. Viana scoffed as she watched, "Typical playboy," she muttered quietly.
Suddenly, the servant announcing the guests loudly proclaid, "Sir Arden Daelis, the youngest son of Count Daelis, has entered the banquet hall."
She turned her gaze toward the new arrival. The young man who just entered had brown hair and greenish-blue eyes, along with a fair and soft complexion.
He appeared sowhat cute, likely inheriting it from his mother, who was renowned for her beauty.
His body was fairly tall, though not as tall as Prince Rayne, and he didn't seem particularly muscular. He was the classic cute bookworm type.
Viana smiled to herself as she watched him. 'He'll be an easy target to conquer,' she thought.
Since it wasn't ti for her to interact with the guests yet, she simply observed the movents of her two potential targets, all while seated in her chair.
Guests continued to arrive, offering their greetings to the King and Queen and congratulating the Princess on her birthday.
Once it seed that no more guests would approach their seating area, the King signaled to the orchestra to change the music.
Imdiately, the orchestra shifted to a dance tempo, and several young couples began to make their way to the dance floor to enjoy the music.
The King and Queen stood up, announcing that they would take their leave from the banquet hall, and invited everyone to enjoy the celebration.
Viana also rose to her feet. Her pastel pink and blue gown made her look like a fairy.
Her blonde hair was styled in a half-updo adorned with pink rose flowers, and her sparkling green eyes glimred under the grand chandelier at the center of the banquet hall.
She waited for the person who would invite her to the dance floor, knowing exactly who it would be based on her experience from her previous life.
As soon as the King and Queen kissed Viana on the cheek and left the banquet hall, a young blond-haired man approached her, just as she had expected.
The Crown Prince of the Valendale Empire, Rayne Elwick.
His soft blond hair moved gently as he bowed before Viana.
"Would the Princess do the honor of dancing with ?"
Having anticipated this exact mont, she gracefully accepted with a delightfully sweet smile.
"Of course, Your Highness."
Her hand, elegantly adorned in lace gloves that matched the color of her gown, was placed upon the Prince's hand, which he then kissed with a chivalrous gesture.
His actions were gentle and soft. If it had been any other girl in front of him, they might have fainted from his charming deanor and teasing smile.
But standing before him was Viana Yanis, the Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Elysia, renowned for her beauty.
Viana smiled again and, while gazing into his eyes as he led her to the dance floor, said, "I apologize if I'm not very skilled at dancing, Your Highness."
The Prince smiled at her, showing his perfect white teeth.
"I'm sure the Princess is not being honest," he said with a small laugh. Then, he placed his hand on Viana's waist and started to lead her in a dance that was gentle yet steady.
Viana let the Prince guide her movents to the music, causing onlookers to murmur complints about how they seed like the perfect couple.
She looked into the Prince's vermillion-colored eyes, and he t her gaze, still smiling.
"Do you enjoy being in Elysia?" she asked, trying to get him to talk about sothing beyond the formalities of dancing.
It would be highly inappropriate for the Crown Prince, as an official envoy from the Valendale Empire, to neglect inviting the Princess to dance.
Thus, Viana tried to avoid any awkwardness by engaging him in conversation.
Prince Rayne looked at her briefly, then smiled again and politely replied, "Yes, I do. Everyone has been kind to ."
Viana recalled his past fascination with horses and swordsmanship, so she asked, "Have you ever visited the Spring adow at the southern edge of Elysia, Your Highness?"
The Spring adow is a vast grassland beside a forest, known for its exceptional wild horses. The Prince had once caught a white horse there, which later beca his beloved steed.
The Prince looked at the Princess with a slightly suspicious gaze. Viana pretended to put on an innocent expression while continuing to look at him.
"I have indeed been wanting to go there myself to choose the horse I desire. How did you know I wanted to go there?" he asked as he lifted the petite Princess, spinning her gracefully in the air.
Everyone watching gasped in awe. The Princess looked like a fairy in her layered gown made of chiffon and lace.
"You are well-known for your love of swordsmanship and horseback riding, Your Highness. So I thought I would suggest that you go there yourself to choose the horse you want," Viana replied sweetly.
"Hmm," the Prince's usual mischievous and smiling expression turned serious for a mont. Then he said, "If I were to ask you to accompany there to choose a horse, would you be willing?"
Viana's face suddenly flushed red, and she quickly lowered her head to hide it, leading the Prince to assu that the Princess had feelings for him as well.
"Y-yes. If that is Your Highness's wish," she whispered softly, but loud enough for the Prince to hear.
The Prince smiled and leaned closer, intentionally whispering in the Princess's ear, "If possible, I'll co to pick you up tomorrow."
Viana was slightly startled by the feeling of his breath near her ear and instinctively lifted her head. Although goosebumps ran down her spine, she tried to remain calm and maintained a shy expression.
"W-well, of course, Your Highness," she stamred softly.
But suddenly, she froze in shock as she noticed sothing above the Prince's head—a screen bar displaying a line of red text.
The words on the bar read, "Love Percentage - 3%."
"Are you alright, Princess?" asked the Prince, noticing how Viana's body had stiffened suddenly and her surprised expression as she looked at him.
Viana shook her head. "I'm fine, Your Highness. Perhaps just a bit tired from preparing for this party," she replied, trying to hide her shock.
"Alright, let's end our dance here," the Prince said, bowing toward Viana, who gracefully returned the gesture. He then gently took her hand and guided her to the edge of the dance floor.
As he helped her to her seat, he leaned in slightly closer and whispered, "I'll see you again tomorrow." With that, he walked away, leaving the Princess.
The red screen bar above his head had disappeared by the ti he left Viana.
'Damn it. The love percentage only went up by 3%? Out of 100%,' she thought to herself, feeling a bit annoyed. 'So he didn't like from the start.'
Viana rubbed her arms, trying to shake off the goosebumps. Her eyes then caught sight of Arden, standing across from her, sipping his glass of wine.
"Target number two," she murmured softly.
It seed that Arden had no companions to talk to, as Viana observed him for a while, noticing how he politely declined several noblen who attempted to invite him to dance.
'Arden used to be a very quiet and bookish person. He even refused to marry anyone, imrsing himself completely in the kingdom's financial affairs,' she thought as she tried to recall details about him.
He was extrely unassuming, even though his face was undeniably cute. His awkward deanor made all the noblewon dislike him—they considered him lacking in masculinity.
Viana sighed and stood up, thinking to herself, 'Ti to secure the second man for my harem.'
She walked toward Arden, politely returning greetings from several noblen and won who attempted to strike up a conversation, but gently declining their invitations.
Even as she passed so of her usual tea companions, she paid them no attention.
'Huh. Lady Seri, who once cornered when I asked for her help.'
'And Lady Cammy, who spilled her tea at my head on purpose when she pretended to invite to her tea party.'
After ntally recounting a long list of wrongdoings from people she once considered friends, only to be treated terribly after her marriage, she finally reached Arden. He was focused on choosing which pastry to try next.
"Hello, Sir Arden. May I ask for a mont of your ti to chat with ?" she asked in a sweet tone.
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