Chapter 30

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 30

Chapter Title: Chapter 5. Starting with Internal Discipline

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In high society, it was a time-honored tradition to steal guests from a rival's ball.

This time, though, things had escalated on a massive scale.

Now, the capital's noble ladies found themselves at a crossroads of choice.

"Will they attend my party, risking the wrath of the Empress—who rules the inner palace—and Evangeline Ruth, who already reigns as the flower of high society?"

Or.

"Will they ignore me—the unrecognized Crown Princess—and side with the established powers of the Empress and Evangeline?"

They might agonize over it a bit.

But the conclusion was as good as decided.

"Of course they'll side with the Empress and Evangeline."

If I'd built any real standing in high society, it might be different.

But I'd just holed up in Delphin Manor.

Aside from securing Artanus Hall from the Emperor, I'd never shown any capability.

So who would take a gamble on me?

"...Which is exactly why I need to make them believe otherwise!"

The way to foster that belief was simple.

"...What should I do? I don't have many close friends, and I can't exactly ask the Empress for help."

I let out a deep sigh laced with worry, voicing my anxiety. Viscountess Filern grabbed my hand with a look of pity.

"Oh, how awful! You poor Crown Princess. You couldn't even have a proper wedding ceremony, so this wedding banquet absolutely has to succeed."

She spoke as if she truly cared for me.

"I'll encourage everyone around me to attend as much as possible. Give me the invitations, and I'll hand them out diligently!"

"Oh, thank you, Viscountess! You're a true friend."

I swallowed my disgust and gripped her hand in return.

In truth, this was little more than veiled mockery.

It was the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's wedding banquet, no less, to be held in the grandest venue of all—Artanus Hall, where coronations took place.

What would happen if a minor noble like Viscountess Filern went around begging people to attend?

"The event's prestige would plummet, of course. It'd be like broadcasting far and wide that no one's coming."

That was precisely why Viscountess Filern was offering to do it.

To lower the stature of my banquet and advertise that no one was attending.

And that news would reach the Empress and Evangeline's ears just as planned.

"Perfect."

I had a maid fetch invitations stamped with the Crown Princess's seal.

"Please distribute them to as many people as you can."

Viscountess Filern brightened as she took the invitations, then asked in a low voice,

"Did His Majesty the Emperor permit you to use the Crown Princess's seal?"

I shook my head.

"No, but His Highness the Crown Prince gave it to me himself and said it was fine."

I even blushed slightly, playing the part of a blushing bride delighted by her husband's affection.

I could see Viscountess Filern eagerly taking the bait I dangled.

And then I tossed out the decisive lure.

"Oh, and I've come up with a brilliant idea. Want me to tell you about it?"

Viscountess Filern's eyes sparkled.

"What kind of idea?"

Having secretly changed clothes before seeking out Evangeline, Viscountess Filern spilled all the intelligence she'd gathered in a single day.

Evangeline scoffed at the invitation bearing the Crown Princess's seal.

"How brazen, using the Crown Princess's seal without permission. That's grounds for a scandal."

"She seemed clueless about that. Though she did say the Crown Prince approved it..."

Evangeline's face twisted at once.

"What's the point of that? Only His Majesty the Emperor can authorize the use of a royal seal!"

"Exactly! That foolish girl must not realize it!"

To placate Evangeline's sudden outburst, Viscountess Filern whispered the biggest piece of news she'd brought.

"She's terrified no one will show up to the banquet in a month's time, so it looks like she's resorting to desperate measures."

"Desperate measures? What kind?"

Evangeline's green eyes gleamed.

"Apparently, she's planning to spread a rumor that His Majesty the Emperor might attend the banquet that day!"

"What?"

Evangeline's eyes widened.

This was big news indeed.

"Is that true? That idiot's going to spread false rumors?"

"Yes. If the Artanus Hall banquet fails, she'll never be recognized as Crown Princess, right? So she's trying to draw a crowd by any means necessary."

"Fair enough."

Besides, the Empress and Evangeline had already declared that anyone attending the banquet that day would be ostracized from high society.

No noble lady had the guts to show up at Artanus Hall under those circumstances.

And without the ladies, the men wouldn't flock there either.

Social events revolved around noblewomen, after all.

That was why salons were hosted by the lady of the house.

"Desperate times or not, dragging His Majesty the Emperor's name into a lie to lure people? Unbelievable."

"She said that since the Emperor specially granted Artanus Hall, people would believe the rumor that he'd attend."

It wasn't entirely wrong.

Granting Artanus Hall was unprecedented.

"She put some thought into it, at least."

Not that it mattered—it was still all in her palm.

A wicked smile curled Evangeline's lips.

She shredded the invitation with the Crown Princess's seal, muttering,

"It'll end up like this soon enough anyway."

Still, to be cautious, Evangeline checked with her mother.

Would the Emperor really set foot in Artanus Hall that day?

And the Empress had heard directly from him that he had no intention of attending.

"It seems he'll decide whether to recognize that wench as Crown Princess based on whether the banquet succeeds or fails."

In that case, the outcome was already set in stone.

Soon, conflicting rumors began circulating in high society.

"I heard His Majesty the Emperor plans to attend the Artanus Hall banquet in a few days to bless the princely couple?"

"I heard the opposite. They say the Delphin Duchess is spreading lies to drum up attendees."

"Would she really spread falsehoods about the Emperor's schedule?"

"She's desperate because no one's acknowledging her."

"True. Imagine the humiliation if that famed Artanus Hall sat empty."

The idea that the Emperor would personally attend for his abruptly acquired daughter-in-law via bride abduction seemed far less plausible than Hilia's lie.

Every noble lady knew how ruthless he was.

Besides, this version was far more tantalizing and entertaining.

Some even started betting on it.

"Think His Majesty will really show at Artanus Hall that day? I bet against it—I'll wager my new prized steed!"

"Me too—against, and I'll put up this new gown I had made!"

"Wait, that's not a fair bet. No one's betting on him showing up!"

Mocking conversations buzzed everywhere on the topic.

And amid it all, devastating news arrived for Hilia, whose cause was already as good as lost.

"Marquise Quinibel suddenly declared she's hosting a ball that same day?"

Hilia heard it through Viscountess Filern.

"Yes, Your Highness! Marquise Quinibel is one of Her Majesty the Empress's closest friends. And this time, she's been granted the honor of using the second-largest hall in the Empress's palace!"

Hilia's face drained of color.

This was the Empress effectively declaring—through Marquise Quinibel—that she would crush Hilia's banquet.

"No way! If that happens... my banquet will be overshadowed even by Marquise Quinibel...!"

No one would recognize Hilia as the true Crown Princess then.

Not even the Emperor.

Watching Viscountess Filern cross the garden through the window, I giggled to myself.

"Heh, the bait's working even harder than expected."

Thanks to her, the stakes had risen higher.

All the better for me.

"This is getting exciting."

I was steadily making the necessary preparations, and Viscountess Filern was playing her role to perfection.