The imperial palace, seen for the first time, was overwhelmingly grand and dazzling.
It was a sight she had never seen in her previous life, so fear rose in her chest.
Now, with everything clearly visible before her, it felt even more suffocating than when she had been blind.
Reyna instinctively clasped her hands and prayed.
‘I can do this. If I just prove my usefulness to the Duke, I can escape the Emperor.’
Soon, she arrived at the banquet hall.
Three members of the royal family already seated immediately turned their gazes toward her.
At a glance, none of them looked friendly.
This place was essentially a small battlefield for succession.
Reyna, who had once been almost invisible, had suddenly appeared on the board—so their caution was only natural.
Among them, a red-haired man with a fierce expression spoke irritably.
“What’s this? Since when was there someone like her among the royals?”
His rough tone carried no sense of royal dignity, but the energy he emitted was far from ordinary.
Reyna recognized him instinctively.
‘Scarl Vincent Mernier.’
A man who had once served as the captain of the Emperor’s personal guard.
He had also led the conquest wars alongside the crown prince.
Then a man with purple hair tied neatly over one shoulder and wearing glasses spoke.
“Reyna Iv Mernier. The daughter of Count Iv’s family. Her brother probably died during a subjugation mission.”
His tone was emotionless, as if reading from a dictionary.
Given how precisely he knew information about the almost invisible Reyna, he was undoubtedly Michael of House Promga.
Scarl leaned forward abruptly and shouted,
“Eh? Why would His Majesty invite someone like her? She’s completely insignificant!”
“His Majesty will explain when he arrives. More importantly, sit properly, Scarl. You’re shaking the table.”
“You’re just getting all sensitive from reading books all day in your study.”
“And you’re just stupid from swinging a sword all day?”
“What did you say? You want to go at it right now? A duel? Huh?”
“People with low intelligence always resort to brute force.”
“Are you asking for a fight?!”
BANG—!
Scarl stomped his foot and shot up from his seat.
At that moment, the crown prince—who had been silently observing—slammed his glass down on the table.
“Sit down, Scarl.”
The quiet command made Scarl scratch his head and sit back down.
Michael also stopped provoking him.
Reyna carefully observed the crown prince, who had silenced the chaos in a single word.
He was said to resemble the Emperor the most.
His silver hair was soft like moonlight, and his silver eyes carried a chilling, snake-like quality.
“Reyna, come here and sit.”
He smiled at her as their eyes met.
His gentle attitude made it impossible to know what he was thinking.
The Emperor had also approached her like this in the beginning.
Seeing how calm he was about her arrival, it seemed the Emperor had informed him beforehand.
“Reyna Iv Mernier greets Your Highness the Crown Prince and the royal family.”
After completing the formal etiquette, Reyna sat at the lowest seat.
A tense silence followed, prickling like needles.
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”
At the guard’s announcement, all four of them stood up at once.
Reyna also lowered her head and waited for the Emperor to sit.
Then the Emperor stopped in front of Reyna and spoke.
“Why are you sitting here?”
“Pardon?”
Was he suddenly questioning why she had come to the banquet?
Confused, Reyna trembled slightly.
Then Scarl sneered from the side.
“So His Majesty didn’t invite her after all. I was wondering why someone like her was here. If you allow it, I’ll throw her out!”
He looked ready to grab Reyna’s arm and drag her away immediately.
But the one who stopped him was Crown Prince Siegfried.
“I was careless and failed to guide her to her seat.”
“Yes. It was a sudden situation after all.”
The Emperor chuckled and gestured toward an empty seat.
“Go sit opposite Siegfried.”
“!”
Reyna’s eyes widened at the sudden seating arrangement.
The seat opposite the Crown Prince signified a position second only to him in favor.
Even Scarl and Michael had never sat there before, causing their expressions to stiffen.
“I-I’m fine here…”
“Are you disobeying my order now? How bold.”
“I-I misspoke. I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”
Reyna quickly corrected herself and hurriedly moved to the designated seat.
It was not a position she wanted.
Even the lowest seat had been uncomfortable enough with the Emperor so close.
Meanwhile, unlike Scarl who turned away in displeasure, Michael watched her with interest.
“Now everyone is in their proper places.”
The Emperor smiled in satisfaction from the seat of honor.
As he sat down, the maids poured pre-dinner wine.
The Emperor tilted his glass toward Reyna.
“Do you know why I called you here?”
At the probing question, Reyna swallowed nervously.
After a moment, she composed herself and answered calmly.
“Is it… because of my marriage?”
“Oh? So the Duke has already told you. It seems I am late to the news.”
The Emperor’s eyes gleamed with surprise.
At the mention of marriage, Michael adjusted his glasses and asked,
“Marriage?”
It was new information to him.
The Emperor answered with a satisfied expression.
“Yesterday, the Duke of Crensia came to see me. He said he wanted to marry Reyna.”
The banquet hall fell silent.
After a moment, Michael stroked his chin and murmured,
“Then the imperial carriage that entered the Duke’s estate recently must have been hers. I couldn’t confirm that far.”
He sighed as if disappointed.
It made sense—Reyna and the Duke had no known connection.
Even House Promga, with all its intelligence, could not have identified who was inside the carriage.
Moreover, Crensia was a tightly sealed household.
All servants were from the North, leaving no openings.
Scarl tilted his head.
“Huh? Crensia? Why is that guy suddenly involved? Am I the only one not understanding this?”
Michael ignored him and asked the Emperor,
“But didn’t the Duke refuse your proposal until recently? Why would he suddenly propose marriage now?”
“Well. He said he would follow my will if it involved Reyna.”
The Emperor spoke as though it did not matter, as long as Crensia complied.
Michael then looked at Siegfried.
“Brother, did you know about this?”
“I also heard about it before coming here.”
“I still find it strange. Could there be another motive?”
“Another motive? Regarding that girl?”
Scarl snorted dismissively.
It was hard to imagine anyone proposing to a princess who had no presence or value.
There was nothing to gain from her.
If anything, it would be like carrying a burden back to the North.
Most seemed to agree.
“Still, it is rather sudden.”
Michael murmured suspiciously.
Scarl laughed loudly.
“Hah! Even Crensia can’t completely defy His Majesty’s orders! He probably only held out due to pride until now! Hahaha!”
“You really do think simply.”
Michael’s sharp remark made Scarl flush red, but he did not escalate further.
Probably because the Emperor was present.
The Emperor, who had remained silent until now, turned his gaze to Reyna and extended his hand.
She obediently took it.
Then he asked,
“When did the two of you become acquainted?”
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