– I think it's a fraudulent marriage

The founding day had finally arrived.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived! Her Highness the Crown Princess has arrived!"

I entered the ballroom with Blake escorting me.

At that moment, everyone's eyes were on us.

It was the first party I attended after a long time. I didn't feel nervous, just a bit overwhelmed.

I was attending the ball with Blake. I never thought this day would happen.

I thought I would have to leave after Blake's curse was lifted, so I never imagined that I would be next to Blake when he stood proudly in front of everyone.

But today, we were next to each other.

The nobles stepped back and made a path for us.

We walked ahead together.

Blake looked very confident and dignified today.

My heart fluttered when I saw him being different from his usual cute and friendly appearance.

Tenstheon stood up from his seat and looked at us happily.

When we climbed onto the platform, Tenstheon gave me a light hug.

"You look very pretty today."

"Thank you, father."

Tenstheon smiled warmly, then turned around and looked at the nobles.

"The blessing of the Asteric Empire, the Crown Princess, and my precious daughter, Ancia, has returned."

When Tenstheon declared that the Crown Princess had returned, the nobles all bowed their heads in unison.

"Congratulations on the return of the Crown Princess, the blessing of the Empire."

I saw Diana among the nobles. She was dressed in the knight academy's red robes.

Originally, the academy uniform was dark blue, but students who won the top spot at least once were given red robes.

Diana said she hadn't attended any party other than the academy's events since I disappeared. She didn't even make her society debut.

So I wanted Diana to wear a dress today.

I offered many beautiful dresses that Blake had prepared for me, but Diana refused by saying she hated them.

"Ugh, I can't wear that. It's so uncomfortable."

It's not because she didn't want to borrow from me, but it was because she really hated wearing it, so I didn't force her.

I was a little disappointed, but I felt very proud when I saw her wearing the academy uniform.

She looked even cooler because only top students could wear that red robe.

Diana was the only woman wearing pants.

I looked at Diana proudly and told everyone.

"Thank you for your welcome. Please get up everyone."

"Yes, Your Highness."

When I ordered them, the nobles raised their heads in unison.

Mrs. Chardin's eyes were moist, and the other ladies who were close to me also cried.

No, they were no longer ladies.

Next to them stood their husbands. Everyone had gotten married now.

Time had really passed by so quickly.

There were many new faces in the crowd. This was because after the Duke of Cassil's downfall, many other nobles had entered the Palace now.

Almost all the nobles of the Empire were invited, but I didn't see Richard.

Richard brought in the fake Ancia. So by law, he had to be punished.

Then again, she wasn't just a fake. It was Serphania, the goddess of light.

Ser disappeared and Richard was investigated, but he said he didn't know anything and had no idea that she was the goddess of light.

Ser seemed to have completely deceived Richard.

What was her intention for finding Richard?

Anyway, even though Richard brought her, he didn't do it to deceive anyone. So I couldn't punish him for this.

Richard was supposed to be the Marquis' son-in-law, so he was eligible to attend the ball with Lady Westin.

But neither Richard nor the Westin family were anywhere to be seen.

Why didn't they come?

It was a grand party to commemorate the founding of the Asteric Empire. There would be no place better than this to declare his return to society.

He wouldn't have missed this party. He wasn't that kind of person.

He would've attended this party confidently.

If he was worried about public opinion, he would have used Lady Westin to appeal his innocence.

Why didn't he attend this party?

I had an ominous premonition.

***

The party began with praise for Phillip, the first Emperor of the Asteric Empire.

But it was different this time.

We praised the goddess of light instead.

However, the nobles were distracted by my return and didn't notice the difference.

"Her Highness is still so beautiful."

"Yes, I recognized her at first sight."

"I'm glad she looks healthy."

"His Highness is smiling!"

"I've never really seen His Highness like that."

"I haven't seen him smile in a long time."

While everyone was thrilled to see that the Crown Princess had returned safely and the Emperor and the Crown Prince were happy, Chelsea nervously whispered to her father, Count Brooke.

"Father, you must tell His Highness everything."

"Yes, don't worry."

"There should be no mistakes."

Chelsea was the Crown Princess's maid so she had been busy since dawn.

Ancia looked very beautiful wearing a sky blue dress.

"What do you think, Blake?"

"Pretty. Very pretty."

Blake's affectionate gaze didn't stray off of Ancia for even a moment.

Chelsea couldn't even see any traces of the cold Crown Prince.

But it wasn't a bad change.

Chelsea gazed at Ancia and Blake with delight.

I want to get married too.'

For the first time in her life, she felt happy as she was preparing for the ball. Suddenly, a voice rang out in the hallway of the palace.

"Edon, everybody's going to look at her. What do I do? I want to dig their eyes out."

Chelsea was so frightened by his gruesome words that she hid herself without realizing it.

Blake and Edon were talking in the hallway. He looked so friendly and nice when he was with Ancia out there, but this Blake was very scary.

Chelsea wasn't the only one who was surprised. Edon was also surprised and tried to dissuade him.

"Your Highness, please refrain from doing that."

"If anyone wants to dance with her, I'll cut off their wrist."

"You can't do that!"

"Then shall I just get rid of them now?"

"Your Highness!"

Blake really meant it. Edon desperately tried to stop him.

Cold sweat ran down on Chelsea's back when she heard him.

In fact, there was a rumour about the Crown Princess. They said that when someone attacked or tried to hurt Ancia, or even just displeased her in some way, they would be cursed with misfortunes.

The Duke of Cassil and the Marquis of Hamel had acted recklessly against the Crown Princess and now they were ruined. One of the Empire's prominent clothing stores, Perion, also collapsed overnight.

After Ancia disappeared, she heard that the people who used to gossip about her were also punished.

Chelsea didn't believe these stories.

The Duke of Cassil had crossed the line and acted rudely to the Emperor.

Frank also made fun of Ancia, so it made the situation worse.

It was true that Mrs. Perion was criticized for making mean comments to Ancia.

However, her store only went bankrupt when she wanted to expand her business but failed to plan ahead. There was no correlation between their collapse with the Crown Princess.

There were many women in the Palace who were said to have been plagued by misfortune because they spoke ill of the Crown Princess.

But they were fired for throwing away the Crown Prince's belongings. Those were all natural consequences.

In the end, the rumour was just a conspiracy theory that involved various events.

But now that she heard Blake speaking, she thought it might not be just a rumor.

Come to think of it, Dix's family also collapsed because they looked down on Rose.

Yesterday, Camilla's family, the Vendricks, were investigated for corruption.

'If the Crown Prince dealt with every person who does harm to Ancia, then that might explain the rumors...'

She understood what was happening now and she continued to listen.

"What about deportation?"

"Please don't!"

"You say no to everything. I think it's best to just cut off the wrists of anyone who flirts with Ancia."

"Your Highness, please!"

Chelsea stopped listening to them talk.

She thought that Blake became cold and distant only after he lost his loved one.

He was cold and didn't open up his heart to anyone.

But maybe it wasn't because of that.

'Oh my god...'

The Crown Prince was simply a scary man.