Emily was fully prepared for the palace party. She even had her outfit specially tailored by renowned designer Thierry Roesto.
During the party season, his price skyrockets, making it difficult to bring him in, but it was possible because his shop is located in the 3rd district of Portua, managed by Killian.
“Madam, just a moment.”
The maid, Cezanne, lifted her skirt and pulled out a dagger hidden near her thigh. Without hesitation, she hurled it with a flick, slicing the mosquito in half and pinning it against the wall.
“Wow, that’s great.”
Emily stood up and clapped without realizing it.
“If a mosquito bites your well-groomed face, it’s a disaster.”
Cezanne answered nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Now, Starr's servants no longer hid their skills from Emily.
And Emily was trying hard to adjust to them. John, noticing her nervousness, approached her first and hugged her.
“Emily is a Princess we must protect. So, you have to get used to it.”
As she later learned, Johan was also the son of a mafia family, and a genius with a particular interest in various poisonous plants. The Starr family put the poisonous needles John developed to considerable use.
“Yes, please take good care of me.”
Emily even urged young John to be careful. The more people who would protect her, the better.
“It’s time now, Madam.”
Alvin knocked on the door from outside.
“Emily, have a nice trip.”
As he said his final goodbyes, John handed her a fan and a mysterious vial. Emily smiled with a sense of repentance as she looked at the vial.
“Thank you, see you when I get back.”
Emily, wearing a new dress, left the room with a trembling heart and descended the stairs. Killian was already waiting to escort her.
Today, she wore a blue dress that flowed naturally along the curves of her body. It was a sophisticated and neat dress that suited Emily's slender height.
Instead of a simple dress, Emily's beauty was further enhanced by a necklace of 27 emerald drops and diamonds crafted using the a-jour technique around her neck.
Killian, too, wore a blue suit with gold embroidery to match hers. Perhaps because of the close-fitting suit, his broad shoulders and straight back were clearly visible.
This was the first time in his life that he had worn such bright clothes, but as expected, his face and body carried them off amazingly.
Killian and Emily stared at each other in silence for the first few seconds.
The only person who was anxious here was the coachman, who had a mission to arrive on time.
The two, brought back to their senses by the sound of him humming beside them, awkwardly climbed into the carriage together. It wasn't their first time riding alone, but today, for some reason, it was difficult to make eye contact.
As the two arrived at the palace, everyone's eyes were fixed on the entrance at the sound of the Starr couple, newly minted nobles from the mafia, entering.
They were a lively topic of conversation in the dull social circle.
As soon as he entered the hall, he would have been taken aback by the stares pouring in, but Killian seemed accustomed to them, or rather, as if he didn't need to pay attention, and simply looked around the room with indifferent eyes for a moment.
Emily was able to enter with a calm demeanor thanks to Killian's attitude.
People gulped at the sight of Killian, his tall, imposing figure and intimidating aura. Even if he'd been bought with money, he held the status of a Marquis, and more than anything, he was a mafia member who hunted and killed people.
No one would have the guts to carelessly say things like, "You're not noble," or "You're vulgar," in front of such a fearsome being.
At that time, Baron Becherel, who had the most courage, approached them first to greet them.
Killian ran a gambling house called 'Delina House', which had a separate, closed area for regulars and important customers.
They were referred to as "club members," and the Baron was aspiring to be one, as all sorts of valuable and high-level information was exchanged within the club.
“Good morning, Marquis de Starr and Marchioness. I am Powell Becherel.”
He was someone who had used the Delina House quite a few times.
He wondered if Killian would remember him, but seeing that he didn't respond at all, the Baron quickly concluded that he didn't even know where the Becherel estate was located.
“I’ve never heard of it.”
As expected, the Baron wasn't disappointed.
"That's probably true. We're stuck in some remote area. It's hard to even call us nobles."
Powell, who had to please Killian, spoke as humbly as possible, but Killian still didn't seem impressed with him.
“But what happened?”
Killian divides people into two reasons why they approach him because they want something from him, or because they want to hit him in the back of the head.
He looked like a round bear, but he didn't seem like the type of person who would hit the back of the head.
Baron Becherel stuttered for a moment, flustered by the direct question before he could even properly greet him.
“Oh, I want to be friends with you.”
But he didn't want to start off this way.
“...”
When there was no answer from Killian, Emily, feeling sorry for him, spoke instead.
"Baron Becherel, it was nice to meet you. I'll send you an invitation the next time the Starr family holds a party."
Of course, there was no such thing as a party at the Starr household. Emily had no intention of ever creating an event that would attract outside guests. You never know when a spy might sneak in.
“Thank you. Thank you.”
The poor Baron, unaware of Emily's true feelings, left with a sullen greeting.
At that moment, he was most grateful to be able to wrap up the ruined conversation and leave. He figured he could always bring up the subject of club membership again when he attended Emily's party.
"This."
Emily watched the departing Baron and then noticed in the distance a group of people who had once followed her around and admired her.
“I’ll just go to the break room for a bit.”
She backed away until they were out of sight, then turned around and headed to the break room.
She thought it would be okay, but Emily, who used to be so successful, didn't seem ready to meet those kids yet.
Meanwhile, Lucius, the star of today's party and Crown Prince of Vancent, was far from a neat image.
During Robert's time studying abroad, he was known for his unkempt hair, one or two buttons undone, and his casually worn cravat.
Despite his quirky appearance, he was a natural rebel who lived as he pleased and gave off a dangerous vibe, but he had many fans who were crazy about that style.
Of course, it became popular thanks to good looks, so don't copy it blindly. According to those who did, most of them ended up like homeless people who woke up drunk.
In other words, Crown Prince Lucius isn't just a rebel. He's a handsome man with deep, sorrowful eyes. This combination has resonated with many female fans.
Anyway, he was a free spirit who was burdened by the expectations of his parents and the people of the empire, and on the first day of the party, he had an argument with his mother, the Empress, and had been drinking heavily since broad daylight.
Despite his pleas to avoid that extravagant welcome party, his mother remained determined to the end. Finally, Lucius, drunk, ascended the last steps, but his head suddenly became dizzy and he lost his balance.
“Are you okay?”
Just then, someone grabbed his arm tightly. Feeling embarrassed, he tried to quickly move away, but then, without thinking, his gaze shifted and he froze.
Because Lucius's ideal type, the kind that only exists in literature, was right in front of him.
"Hey?"
Emily waited for an answer from the gentleman before her, but heard nothing.
Emily, who had a puzzled expression, nodded awkwardly and hurried to the break room she had originally planned to go to.
Lucius just stared blankly at Emily's back as she left, unable to even hold onto her.
“Who is that young lady?”
Her lovely expression and gestures, her flushed cheeks, made his heart flutter.
And Lucius, who thought he had shown something unsightly in front of her, came to his senses and ran to the Crown Princess's palace to properly dress up again.
It was a moment when he felt sorry for losing his temper with his mother in the morning.
Meanwhile, Emily, who had arrived at the break room, left the young man behind, looking a little disoriented, opened the door, and then closed it. There was someone who shouldn't have been there.
“Emily, come in.”
A voice called her affectionately from inside the door.
“That’s not Emily.”
“I’ve already seen it all.”
Emily opened the door, muttering a curse under her breath.
“I heard all that cursing.”
The person who had entered the break room first stood up and greeted Emily.
“I missed you, Emily.”
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