The Eldest Daughter Walks Down The Flower Path

The duchess was being sweet about it, and her words were ever so gentle, but Yves felt as if cold water had been poured right over his head.

Struggling to keep a smile on his face, he replied.

“That’s… not the case, Duchess.”

“I know. I’ve already heard about it from Mariel. Being as old as I am, I must have misunderstood because of my impatience.”

The duchess continued with a grin.

“In any case, Marquis Russell, may I look forward to some good news regarding Mariel? This summer, she and I are planning to travel to the Ishul Hot Springs. Wouldn’t it be nice if her worries are solved first before our relaxing trip?”

“Your Grace is right.”

Duchess Byard’s eyes crinkled as she glanced at Yves one last time before she rejoined the noblewomen of the Velleius faction.

Yves saw the noblewomen look back at him, giving him meaningful smiles. He responded with a smile of his own, but really, he could feel himself sweating lightly at that point.

Under the Velleius faction, most of the noblewomen there were deeply connected to House Russell, especially with Mariel, who was the foundation of the faction.

Perhaps the noblewomen were aware of the little rift between Mariel and the young marquis.

‘Huuu.’

Sighing inwardly, Yves avoided the gazes of the noblewomen and proceeded towards the table where the food was set.

You could say that the Iziad faction—as led by the Lebeloia Duchy—were the radicals, and in comparison, the Velleius faction were the moderates.

Noble households from the northeastern and southern regions mostly belonged to the Velleius faction.

Additionally, most of the southern nobles had long histories of having to protect the empire from monsters, and so they were the most unconvinced about war.

Yves was of the same mind.

He hated the monsters terribly.

Ironically, however, the magic stones that the monsters would produce were a valuable resource.

The countries of Rafal and Grize—which respectively possessed a magic tower and an ancient ruin called Leviathan—were, to put it bluntly, crazy for magic stones.

If Monsterwood and its magic stone resource was located at Rafal or Grize instead, it’s even said that they would have the capacity to conquer the entire continent.

Therefore, Rafal and Grize were both looking for an opening to wage a war of conquest for Monsterwood.

The Velleius faction served as the opposition against that, as they did not want a war to break out.

‘Well, unless His Majesty the Emperor is a fool, then he won’t really start a war.’

As he considered all these things, Yves diligently took two glasses of cold drinks and placed them on a tray.

There were a few simple dishes on the table, which was at the edge of the banquet hall.

Champagne jelly with rose petals, fresh oysters with caviar, cheese and olives.

Yves gestured towards an attendant.

“Have you got anything that’s filling? Like a dish with meat?”

The attendant soon brought him a big slice of beef pie.

With lithe steps, Yves sped up the stairs while imagining what kind of expression Radis would have once she’d see this. She’d surely like it.

However, Radis was not alone.

* * *

Looking downwards as she leaned on the third-floor railing, Radis suddenly felt someone’s presence, and so she raised her head.

Just a few steps away was… Olivier.

Wearing a white dress suit embroidered with a blue peacock, he looked like a painting even as he was standing by himself in the dark hallway.

If he were to be seen from far away, there was an apparent air of austerity and sternness about him. However, this would disappear little by little from the moment his eyes met with Radis’.

And by the time that he had come close to her, the glacier-like walls around him had completely disappeared as though it had melted away.

“We meet again.”

Just like how it was during their first meeting, Olivier’s long hair was cascading down.

With the glow of the chandelier casting upon his hair, Radis was reminded of the very first time she had ever laid her eyes on him.

And when she looked into his eyes, all she could think was this—was there any amethyst in the world that was as pretty as his eyes?

‘Seriously, they’re so pretty. How can anyone have such pretty eyes?’

Radis was captivated, staring intently now.

Most jewels would not even be able to compare against his clear, violet eyes.

Even as those eyes shied away and avoided her gaze.

‘Huuk.’

As Radis inwardly gasped, she came to her senses.

“Your Highness the Third Prince!”

“Might I be disturbing you again?”

“N-Not at all, sir.”

Radis jumped away from the railing, taking off Yves’ coat on her shoulders and arranging her dress.

“I was only looking down.”

Olivier took a step closer to her.

Radis almost flinched and stepped back, but she managed to stop herself.

Olivier stood where Radis had been standing until just earlier, then he looked down as well.

His gaze turned cold.

His eyes scanned the Iziad faction nobles who were noisily clamoring around the emperor, at the empress who was pretending to be neutral, and then at the Velleius faction nobles who were scattered here and there around the banquet hall.

“What does this look like to you?”

Radis glanced towards Olivier, whose brows had become knitted together.

There’s no way for her to know what kind of answer he wanted to hear.

So, she had no choice but to answer with the truth, sharing her truen perspective on the situation.

“…A music box.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s as if I’m looking at a huge music box.”

At Radis’ answer, Olivier had no choice but to look up at her.