"Itâs Florentiaâs birthday, the only daughter of Sir Gallahan Lombardy itself no one else. How can I miss a special day like this?"
The Empress has been busy all these years.
Perez is busy recruiting the nobles while he is away at the academy.
His original social power and the Tops of Angenas led the aristocracy to aggressively support Astana.
In many ways, the Empress and Angenasâs Family have no choice but to stand in line with their wits.
In addition, she thought my father was completely out of Lombardyâs Lord nomination as my father cared about the Chesire territory.
On the surface, she was trying very hard to establish a friendly relationship with me anyway.
"Besides, youâre my dear cousin Seralâs niece."
Empress Rabini said so and pointed to Seral, who was standing on the left.
I could also see Larane poking her head out from behind.
I couldnât bear to make a sound, but I greeted Larane with my eyes quietly and then looked at Seral.
"Happy birthday, Florentia."
Anyone would know theyâre the same Angelas.
Even though she smiles, her eyes are not friendly, itâs the same as the Empress.
It was not only that Seral was similar to the Empress.
Just as Rabini Angenas did not hide her ambition for her family even after she became Empress of the Empire.
Seral was gradually showing up too.
"Viese couldnât come because he was busy, but he asked me several times to say happy birthday to Florentia."
After Shananet became Lordâs representatives, Viese went on vacation to Angenas.
And it wasnât until a year later that Viese was a little different.
No, Seral and Viese both did.
As if there had been a change in the power structure between the couple, Viese began to listen to Seral in earnest.
From not having any more trouble to business advice from Seral.
Thanks to this, Lombardyâs real estate business, which Viese is responsible for, has become entangled with Angenas in many ways.
Since the two powerful families are creating synergy together, there has been no opposition from within Lombardy.
"Iâve sent the presents to the room. Open it later. Itâs a set of finest pearl ornaments that I chose with special care, so I hope you like it, Florentia."
Seral spoke in a slightly louder voice, telling everyone around her to listen.
And the Empress took over the baton.
"Iâd like to rent my villa in Angenas for a month for your birthday. What do you think, Florentia?"
âIf itâs a villa..."
âItâs Peaport Castle with hot springs.â
It was the hot spring tourism project that Angenas, which has poor farming and no underground resources, is pushing for these days.
It is still a word of mouth, but after a few years, it will be perfectly established as a resort for the aristocrats.
Then, Angenas will start a transportation business that regularly moves the nobles to the West using a luxury carriage, and earn quite a lot of money.
Itâs a story a few years from now.
"Iâve been wanting to go! Thank you, Her Majesty."
Iâll never go, but Iâll have to take it because a lot of eyes see us.
The Empressâs blue eyes quickly scanned the area as I thanked her by grabbing my skirt.
Sheâs trying to make sure a lot of people are listening to our conversation.
Of course, today is my birthday banquet, and the Empress led all her aides, so people were paying attention here.
Oh, this is kind of unpleasant.
I have a bad hunch that I donât know why.
Too many peopleâs eyes gathered.
And this opportunity cannot be missed by Rabini.
I got up to leave.
"Then have a great banquet, and Iâll leave you..."
"Now that Florentia is of age, itâs time to find a suitable mate."
What the hell are you talking about?
I stared at Empress Rabini, who was talking nonsense with a smiling face.
I almost forgot to control my expression because it was so ridiculous.
"Iâm still thinking..."
"Gallahan doesnât really care about that. If Her Majesty comes forward, it will be good for Florentia too.â (She make angry, who will he match Tia with, Astana?, No way)
How dare you.
As if theyâve matched in advance, Seral quickly comes forward and responds.
"Really? What do you think of Florentia?"
Empress Rabini looked at me and asked.
But sheâs not really asking for my opinion.
There was no father here, my guardian, and no matter how adult I am now, I still have a few years left until my marriageable age.
Even Larane, who is 4 years older than me, has not decided who to marry yet.
Nevertheless, Empress Rabini deliberately brought it up in front of many people.
So that I canât say no.
Moreover, it is not easy to reverse the situation even if my father or grandfather finds out about it later because the opponent is the Empress.
The eyes of the Empress smiling at me glistened.
You would have thought Iâd nod my head because there was no grandfather near me who could face the Empress.
"Would you leave it to me to find Florentiaâs marriage partner?"
But they chose the wrong opponent.
I canât believe theyâre using the surroundings to pressure me.
I looked around quickly.
It just so happened that I saw the person I was looking for not far away.
Grandfather is not the only person in this banquet hall that the Empress is reluctant to deal with.
I cleared my throat with a âhmmâ and shouted in a rather loud voice.
"Hello, Second Prince!"
He quickly responded to my voice and waved my hand with a broad smile towards Perez, who turned around.
Sheâs making me very uncomfortable.
Iâll make it more difficult for you, Empress Rabini.
As Perez began to walk straight toward me, the spectacular view unfolded.
The nobles standing in the middle stepped back, clearing the way for Perez as if the sea were splitting.
He didnât ask anyone to step up and get out of the way.
Those who had already been paying attention since Perez appeared at the banquet hall moved themselves.
And at the end of the road in the middle of the banquet hall was me.
Perez strode, looking at me at the end of the way, without saying a word.
Like a person who canât feel the eyes of others.
Stomp stomp.
Perez stood in front of me, with the dull sound of shoe heels.
And spoke in a low voice.
"Long time no see, Lady Florentia Lombardy."
"...Thank you for attending my birthday banquet."
To be honest, I was a little surprised.
I thought for a moment Perez would say things like âTiaâ or âAre you here?â.
Because he has a personality that he didnât care about the people around him.
But to my surprise, Perez called me âLady Florentia Lombardyâ.
It was the first time.
In addition, he added that he acted as if he had met me for the first time in six years.
Iâm so proud.
Is this how the teacher feels to see a well-educated student?
I smiled and said to Perez without even looking at Empress Rabini.
"I heard you graduated from the academy with excellent grades this time. Itâs been 5 years since you graduated at the same time. What a piece of work!"
I said it deliberately, making more fuss.
At my words, the nobles around me nodded with smiling faces.
It was only the Empress and her group that was rotting their faces.
"Luckily, as much as I tried, good results just followed."
Perez gave a humble and respectful answer to that, further raising the favorability of the nobles.
Then Perez looked at Empress Rabini.
"Her Majesty."
It was a dry greeting, with no family attached.
It was also a very insincere greeting to the Empress whom he met after a few years.
Still, the Empress, who had deep experience, said to Perez with a smile.
"Congratulations on your graduation, Prince."
But thatâs also for a while.
The Empress soon lowered the tail of her eyes and created a thin and wounded face.
It was a real sword match between Perez and the Empress.
Itâs interesting.
"But Iâm disappointed. The first time Iâve seen Princeâs face after six years is at a banquet."
Oh, you shouldnât bring that up!
Because.
"Iâm sorry, it was drawn because I arrived at the Imperial Palace late yesterday afternoon. I barely greeted His Majesty in the middle of the conference, so donât be too sad."
This is how Perez can bring up the conference.
And then.
"Oh! I heard some people talking today. I heard youâll be attending the next meeting with His Majesty."
And your response will be like this.
"At the conference...?"
"Isnât that a big deal?"
It just happened last night, so more nobles hadnât heard yet.
Surprised, they murmured, glancing at the Empress.
From the beginning, the people whom the Empress deliberately brought together to weave me, and the people who gathered around when Perez appeared. Including those who watched the situation further away, dozens of aristocrats now know that Perez had attended the conference like Astana.
"Thatâs right."
Perez nodded and admitted plainly, and peopleâs buzz grew even louder.
As Perez nodded his head and acknowledged it plainly, the murmur of the people grew louder.
Oops, twist!
I was barely holding back my laughter.
If you touch me carelessly, this will happen, Empress Rabini.1
After giving the nobles enough time to wonder and the Empress enough time to flutter her eyelids in anger, I stood by Perez and said with a grin.
"Iâll go introduce the surroundings to the Second Prince, Empress. Since he returned to the Capital after almost six years, there must be a lot of people to meet." (I thought Tia would call Perez as her partner, but itâs not)+
It was my completely impeccable and considerate suggestion.
So there is only one thing the Empress can say.
"...So be it, Lady Lombardy."