That night.

Duke Isiron, who was staying at the manor residence, burst into loud laughter.

“Yeah, that Chronos Astra couldn’t do a thing!”

[What’s so funny about that?]

Serian, the second son, sighed deeply.

The Duke chuckled as he raised his cup.

“How could I not be? The Second Great Emperor of the Dark chose Alexis.”

The Dark Emperor had elevated the weak youngest prince, who used to just cling to dogs, to the throne.

If that child truly possessed the insight of the Dark Emperor...

‘Alexis has gained an unstoppable force.’

From the communication stone came Serian’s disgruntled voice.

[I thought my heart would shrivel up. You should have warned me!]

“Why would I leave you stuck at the estate? You would have fled long ago.”

Serian let out a bitter laugh.

His father, who had fled at the sight of the Duke of Astra, had no right to complain.

[Couldn’t you leave that to the eldest son instead of me?]

“To Adelric? Ha! I’d sooner entrust feed to a pig.”

[...Is there no hidden eldest son?]

“Unfortunately not.”

Serian sighed gloomily.

‘My future hope is to be a parasite on the powerful.’

He just wanted to live off the crumbs the capable elder brother left behind...

But his brother had no ability, only ambition.

[Adelric is running wild. The Duke of Astra invaded the estate trying to kill the eldest son, so a territorial war with Astra must begin.]

“You’re talking nonsense and nearly got yourself killed, and now you spout nonsense again.”

[Why not tell your brother Alexis is Lady Annamaria’s son?]

“The fact that he drunkenly bragged about having a nephew carrying royal blood is enough to put the family seal on the line.”

Serian groaned in pain.

‘If only my brother were even a fool, I could entrust the family to him. But he’s a fool and trash besides.’

He was utterly useless.

He wished he’d just die—or at least be permanently incapacitated...

Serian asked gloomily,

[So what now? Luckily Astra is quiet for now...]

“You ask the obvious.”

[Yes, it’s regrettable that the engagement proceeded without discussing with the Duke of Astra, so we dispatched vassals to...]

“We’ll publish a major special report in the newspapers!”

[...Yes?]

“Oh, and leak rumors to third-rate tabloids that only gossipmongers read.”

Erilot Astra is set to be the daughter-in-law of Isiron, so let it be known we’ll kill anyone who interferes!

Ha ha ha ha.

The Duke of Isiron laughed heartily.

Grandchildren really are something.

When beauty supports you, fist-sized natural diamonds roll in all by themselves.

‘The old man of Astra must be jealous.’

Holding his cup, the Duke of Isiron grinned slyly.

From the communication stone came Serian’s painful groan.

A few days later, at the Imperial Palace.

I glanced around.

Small groups whispered among themselves.

“The Western Wonhwa and Prince Isiron...”

“No wonder their eyes kept meeting during public battle training...”

“Prince Konabellan reportedly stopped eating and drinking...”

Ahead, Western troops pounded the floors as they ran.

“Is it true?!”

“Are they really engaged?!”

Even the Wonhwa passing through the torch-lit palace corridors smiled knowingly.

I walked wearily with a resigned expression.

“Wonhwa! Really engaged—”

“Yes, they are!”

“......!”

I pushed through the shocked soldiers and left.

Such a fuss over an engagement.

The dawn after settling matters with grandfather, a special edition was distributed.

Everyone I met asked,

“Is it true? Are you really engaged?!”

—It was exhausting.

“Wonhwa, really engaged to Prince Isiron—”

“Yes!!”

I shouted unconsciously, then flinched at the sound behind me.

I turned and saw the Northern Wonhwa’s eyes wide open.

Not only Northern Wonhwa, but also Sebastia and the Southern Wonhwa were there.

‘Thought it was just gossip again.’

Northern Wonhwa’s face drooped.

I quickly nodded lightly.

“Hello, Northern Wonhwa.”

“Yes... Sorry if we caused discomfort...”

“I didn’t know you were Northern Wonhwa. Thanks for the congratulations. But your outfit today...”

She wasn’t wearing the cape that symbolized Wonhwa.

Northern Wonhwa said, “Ah!”

“Please call me Benya now. I retired today!”

“Already? Who’s your successor...?”

“They say combined battle training is frequent in the north.”

I’d heard that.

Due to the harsh land, enemy incursions are frequent.

Northern Wonhwa—or rather, Benya Montegue—smiled brightly.

“Noble children often hold mock battles among themselves.”

“Ah, so no need for separate preliminary Wonhwa battles?”

“Yes! The noble daughter who won the mock battles before retiring was appointed Northern Wonhwa.”

I nodded.

Benya linked her arm through mine.

“But I’ll be living in the capital, so let’s meet often.”

“Of course.”

I answered and looked at Sebastia and the Southern Wonhwa.

“Hello, Rika.”

“Yes... Congratulations on your engagement...”

“Thank you.”

“I thought you’d tell me directly...”

Southern Wonhwa looked disappointed.

“As soon as the family decided, it spread through a special edition the next day.”

“Ah...”

Southern Wonhwa fiddled with her fingertips.

I looked at Sebastia.

“I’ll see the Central Wonhwa.”

“No need for formalities. But you seem close to the Southern Wonhwa?”

“We decided to forget the past. Though I told her to speak comfortably, she still struggles.”

Sebastia had a perfect cicada style.

She needed a boss to cling to.

Perhaps that’s why she disliked speaking comfortably.

‘I’m the younger sister but it feels weird if I’m the only one speaking casually.’

Having once lived in the Land of Eastern Courtesy, I understood.

Sebastia smiled lightly.

“That’s good.”

“Yes. Ah, what about the Eastern Wonhwa? You’re moving to the Central army, right?”

“We’ll soon hold preliminary battles in the East. Until the Eastern Wonhwa is chosen, I’ll lead the East along with them.”

“You must be busy.”

“Not really, it’s my usual work. Also...”

Sebastia’s eyebrows twitched.

“I prefer having more work than gathering daily for tea.”

The previous Wonhwa army must have been awful.

Sebastia shrugged.

“Leaving the palace?”

“Yes. I’m going to the Lily Garden party. Will you three come?”

“Yes. Will you join us?”

“Gladly.”

I left the corridor with the Wonhwa.

We rode in Sebastia’s carriage toward the salon street where the Lily Garden was.

Benya excitedly said,

“From this year, young nobles are officially invited to the Lily Garden party.”

Rika nodded.

“Yes, originally only ladies’ partners could come.”

“That sounds fun. Woo, I wonder if I’ll keep getting invited even if I’m not Wonhwa?”

For adult nobles, the Marchioness Paante’s year-end party was the most prestigious invitation.

For minor nobles, the Lily Garden party was the highest honor.

Invitations were based on family status and influence.

‘Last year, the most influential child in the social circle was chosen as the host.’

I smiled faintly.

“That’ll be me. Benya’s sister is always invited too, right?”

“That’s right. She’s also a member of the Justice Society.”

The chatter in the carriage ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) continued softly.

I was lost in thought.

‘Last year at the Lily Garden party, I introduced Alexis but couldn’t socialize well because of Princess Anatoly.’

There would be members of prestigious clubs who rarely appeared, so I should mingle well this year.

‘Dahlia even gained a windfall through connections made here.’

Just as I reached that conclusion, the carriage stopped.

The coachman opened the door.

We got out, holding the hand of a middle-aged servant.

He bowed deeply.

“Welcome to the source of the flame protecting His Majesty the Emperor in the Imperial Palace.”

This was the place where magic stones kept lilies blooming lushly year-round.

For minor nobles, it was a dream venue.

—The Lily Garden.

Inside, Lady Paante raised her hand.

“Erilot, over here! Biferi, come quickly too!”

As we approached, Lumelisa Paante took my hand.

“Welcome.”

“You are again the host of this year’s Lily Garden party.”

“Originally, Erilot should have hosted. Wonhwa cannot be hosts, so it’s a shame.”

“Who could throw a better party than Lumelisa?”

“Yay~.”

I walked with Lumelisa Paante and Sebastia.

At the table Lumelisa led us to were young ladies who had visited my imperial office before.

Some faces were new.

“Welcome.”

“Oh, Biferi’s brooch, that’s from Kremlin, isn’t it?”

“I made a reservation too, but the waitlist was so long I haven’t received mine yet.”

“Hello, Biferi. Shall I show you to your seat?”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Sarasa’s older sister...”

Sebastia and I exchanged greetings with the girls.

‘Hm?’

But something felt odd.

Benya and Rika were heading to another table.

“Rika, Ben—”

I tried to call, but a 16-year-old girl with bright, curly red hair grabbed my hand.

“Hello, little kitten?”

“...Yes?”

“I said, hello little kitten.”

“Oh, yes!”

That was Catherine Trang’s nickname for Richmond.

As I wore a stunned expression, the girl giggled.

Then she whispered in my ear.

“That’s the table they can go to. Even if they’re Wonhwa.”

“Huh?”

“And this is the little kitten’s table.”

Ah, so the tables were implicitly divided by rank.

I nodded, and the girl smiled brightly.

“My name is Hera Leviya.”

“Oh! Former Central Wonhwa...!”

Hera rested one hand on her chin and stroked my cheek gently with the other.

“If I had a little kitten when I was Central Wonhwa, I would have adored her.”

“Thank you...?”

“So cute. Such a pity. Back then, it was only wildcats.”

Sebastia grabbed my shoulders and said,

“Don’t envy her. She’s my sworn sister.”

“Then if Sebastia is my sworn sister, does this little kitten come with her?”

That was when—

“Troublesome. I have my eye on this sister.”

Hera’s expression twisted.

“So you came this year too, Assalin.”

Assalin?

Assalin was a lady who had been Southern Wonhwa during Hera’s time.

If Katia, Benya’s sister, was the strongest Northern Wonhwa, Assalin was called the strongest Southern Wonhwa.

“I heard I’d get to see the cute Western Wonhwa.”

“Ah, sisters, this is awkward. Western Wonhwa is my junior, you know?”

Then a silver-haired girl with purple eyes and a beauty mark on her cheek appeared.

She took my hand.

“Nice to meet you, current Western Wonhwa. I’m Giselle Yusrotia.”

“The strongest Western Wonhwa...!”

“That’s in the past now—”

Giselle poked my cheek.

“Isn’t the cutest the strongest Western Wonhwa?”

They were the 36th and 38th generation Wonhwa.

The Wonhwa around me looked at Lumelisa.

“When will the ‘Root’ open?”

Lumelisa chuckled.

“It’s about to open soon.”

Hera stood and said,

“Such a pity. I liked being near the lovely kittens.”

The young ladies at the table pouted.

“When can we see you again, Hera?”

Hera winked and wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

“Shall we go? The ‘Root’ is opening.”

“Root...?”

“I heard it was held last year, but I guess you missed it.”

“Yes.”

“You’ll like it.”

Just then,

Sssshhhh—!!

With a sudden crackling sound, sparks flew up from the center.

Immediately,

“Ah.”

“Amazing!”

“So this is the ‘Root’ of the Lily Garden party.”

The crowd was visibly excited.

Everyone wore expressions of delight.

No wonder—they all felt truly joyful.

‘What is this? Something is rising.’

Sebastia whispered into my ear.

“It’s a blessing.”

“A blessing?”

“The ‘blessing’ that flows only on the land of blessing.”

Ah!

I nodded.

It was the special air that strengthened one’s blessing.

‘Incredible.’

So that’s why people pay huge sums to buy land of blessing.

‘Then what about the land of blessing I’ve kept...’

At that moment,

“Has the Root already started?”

A familiar boy’s voice called from afar.