"I have something to say before you leave for Tilia. I think it'll be better after the banquet today. Tomorrow, you and I will have a new life, so enjoy tonight as much as you like."

Simone set her mind on it. Today was the day Julietta really should learn why she had to be Princess Kiellini. She was worried about how Julietta accepting it, but she was going to let her face it as calmly as she could. She was a smart, quick-thinking girl, so she would quickly figure out what was in her favor.

While Simone was lost in thought, the name of the family Kiellini was finally called. When Princess Kiellini and Simone entered the party, everyone's eyes were focused on the princess, just as they had been at the previous debut party.

Though not often seen, the princess's dress was always a hot topic among the people. Her own fas.h.i.+on house opening not long ago was simply a hot potato in the market. People opened their mouths when they saw Princess Kiellini's dress, which had small diamonds in b.u.t.terfly-shaped st.i.tches all over her dark purple dress. It was a plain dress without common laces, ruffles, or ribbons. However, the lighting made the diamonds so rich and elegant that it could not be better. The dress, along with the beauty of the princess, carried an incomparable aura around it.

"I can see why Prince Killian fell in love with the princess."

"It's rumored that they're going to have an engagement ceremony soon."

"Then what will happen to Lady Christine? She's been chasing him so hard without even knowing her shame."

When all the entries of the aristocrats were finished, music began to spread in the hall. It was the Imperial Banquet, but it was common for none of the royal family members to attend. The guests gathered at the banquet without a host talked about the hottest topic in the capital.

When the story of Christine, like the spice between Prince Killian and Princess Kielini, came out, Princess Haint, her belly slightly swollen by pregnancy stepped in and laughed. "Lady Anais, of course, will marry Prince Francis."

The eyes of the people were on Princess Haint at once.

"With His Highness Francis? I didn't see any signs of that at all, and I'm surprised." People chattered wonderfully at the birth of a new love tryst.

Princess Haint's voice was lowered to the limit. "Some time ago, Lady Anais came out of Prince Francis's palace early in the morning..."

"She came out? What then?"

The princess's voice rose a little when someone impatiently urged her to speak. "Her hair was messy, and her dress was almost taken off. Her chest and neck were a mess of kissing and bite marks."

"Oh, my G.o.d." Everyone was breathtakingly surprised and could not speak.

Enjoying people's reactions, Princess Haint added, "The Duke of Dudley must have spent a lot of money to stop this rumor. But I guess he couldn't stop everything because there were a lot of eyes who saw it, because I heard that in my ears this way."

At the words of Princess Haint, the other lady spoke with astonishment. "I saw Lady Anais heading toward Prince Francis's palace before, and today, too?"

The banquet was supposed to be in full swing, but sank heavily at the scandal of Lady Anais.

Confirming that the interest that had been focused on Princess Kiellini had returned to her, Jayna Haint looked around with triumphant eyes. It wasn't that she hated Princess Kiellini, but she didn't want to miss the lead role at the last banquet she attended as a single woman about to get married.

She had to step out before this interest was lost. Even if she was not at the party, people would continue to talk about her whenever they put Lady Anais in their mouths.

Jayna asked people to forgive her, recalling the whereabouts of the Lady Anais a lady told her earlier. "I think I'll have to go to the lounge for a while. As you can see, I'm pregnant."

Jayna also used her pregnancy to capture people's attention, leaving the banquet hall in a jubilant mood, and slowly walked toward Prince Francis' rooms. "Did she go to the Prince's palace without attending the banquet? Let's see what she will be wearing today."

A week ago, when Christine came out of Francis's rooms so frantically, Jayna was on her way to an administrative office, packing a lunch box for an early lunch with her fiancé, Count Derio. In order to reach the administrative building next to the main castle where the Emperor resided, she had to pa.s.s by the palace of the first Queen and the palace of Prince Francis. Riding in a carriage on the quiet road of the Imperial Castle with no other traffic, she had seen Lady Anais, who had run out of Prince Francis's palace.

Jayna clicked her tongue as she came close to Lady Anais, who was there standing absentmindedly, unaware of the eyes of people, even if she was waiting for the carriage. Though Francis was absurd and perverse, he had hara.s.sed an unmarried lady in the middle of the Imperial Castle, where people frequently came and went.

But Jayna didn't feel sorry for Christine. Rather, she felt Christine was stupid. 'I never forgot that you used me to escape Francis's grasp. Now that this happened to you, it's okay for you to take the scalawag before other innocent ladies are harmed.'

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