The man’s dark crimson eyes seemed as if they could swallow anyone who met his gaze.
Simply sitting beside him was enough for his presence to overwhelm the room. He truly lived up to being the one who had slain a demon for the first time in history.
The envoy’s mouth twitched as he forced an awkward smile.
“Ha ha, Commander, this may not be the kind of topic pleasant for your ears. Just trivial talk about the world.”
“As expected, gossip from old men in back rooms isn’t exactly entertaining either.”
“Back rooms… what did you just say?”
The envoy’s face flushed red and purple.
“Old men in back rooms,” indeed—everyone gathered here was a representative sent by their homeland.
The man clicked his tongue.
“As one ages, one should learn the virtues of caution and humility. For example, when speaking ill of others, one should at least glance around first.”
“What did you—!”
“And when you open your mouth carelessly, you should be prepared for the possibility that your words might end up tightening around your own neck.”
At the chilling tone that sank into the air, the surroundings fell silent.
Since his arrival, he had not spoken a single word to anyone who approached him. Always maintaining an indifferent expression—had he been listening to all the insults directed at him?
“There are topics better left only in one’s head. Still, I personally enjoy meaningless small talk. So don’t overthink it.”
With that cold warning, the man smiled faintly. It was as if to say—if you don’t have the courage to say it to my face, then shut up.
Before the frozen atmosphere could even thaw, the halted military band resumed playing.
The envoy group straightened their posture in unison. It was time for the nobles of Elovis and the royal high officials to enter.
The sealed golden doors swung open.
Led by Duke Valer, the most prominent noble families of Elovis entered.
Most of them were elders of the Royal Council—those with voting rights over the kingdom’s most important state affairs. All wore white ceremonial robes designated for Founding Day.
Next came the most important part.
Everyone in the hall stood.
The military band played a grand entrance march. As the Royal Guard split to protect the Red Road, the King of Elovis and the Princess entered the hall.
Once a conquering king who ruled the northwestern continent, he now bore some weight and gray hair, but his authority—honed like blood—remained as strong as in his youth.
Beside him stood the Crown Princess, dazzlingly beautiful. Together, they embodied the prosperity of Elovis itself.
The King took his seat on the throne, and the Crown Princess stood to his right.
At a gesture from the King, the military band stopped. Everyone waited for him to speak.
“Thank you all for attending. As you know, today we gather to celebrate the founding of Elovis, but also to confirm the future we share with other nations.”
The King’s gaze swept across the envoy groups seated in the hall, briefly lingering on the Winterbark Commander.
“I extend gratitude and respect to all envoys who accepted our invitation. We shall have time to strengthen our friendships individually later. For today, let us simply enjoy this joyous occasion…”
The King’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward something.
Following his gaze, the guests showed puzzled expressions.
The banquet hall doors were still not fully closed.
Catherine, who had also looked toward the entrance, frowned slightly.
“What is going on? There shouldn’t be anyone left to enter.”
As if contradicting her thought directly, the half-closed doors swung wide open.
The silhouette revealed through them plunged the banquet hall into shock.
The moment Ioret appeared in the banquet hall, the entire room fell into absolute silence.
There was no grand military music announcing a royal entrance, nor any standing ovation from the guests—just a quiet arrival.
Yet all eyes in the hall turned toward her. And not merely because of her beauty.
Someone murmured under their breath.
“The dress…”
As the princess walked to the center of the hall, the hem of her dress rippled like waves.
Her long platinum-blonde hair flowed with the movement of the fabric.
Catherine almost screamed when she recognized her sister’s dress.
‘How… how did she do that…!’
It was the wedding dress Catherine herself had selected and sent to Ioret.
She had chosen the most extravagant gown so that she would outshine everyone at her wedding to Count Castleine. Yet the color was completely different.
The pure white dress symbolizing a bride’s purity had turned as dark as pitch.
In any nation, there is a color forbidden for Founding Day ceremonies. That color is black, associated with mourning.
Not only the guests but even the King widened his eyes. A sense of urgency spread—this had to be handled immediately.
“You… do you even understand what kind of occasion this is—”
But Catherine could not finish.
The moment Ioret reached beneath the chandelier, the dress changed again.
Its color shifted depending on the angle of light. From deep black, to a bluish tone mixed with darkness, and gradually into a deep, mysterious teal.
The more light it absorbed, the more the fabric revealed shifting shades of blue.
Among the guests dressed entirely in white ceremonial robes, she stood out beyond anyone else.
She had even entered later than the King and the Crown Princess—an unprecedented situation.
Walking through the sea of blue, the princess arrived before the throne and bowed deeply. Her etiquette was flawless.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
Instead of the frowning King, Catherine stood up.
She descended the steps and embraced Ioret. Despite the affectionate gesture, her voice—meant only for Ioret—was filled with anger.
“What brings you here, Ioret? I don’t recall summoning you.”
“What do you mean, what brings me here?”
Ioret tilted her head, eyes wide as if confused.
“I simply came because I was supposed to attend. According to the arranged order.”
“The arranged order?”
“Today is my wedding day, sister. I entered exactly as I was rehearsed. Is there a problem?”
Catherine swallowed a hollow laugh.
The schedule had already been changed three days ago.
The wedding ceremony had been canceled, and the entire Founding Day program had been revised. And now this?
“With everything that happened, there’s no way the wedding would proceed as planned.”
“But no one informed me.”
Ioret smiled brightly. The same foolish expression Catherine had seen days ago.
“You emphasized many times how important today was, sister. I prepared myself to show respect to my bedridden fiancé.”
“That’s nonsense. If mourning clothes are your idea of respect on Founding Day—”
“But you told me to treat the Count as my husband as if he were a heavenly lord, didn’t you?”
In the silence of the hall, Ioret tilted her head innocently.
“You said, ‘From now on, the person you serve is not Father, but Count Castleine. If you live as the Count’s wife instead of a princess, I will allow you to return within five years.’”
“That…!”
“I’m sure that’s what you said. Sister.”
It had been a long time since Catherine had been left speechless like this.
As the banquet stalled, the envoys began to murmur.
The King clicked his tongue in irritation.
“Crown Princess. Return to your seat. Princess, stand before Duke Valer.”
There was no choice but to move forward.
Catherine bit her lip hard and turned away.
The exhausted King gestured to the commander of the Eagle Knight Order.
“Proceed with the banquet. And call Sir Pherain separately to confirm whether the Princess truly did not receive the revised schedule.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Ioret stood at the front row of nobles, holding her dress.
Countless gazes prickled across her body.
A true protagonist always appears last. That was an unchanging truth.
But if Lucian had not escorted her, she would have been blocked at the entrance.
If Bara had not carefully assisted her preparation, she would have been ridiculed.
Thanks to them, her long platinum hair flowed beautifully, and around her slender, graceful neck shone the necklace of Queen Charlotte.
The mysterious dark-blue tone covering her dress delivered a meaningful shock to those who recognized its value.
At the very least, everyone here would remember the name “Ioret.”
“I made it onto the stage. Now the real beginning starts.”
Ioret straightened her back and waited for the opening ceremony to end.
