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Frau was not important enough to even get an invitation. The emperor’s birthday feast this year was to include the highest-ranking Acreian nobles. The security of the party was going to be extremely tight; a nobody like Frau couldn’t even dream of being invited.

Sir Mahogal asked, “But aren’t you engaged to him? So shouldn’t he be your guest?”

“We aren’t engaged.”

It was illegal to get married or engaged within the year of a royal death. Poliana planned on skipping the standard engagement period and just get married as soon as it was allowed. Although Poliana and Frau were promised to be married, they weren’t legally engaged.

Sir Jainno was confused. Even if they weren’t technically engaged, everyone in Yapa knew they were going to be married, which meant that Frau would be allowed to attend the party. Sir Jainno asked, “But he would still be allowed to go as your guest, right?”

Poliana shrugged her shoulders. She did consider taking Frau with her, but when she asked, Frau became pale and asked, “Do I have to, is this mandatory?”

“Well, no.”

“T-then, I don’t want to go.”

“Hmm, alright, as you wish.”

This was the end of their conversation that day. Poliana didn’t ask Frau why he didn’t want to go. They weren’t married yet, and therefore she didn’t want to act like a nagging wife, and besides, she could guess why he wouldn’t want to attend this party. Since all the important Acreian nobles were invited, it was very likely that Frau’s family, the Snekes, were going to attend as well. Frau was kicked out from his family and he wasn’t even allowed to attend his own father’s funeral. Meeting his family now would be a painful experience.

Sir Wook nodded. “Well, I can understand why he wouldn’t want to go. I am guessing the Sneke family will be attending, right? And Frau Sneke is still a nobody, so it would be embarrassing for him to face his family now.”

Sir Mahogal shook his head with sympathy. For a family to prevent a son from attending his own father’s funeral… Frau must’ve angered his family very badly. Sir Mahogal especially could not understand this. A family, no matter how dysfunctional, was still a family. Not all families could be happy. Not all family members could get along with each other.

Things happened for a reason. For example, look at Poliana. She was practically abandoned by her own father. If Poliana was even a little bit prettier… If she was a little bit less resilient and strong… She would’ve never met Lucius the First, and if she never met the emperor… All of them would’ve never met.

***

It was finally Lucius the First’s birthday. Lady Stra worked very hard to arrange the banquet with the help from Lady Tory. Even the harshest critic had to agree that the feast was perfect. Lady Stra asked Tory and many of the other Acreian ladies to decide on the food and drinks. The banquet hasn’t begun yet, but Stra still felt so proud of herself. Her eyes teared up as she exclaimed, “It is all thanks to you, Tory!”

“…”

When Tory didn’t answer, Stra turned towards her. To Stra’s surprise, Tory was shaking visibly and glaring at the reception area. When Stra took Tory’s hands in shock, Stra felt that Tory was shaking very hard.

“Tory? Are you ill? What’s wrong?”

“No, I… I guess I am very nervous.”

“Oh, Tory, I should be the one who is nervous. Oh my… Why are you shaking so much?”

“Everything is fine. I just need to rest a little.”

“Of course.”

Tory smiled kindly, which made Stra’s smile wide. Tory looked around and saw that there were many people around them. Tory gestured for Stra to come closer and whispered, “Can I tell you a secret?”

“What is it?”

“The truth is, I don’t want to give you the bottle of ice wine.”

“Haha, you’re too funny!”

Stra laughed hard and replied, “Just because you said that, I now feel like I must taste it!”

“Haha, I hope you like it.”

Whatever the emperor’s wives did, they always were the center of everyone’s attention. Lady Stra and Lady Tory were only talking, but the maids nearby never took their eyes off from them. Tory closed her eyes and held her hands together. Knowing that she will have to see those she knew before tomorrow at the banquet… Her heart refused to stop beating fast.

***

The banquet began successfully. The Acreian nobles, who heard the feast was orchestrated by Stra, tried their best to find faults with it, but they were disappointed.

“I guess it’s not bad.”

“Considering she’s from the mid-continent, I guess she did alright. The party seems very proper.”

“Well, Lady Tory helped, which must be why it’s so perfect.”

“Exactly. Lady Stra is from the mid-continent, so she probably doesn’t know anything about Acreian customs. Lady Tory probably arranged this whole thing.”

Acreian banquet followed very frugal and tight rules. The only areas where men and women could mingle was in the middle where the dance floor was. Women and men weren’t allowed to eat together, so their tables were separated.

Only

A man and a woman were allowed to dance together if their families were previously well acquainted. It was only 30 years ago when the rule eased, and a man was allowed to ask a lady to dance. A woman was strictly forbidden to ask a man to dance.

An unmarried woman was not allowed to roam around the banquet alone. A married woman could, but it was frowned upon.

A wild hog and a deer were roasted whole for this party. It was not necessary to serve only Acreian drinks, so many expensive bottles of mid-continent wine were served.

In some kingdoms, the rules dictated that the most important figures appeared last to the party, but this wasn’t the case in Acreia. However, the highest-ranking figures were to be seated first, which meant the emperor and his wives had to sit down before the others were allowed to sit.

Lucius the First, in his extravagant outfit, looked around the room. He was still the most beautiful man in the kingdom, and those Acreian nobles smiled bitterly. Duke Luzo, who sat next to the emperor, was also a very handsome man, but next to Lucius the First, he looked average at best. The emperor’s golden hair shined brightly against the light, and the balding men in the room looked away in shame and envy.

Lucius the First stood up. He was satisfied to see that all the nobles he wanted present today were all here. After the feast, the emperor planned on talking to some of them individually one by one.

He opened his eyes and began, “As you must all know, something very sad happened recently.” At the mention of the late Lady Rebecca, everyone looked down humbly. The emperor continued, “I am very grateful that my other wives and my new daughter, Princess Luminae, are all healthy. I would like to thank you all for attending this party to wish me a happy birthday. And thank you, Lady Stra, for arranging such a wonderful banquet for me.”