She really is worth boasting about, Aris thought as she gazed at Violet.

Louison’s praise hadn’t been an exaggeration after all. Violet was a true vision of beauty, and even Aris, who considered herself pretty, felt eclipsed in comparison.

Thankful for the distraction, Aris realized that if she couldn’t escape the crown prince’s attention, she’d stick close to the most beautiful lady at the party. Violet was also one of the emperor’s chosen maidens for the crown prince, and if His Royal Highness preferred Violet over her, it would align perfectly with Aris’s plans.

“I’ve heard much about you as well, Lady Essel,” Aris said.

“Please, call me Violet,” came the polite response.

“Of course, Violet. Call me Aris.”

“Alright.”

They both finished their drinks simultaneously, their empty cups serving as props in a rehearsed act. A shared laugh over their synchronized movements broke the ice.

“We truly are similar,” Aris remarked as they set down their glasses.

Just then, a page declared, “Announcing the arrival of His Royal Highness, the crown prince!”

The party’s atmosphere instantly electrified as all the young ladies, who moments before had looked as if they were on the brink of death, perked up with determination.

“Welcome, ladies,” Hiel greeted, relishing in the adoring gazes that surrounded him. He ran his fingers through his long blond locks, fully aware that his good looks were the focal point of every room he entered.

***

Hiel couldn’t help but wonder why he was so handsome as he examined his reflection in the mirror. His glossy blonde hair flowed down his shoulders, and his blue eyes sparkled like twin lakes, radiating elegance and grace, outshining even the rarest jewels.

“Hmm,” he mused.

“What’s wrong, Your Royal Highness?” his gentleman-in-waiting inquired.

“I just feel like I’m too perfect.”

“But of course,” his attendant began, prepared to shower him with praise. “Your every move is marked with elegance, you possess chiseled good looks, and you are the crown prince of this empire. No man in the world can compare.”

Hiel nodded in agreement, a smug grin playing on his lips. He glanced once more at his father’s list, filled with the names of the capital’s finest young ladies. He was eager to meet them all, particularly those unfamiliar names that had piqued his curiosity. He longed to surround himself with these beautiful women who would undoubtedly sing praises of his beauty.

“All preparations have been made, Your Royal Highness.”

“Very well.”

The crown prince acknowledged the attendant’s words and gave one last satisfied look in the mirror. With a confident grin, he left his chambers, his gentleman-in-waiting and guards following closely behind.

“Razaen.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness?” replied the gentleman-in-waiting.

“What are the ladies doing right now?”

“I heard that they have not been eating because they are waiting for your arrival.”

“They haven’t started eating yet?” Hiel asked, slightly perplexed.

“To tell you the truth, ladies typically eat very little to maintain their slim figures.”

“That means…!”

“They all want to look as beautiful as possible for you, Your Royal Highness.”

Razaen’s words only served to boost Hiel’s spirits. It was no small sacrifice to endure hunger, and the fact that these women were willing to go hungry for him filled him with a sense of devotion. Armed with this knowledge, Hiel resolved to present himself as handsome and charming as possible. It was the least he could do for these young women who had endured so much in their pursuit of his favor.

***

The Spring Garden was adorned with the presence of the ladies, and as Hiel made his leisurely approach, their attention gravitated toward him, one by one.

“Welcome, ladies,” Hiel’s voice resonated with warmth and charm.

Ah, what a delightful sight it was! Hiel bestowed kind smiles upon each lady he encountered, and like iron filings drawn to a magnet, they began to gather around him.

“Good evening, Your Royal Highness.”

Their voices, high-pitched and musical, echoed like a symphony of beauty. With bright smiles, each lady welcomed Hiel, and once their greetings were exchanged, they turned as one and hurriedly made their way to the table of delectable snacks they had been eyeing since their arrival.

A curious phenomenon unfolded, unnoticed by Hiel, as the girls would exchange pleasantries when he walked by, only to immediately indulge in the tempting snacks once he had passed.

“Good evening, Your Royal Highness,” Aris greeted with a hint of regret in her voice. She had been so engrossed in her conversation with Violet that she had missed the chance to be among the first to greet the prince. By the time Hiel approached them, he had already exchanged pleasantries with most of the attendees. Beside her, Violet also extended her greetings to the crown prince.

I want to eat too, Aris thought, her stomach rumbling in agreement.

Unbeknownst to Hiel, a fierce battle for food was raging behind him. Every tray of delicacies the maids brought to the tables was emptied in the blink of an eye. It was evident that all the ladies, including Aris and Violet, were ravenous and eager to begin feasting.

“Ah! And you are?” Hiel exclaimed, stopping in front of Violet. It was clear that he was captivated by her, considering her the most beautiful girl in attendance, surpassing all the others.

“My name is Violet d’Essel,” she replied gracefully.

Seizing the opportunity, Aris discreetly slipped away from the prince’s gaze.

“My lady!” Lucine yelped, hurrying after her.

“Don’t try to stop me!” Aris replied, her heart set on one thing: sweets! Honey and chocolate delicacies beckoned to her, promising happiness and pleasure she couldn’t resist.

She felt a pang of guilt for leaving Violet alone with the crown prince, but her hunger took precedence. Aris reached for the snacks she had been craving since her arrival. Her movement caught the attention of the other ladies, and upon realizing that food was still available, they swarmed the table without hesitation.

Aris managed to grab a handful of sweets before the others could get to them. “Got it!” she declared triumphantly, finally able to satisfy her hunger. As she was about to take her first bite, a sudden collision sent her and another girl tumbling to the ground.

“Ahhh!” Aris exclaimed in dismay, watching as her precious cookie rolled out of sight.

“I’m sorry!” the girl who had accidentally bumped into her apologized, helping Aris to her feet.

However, Aris remained in a daze, mourning the loss of her beloved cookie.

“My cookie…” she whimpered in disappointment.

The sweet treat was now a distant memory. Clinging to a last shred of hope, Aris checked the tray where she had found it, only to find her few remaining cookies had also disappeared. The palace maids, alarmed by the ladies’ voracious appetite, had started bringing out smaller quantities of snacks, concerned they would run out before the tea party’s end.

“You should have paid more attention to your surroundings,” Lucine tutted, brushing off Aris’s dress.

Aris looked crestfallen.

“I’m so sorry!” the other girl repeated, bowing her head in embarrassment.

“No, no, it’s fine,” Aris replied, trying to hide her disappointment. She didn’t want to show how heartbroken she felt about losing her favorite snack.

Lucine, ever the caring friend, offered a lifeline. “Here you go,” she said, presenting an assortment of sweets.

“Huh?” Aris looked up in surprise.

“I grabbed a few of the treats you were staring at earlier,” Lucine explained with a mischievous grin.

“Lucine!”

“Yes, my lady?”

“I love you,” Aris declared, her face lighting up with gratitude.

With a sigh of relief, Aris indulged in the sweets Lucine had saved for her, savoring the long-awaited taste of her beloved cookies. Throughout the room, some ladies with astute maids had also managed to secure their treats. As she enjoyed the delectable morsels, Aris couldn’t help but steal glances at Hiel. It was evident that he was captivated by Violet, who still had his undivided attention.

I knew he was into blondes, Aris thought to herself, a playful smirk forming on her lips.

Fortunately for Aris, Violet’s beauty was so captivating that it seemed the crown prince could hardly muster interest in anyone else.

Maybe I should save some snacks for her, Aris pondered as she observed the ladies swiftly depleting the refreshments.

It was becoming increasingly likely that nothing would be left for Violet, despite her maid’s best efforts. After all, Violet had endured hunger for a longer duration than Aris.

Finally, the crown prince departed from Violet’s side to engage in conversation with other ladies, granting her a much-needed respite. Violet appeared visibly relieved, her hunger becoming apparent.

“Aren’t you hungry?” Aris inquired, walking over to her.

Violet looked on the verge of tears. “I really just wanted to run away.”

Aris could see the disappointment etched on Violet’s face, and it tugged at her heartstrings.

Wow, she’s so pretty that her sadness looks intensified, Aris thought as she regarded Violet.

Perhaps beauty truly held that much power. Violet’s maid approached her with a small plate of sweets, and she eagerly began to eat. Aris watched for a moment, then extended the cookies and chocolates she had saved.

“It’s not much, but you should eat it,” she offered kindly.

“Oh my goodness!”

“I’m sure you’re hungrier than I am.”

Touched by Aris’s gesture, Violet looked up with glistening eyes. “Thank you so much.”

“Not at all.”

“Would it be alright if I called you Big Sister?” Violet asked.

Aris nodded, amused by the realization that sweets had won Violet’s affection. If only the crown prince had known this earlier, perhaps he would have had better luck with her.

“So, the crown prince really took a liking to you,” Aris remarked.

Violet sighed audibly. “I don’t like him.”

“Why not?”

“He has many mistresses, and he doesn’t know how to treat a lady,” Violet asserted with a conviction that exceeded her tender age. Aris felt an instant kinship with the girl, their shared sentiment cementing a connection.

Now that their appetites were sated, some ladies began to approach the crown prince for conversation, and Hiel welcomed them with a charming grin.

“Aha,” Aris quipped.

“See?”

“He really likes women,” they both chimed in simultaneously.

Sharing a knowing look, the girls exchanged their thoughts.

“I don’t like him,” Violet reiterated.

“Me either,” Aris agreed with a nod.

Neither of them held the slightest interest in the crown prince. Realizing their shared view on men, they decided to walk to the far end of the garden to continue their conversation.

“My father always told me that a good man must always be loyal to his wife,” Violet shared, her principles rooted in the teachings of Duke Essel.

“I agree,” Aris concurred.

The male lead in her life was charismatic and incredibly skilled, but his personality wasn’t flamboyant. He was a man who cherished the woman he loved. Knowing that such a man awaited her in the future brightened Aris’s mood considerably, and she couldn’t help but smile as thoughts of her future husband filled her thoughts.

“I already have a man I like,” Aris confessed.

Violet’s eyes widened with curiosity. “What kind of man is he?” she asked, eager to learn more.

“He lives on the battlefield.”

At this point, the war had yet to conclude, so the male lead had not returned from the frontlines. While he hadn’t been granted a title yet, it was widely believed at court that he would be given one upon his return. The newspapers had been filled with articles lauding his heroic deeds that very morning. He was a true hero.

“He’s the one who won the recent battle against the Oraanian Empire,” Aris elaborated.

“Ah,” Violet hummed in recognition. She knew exactly who Aris was talking about. “Are you sure? He’s a commoner.” The convention in society dictated that nobles typically married within their own aristocratic circles, and it was highly unusual for a lady of noble birth to wed a commoner.

Aris nodded resolutely. “I want to get to know him.”

“Why don’t you write a letter to him, then?”

“A letter?”

“Yes. What if you wrote him a friendly letter and became pen pals?” Violet suggested with a warm smile.

The idea had not occurred to Aris before, but she felt a surge of gratitude toward Violet for the brilliant suggestion. It was wonderful to have a friend who could offer such valuable advice. She didn’t have to wait for a formal marriage proposal to get to know her future husband; she could start building a connection right away.

“Here you are,” Hiel’s voice interrupted as he approached Violet. Though contempt flickered in her eyes, Violet swiftly concealed her emotions and greeted the crown prince with a polite smile.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” she replied sweetly.

“Who is this next to you?”

Even though Aris had already greeted him earlier, it seemed that the prince had barely noticed her presence beside Violet. Aris didn’t take offense, knowing that she wasn’t his type, and she understood why he might not remember her.

“I am Lady Aris Horissen,” she introduced herself once more.