The Emperor’s First Dance
The comment praising my violet eyes was really just a veiled jab—a mockery that I was Cedric’s daughter.
The nobles, well aware of this implication, gasped in horror and looked between Rosette and Veronica in disbelief.
‘She really is such a scrapper.’
Even though Rosette was on the same side as the imperial faction, most noble ladies and young ladies disliked her for that very reason. Her aggressive, combative nature made her an undesirable focal point for unity, regardless of status.
And now, despite having no real reason to provoke Veronica, she was still picking a fight to try to crush her spirit early on. I sighed inwardly and looked at Rosette, who wore a self-satisfied smirk.
“Thank you for the compliment, Lady.”
Veronica smiled serenely, as if unfazed, then continued in a calm, even tone.
“Our little Dia takes after me, she’s quite pretty. That’s why our father and brothers adore her. Just like they cherish me.”
“I-I see…”
Naturally, Veronica didn’t lash out in anger. Instead, she responded with poised elegance—a warning.
She was making it clear in roundabout words: don’t cross her, because behind her stood the Duke of Winston.
The Duke’s deep affection for his granddaughter was well known, so even Rosette couldn’t push further. She simply snapped open her fan and covered her mouth, though the displeasure in her eyes was obvious.
[That woman is too arrogant!]
[Agreed! How dare she glare at our master like that?!]
Desmond and Bibi cried out in my mind. I shook my head.
‘Just ignore her.’
Rosette wasn’t even an important character in the original story. She never gained Dantellion’s attention and ended up as little more than a dog chasing after chickens.
Now that Veronica was alive, Rosette’s role would shrink to near nothing. So I figured a bit of provocation like this could just be seen as cute.
I smiled leisurely in Veronica’s arms.
“Ahem, by the way, I heard you’ll be returning to your estate. Is that true?”
Thankfully, Rosette seemed to drop the subject and asked awkwardly. Veronica nodded gently.
“Yes, I plan to return soon.”
“That’s a shame. I was hoping to become closer with you.”
“I’m sorry to hear that too, Lady.”
If you wanted to befriend someone, maybe start by not picking a fight first.
I muttered inwardly, unimpressed. Yet Rosette kept glancing at me.
“Don’t tell me… you’re planning to take your daughter with you? Isn’t she still carrying the Lionel name?”
“……”
That single comment turned the room ice-cold again. I was at a loss. Why the hell would she say that?
It was well known that the Marquess of Chernoke and Cedric didn’t get along.
Cedric had fought in a war that was essentially a southern-led invasion. The empire had annexed a group of small southern kingdoms, and Cedric had been granted the Lionel territory as a reward.
At the same time, the west was suffering under constant attacks from the Allied Nations and barbarians. But the imperial court—controlled by the Empress Dowager—had focused its resources on the southern war, ignoring the west entirely, breeding deep resentment.
Chernoke had every reason to despise Cedric. Still, to direct that hatred toward his daughter… was Rosette really that blind?
Had she forgotten I was half Winston? Or was she truly trying to crush Veronica’s pride at all costs?
I couldn’t read her motives.
“Lady Rosette.”
“Yes, Lady Veronica.”
“No matter what name my daughter bears, she will be with me.”
“……”
Veronica’s crimson eyes met Rosette’s. Rosette involuntarily flinched.
The first Duke, who had contracted with the archdemon and gained immense power, and his direct descendants always inherited black hair and eyes as red as blood—regardless of other lineage.
Claudia hadn’t inherited the red eyes, probably due to Cedric’s blood, but since she’d contracted with demons just fine, it seemed the eye color wasn’t essential.
Even the Duke of Winston and the other direct heirs treated me warmly—Rosette’s behavior was simply stupid and shortsighted.
“Lady Rosette, you’ll likely change your name too once you’re married. I hope you’ll show love, not say hurtful things, especially to children who are like extensions of ourselves.”
“Urk…!”
Wow. Veronica really was something else. She must’ve been furious, but she still managed to deliver such an elegant verbal blow.
Rosette, clearly understanding the message, flushed red with shame.
That’s what you get for picking the wrong fight. Didn’t even get a proper hit in.
Clicking my tongue, I looked around. The other nobles were already casting cold glances at Rosette. The ones with children were especially harsh.
“How dare she say such things to the lady and her daughter…”
“I’d heard the west had suffered greatly from the wars, but I didn’t know the Marquess had no time to raise his child properly.”
“Ugh…”
Rosette gritted her teeth at the whispering voices around her.
And that’s when I sealed the deal with a bright, innocent smile.
“Dia loves Mommy, too!”
“Oh my!”
“How adorable!”
“Hehe~!”
As I beamed and hugged Veronica tightly, the onlookers cooed over how cute I was.
They showered Veronica with compliments, saying she was lucky to have such a lovely daughter.
Rosette was completely isolated.
“…I’ll take the lady’s advice to heart.”
“Please do.”
“……”
Veronica replied without even turning her head. Her cold tone silenced Rosette, who clenched her teeth but couldn’t retort.
And yet… why was she still glaring at me?
She really was impossible to like.
Unable to contain her humiliation, Rosette turned on her heel and walked away, followed shortly by the noble ladies of the western region.
They probably felt obligated to follow her, given how tight-knit the western aristocracy was. Still, Rosette was about to become irrelevant.
What happened to her in the original again? I couldn’t quite remember—she vanished after getting destroyed by Dantellion.
Well, it doesn’t concern me.
Right now, the important thing was getting Veronica to change her mind and end up with Dantellion. I didn’t have time to worry about side characters.
[Master, master! There’s so much food here!]
[Gasp! Look at all the adorable little kids gathered over there! So cuteeee!]
This was a banquet, after all—time to enjoy myself.
Smiling to myself, I turned away from the chattering Desmond and Bibi.
“We greet the Lady and the Young Lady.”
“We greet the Lady and the Young Lady!”
“Oh my, Count Gideon. And Young Lord Abel.”
Count Gideon and Abel approached and greeted us. Veronica welcomed them warmly.
She seemed especially fond of Abel for having given me the Onyx—an heirloom of the Gideon family, known as the Dolens.
“Dia, would you like to go play with the young lord?”
“Mm!”
Nodding, I climbed out of Veronica’s arms and ran to Abel.
“Abel!”
“Dia!”
Abel beamed at me. He really was ridiculously good-looking.
His face sparkled even more than last time—maybe he’d put in extra effort for the banquet?
Standing beside him, I even worried a bit about being overshadowed.
Though he was a boy… how could he be so pretty?
“Dia, is something wrong?”
“Hmm?”
“Well, you seem…”
I hesitated. I couldn’t tell him the truth, so I fumbled a bit. Then I came up with a good excuse.
“I think I’ll be going back to the estate soon.”
“Oh…”
“If I do, we probably won’t get to play like this anymore, right?”
I deliberately looked glum. Abel’s eyes widened before he smiled softly and said:
“That won’t happen. I’ll just return to the north, too.”
“Eh?”
“Gideon’s estate is in the north, after all.”
“Oh, right.”
But I thought the Count of Gideon had been doing secret intelligence work here in the capital all this time? Would only Abel return?
As I tilted my head in confusion—
“Oh my, His Majesty must be about to begin his first dance.”
“Who will he dance with, I wonder?”
“It can’t be… Lady Rosette, right?”
The hall grew abuzz. Dantellion had risen to dance the first waltz after finishing his greetings.
No other nobles could begin dancing until he did—and the woman the newly crowned Emperor chose for his first dance would be of great significance.
Step. Step.
The sound of Dantellion’s footsteps grew nearer. Every noble held their breath, eyes fixed on him.
“Lady, would you dance with me?”
“……”
Dantellion stopped in front of Veronica and offered her his hand.
