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Viola was so astounded that she couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Wow.’

Is this what they call bullying?

From the perspective of modern-day Viola, it struck her as extremely petty.

In a word, this was a schoolyard game played by the popular kids.

The cool Sena and her entourage.

‘Do they think just because they gather, they become something special?’

Seven people, including Sena.

Four were girls, and three were boys.

Among them, one stood out for being significantly larger than the others.

‘Their thoughts are utterly transparent.’

It seemed they were all eagerly awaiting Viola’s reaction, hoping she would break down and cry.

‘How adorable.’

For a while, Viola just stared at the jewelry box.

Confident in her victory, Sena chuckled.

“My arm is heavy. Are you not going to accept my gift, Princess Viola?”

“Were we close enough to exchange gifts?”

“Not yet, but I believe we will be soon. We can become good friends.”

Viola snickered and glanced at Lady Selina, trying to gauge her reaction.

‘Selina seems interested in this, and coincidentally, Jeremy isn’t here.’

It was the perfect timing.

‘Let’s act a bit childish and twist the narrative toward Sena.

The sight should disappoint Lady Selina greatly.

The Duke of Mariantu is one of the three great ducal houses of the Empire and is currently one of the most influential families.

If she fights against Sena, the daughter of such a family, Selina would surely be disappointed.

And it would serve to give Hela a taste of her own medicine, making it an excellent opportunity.’

“Why should we become good friends?”

Viola twisted her hair with her finger.

“I don’t need friends like Princess Sena.”

“What?”

Sena was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained her composure.

‘Of course. Her pride must be wounded.’

She certainly understood the underlying reason for offering the ring.

Sena was convinced Viola’s pride had been severely injured.

And so she was reacting so harshly.

That thought made Sena feel a bit more at ease.

“It’s upsetting. To disregard my kindness like this.”

At that moment, one of the boys standing behind Sena stepped forward.

His name was Jakila.

He was the son of a baron family based in the Gilly region.

He was the largest among the group and thus stood out.

“Princess Viola lacks manners.

Princess Sena is so kind, you know.”

Jakila acted as if he was being polite while subtly dropping his formalities.

Today was a prime opportunity for him to impress Princess Sena.

He was significantly larger than his peers and had a fearsome appearance, causing his friends to feel intimidated when he scowled.

But guess what?

“Who are you?”

Viola wasn’t at all scared of Jakila’s large frame.

Far from it; she found it amusing.

“What… what did you say?”

“It’s rude to point fingers without even introducing yourself. Do you know me?”

Pointing out someone without introduction is indeed ill-mannered.

Especially when genders differ.

While scraping against their psyche, Viola also seized a strange justification.

Jakila was momentarily speechless.

It was such an unfamiliar situation for him.

“I-I’m Jakila. I’m from Gilly and the second son of Baron Robent.”

“And what do you want?”

“Apologize to me and Princess Sena.”

“Why?”

“Because you acted rudely and disrespectfully.”

How dare you speak to Princess Sena like that?

His eyes clearly conveyed that sentiment.

‘The second son of Baron Robent from Gilly.’

That introduction completely slipped my mind.

It was evident he was a supporting character not mentioned in the narrative of Bellatu’s shadow.

“Why are you serving someone like Princess Sena without being asked?”

She muttered to herself.

“Must be because he’s a supporting character.”

“What?”

Wrong line of thought.

The Duke of Mariantu is going down in the next few years.

That’s a rotten line.

Let it go.

This is a heartfelt piece of advice.

“Being an errand boy for Princess Sena will get you nothing.”

Viola snickered.

“Ah, does Princess Sena plan to throw something at me?”

“Hey, Princess Viola! Are you intending to insult Princess Sena and me?”

“Of course. It’s friendship, isn’t it?”

Viola shifted her gaze to Sena.

“Following that logic, you insulted me.”

Even though she said it softly, it was loud enough for Sena’s entourage to hear.

Sena’s body began to tremble.

She never thought Viola would be so bold as to speak casually.

‘This barbarian tribe is finally showing its true colors!’

From the north, Bellatu.

Everyone praises them as a great family, but Sena did not think so.

‘How dare they, as peripheral nobility!’

In truth, she detested that Bellatu was hailed as a ‘duke house’ like her.

What business do those insect catchers from way up north have being called a duke’s family?

Without dignity, without manners, lacking any semblance of nobility.

“What did you say just now?”

“I said that just now.”

She pointed her finger at Jakila.

“How throwing something can be an insult.”

“Have some respect, Princess Viola.”

“Does my ring look so trivial to you?”

It might indeed seem trivial.

The ring made from the Marguerite Flower Field reveals its patterns and designs only upon close inspection.

From a distance, it just looks like an ordinary platinum ring.

Sena liked flashy and sparkling jewelry, so she wouldn’t take notice of such a simple design.

Viola casually flicked Sena’s hand!

The jewelry box in her hold fell to the ground.

“You can’t even recognize what kind of ring this is.”

That remark caused Sena to finally explode.

“I can no longer tolerate your reckless words! What makes that ring so great that you can look at me with such pride?”

“It’s probably much more special than you think.”

“Well, seeing how you treat such a trivial ring as precious, I can understand your comprehension and financial capability. Isn’t that right, everyone? Ho ho ho ho.”

Sena’s entourage covered their mouths and laughing.

They thought they were laughing graciously.

Sena’s narrowed eyes were fixed on Viola.

‘I have to step on her properly.

Otherwise, this arrogant Princess Viola will keep crawling her way up.’

‘The insect-catchers should behave like insect catchers!’

Sena murmured softly.

“Such a worthless ring is scattered all over Mariantu.”

“Don’t lie.”

“If you can’t see it, you can’t believe it—that’s abysmally stupid.”

“This ring is scattered everywhere?”

Sena thought she had the upper hand.

Of course.

There’s no way that the northern peripheral nobility could be on the same level as Mariantu.

“Of course. If you want, I can show you. I have countless rings like this in my jewelry box.”

Viola glared at Sena.

In that moment, Sena misinterpreted Viola’s expression as being deeply hurt.

“Had you just accepted the gift I offered, neither your pride nor your appearance would have been tarnished, Princess Viola.”

“You… right now…”

The moment had come.

All eyes were on them, and Selina must have overheard enough of this ridiculous conversation.

Now was the time to put a period at the end.

Viola’s body trembled.

“It was a gift from the Lord of Winter Castle for your daughter.”

“What did you say?”

“It was refined by Master Mage Kurumkurum.”

“………..”

“You laugh at my precious one-of-a-kind ring? How heartbreaking.”

The noble house children gasped in surprise.

Suddenly, the names of the heavyweights were mentioned.

Lord of Winter Castle, Heron Bellatu.

Master Mage Kurumkurum.

As soon as their names were mentioned, a sudden silence fell over the area.

In the meantime, Jakila happened to look at Viola’s face and eyes.

‘W-What’s with that girl’s eyes…….!’

Without realizing it, Jakila averted his gaze.

They say Bellatu is a monster, and that certainly felt true.

Just locking eyes caused his whole body to freeze, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

A sense of dread crept in, as if he had stumbled into something he shouldn’t have.

Of course, Viola had not intended it.

She was just looking, while he was the one who was scared.

After a brief silence, Sena and her entourage erupted into laughter.

“A gift?”

Sena laughed so hard that she nearly doubled over.

It was a clear mockery.

A gift?

Duke Bellatu from Winter Castle, giving a gift?

That Duke of Thousand Kills presented a gift to her?

It was an absurd tale no one in the Empire would believe.

“Now you’re dragging out pathetic excuses in your father’s name. Even Master Mage Kurumkurum? Isn’t that a bit too far?”

In a condescending tone, she said.

“Poverty isn’t a crime. It’s the corrupt heart that refuses to admit it that is sinful.”

Jakila, who met Viola’s gaze again, wanted to say something but couldn’t.

He couldn’t shake off the expression and look from Viola earlier.

Afraid, he stayed silent, and another noble daughter piped up.

“That’s right, Princess Viola. If you’re going to lie, at least make the lie plausible. If you keep losing your temper and lying, the lies will snowball.”

“It’s a one-of-a-kind ring.”

Viola wasn’t extraordinarily angry, but she acted as if she were.

She displayed the demeanor of a child unable to perfectly control her emotions.

The Sena entourage, aside from Jakila, reveled in that display of hers.

“Indeed, how romantic of the Duke of Thousand Kills to gift a ring. Even a passing dog would laugh at this. Ho ho.”

Then, at that moment.

The banquet hall doors opened.

An unforeseen figure appeared at the Forget-Me-Not Ball, one none of the young noble house children expected.

However, it appeared the organizer was already aware.

She stood from her seat.

Using magic to amplify her voice, she announced.

“Today, we have a special guest.

Typically, they do not appear in public, yet their greatness and bravery are already renowned across the continent. I thought it’d be a surprise to invite them today as a source of great hope and courage for all of you nurturing your dreams.”

The absolute being from the northern region, usually not seen in social circles.

The Lord of Winter Castle, Heron Bellatu, made his appearance.