“Hahaha, that is indeed true, Your Highness the Second Princess.”
Linden laughed loudly, and those present who were observing the atmosphere between the four returned to their side conversations.
As the dance music followed, the ballroom began to regain its lively energy.
Linden grabbed a silver tray with champagne glasses on it, and pointed his finger at one of the passing servants.
When the servant approached, he took a cup and handed it to Elisia.
“May I have the honor of offering a toast to Your Highness?”
“If it is from Lady Belissa’s husband, then I accept.”
Elisia looked at Belissa kindly, and Belissa nodded to her with a bright face.
Linden looked at her and then spoke: “As Belissa’s husband, and the Duke of the Schuyler Family.”
Then he gently clinked his glass against Elisia's.
“Congratulations on your appointment as second princess.”
“Thank you, Duke of Linden.”
Elisia smiled weakly and took a sip from her glass of champagne.
She sipped a little of the golden, bubbly liquid, and smiled softly.
‘Linden Schuyler has not yet shown a clear position.’
In the Laurentian Empire, the sun represents the emperor.
Therefore, nobles use sun greetings when meeting members of the imperial family.
But currently, there is no real sun in Loran.
The Emperor is bedridden, and the Empress holds temporary regency, but it is only a temporary regency.
The nobles are eagerly awaiting the official appointment of the Crown Prince soon.
When Linden mentioned “a summer without heat,” he meant a summer without sun, that is, an empire without an emperor.
His question about the heat of next summer means that he wonders whether the next emperor will be appointed by then.
Franz cannot be ignorant of this hidden meaning.
But since he does not currently have a political base, he did not show a clear position, but rather spoke with reservations, as if the issue was nothing more than the weather.
Elysia felt the same.
Now, as a second princess, all her actions may be considered a reflection of the will of the second prince.
Elysia intended to strengthen the influence of the Schuyler family as a support base for Franz against the Houses of Rochanak and Corneille.
But it is inappropriate for the Second Princess to create forces that are hostile to the Second Prince.
So it's better that she doesn't show her position now.
All she has to do is gain Linden's support, and make sure he owes her a favor.
The true intentions can be revealed later.
It seems that Duke Schuyler realized that Elysia understood the hidden meaning behind the “sun”’s talk.
He looked at her with admiration and said: “Congratulations, Your Highness.
The Imperial Family has received a truly beautiful and intelligent princess.”
“This is too kind.
I am still a stranger to society in Calibis, and I have many shortcomings.
If it were not for Belissa, I would not have prepared this party properly.”
“I was of little help!”
Belissa waved her hand in response to Elisia's humble words.
Elisia gently held her hand and said: “You sent the roses from the Schuyler family’s greenhouse.”
Elysia looked around.
Bright red roses were decorating all parts of the ceremony hall.
“It's all thanks to Belissa.”
“You make me so embarrassed.”
Belissa's face flushed with embarrassment.
When Elisia tried to continue the praise, her shoulders shrank.
It seems that she was not accustomed to receiving praise, even though she was good at it with others.
“By the way, you promised to invite the Schuyler family to the palace later, right?”
"correct."
Elisia nodded in agreement, then looked at Linden.
“I was hoping Miss Schuyler would come today.
Next time, it would be nice for the three of you to come to the Second Prince’s Palace.
Is that possible?”
“Anytime you call me, I will come right away.”
Linden said politely with a smile.
He no longer looked as sullen as he had a moment ago.
He exchanged glances with Belissa and she smiled happily.
Elisia turned from the Schuylers and looked at Franz.
His face was expressionless.
As usual, it's hard to read what he's thinking.
His features looked like he was upset, but they also showed hidden satisfaction.
If he was upset, it was probably because the conversation with Linden was cut short.
But if he is happy...
'It's not for me to guess.'
Elysia quietly withdrew her gaze.
As she sipped the rest of the champagne, Belissa blinked at her.
“My God, it seems I have bored Your Highness.
Since you have greeted Linden, let us now talk about our own business.”
Belissa smoothly changed the topic and looked at Franz and Linden.
When the two men nodded, she pulled Elysia with her.
"Good."
Elysia reluctantly followed.
She was intending to withdraw soon anyway.
Belissa was helpful in many ways.
“What do you mean by ‘our business’?”
Elisia asked curiously as they walked away from Linden and Franz.
Belissa's eyes sparkled.
She looked around, came close to Elisia's ear, and whispered: “I have something to tell you about your wedding night.”
Elysia opened her mouth slightly at the whisper.
Wedding night.
The topic she was actively avoiding.
She furrowed her eyebrows in annoyance.
Belissa was helpful, but she didn't even want to ask for her help with things like this.
Her new friend may have been overly enthusiastic and social.
“You're pretending—I've never seen you compliment anyone like that before.”
Franz said in a low voice after Elisia parted with Belissa.
He was staring at a gorgeous woman in an apricot-colored dress.
Linden noticed the second prince's looks as he sipped the champagne, and smiled mockingly.
He swallowed what was left of his cup and spoke coldly:
“Why do you think it's a compliment?”
“Complimenting a woman that she is beautiful and smart is usually a compliment.”
“You're belittling my credibility.”
Linden furrowed his brow exaggeratedly.
He handed the tray to one of the passing servants, and he shook his head.
“Don’t you understand the true meaning of my praise?”
"What do you mean?"
Franz watched Linden carefully.
His cold gaze made Linden frown.
To be cautious about even some compliments - he thinks he is overprotective, even if he is newly married.
Linden looked at the Second Prince in wonder.
When the question of marriage was under discussion, Franz hesitated.
But suddenly, he seemed determined to cherish the Second Princess.
He wondered if there had been a change of heart while he had been away from Calibis.
Looking at the second princess, she didn't look like she was seeking to seduce or manipulate him.
She did not appear to be that type of woman, but rather she seemed to harbor clear hostility toward the second prince, as as soon as their gazes met, she looked away.
'That's why he seems so worried.'
Linden concluded that.
In this case, it is not difficult to understand.
The second princess was the most beautiful woman at this party.
Her beauty was rare and noble.
If she had officially appeared in Calibis' high society, many nobles would have fallen in love with her.
But it was not only her appearance that was striking.
Her walk, the way she greets, the way she holds the champagne glass and sips it — it's all perfect.
She looked delicate and pure, but her gaze was fixed.
She was fully aware of the meaning of every word she spoke.
Didn't she immediately discover that his conversation with Franz was not just talk about the weather?
She was not of ordinary intelligence.
Moreover, her demeanor—she met others' eyes without hesitation, without being arrogant or arrogant.
She had dignity.
It was as if she was born to be a princess—or rather, an empress.
It was natural for the Second Prince to be obsessed with her.
'So why are you looking at His Highness with that kind of look?'
Linden rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Although the Second Princess showed affection to him and Belissa, she seemed to detest the Second Prince.
'Even if the marriage is political, her hatred for it seems deep.'
The Ambrose family rarely left the Ambrose domain, so it is likely that her first encounter with Franz was after she had been chosen and taken to the palace.
In that case, she must have started to hate the prince after she arrived.
But, is this possible?
Linden glanced at Franz out of the corner of his eye.
His military uniform was perfect, and he was as handsome as a painting today.
Although he was newly married, all the women at the party were looking at him with admiration.
They wished for one look from him.
Linden himself was amazed by his beauty when he saw it for the first time.
It's hard to harbor hatred for a man like him.
'There must be something going on.'
Linden narrowed his eyes as he watched Franz, who did not take his eyes off the second princess.
It was interesting.