Translator: Khan

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

Violet seemed to be happy if Aria had been in the spotlight. The Marquis of Piast, who was next to her, also nodded if he was satisfied with Violet's happy smile. 'It is Violet who reveals her true identity, but why am I in the spotlight?'

"Congratulations, Marquis of Piast."

"Welcome, Count Rint."

While everyone was just looking for a chance to talk to Aria, a middle-aged man quickly spoke to the Marquis first. Still, his eyes were on Aria.

"Don't tell me, this lady is the main character today…"

Count Rint blurred his words. He wanted Aria to be introduced to him. As it was nothing to hide, the Marquis was glad to beckon Aria.

"This is my granddaughter, Aria. It's Piast Aria." The Marquis emphasized Piast as if he didn't want to attach the surname, Roscent, anymore. "Because she was born and raised in the empire, we finally got to know each other." And he added his explanation, "Don't ask me the details."

Count Rint, who had an acquaintance with the Marquis, noticed the meaning of what he was about to say, so he didn't ask any more questions.

"It's nice to meet you, Piast Aria."

He then bowed politely to Aria with a good face of favor, as if to welcome her as a member of the Kingdom of Croa, not of the empire.

"It was a great thing to have you because I feel sorry that we have been deprived of such a great lady to the empire." And as if to represent Count Rint's heart, someone appeared loudly, praising Aria.

"Your Majesty!"

He was none other than Lohan. People bent over and greeted him with a very proud face, but Lohan went to Aria, breaking through the people who gave him their courtesy.

"Would you stay in Croa for a long time, Piast Aria?"

Lohan's smile, kissing the back of her hand, seemed quite insidious.

Aria, who pulled out her hand very naturally and quickly, responded to the greeting with a bright smile, "Well, I'm sorry, but I'm about to return to the empire. There's someone waiting." The way she said her words were heartless.

Lohan, who disapproved of it, started sneering with his mouth raised. "Now that the Crown Prince of the empire has everything, I think it will be fine if Lady Aria stays in Croa."

"That's not your concern."

"That's true. But your family is reunited for the first time in a long time and when you go back to the empire so coldly, don't you pity the rest of them?" said Lohan, pointing to the Marquis couple. He seemed to be thinking of using the Marquis couple to keep Aria.

And Violet replied with a smiling face, unable to erase the look of regret, as Lohan had hoped. "Now that Aria is an adult, the time has passed for her to be locked in the arms of her family."

"Yes, that's what I'm saying. When she becomes an adult soon, she'll never be able to stay with her family again, so I'm not sure if she should leave this early," said Lohan triumphantly, as if he had won. He seemed to think that Aria would not be able to stand up to him, now that he brought up the story of her family.

As if to laugh what matters to her family, Aria tried to answer, coldly and heartlessly, but strangely, she couldn't answer like that as if something had been strangling her throat.

"So I wonder what it's like to stay at least until your birthday, Piast Aria. There's not much left anyway, right?"

"…"

"It may be a chance to have your first and last birthday with your real family, unlike the Crown Prince who will be with you for the rest of your life."

'How can you just say things that bother me so much?'

She could not snort and cut off his words even though she knew that he was just joking so that she wouldn't spend her birthday with Asher. It was because Violet's expression next to Aria when he told her to spend her birthday in Croa was faintly redolent.

"Well, I don't want you to pay too much attention to it because it's a small piece of advice. I sincerely congratulate Chloe on your marriage, Marquis Piast." Lohan, who had already noticed Aria's great care, moved on to his seat with only his own words left.

"Never mind, Lady Aria. I'm happiest when you do what you want."

Violet said so, and it made her more nervous.

'What is a family? It makes me suffer so much.' Aria's eyes, furrowed with her forehead, turned to the servant whom Asher had attached to her. As Lohan had said, if she wanted to spend her birthday in Croa, she had to send a letter to Asher.

* * *

"What are you going to do, Miss?"

Carin's wedding was over, and she finished cleaning up her family registry, and now she had to return to the empire.

Aria had no more reason to stay in Croa because Carin and Chloe had left Croa to take a short trip before formally taking over the title. Still, Aria had no particular comment or preparation to leave, and Jessie cautiously asked what she wanted to do,

"What?"

"If you're thinking of going back to the empire, you should start getting ready. You have a lot of luggage."

"... That's right."

'But Aria still seemed to be agonizing, even though she didn't have time to think. If she had too much of a worry, wouldn't it be better to stay until her birthday?' Jessie, who thought so, said to Aria, "It's supposed to be your coming of age ceremony, but if you think it's your first and last birthday in Croa, why don't you stay?"

"…"

"If you send a letter, I'm sure the Crown Prince will understand. It's been seventeen years before you meet your family, so he can't be so hard on you."

Violet, moreover, was not available to visit the empire. Unlike Aria, who had been treated with contempt only by her origin, there was a case in which she would have been insulted enough. It was also a mistake that she made herself.

Of course, the fact that Aria and Violet were now related would spread and they would not make a direct insult openly, being wary of Aria and the Crown Prince, but she could not avoid their cold stare.

So it might not be bad to stay in Croa for a few more days for Violet, who was so happy. So far, and unlike Asher, who would be with her all the time in the future, now was the only time to spend some time with Violet.

"... Bring me a paper."

Violet's affection, which she had never received, eventually moved Aria's heart. It was thanks to her love; Violet had poured out much love that even her mother, Carin, had not given her.

If it was a little longer, or if she were to choose someone between Asher and Violet, she might not have chosen Violet, but it was only possible because she would have only a few more days to spend before her birthday. Aria wrote a letter carefully so as not to offend Asher, and ordered the servant to deliver it.

"... You mean this letter only? I see."

When he received the letter, the servant realized Aria's intentions and looked very embarrassed, but he bowed politely before leaving the mansion.

And Violet, hearing that Aria would stay in the mansion for a few more days, could not speak for a while and expressed how surprised she was. "... Is, is that true?"

"Yes, I'm thinking of leaving right after my birthday anyway."

"... Oh, my God! This is not a dream, is it?"

The sight of drinking a leisurely cup of tea just before was nowhere to be seen. There was no graceful and elegant Marquise. Only a woman who was happy that her granddaughter would spend her birthday with her.

"Well, we're only a few days away, so we better hurry up and get ready!"

Violet, who said so, stood up frivolously. As she said, Aria's birthday was really a few days away, and she got a lot to prepare. As such, Violet, who was in a hurry to get ready, soon came to her senses and asked Aria her opinion, who was going to celebrate her birthday right before her eyes.

"What kind of birthday party do you like Lady Aria?"

"I don't care about anything."

However, the answer that came back was apathetic. It wasn't meant to be a party for the birthday of other nobles. She couldn't think of any other noblemen who she would invite. Even if the invitation would be made through the network of the Marquis family, she would only draw attention as she had done at Carin's wedding. So it was enough for Aria to just eat quietly with her family.