Chapter 2

Aris had always harbored a longing to visit the palace, yet she had not received a formal invitation to do so. Each time her father embarked on a trip there, she couldn't help but imagine the palace's garden brimming with ever-blooming flowers.

She sweetly offered, "Have a safe trip."

"I will," Ian assured, earning a radiant smile from Aris.

She made her way to her seat and began savoring the plate of succulent meat and roasted vegetables the chef had presented for her.

Ian observed her for a moment, then rose from the table, stating, "Well, I'll leave you to finish your meal."

"Yes, Father."

She bestowed one last smile upon him, delighted by the way her normally stoic father seemed to light up in response. Thanks to her constant displays of affection, Ian had become quite fond of her.

"I'm sure he'll bring home an excellent suitor for me one day," she whispered to herself.

According to the original plot, the marquis would return with the news of her engagement to the male lead. However, Aris was well aware that things could take a different course. From the moment she transmigrated, she had carefully crafted an image of herself as an earnest, hardworking young woman, far from the frivolous, good-for-nothing girl she was supposed to be. This earned her respect and admiration not only from her father but from those around her.

She understood that good social standing was essential to attract a worthy suitor. While she was undeniably beautiful, Aris didn't consider herself the "beauty of the century." Any respectable man looking for a life partner would consider her upbringing, her appearance, and, most importantly, her character.

Every action Aris took was calculated to secure her future and ultimately win the affections of the male lead. She couldn't help but wonder just how handsome he must be for the original Aris Horissen to have fallen for him at first sight.

I'm so curious.

However, there were still two and a half years left before she would start receiving marriage proposals. The original Aris Horissen had received her first offer at the age of 19. Aris would need to find a way to make the next two and a half years pass more quickly.

I'd like to go to the palace as well, she thought.

Her exposure to the world of elegance and finery had piqued her interest in such grand places. She envisioned herself sitting in the palace gardens, enjoying a cup of coffee while admiring the blossoms.

Actually, I've changed my mind.

In this world, coffee was a rare and precious delicacy, accessible only to the upper class. Even the marquis enjoyed it only once or twice a month.

Coffee. I'm going to have coffee in the garden, not tea.

Aris found this adjustment rather appealing. After finishing her meal, she rose from her seat, prompting the maids to enter and clear the table.

"Thank you," she expressed her gratitude, knowing that showing appreciation was the best way to earn the maids' favor.

"Of course, miss."

Aris was pleased with their response.

Her next lesson was in dance. When a young lady of nobility reached the age of 17, it was customary for her to enter high society with a debutante ball at the palace. Since Aris was already 16, she needed to learn the art of dance. Fortunately, she possessed a natural grace that allowed her to execute the steps with ease.

Upon arriving on the third floor, Aris courteously bowed to her dance instructor. The instructor, a woman in her late thirties, was the most esteemed in the capital. Ian had personally invited her to teach Aris, ensuring that his daughter received only the finest education.

Although he never openly expressed it, Ian harbored a deep love for his daughter. The only person unaware of this fact was the original Aris, who had never known the lengths to which her father had gone to ensure her happiness and well-being.

"Good afternoon," Aris greeted with a cordial smile. She had honed this smile meticulously in front of the mirror; it was the one that accentuated her beauty the most.

"You're always wearing a smile whenever I see you, Lady Horissen," the instructor remarked, pleased by her presence. She held a genuine fondness for her pupil, appreciating the effort Aris consistently put into retaining the lessons from the previous day. "Did you stay up late practicing again last night?"

"Of course," Aris affirmed with determination. She never practiced her dancing in secrecy; instead, she made it a point to ensure that all the maids were aware of her diligent efforts. It was crucial for her to demonstrate to everyone around her how earnestly she was striving.

The dance instructor was well aware of Aris's penchant for thoroughness. As Aris responded with eagerness, the instructor's cheeks flushed with a sense of delight. Aris's confidence and enthusiasm were truly captivating.

"The dance we will be learning today is not intended for standard balls, but rather for masquerades or private settings," the instructor explained.

"Oh my."

"I must warn you, it's somewhat risqué."

"I'd like to learn it!" Aris replied, her excitement palpable.

"How peculiar! Most other ladies decline to learn it for precisely that reason!"

"I believe it's good to acquire a variety of skills."

"You're absolutely right."

With that impeccable response, Aris smiled innocently. She was eagerly anticipating the instruction on the racy dance. She would commit every step to memory and practice it diligently later that night.

As was the case every day, Aris continued to earn the admiration of everyone around her.

***

Meanwhile, Ian gazed at the imposing palace in the distance as he drew nearer to it in a carriage adorned with the Horissen family crest. He was heading toward the palace's Eastern Gate, the entrance reserved for nobles and members of the court.

Today, a meeting was scheduled to discuss potential candidates for the title of crown princess. The crown prince would soon reach the age when he needed a bride. Ian couldn't help but think of his daughter, Aris, who had greeted him with such a radiant smile before his departure.

My daughter is still so young, he reflected.

He knew that she would soon make her debut into society, but in his mind, she was still just a little girl. In the Republic of Xenon, most men married in their late twenties, while most women married in their early twenties. This societal norm meant that Aris was still too young, but she was not an ordinary citizen. Noble children typically became betrothed in their teens and married in their early twenties, and Ian knew this applied to Aris as well. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but view her as his precious child.

As the carriage came to a halt, the coachman opened the door for the marquis. Ian alighted from the carriage with his private guard and began to make his way towards the Central Palace, where the meeting would take place. Alongside him were other nobles who were presumably headed in the same direction.

Upon reaching the Central Palace, Ian walked through the sunlit corridor at a leisurely pace, relishing the warmth of the spring air.

"Marquis Horissen."

Ian was interrupted from his thoughts by a man who called his name. Turning, he saw a man with shining blonde hair and blue eyes standing before him. "Duke Essel, Your Excellency."

The man was Louison d'Essel, Duke of Essel. He was close in age to Marquis Horissen, and while they were on a first-name basis privately, they observed formal etiquette in court.

"I hear the emperor has an announcement regarding the crown prince," Duke Essel began.

"Yes, I'm aware."

"How do you feel about it?"

"About what?"

"Your daughter could potentially be a candidate for crown princess."

Ian choked at Louison's words. "She's too young."

"Isn't she sixteen?"

"Exactly. Aris is too young," Ian insisted. "Perhaps your daughter will be considered, Duke Essel."

"What?" the Duke exclaimed in disbelief. "My daughter is only thirteen."

Louison's daughter, Violet d'Essel, was three years younger than Aris. It was more likely that Aris would be chosen over Violet, but with a calm smile, Ian said, "She's only six years younger than the crown prince."

Aris was not significantly younger than the crown prince either, but Ian met Louison's gaze without wavering. Both men were convinced that their daughters would never be selected as the crown princess.

"My daughter still has time to grow."

"As does my daughter, Your Excellency," Ian replied.

With that, the two men proceeded to the conference hall together.

Emperor Juselle Ren Xenon, ruler of the Xenon Empire, scrutinized the list he held with utmost care. It contained the names of the capital's most enchanting and well-bred young ladies. Beside each name, a brief profile provided a glimpse into each lady's background. The list was nearly as long as the number of attendees at today's conference.

"Let's proceed," he declared.

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty," came the swift response.

As the emperor strode towards the conference hall, his gentlemen-in-waiting trailed behind him, clutching several copies of the list. Inside the hall, the nobles had already assembled. Marquis Horissen was the first to rise, paying his respects to the emperor, and the rest of the nobility followed suit.

Acknowledging their greetings, Juselle took his seat upon the throne and spoke, "Please, be seated."

Once all had taken their places, the gentlemen-in-waiting distributed the lists to each attendee. The nobles exchanged puzzled glances as they received the documents.

"As you are all aware, the crown prince will soon celebrate his 19th birthday, and a grand ball is planned in his honor," Juselle announced with grandeur.

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty," came the chorus of responses.

"The crown prince shall select a lady from this list to dance with at the ball."

All eyes swiftly turned to the document before them. Some faces lit up with hope, imagining the possibility of their daughters capturing the crown prince's attention. There was the tantalizing prospect of him finding one of them captivating, perhaps even choosing to pursue a future together.

Others, however, registered disappointment as they noticed their daughters' absence from the list, while some had entirely different reactions.

"Your Imperial Majesty, if I may?" Marquis Horissen spoke up.

"Speak, Marquis Horissen."

"Why is my daughter included on this list?" he inquired.

"I have heard that she possesses both beauty and kindness, qualities that merit her inclusion," the emperor replied.

Most individuals had their flaws, but Juselle's investigation had yielded nothing but praise for Lady Aris. This was precisely why he had placed her at the forefront of the list. She was rumored to be a paragon of virtue, a young lady of noble lineage, and, importantly, the daughter of Marquis Horissen, a devoted supporter of the crown.

"Your Imperial Majesty, please remove her from the list," the marquis implored, his displeasure evident.

Emperor Juselle was taken aback. He couldn't fathom what he was hearing—Marquis Horissen wished to forgo the opportunity of having his daughter become the crown princess?

"My daughter is still too young!" the marquis protested. His words were met with a disbelieving gaze from Juselle. Beside him, Louison raised his hand, for his daughter, Violet, was also on the list. Although she was young, she was not young enough to be excluded from consideration.

"My daughter is a mere 13 years old!" Louison declared.

"Duke Essel."

"Please, remove her from the list," he requested.

The two men were determined to ensure that their daughters wouldn't be chosen. Their protests prompted other members of the nobility to follow suit, expressing their concern for their daughters' age.

While the title of crown princess was indeed a great honor, numerous nobles now withdrew, arguing that their daughters, too, were too young for such a responsibility. Juselle watched as his list of eligible ladies dwindled rapidly and made a decision.

"I shall not exclude anyone from the list solely due to their age."

Juselle had secretly hoped that either Marquis Horissen's or Duke Essel's daughters would be chosen. Both hailed from esteemed noble bloodlines and were known for their loyalty to the current royal family. Their lack of political ambition made them ideal candidates to strengthen the crown.

Yet here they were, fervently requesting their daughters' removal from the list, driven not by disloyalty but by their deep love for their children.

At that very moment, the conference hall's doors swung open, revealing a young man. His blonde hair cascaded just beyond his shoulders, its shade mirroring that of Juselle's, and his sapphire-blue eyes gleamed like the vast sky. The striking resemblance between him and the emperor was unmistakable—this was none other than the crown prince, Hiel Ren Xenon.

The crown prince surveyed the room and inquired, "What's happening here?"

Juselle and the assembled nobles watched in anticipation as the crown prince picked up the list of eligible ladies and began flipping through its pages.