•?••? ? ?••?•

Ray closed his eyes tightly and then opened them again with a resigned look. He quickly took off his jacket and covered Julian, who was lying weakly.

He held Julian tightly, clenching his fists to keep his skin from touching her as much as possible.

“I will take her to the palace right away. Weil, Hans. Follow me.”

“Yes! Understood.”

They left the party and headed straight to Claude’s palace.

Iva didn’t have time to be dazed. The sudden situation surprised everyone, and the atmosphere became tense.

I have to do something to liven up this chaotic atmosphere! Only that way, I can survive!

She quickly approached Chase and pinched his side.

“Ow! What are you doing?”

“Snap out of it. We can’t afford to be absent-minded.”

“Oh, right.”

“Make sure people feel at ease. I’ll follow the order of invitations right away.”

Chase immediately informed Claude of the situation. Iva also made a big gesture to indicate that she would go last in the order of invitations.

“If we hear any news about Princess Julian’s condition, we will let you know right away, so please don’t worry and focus on this place.”

Chase raised his voice to try to proceed with the party.

“Please take out the invitation you brought today!”

However, people ignored Chase’s words and continued to mutter.

“For a Princess to collapse like this. There are even diseases that the imperial family can’t cure..”

“What kind of disease is it? She had been sick for a long time.”

“It’s a shame that she collapsed at a time like this. It’s not good for the prince’s dignity either.”

The small murmurs gathered together and filled the party venue.

“There is a very surprising secret in this invitation. Aren’t you curious?”

I can’t just stay quiet like this. Iva took the invitation Chase was holding and went directly into the crowd, shaking the invitation and focusing the scattered gazes.

“Isn’t this invitation a little thicker than other papers? We hid a very small secret on the back of this invitation.”

She behaved and spoke loudly so as not to miss the gradually concentrating attention.

“If you dip the invitation in the center fountain of the garden for a while and then take it out.”

She went to the fountain and put the back of the invitation into the water and pulled it out.

Then, faint letters appeared around the center.

Iva’s most carefully prepared hidden message was revealed. The hidden message read, “Wear a yellow handkerchief on your wrist and come.”

As the writing became clear, Fel, who was waiting on the side, raised her hand and shouted.

“If you do as it says on the invitation, there’s also a chance to get a special gift prepared by the palace.”

No one dislikes a free gift. Moreover, if it’s a palace gift, it has the advantage of being a limited edition and expensive.

Everyone’s eyes sparkled at the thought of showing off to others.

If the ending is good, everything is good.

Iva observed the reactions, hoping that the last hidden card would be well received.

“Oh my! It’s really amazing! Let’s all try it.”

“Let’s quickly take out the invitation.”

Fortunately, the reaction was good.

Everyone followed Iva and put their invitations in the fountain, waiting for the writing to appear.

“I’m supposed to come with someone wearing blue shoes.”

“I’m supposed to come wearing a green jacket. Can I borrow a jacket for a moment?”

“Okay. I’m supposed to come holding a wine glass in both hands.”

It was absurd, but the novel event made laughter bloom in the party venue.

Beside Iva, who was smiling satisfactorily at the favorable response, Bridget approached, shaking his invitation.

“Can you do mine too?”

“Huh? You have to do it yourself to get the prize.”

“Is that so? Then, will you check it with me?”

“Sure.”

It was a chance to end on a good note for Bridget’s mood, so Iva accepted the offer and went to the fountain together.

“Let’s dip it together.”

Iva and Bridget held the invitation at both ends and put it in the fountain for a moment before taking it out.

“What does it say?”

Iva’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Bridget raised his eyebrows at the darkening writing and giggled.

“I want to give it to Young Lady Iva instead of receiving the prize.”

“Huh? Is it a gift from palace?”

“It seems more fitting for you, Lady Iva.”

Why didn’t he need a gift worth so much money? What kind of message could have been on the invitation to make him say that?

She received the invitation with a face full of question marks. 

The hidden message said, ‘Bring the most sparkling jewel.’

The unexpected message raised even bigger question marks, causing Iva to look up at Bridget.

Then, Bridget approached Iva’s ear and whispered.

“Tomorrow at 4 p.m. here.”

“…What?”

Rather than answering again, Bridget winked and moved away from Iva towards the delegation.

While Iva stared blankly at his back, the exchange of invitations and gifts between the others ended.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in today’s party.”

Finally, the end of the party that Iva had been longing for had arrived.

•?••? ? ?••?•