•?••? ? ?••?•

It was a random compliment coming from someone who just received a brooch from her. Iva felt a bit bewildered and quickly looked around, wondering if anyone else had heard it.

Thankfully, the knights and Fel were a little further away.

“I wanted to make sure to convey it this time.”

With that statement, Ray finally shifted his gaze away from Iva and turned to the knights.

While looking at Ray from afar, Iva suddenly remembered that date they had.

‘You’re already cute… Ah, it’s nothing.’

At that time his face was red, and he couldn’t finish his words, but this time he completed his words calmly.

Is he still thinking about that date? Ugh, I hope not. Besides, when Julian appears, he’ll be instantly smitten with her.

With so much to worry about during the party, Iva didn’t want to think about Ray and tried to brush off his compliment quickly.

However, Ray, looking at Iva’s back from a distance, gently placed his hand on the brooch she had attached.

* * *

It was a little past 8 p.m.

The western hall was now filled with nobles.

Apart from Fel, other preparation members were also there, distributing brooches to the guests.

Iva stood a little apart from them, greeting the arriving nobles.

“I had no idea Blanche’s Lady had such abilities. I’m already looking forward to the party.”

“Haha, you can look forward to it. But you’ll need to stay focused; everything will go by in the blink of an eye.”

“Oh, I wish it could start soon.”

The rumors about the imperial carriage waiting every morning for Iva at the Blanche mansion had spread quickly. Even though the Blanche family had no connection with the palace, being in charge of a party hosted by Claude was enough for everyone to greet Iva, trying to grasp any thread of connection with the imperial family.

“You’re Blanche Family’s Lady, Iva Blanche, right?”

“Yes, I am Iva Blanche. Nice to meet you.”

“Everyone says it will be an extraordinary party, but well… I won’t get my hopes up. We need someone to lighten the burden on the Lady’s shoulders, after all.”

However, not everyone was friendly towards Iva.

Some openly came to see how much preparation Claude, who was entrusted with an important event at the palace for the first time, had made to win the Emperor’s favor and others who stood with the first and second princes, came trying to probe for information.

People were divided into those who were there to witness Claude’s actions, who had never had much presence as the future Emperor, and those who wanted to secure any possible connection to the imperial family.

The openly sarcastic tone of this noble young master made it clear that the Empire’s attention was focused on him.

Iva calmly looked him in the eye and replied.

“It’s very sweet of you to care, but my shoulders are broader and stronger than you think, so I don’t feel heavy at all.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, so please don’t worry too much and simply enjoy the party.”

It was nothing. Before becoming ‘Iva Blanche,’ I’ve met several people like this.

Using her real-life experiences, she received the nobles without any problem.

“Count Evera Lawrence, is it?”

However, among the names she heard, there was one that made her heart react before her mind.

“…they’re here.”

Iva’s calm expression stiffened a bit as the Lawrence family made their entrance.

It’s now. The moment when Julian Lawrence appears. Also, the moment when Ray falls in love with her at first sight.

She didn’t want to see that scene, so she turned her head away with a frown.

“Count Evera Lawrence, Countess Evera Lawrence. Both of you are confirmed. You may wear the White Full Moon brooch.”

But then, Iva noticed that Julian’s name wasn’t mentioned in Fel’s voice.

Curious, she glanced back at the entrance, only to see that only the Evera couple was receiving brooches from Fel.

Julian, the young lady who was supposed to appear with them, was nowhere to be seen.

“Um, excuse me.”

Iva quickly walked towards the Evera couple.

“What’s the matter, Lady Iva?”

Lady Evera met her gaze with a gentle smile.

“Why didn’t your daughter come with you?”

However, in response to Iva’s question, Lady Evera’s expression suddenly stiffened.

“Lady, perhaps you’ve mistaken someone? We don’t have a daughter.”

“What? Don’t you have a daughter whom you adopted? Didn’t she come with you?”

In this absurd situation, Iva urged them a little more, and Count Evera stepped forward to reply in place of his wife.

“How impolite.”

“…pardon?”

“We don’t have a child. Are you purposely mocking us for not having any children?”

What is this?

They don’t have an adopted daughter? Julian hasn’t been adopted yet?

No, it’s definitely the scene of her first appearance. It’s the starting point of the original story; it doesn’t make sense for her to be absent!

I don’t understand what’s happening, but I need to apologize first for my rudeness.

“I’m truly sorry. I made a mistake. I sincerely apologize.”

“I hope you’ll be more careful in the future. We’re very sensitive about the child issue.”

“I’m really sorry.”

Iva bowed deeply to apologize, and they passed by without saying anything more.

She somehow managed to resolve the situation, but her mind was still a mess.

In her past two reincarnations, there was never a time when the female lead didn’t appear.

But why is she missing in this life?

“Captain, I’ve checked the list of invited guests. It seems like everyone has arrived.”

“They’ve all come? Nobody’s missing?”

“Yes, they’ve all come.”

Fel handed the list with a bright smile.

Iva checked it again, but indeed, there was no name like Julian Lawrence.

The female lead disappeared. Right from the beginning.

Why on earth? Did the story get messed up when I, who is supposed to appear later in the party, joined in?

In the midst of confusion, Iva kept rechecking the list several times.

“Oh my! It’s the Princess!”

A character who didn’t exist in the original suddenly appeared.

•?••? ? ?••?•