Morning light spilled through the windows into the Banquet Hall of Xīlong Pavilion.
Here, preparations for the Breakfast Gathering were proceeding in an orderly fashion—this was a buffet-style Breakfast Gathering, and it was the most important social ritual hosted by Honglian Palace before the Flower Crown Parade later today.
The long dining tables were draped in yellow and white cloths that evoked the atmosphere of the Harvest festival.
Freshly baked, diverse breakfast items and drinks were portioned into plates and trays, which servants continuously placed onto the buffet stations situated throughout the Banquet Hall.
They had to finish all preparations before the distinguished guests in the Court woke up.
However, the efficient movements of some were interrupted by the crisp voice of one of the feast’s central figures, who had arrived early to wait:
“What? Mother cannot come? Are you joking?”
“Regrettably, Lady. The Duchess cannot come due to a sudden physical indisposition. This news just arrived. Therefore, I must return to her side immediately to care for her.”
Even while relaying such significant news, Feiyin’s expression remained much the same as usual—without any obvious change.
Others might not have been able to tell, but Milin, being her childhood friend, understood very well that she was not joking at this moment.
So, Milin looked at Feiyin with a face of disbelief: “Then what about Teacher? Why hasn’t Teacher Vera come either?”
“Vera Her Highness has not fully recovered yet, so she will not be coming either—did everyone hear that? Please do not stop your work because of this. This is an important occasion. Please regard the Lady as the host of this banquet.”
Seeing that the servants working in the Banquet Hall had fallen into a stir because of Milin’s voice, Feiyin clapped her hands and announced this fact to everyone with a volume that echoed through the entire Banquet Hall.
“You all heard the Head Maid’s words. Continue working.” Chief Steward Wright, who was originally responsible for on-site direction, also backed Feiyin with a low voice. Under the soothing words of the two, the crowd finally regained order and began to busy themselves with the work at hand again.
“Then I want to go back too—”
“Regrettably, not this time, Lady. You are the lead of the Crown Festival, and everyone is here for you, remember?”
“Who wants to be a lead when Mother and Teacher aren’t here! I want to go back!”
But their composure failed to infect Milin. Her eyes reddened, and she grabbed the hem of her dress, turning around to walk out of the Banquet Hall.
“But Lian Miss is here. Are you going to abandon her? Didn’t you tell me when I brought you here that you absolutely had to create unforgettable memories for her today?”
This sentence from Feiyin made Milin halt her steps. Her face flushed as she turned around to look at Lian, who had been standing silently by Feiyin’s side.
“Head Maid…!”
Lian cast a reproachful look at Feiyin, but Feiyin continued to speak to her master as if she hadn’t seen it: “You were so high-spirited when you said it… so I mistakenly thought you were serious. Since that is the case, then come with me. I will take you back to see the Duchess.”
After saying that, she headed toward the exit of the Banquet Hall, passing by Milin who stood there. She intentionally stopped at the door for a moment, then turned her head—
“Oh. Are you not leaving after all?”
Milin did not follow her. Instead, she puffed out her red cheeks and walked to Lian’s side.
Seeing Feiyin looking at her, she gave a “humph” and turned her face away, refusing to meet her gaze.
“Then I shall take my leave. Please take good care of my family’s Lady, Lian Miss.”
She revealed a faint smile of a successful scheme, and after bowing to the two of them, she left the Banquet Hall without looking back.
“Lady—”
“I know! Don’t comfort me… it’s useless anyway.”
Lian wanted to say something to comfort Milin, but she was interrupted before she could even start.
Then she felt her right hand being grasped by Milin, who stood beside her.
She held on very, very tightly, so Lian squeezed back with the same strength.
“I’m sorry, Sister Lian, I wanted to break my word just now.”
Feeling the strength and warmth coming from her hand, Milin raised her head toward Lian with shame.
“It’s alright, I don’t mind. It’s normal to worry about Mother and Teacher. If it were me, I would want to cast everything aside and rush to their side immediately too.”
Lian smiled and used her other hand to pat Milin’s head. After she did so, Milin’s expression finally became a bit brighter.
She lowered her head and whispered as if cheering herself on:
“Come on, I can do this… even if Mother and Teacher aren’t here… I can do it…”
Lian could only silently hold her hand.
The words she just spoke weren’t merely an attempt at empathy—she had already learned about Meliya and Vera’s condition from Sephy’s mouth.
Chronologically, she knew they wouldn’t be coming earlier than anyone else here.
Sephy had already obtained that Frostblade, and her Doppelganger was currently looking after Meliya and Vera on behalf of the exhausted original body.
Originally, Sephy had thought about attending the parade in place of those two to reassure the people, but Lian had ordered her to rest well in an undeniable tone.
Lian also wanted to rush to Meliya and Vera’s side just like Milin… but what would a Flower Crown Parade look like without any of the lead figures attending?
Since this was the Duchy they had protected for her, she had to step forward and take over this responsibility from their hands at this moment when they could not act.
She believed she had to stand by the daughter who was the legitimate heir to the Duchy and become her support… even if it was in this unknown form.
And after this day’s itinerary ended safely and smoothly, she would return to those two, reunite with them as Lian En Klauscher, and ask for their forgiveness.
“Are you really decided? Lian… You are not in the wrong. Because no one knows why you suddenly vanished that day, and I still haven’t found out…”
Sephy’s final inquiry surfaced in her mind again, but this time her answer echoed back with the same frequency:
“Yes. This is what Lian Klauscher… what I would choose to do.”
***
The Breakfast Gathering began. The guests staying in Xīlong Pavilion had arrived at the Banquet Hall one after another.
In the line of attendants waiting for the guests’ orders, Tilly kept nudging Lian, who stood at her side, with her elbow:
“Hey… Little Lian. Is it possible that you are actually a Lady of some Noble house, or perhaps a Princess of some kingdom?”
“Ahaha~ how could such a thing be. Please stop teasing me, Senior Tilly.”
“Trying to play dumb, are you? Everyone saw you and the Lady like that!” Tilly glanced at the few Maids standing nearby, and they all nodded toward this side in total agreement:
“Exactly, exactly! The Lady’s head isn’t something just anyone can touch!”
“Last time I wanted to touch it, I almost got bitten!”
“That’s because your expression was too greasy when you reached out…”
“And afterward she even held your hand tightly with a red face… Ugh, are you trying to make your Senior die of envy?”
“Sen-ior… ebe-wyone is watch-ing…”
Tilly puffed out her cheeks and rubbed Lian’s face, while their colleagues watched with satisfied expressions.
Thus, Lian could only plead for mercy in embarrassment.
“I won’t! This is punishment for deceiving us all! And the Head Maid older sister obviously knows you too, she even called your name… Dammit, you big liar! I don’t have a sister like you!”
“Sow-wy… I won’t twick you anymowe!”