Chapter 80
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guest
Fortunately, the strangely shaped cloud vanished before any of the guests could notice it.
She confronted Rguin, who had transformed into a human, pointing out that even if the people here hadn't seen it, someone elsewhere might have. He just shook his head.
"It's not a real cloud. It's an illusion spell."
According to his explanation, he'd cast the magic only around this area, so other regions would see nothing but ordinary clouds.
'I just lost ten years off my life...'
The ice sculpture was one thing, but a cloud? Absolutely not.
Philomel shook her head vigorously. The attendees already saw her as overly extravagant for mobilizing even the court mage for her birthday celebration. She couldn't risk them misunderstanding that she'd made him do something as embarrassing as that.
After sending Rguin away, Philomel returned to the banquet hall.
The guests had been mingling freely during the standing reception, but as lunchtime approached, they took their assigned seats.
The twelve guests divided themselves among three tables.
The only male attendee, Nassar, sat beside Philomel. He was the one person here she was most familiar with.
As they ate, Philomel asked him,
"Are you uncomfortable being here?"
Nassar smiled softly, his eyes crinkling.
"Not at all. This is a wonderful party."
"But... you're the only man here."
"That's what I like best about it."
"...?"
What? Did he enjoy being surrounded by women?
Philomel blinked in confusion before speaking again.
"Would it have been better to invite some other young lords?"
"..."
"Like the young lord of Marquis Odellri, your close friend, for instance..."
Suddenly, his elegant lips tightened.
"I don't need friends."
Philomel grew even more puzzled.
'Huh? I thought he used to have a lot of friends... Did his social circle shrink in the meantime?'
After lunch, Philomel received gifts from the attendees one by one. There were earrings, silk ribbons, bookmarks, outing hats, and more—a delightful variety.
Nassar's gift came last.
He handed her a simple bouquet tied with a ribbon.
"This is..."
Fresh green stems bore wide layers of pure white petals.
Philomel recognized the flower immediately.
"...A Philomel flower."
It shared her name.
But there was something unusual about it. The buds were larger than those of the Philomel flowers she knew. And above all...
"Why is this flower still blooming?"
That was the biggest mystery.
Philomel flowers bloomed only in the Utina region—and only for a single night. Not even a full day. She'd never seen one in person because of that.
Transporting it from Utina to the capital before it wilted was nearly impossible.
A mage skilled in teleportation magic might manage it, but Philomel hadn't cared enough to go that far. She didn't like the flower's meaning.
Philomel flowers symbolized "the transience of life," "fleeting youth," "the emptiness of good times"—phrases likening their brief lifespan to poignant beauty despite it all.
It felt a bit awkward as a name for a person. Plenty of people ignored flower meanings, of course.
Nassar resolved her doubts.
"We've extended the bloom time through selective breeding. The buds grew larger in the process."
He then placed a small pouch in her hand.
"Seeds. They bloomed in our garden, so they'll thrive here too."
She felt the texture of the seeds beneath the cloth.
"This flower doesn't have a name yet. Would you name it, Lady Philomel?"
Philomel brought the bouquet to her nose and inhaled. It had a pleasantly ordinary floral scent—neither faint nor melancholic.
This flower would suit a simply pretty meaning. The thought cheered her up.
Philomel beamed.
"Thank you so much, Nassar."
Once the gift-giving ended, tea was served.
The seating had changed from lunch, but Nassar still sat beside Philomel.
Melinda and Lady Godrif took the other two seats. The four chatted amiably.
The topic turned to cats. Lady Godrif suddenly exclaimed as if remembering something.
"Come to think of it, what’s your cat’s name, Lady Philomel?"
"Oh, his name is..."
Melinda answered before she could.
"Gween-Gween!"
Nassar praised it.
"A unique and lovely name."
But from Lady Godrif's stiffened expression, it seemed Nassar alone held that opinion.
Melinda went on unnecessarily.
"The other day, I saw Gween-Gween in heat, and Lady Philomel seemed worried about it."
Lady Godrif made an awkward suggestion.
"Oh, my cat's female and in heat right now too. Why don't we introduce them sometime?"
Philomel brushed it off vaguely—she couldn't let her cat get a stepmom.
"I'm planning to have Gween-Gween neutered."
They were exchanging such light banter when an uninvited guest appeared.
"Hello!"
Ellensia called out brightly, arriving alone in the rear palace garden.
Everyone present rose at the princess's arrival.
Philomel approached and greeted her.
"I see the empire's little sun."
"Happy birthday, Philomel!"
"You're too kind. It's not my real birthday anyway."
Ellensia replied with an innocent smile.
"Still, happy birthday. It's the first time anyone's celebrated you on a day that's not my birthday."
The mood chilled instantly.
Ellensia had a knack for slipping pointed barbs under a guise of naivety.
Philomel kept her smile steady.
"What brings you here? I don't recall sending you an invitation."
Ellensia feigned hurt.
"That's so mean! I've been waiting for you to invite me, and you left me out?"
"If you'd let me know you wanted one, I would have sent it."
"I thought friends like us didn't need to ask."
"My apologies. This humble gathering isn't fit to host someone as noble as you, Princess. It slipped my mind."
"You're right. It is quite humble..."
She glanced around the venue. Her eyes landed on Philomel's ice sculpture amid the blooming flowers.
It was hardly what anyone could call humble, not even as flattery.
But unwilling to admit the party's splendor, Ellensia cleared her throat and changed the subject.
"Anyway, seeing your party gave me a great idea."
For some reason, Philomel felt uneasy and squinted slightly at her.
"I'm planning my own birthday party soon! Mine's already passed, but I didn't get to celebrate here. So I'm throwing a big one. Everyone here is specially invited!"
Just as expected.
The ladies looked awkward at Ellensia's declaration.
Crashing an uninvited event wasn't enough—she had to promote her own. It was outrageously rude.
But since the culprit was the princess herself, no one dared point it out.
'What now?'
If it were just Philomel, she'd have called out the rudeness without hesitation—she was already on Ellensia's bad side.
The problem was the others. They couldn't afford to fall out of the princess's favor.
With everyone silent, Ellensia singled out Nassar.
"You'll come to mine, won't you, Nassar?"
He placed a hand over his heart and bowed deeply.
"Your Highness, my regrets. Unfortunately, I have a prior engagement that day, so I must decline the honor."
It was a perfectly polite refusal, worthy of Nassar Averyden. His expression even looked genuinely regretful.
There was just one issue...
Ellensia hadn't mentioned the date of her party yet.