Chapter 61

In the resplendent palace, many carriages adorned with family crests and luxurious decorations were parked in front of the dragon-claw-shaped arch.

Only the great nobles of the Camella Kingdom had the privilege to park their family-crested carriages in front of the royal palace.

The lesser nobles clung to the great nobles, and only the great nobles had the right to attend the birthday banquet of the royal heir.

Of course, there were exceptions. Besides the great nobles, many lesser nobles who were affiliated with the royal family could also attend the banquet.

The king allowed them to participate, intending for the crown princess to get acquainted with her future subordinates.

These people would become her confidants, and it was also an opportunity for them to interact with their future leader.

In many cases, confidants are often more loyal than vassals.

This was similar to ordinary noble banquets, with the difference being that most lesser nobles could not attend.

As the protagonist of the birthday banquet, Mirexia naturally could not leave the event.

Today, she had her hair styled into long, flowing locks, with a few strands braided at the back, and she wore a solemn and luxurious court mermaid dress.

She greeted each of the great nobles in turn, showing no favoritism, and then engaged in conversation with the lesser nobles affiliated with the royal family.

As the future queen of Camella, Mirexia’s demeanor and comportment were impeccable.

She maintained a perfect sense of distance, expressing friendliness to all the great nobles without showing excessive favor to any one side.

Many great nobles came forward to probe her intentions, but she deftly deflected their inquiries.

Some nobles asked quite directly, inquiring if she had any thoughts of forming alliances or what she thought of their sons.

To such topics, Mirexia would smile politely and say that she was currently focused on her studies and state affairs, and had no time to consider such matters.

These nobles could read between the lines and tactfully changed the subject.

She didn’t particularly enjoy speaking with these nobles who were superficially respectful but had strong ulterior motives.

However, bound by her status as a princess and her royal duties, she couldn’t always act as she pleased.

The banquet table was adorned with a massive castle-shaped cake and filled with delicacies.

All the nobles at the banquet were cheerful, as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in years, chatting about trivial matters.

But it must be remembered that gathered here were the heads of the most powerful families in the Camella Kingdom.

In their eyes, family interests were always the top priority.

Rather than a birthday banquet, it was more like a masquerade ball, with everyone wearing an invisible mask.

For some reason, Mirexia suddenly thought of someone, someone who never concealed his thoughts, completely unlike these seasoned schemers.

He said whatever came to mind, like a child.

Mirexia didn’t know why she thought of him, but he hadn’t come today.

Did her father not send him an invitation?

Probably not.

Soon, the long birthday banquet ended, though it had only lasted a day.

As dusk fell, it cast a glow over the opulent palace and the dragon-scale-carved pillars.

Mirexia breathed a sigh of relief.

After the banquet, she was somewhat “eager” to change out of the ornate royal gown and into her everyday clothes.

Throughout the day, her mood had not been good.

Firstly, she had to navigate the duplicitous interactions at the banquet, and secondly, she didn’t particularly enjoy celebrating on this day.

Her mother had died in childbirth. The day she was born was the day her mother passed away.

Therefore, she had always disliked her birthday.

If not for necessity, she would not have wanted to celebrate so grandly on this day.

This was not a birthday; it was her mother’s death anniversary.

She decided to postpone her official duties tonight and go out for a walk to clear her mind.

Because she wanted to be alone, she didn’t bring any guards.

As she walked, lost in thought, she found herself at a small river outside the palace.

Had she unconsciously walked here?

Indeed, since childhood, whenever she was troubled, she would come to this river. It seemed the flowing water could wash away her worries.

The air was still, and all she could hear was the gentle sound of the flowing water, gradually emptying her mind.

“Damn it, that little bastard got away again!” Not far away, a young man sitting by the riverbank with a fishing rod cursed, a blade of grass in his mouth.

“………”

His vulgar language caught Mirexia’s attention.

The familiar voice and the distinctive moon-blue hair instantly told her who it was.

“Damn, if I had chosen ‘Fishing for Eternity,’ you’d be flying now!” The young man continued to mutter, saying things Mirexia couldn’t understand.

{Fishing for eternity means fishing in troubled waters}

Noticing someone nearby, the young man turned and locked eyes with Mirexia.

“……….”

Both fell into silence.

After a while, the young man felt awkward, not expecting that his cursing while fishing would be overheard.

Now, instead of catching a fish, he had caught the princess.

“Ahem, Your Highness, long time no see,” the young man, Winnie, performed a courtly bow and then sat back down, holding his fishing rod.

“Mmm,” Mirexia nodded slightly, pausing before asking, “You didn’t attend the birthday banquet?”

“Ah, well, something came up,” though she didn’t mean it, Mirexia’s words seemed to carry a hint of reproach.

Winnie knew it was his own imagination, but his response came out sounding evasive.

Something came up?

Then why was he here fishing? Delayed by a fish?

Winnie glanced at Mirexia’s expression and, seeing no change, breathed a sigh of relief.

The atmosphere between them grew heavy again.

“You’re not very happy, are you?” After a while, Winnie sighed softly and spoke again.

“Not really.”

“Is that so? But I remember you were quite averse to your birthday banquet,” Winnie said, calmly watching the water.

“This banquet is also the death anniversary of the queen. You don’t like it when those people come with gifts, laughing and celebrating on this day…” Realizing these words were beyond his station, Winnie abruptly stopped.

But it was too late. Mirexia’s slightly surprised gaze had shifted from the river to Winnie.

“Sorry, forgive my presumptuous guess. If you think what I said is nonsense, no need for you to do anything, I’ll slap myself,” Winnie said, giving himself a loud slap.

Seeing Winnie’s comical behavior, Mirexia’s heavy mood lightened somewhat.

She didn’t even notice a slight smile forming on her lips.

“I’m not blaming you. These things…”

“These things, how do I know about them?” Winnie grinned.

“Don’t forget, I am, after all, your childhood ‘friend’. I know a bit about you.”

“I remember when we were kids, every time your birthday banquet was mentioned, you’d frown so hard you could crack walnuts. You’d be unhappy all day. Back then, I figured you probably didn’t like your birthday banquet.”

Hearing this, Mirexia’s azure eyes flickered.

‘Virtue +70’

‘Current Virtue: 134’