I was striking various poses in front of the full-length mirror again today. My blonde hair, shattering the sunlight, was a peerless work of art sculpted by a divine brush. The founding anniversary ball hosted by someone as beautiful as me was, naturally, a grand success. Just as a rabbit cannot envy a lion, the men of the empire worshipped me without even daring to feel jealousy, and the young ladies wrapped themselves in expensive dresses and jewels just to catch my eye even once. It was only natural.

Before I knew it, I was leaning back in my office chair, lightly skimming through the guest list for the ball. I maintained a benevolent smile. My fingertips, moving the quill pleasantly, suddenly froze in mid-air.

...Hmm?

An unbelievable sight was captured by my perfect vision. At the very bottom of the list, a single checkmark was missing. One person, a blank space. I rubbed my eyes, thinking there was an error in my noble eyeballs. Like a miracle, the blank space did not disappear from my clear sight. How could there be a human who dared not to attend my ball?

Bring the person in charge of attendance verification at once—!!

As soon as my voice dropped, the servant in charge of the ball crawled into the room, trembling like an aspen leaf.

What on earth is the meaning of this? Did you make a mistake, or have I gone blind? How can there be someone who dared not attend my ball?

The servant turned pale and bowed so low his waist was folded in half.

O-Oh, no, Your Highness! As Your Highness knows, there hasn't been a single error in the attendance checks until now—

Then are you saying some blind fool dared not to come see me?

I let out a deep sigh and messed up my perfectly set blonde hair. The butler, sweating profusely, adjusted his monocle, checked the list, and replied in a trembling voice.

It seems... the daughter of the Count did not come. Shall I immediately send an official document to the Count's estate to demand a reason for this insolence?

I gently swept my bangs back with my fingers again and stared at myself in the mirror. The Crown Prince in the mirror—this very self—was still breathtakingly beautiful. The corners of my mouth curled up into an arc.

Ha, a sophisticated scheme. Rather than being mixed in among the numerous young ladies and failing to catch my eye, she chose to be the sole absentee to carve her name into my mind? You are the first woman to crave my attention so boldly.

No. There is no need for an official document.

I stood up, my robes fluttering.

I shall go to the Count's estate myself. I must see with my own eyes whether this is a fatal game of push-and-pull to get my attention, or if it was truly a mistake.

I boarded the most extravagant and dazzling imperial carriage in the empire to subjugate the woman who finally managed to crack my pride. I will make sure she sheds tears of overwhelming emotion the moment she faces me.