Once Rashta had recovered somewhat, a banquet was held for three days and three nights to celebrate the birth of Sovieshu's first baby.
Numerous nobles and distinguished guests, who had received an invitation beforehand, gathered at the Imperial Palace with carriages full of gifts.
They were excited to meet the baby born to the Emperor and Empress, who were admired for their beauty.
When they entered the banquet hall, everyone was very impressed to see the rumored Princess Glorym.
The princess, who resembled Rashta, was as charming as a little fairy.
The baby looked small and fragile, perhaps because she was born prematurely, but it didn't seem to have been detrimental to her health.
"She is a really beautiful baby."
"She is already so lovely, Your Majesty must be very pleased."
"I have never seen a princess who looked so smart, Your Majesty!"
Those present came forward at the same time to congratulate Sovieshu.
Sovieshu held the baby in his arms like a proud otter that does not separate from its calf.
That protective attitude of the emperor made those present involuntarily laugh.
'Right now I'm the only one who is suffering.' Rashta thought as she contemplated the happy scene.
Leaning back in a soft armchair, Rashta stared dazedly at her daughter in Sovieshu's arms from a distance.
Three times.
That was the number of times Rashta had seen her daughter after the birth.
Suddenly there were murmurs about the incident of the promissory notes followed by voices laughing among themselves. Those present seemed to mock her for what had happened.
Rashta put her hands on her belly, where the swelling had not yet gone down completely, and pursed her lips.
The nobles who realized that Sovieshu now only had eyes for his baby, began to change toward Rashta.
Since Sovieshu would not even allow Rashta to be near her daughter, people thought that Sovieshu, angered by the incident of the promissory notes, had deliberately separated the baby from Rashta.
It was so even in Rashta's eyes.
Although he sent numerous doctors to take care of her body's recovery, a real wall could be perceived in Sovieshu's attitude.
But Rashta was not inside that wall. There was only her daughter and Sovieshu himself.
***
"Didn't you know?"
"So... it was true."
"... I never liked her."
"Well, in the end she is a commoner from a fallen noble family..."
Rashta slowly stopped walking and looked towards the direction where she heard several voices.
'If they're going to talk about me, why don't they do it in a place where I can't hear them?!'
But Rashta did not know that at one point Navier had heard such murmurs.
The maids behind Rashta did not know it either.
Only Viscountess Verdi, who had a pale expression, was aware of this fact.
Recalling the events of the past year that seemed to overlap, Viscountess Verdi spoke bitterly,
