<div> Usually, when a banquet was held, August would make a brief appearance, observe the nobles, and then leave. Occasionally, he would torment those he disliked as an added bonus. Originally, there was a custom for the Emperor and Empress to have the first dance at banquets, but after August’s ascension, such rules disappeared.
 In fact, now that Liv had ascended to the position of Emperor, she didn’t need to mingle with the nobles as she had before. Her presence at the banquet was significant enough.
 However, today was different. This was the first imperial banquet held since Liv’s ascension, and the nobles attended with gifts, grateful that the imperial palace’s banquet hall was open again. Indeed, one corner of the banquet hall was piled high with gifts they had brought. Since she needed to thank them for these gifts, it might not be bad to go down to the main hall as Greta suggested today...
 "Let’s do that."
 As Liv stood up, Emmett, who was sitting next to her, stared at her.
 "Your Majesty, I’ll go with you."
 "No, Grand Duke can stay there. Someone needs to guard the high seat."
 Emmett’s face darkened slightly at the words that seemed to push him away. Liv noticed this but bit her lip and turned to go down to the main hall.
 People bowed respectfully when they saw Liv come down. Meanwhile, some naturally approached Liv.
 "Your Majesty, you look very beautiful today?"
 The first to approach Liv and speak in a playful voice was Hayden. Dressed in formal noble attire, Hayden looked as elegant as if he had lived in high society all his life.
 "Thank you, Lord Schulze. You also look very..."
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 </div> Liv smiled amusingly as she noticed the noble young ladies glancing at Hayden.
 "You seem to be quite popular."
 "...Ah, the only one I pledge my loyalty to is Your Majesty."
 "Loyalty and love are different things."
 "Hmm, to be honest, I don’t really know what the feeling of love is... Well, I might remember someday."
 He was talking about becoming confused about emotions after receiving divine punishment and going half-mad. While feeling sorry for Hayden, Liv thought it would be good if he could soon make friends like others and get married. Just then, Hayden looked at a certain place and chuckled amusingly.
 "Your Majesty, look over there."
 "...Interesting."
 In the direction of their gaze was Walter dancing with a noble lady. The woman with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes drew attention in contrast to Walter’s black hair. Judging by appearance alone, they were a well-matched pair.
 "Has Lord Hamelsvoort finally found a match?"
 "He’s such a kind person, he might just be going along with it..."
 "That’s too much."
 "Sometimes excessive kindness can be cruel to the other person, but Lord Hamelsvoort doesn’t know that."
 free𝑤ebnovel.com When the dance ended, Liv’s eyes met Walter’s as she was watching them with an interested gaze. Walter approached Liv with the noble lady he had been dancing with.
 "Your Majesty, what brings you down to the hall?"
 "I got curious seeing Lord Hamelsvoort dancing."
 When Liv answered like that, Walter made an incredulous expression. The young lady standing next to Walter fidgeted and soon introduced herself politely.
 "So when can I attend the Hamelsvoort family’s wedding?"
 "Your Majesty..."
 Liv felt a bit amused seeing Walter’s completely flustered face. The young lady standing next to Walter seemed to really expect marriage, her face flushed. Well, whatever their relationship might become, Liv would support Walter no matter who he brought.
 As their atmosphere became friendly, the nobles who had been wary of Liv seemed to relax their expressions. A nobleman Liv often saw at government affairs meetings came up to her with his daughter and greeted her.
 "Your Majesty, this is my daughter Valeria."
 "Lord Captan, you have a beautiful daughter."
 Usually, nobles Liv already knew would bring their children to greet her. They were typically of marriageable age and preparing for marriage or imperial administration. The nobles seemed to hope Liv would give some help for their children, but of course, she had no intention of helping, though she naturally greeted them.
 Unlike when Liv was the fake saintess of the Hamelsvoort family, naive noble young ladies now couldn’t even speak to her first. Liv once again realized how her position had changed.
 At that moment, another familiar face approached Liv with his daughter. It was Marquis Zibel and his daughter Deborah.
 Although Liv had completely ruined the Zibel Marquis family using August, they had been revived in the process of rescuing August’s victims after she ascended to the throne. Thus, the Zibel Marquisate was able to reconnect with the nobles in the capital to some extent.
 "Your Majesty, I am Bruno Zibel of the Zibel Marquis family. It’s late, but congratulations on your ascension."
 "Thank you."
 Marquis Zibel’s face was sincerely expressing gratitude to Liv without any malice.
 "This is my daughter, Deborah Zibel."
 As Marquis Zibel said that and pushed his daughter’s back, Deborah, who had been shrinking back, raised her head in surprise. She soon awkwardly greeted Liv.
 "It’s an honor to meet Your Majesty."
 Deborah probably intuitively knew that the fall of the Zibel family was related to Liv. Indeed, Deborah looked like she was gritting her teeth and suppressing her anger while looking at Liv.
 "Yes, enjoy yourselves."
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 </div> However, Deborah was no longer Liv’s match, and Liv greeted her with an insincere voice. And just as Liv was about to move away, Deborah’s voice held Liv back.
 "I couldn’t imagine gold clothing would suit you so well, Your Majesty."
 "Is that so."
 "Yes, I always knew white clothes suited you well."
 It sounded like an ordinary conversation, but in fact, it was a barbed comment that only Liv could understand. Previously, Deborah had said that white clothes suited Liv well because she was like a ghost in social circles with no presence.
 ’She’s quite bold.’
 To act like this towards someone who had now become Emperor, it was hard to tell if she was stupid or brave. But thinking that she harbored resentment towards Liv for her family’s downfall, Liv had no intention of saying anything to her. As Liv nodded indifferently and was about to leave, an unexpected voice intervened.
 "Miss Zibel."
 The one who spoke behind Liv was Olivia, wearing a green dress.
 Seeing Olivia, who was formerly her friend, now as Liv’s maid, Deborah’s eyes wavered.
 "Isn’t it very rude to speak so disrespectfully to Her Majesty now? She’s someone far beyond your reach, Miss Zibel."
 "Ah..."
 "We apologize, Your Majesty."
 As Marquis Zibel said that instead of Deborah, who had become dumbfounded, Liv turned her back without adding more words.
 "Let’s go, Olivia."
 "Yes."
 Olivia obediently followed Liv’s words. After that, Olivia seemed to hover around Liv, watching over her.
 "Marquis Hendel, didn’t you just bow less deeply to Her Majesty?"
 "Lord Börner, are you daring to stare at Her Majesty’s back right now?"
 No matter how you looked at it, Olivia was excessively protecting Liv. Liv was curious about her intentions. Was she doing this to look good to Liv in the future? Or was she worried about being fired? While Liv was seriously pondering Olivia’s attitude, Greta approached Liv’s side and whispered:
 "Your Majesty, why don’t you open the gifts now?"
 "Ah, right."
 Usually, on the Emperor’s birthday or imperial commemorative days, nobles personally present gifts to the Emperor. But at the first imperial banquet, gifts are delivered anonymously as part of the event. When the Emperor chooses the most pleasing gift among the piled-up presents, a reward is given to the one who offered that gift.
 "Everyone must be nervous. They’ll be desperate to catch Your Majesty’s eye."
 "I suppose so."
 It was a golden opportunity to catch the new Emperor’s eye, so everyone must have prepared their gifts thoroughly. The budget spent on preparing the imperial banquet would be more than covered by the numerous gifts.
 As Liv returned to her seat, Emmett stared at her, but Liv still showed no reaction. Instead, she had a servant open the gifts.
 "My goodness, isn’t that the ’Tears of Sahara’ said to have been brought from the Night Continent? How can a jewel be that large?"
 "Oh, that’s the ’Holy Crown’ that Emperor Beatrice is said to have worn. The red jewel gives more of a seductive feel than a holy one, I wonder why it was named that?"
 "That’s porcelain from the East! It’s very popular these days."
 Each time a gift was opened, the nobles looked at it with interest. Liv just silently stared at them while seated.
 This time, what the servant took out of the box was a yellow dress. However, the problem was...
 "That’s..."
 Emmett’s expression frowned upon seeing the shape of the brooch attached to the dress. Because that brooch was the emblem of the Steinberg family.
 "What’s going on?"
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 </div> "Isn’t this openly insulting Her Majesty?"
 As the hall suddenly became noisy, Liv raised her hand to signal for quiet. Then she ordered the servant:
 "Find out who offered that."
 It would take some time, but it wouldn’t be difficult. If they cross-referenced the list of gifts each person had offered...
 However, contrary to Liv’s expectation, someone raised their hand and came forward first. She looked flustered, as if she hadn’t expected this situation.
 "Your Majesty, that’s the gift I prepared..."
 "Hilda?"
 Only then did Liv realize that Hildegard had to be the owner of that gift. Someone who knew Liv’s clothing size and her favorite colors.
 "But when I prepared it, there definitely wasn’t such a brooch attached."
 "I see."
 Liv could quickly grasp the situation. So this was...
 "Someone has framed you."</div>
 

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Chapter 167

Usually, when a banquet was held, August would make a brief appearance, observe the nobles, and then leave. Occasionally, he would torment those he disliked as an added bonus. Originally, there was a custom for the Emperor and Empress to have the first dance at banquets, but after August’s ascension, such rules disappeared. In fact, now that Liv had ascended to the position of Emperor, she didn’t need to mingle with the nobles as she had before. Her presence at the banquet was significant...

To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

Chapter 167

To the Love Born in the Lowest Place - Chapter 167