Her father, famed as a genius swordsman, and her older brother were both complete doting fools over their younger sister.
The true power behind the Valentine clan was Liliana.
In fact, Valentine revolved entirely around Liliana.
The most important event in Valentine was none other than Liliana’s birthday—nothing else compared.
Every year, she received gifts so rare even a princess would struggle to obtain them.
The absolute affection of the current Imperial Knight Commander, head of the Valentine family, was hers alone.
Thanks to that, Liliana had effortlessly become the shining flower representing the social circle.
Today was Liliana’s regular tea party.
Her gatherings were renowned among young noble ladies as the most elegant and extravagant of all.
Most noble daughters longed to be invited to her high-class tea parties.
But today...
Something feels... different?
Unlike the usual graceful tea party she admired, today’s atmosphere was chaotic and overwhelmingly flashy.
Chaotic.
Almost excessive.
Everyone was puzzled by the sudden change in mood.
Valentine’s gatherings weren’t usually like this.
Yet the doubt didn’t linger long.
Because it wasn’t certain after all.
After all, it was just a single tea party.
More than anything, no one wanted to risk offending the ever-successful Liliana by speaking ill without proof.
“The atmosphere feels different today.”
“Yes, it seems like much more effort was put into it than usual.”
Liliana’s lips curled into a charming smile.
“When everyone’s expecting so much, of course I have to deliver!”
With that, Liliana’s friends began showering her with compliments.
“You’re even preparing for the upcoming Spring Festival. It’s truly amazing.”
“How do you manage so many tasks? I’d be exhausted just handling the household affairs of the Valentine family.”
“Exactly! And the Spring Festival overlaps with Liliana’s birthday!”
The Spring Festival held in spring was a grand celebration in its own right.
To oversee such a massive event was overwhelming enough, yet Liliana managed not only the household as the lady of the house but also took care of every minor detail of the celebrations.
“How do you manage to do everything so well?”
Liliana puffed up proudly, without a hint of arrogance.
“It’s just natural, I suppose.”
Everyone looked at her with envy, seeing how clearly she was cherished.
The Valentine family’s genius father and brother, fiercely protective and affectionate toward Liliana, were well known even in high society.
Every time Liliana heard such stories, she felt proud and delighted.
Because the more the geniuses of the Valentine family cherished her, the more special she became.
A young lady suddenly spoke up, as if a thought had just come to her.
“By the way, doesn’t Liliana have an older sister? She recently became the Grand Duchess of Leontheim through the state marriage, right?”
Normally, Iris’s name would barely come up in such conversations.
But since the state marriage was official, rumors quietly circulated among the nobility.
“That’s right. I insisted on attending my sister’s wedding, but they told me not to come, worried it might be too much for me.”
Liliana sighed deeply, cupping her rosy cheek.
“Everyone’s way too overprotective.”
“That’s because Liliana is so lovable.”
“Exactly. If Liliana had gone, everyone would’ve only looked at her. Maybe that would’ve been better for her sister.”
“Eh, could be.”
Liliana didn’t deny the ladies’ words—they reflected her true thoughts.
Instead, she glanced around and whined in a playful tone.
“If only I didn’t have so much on my plate, I’d be at my sister’s wedding. I really should cut back on work!”
“You have so many responsibilities.”
“Keeping all that up until now has been a challenge.”
“Well, at least we recognize it.”
Amid the compliments, Liliana’s lips twitched into an involuntary smile.
“And as a Valentine, it’s only natural. My family might be overprotective, but I’m grown now.”
The tea party’s atmosphere grew warmer and more convivial.
At that moment, a commotion rose from below the manor. A servant hurriedly came up with news.
“The palace knights are here to see Miss Liliana.”
“At the palace?”
Liliana’s eyes widened, tilting her head in curiosity.
“What could it be about?”
The servant nervously glanced at the other ladies, swallowing hard.
“W-well…”
“Speak freely. Everyone here is a close friend; no need to worry.”
The servant’s expression darkened. Liliana, however, interpreted it differently.
“Ah, I get it.”
Her cheeks brightened with excitement.
“Dad must’ve sent me a secret gift, right?”
The servant was too stunned to respond, his eyes darting nervously.
Meanwhile, the knights below pressed forward, marching up with a forceful presence.
The sound of their footsteps grew louder, and the servant’s face paled further.
“Miss, I’m afraid this is separate from your friends—”
Those attending the tea party still hadn’t grasped the gravity of the situation.
“A secret gift? What could it be?”
“Oh, I’m so jealous of Liliana! It must be something incredibly precious!”
“It’s a gift for Liliana, so of course it’ll be amazing! Didn’t you hear about last year’s birthday present?”
“Who doesn’t know she got an island in the south then?”
The young ladies giggled and clapped, praising Liliana.
Her smile twitched more and more at the compliments.
“Oh, Dad can’t always send gifts like that. It probably won’t be anything that extraordinary.”
Yet Liliana’s gray eyes already sparkled with anticipation.
Dad really… what kind of gift has he sent this time?
Surely it was for something she’d done well enough to earn, even if she barely remembered.
The excitement before receiving a gift was always like this.
Or maybe the Imperial Palace sent them to encourage the preparations for the Spring Festival!
But contrary to everyone’s expectations, the atmosphere of the palace knights who arrived at the garden was extremely solemn.
Huh? Something feels off.
The knight at the very front was someone even Liliana didn’t know well.
“Are you Liliana Valentine?”
The unfamiliar knights standing rigidly created an intimidating atmosphere, making the young ladies at the tea party shrink back and exchange uneasy glances.
Still, they’re nowhere near as formidable as my father.
Among them, only Liliana remained confident.
“Yes, that’s me.”
She proudly raised her hand and responded with a bold tone, glaring at the knights.
“What kind of knights have faces so stern like this?”
“We’re from the Imperial Inspection Bureau.”
The knight stepped forward threateningly and spoke directly to Liliana.
“Liliana Valentine, you are to accompany us to the Inspection Bureau on charges of tax evasion.”
“What? Tax evasion?”
Taken completely off guard, Liliana couldn’t hide her confusion.
Her lovely cheeks stiffened.
“Are you sure it’s me?”
“Yes. We’re here to investigate the allegations of tax evasion committed by Liliana Valentine.”
Two other knights appeared from behind.
They approached and firmly grabbed her arms to escort her away.
Could this be about that Solar Tear incident from before?
That wasn’t the important thing right now.
What mattered was that all her noble friends were watching. Why now, of all times, when something like this had to happen!
Even if she ended up being taken away later, she absolutely could not be dragged off now.
If rumors spread today that Liliana Valentine was arrested for a crime, it would ruin everything!
“Tax evasion! I’ve never done such a thing!”
Her dazzling blonde hair swayed as she shook her head vehemently, denying the accusation.
“Can knights from the Imperial Inspection Bureau really slander an innocent person like this?”
“That will be determined through investigation.”
“What about my sister? This isn’t my problem—this should go to Iris! She’s the one who usually handles these things...”
Cornered, Liliana’s mind hadn’t yet registered that Iris had disappeared from the Valentine household.
With a pleading, trembling voice, she looked at the knights and begged.
“Can’t you go see my sister Iris instead? She said she’d take care of it.”
But the knights were resolute.
“You alone, Liliana Valentine, are implicated in this tax evasion case. We’ve already sent an official request for cooperation to the Valentine family. We cannot delay any longer.”
Liliana’s face turned pale as death. Her trembling hands betrayed her mounting anxiety.
Now that I think about it...
She vaguely recalled the Chief Steward mentioning the inspection bureau’s official notice.
But nothing was certain. Liliana wasn’t the one responsible for reviewing the documents as the lady of the house.
I thought if we left it alone, Iris would’ve taken care of it somehow.
If not Iris, then the household staff or other family members would have resolved it, she assumed.
I can’t handle something like this!
Habits are hard to break.
Even though Iris said she’d handle it, such a major tax issue couldn’t have been resolved so smoothly and quickly.
It was simply impossible by normal standards.
Yet Liliana and her family all assumed the official notice had been dealt with.
Because all along, complicated problems had always been naturally resolved without their concern.
As always.
Chapter 23