It was a rumor that had persisted for years. That Crown Prince Arvian del Offen and Northern Grand Duke Delka von Varden were lovers. Even the nobles, who at first laughed it off as nonsense, now accepted it as a matter of course.

This was because the two had rejected countless marriage proposals and had never once denied the rumors. In high society, no one discussed their potential spouses anymore. Both the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke already belonged to each other.

Then one day, a sealed decree bearing the imperial crest was distributed throughout the Offen Empire. From noble houses to the government offices and plazas of every territory, the official imperial announcement spread in an instant.

「Imperial Decree.」

The Offen Empire hereby establishes a new imperial title, 『Grand Imperial Consort』, as of today.

The Grand Imperial Consort is an unprecedented title granted to the sole spouse who connects the Imperial Family and the Grand Ducal House of Varden simultaneously. Detailed information regarding this and the designated individual will be announced personally by His Imperial Majesty at the upcoming imperial banquet.

All nobles are commanded to attend the imperial banquet.

In an instant, the entire empire was in an uproar. Grand Imperial Consort. It was a title never heard of before—neither Crown Princess nor Grand Duchess. The nobles poured out their own speculations.

A spouse who connects the Imperial Family and the House of Varden at the same time—how could such a position even exist?

And what everyone found most baffling was who that spouse could possibly be, now that the Crown Prince and the Northern Grand Duke were already known to be lovers.

With only three days left until the imperial banquet, all eyes in the empire were turned toward the Imperial Palace.