She appeared even happier as she approached Kaley and noticed the Love Percentage he had was at 20%.
He, unaware of what the Princess had seen, thought she was joyful because she had just prayed. He bowed again to her and said, "I hope what the Princess prayed for will come true."
She smiled and said to him, "May I come here more often to pray, and will you assist me again if I do?"
Kaley was momentarily taken aback but quickly composed himself and replied, "Yes. Yes. I would be greatly honored to serve Your Majesty."
Viana went back to the palace, accompanied by Kaley on her way back out from the temple.
In front of Kaley, she promised to give a big donation to the temple.
Kaley, hearing this, smiled and thanked her for the promise.
Then, she saw the screen above Kaley's head that showed the Love Percentage. The screen appeared again and displayed the number 23%.
***
As she climbed into her luxurious carriage, Reyes, who helped her up, suddenly asked with a blank expression, "You seem very happy, Your Highness."
She glanced at him, noting his calm and neutral face, and smiled.
"Yes, I just asked the gods for something wonderful. I'm confident I'll succeed," she replied while sitting comfortably in the carriage seat.
He bowed slightly and said, "I hope the gods quickly grant Your Highness's wish."
She nodded, and then he closed the carriage door before mounting his horse.
After instructing the coachman to begin moving, Reyes rode alongside the carriage door.
During their journey, he noticed Viana leaning her hands against the window, her face showing a mix of thoughtful expressions.
Sometimes she smiled, and other times she frowned slightly.
She glanced at Reyes with a pout, thinking to herself, 'He always shows that same expression, ever since I met him a few times in the past.'
But then, a smile formed on her face as she remembered the man's nervousness when he first entered her chambers after becoming her personal Royal Guard.
Then she pouted again, remembering that so far, she had only managed to have Reyes by her side.
She leaned back in her passenger seat and closed her eyes.
'Haaa... My journey to gather them all is still a long way to go.'
***
When she arrived in her room, she saw several letters stacked on her desk.
She asked Sina, who was fetching her a change of clothes, "Sina, who are these letters from?"
Sina turned to her while taking a gown out of the Princess's wardrobe, which was filled with an abundance of clothing, and replied, "They're all from Lady Olivia Calissto, Your Highness."
Viana furrowed her brows, picked up one of the letters, and opened it.
After reading its contents, she tossed the letter back onto the desk.
Sina hurried over to the Princess, holding a gown for her to change into, assuming that the Princess was upset because she had harshly tossed the letter aside.
"She's asking me to come to her tea party this afternoon," Viana explained to her personal maid.
"Do you not wish to attend, Your Highness?" Sina asked cautiously, helping her remove the clothes she had worn for traveling.
Viana paused for a moment. In the past, the daughter of Duke Callissto had indeed been very annoying.
She always sought to compete with her, even though she knew she was on a lower level—both in beauty and status.
Even Olivia Callissto was already married at just twenty years old.
The old Viana would have eagerly risen to every challenge she posed.
But the Viana of today felt that things like this were nothing but a nuisance.
"I have to attend. Please prepare everything, Sina," she finally decided to accept the invitation.
In her previous life, she already knew what would happen at the tea party.
'But so be it. This time, I might be more prepared to face it,' she thought as she got ready to attend the tea party.
***
Reyes helped her down from the carriage, and Viana, dressed in a soft light green gown, looked at the man with a satisfied smile.
Earlier, she had ordered her personal Royal Guard to change his uniform into a different formal attire.
Now, he was wearing a white Royal Guard uniform, complete with golden buttons, cuffs, and accents.
A red cloak embroidered with the golden Royal Guard insignia hung from his shoulders.
They then walked toward the garden where the tea party was being held.
Several women were already seated at the round table, chatting while enjoying the cakes and refreshments provided by the hostess.
They were Olivia Callisto, the daughter of Duke Callisto; Serena Riverflaw, the daughter of Count Riverflaw; Emma Stockheart, the daughter of Count Stockheart; and lastly, Joana Brent, the daughter of Count Brent.
She had declined the invitation to Joana Brent's tea party on the very first day she came back from the dead.
They all immediately stood when they saw Princess Viana arrive, bowing with perfect formality.
"Welcome, Your Highness. We're delighted you could join us."
"Thank you. Let's continue with the tea," she responded to their greetings and invited them to sit.
This time, Reyes assisted the Princess in taking her seat, unlike in the past when a servant from the Callisto family would have done so.
All the noblewomen's eyes were fixed on Reyes, who looked exceptionally handsome, especially in his Royal Guard uniform.
They resumed exchanging gossip with one another as before, with occasional bursts of giggles.
Viana politely smiled, only listening to their conversation.
She only responded when they asked her about her personal Royal Guard, who was handsome, tall, slim, yet visibly muscular.
Not long after, as had happened in the past, a handsome man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a tall, broad frame suddenly entered the room where the gathering was held.
He was dressed in noble attire of deep blue and white. He approached Olivia and stood beside her, holding the hand of the Duke Callisto's daughter.
"Let me introduce you to my lover. His name is Victor," Olivia said with a proud smile.