13. Iris El Devhardt – 11
When Duke Estelle and the princess reappeared at the banquet hall, a long time had passed since the two of them were away together.
Even when they were away for the first time, they left the banquet hall with a little time lag, probably conscious of the gazes around them, and when they returned, they came back holding each other’s hands tightly. As if they were going to show off to everyone without hiding what kind of relationship they are currently in.
“… Huh.”
“…umm.”
The crowd gathered in the banquet hall, without even paying attention to the gazes of the people around them, watched the unsightly behavior of the lover who was immersed in a world of their own, and swallowed moans that did not make sense.
Judging from the reaction of the princess just now, she had already guessed that this marriage was not just a marriage of convenience, but a marriage of sincere affection with the Duke of Estelle, but even so, they did not expect to reveal their relationship so blatantly to everyone. I mean, I hadn’t even imagined it.
Naturally, those gathered here were not at all surprised that the two of them showed their affection for each other in the middle of the banquet hall. Since ancient times, the nobles are creatures who live on face and appearance, so even if they are a couple with a bad relationship to the point of not even seeing eye to eye in reality, in front of others, there is a human being acting like a newlywed couple who just promised to marry each other for 100 years. spread and spread
On the contrary, if a young man and a woman who have promised to get married are seen acting awkwardly with each other at public events, that is something that will truly become a topic of conversation. Because it was ‘common sense’ that everyone knew that it was useless.
What the people gathered here were looking at was not the fresh act of affection of young lovers who were still holding each other’s hands tightly. The outfit of the princess who had just gone outside the banquet hall with Duke Estelle had changed. She was obviously wearing a white dress earlier, but now her outfit has changed to a clear blue dress.
Also, the princess’s hairstyle, which was always tidy, was somehow disheveled, and although she may not be aware of it, there are still clear drops of sweat on her pure white nape.
…At this point, the person who couldn’t guess what happened between the two of them outside the banquet hall would be an asshole. No, to be more precise, this must be the princess’ tacit ‘declaration’. An implicit message announcing to everyone that although she and Duke Estelle are not yet married, they love each other so passionately and burning.
At this moment, all the nobles gathered in the banquet hall had a hunch. The idea that the marriage between Duke Estelle and the princess, who thought it would be a trivial and arranged marriage, could bring about a major change in the power structure of the empire.
On the other hand, the princess, who came back after changing her dress because her dress had become rags due to a series of duels, realized that the atmosphere in the banquet hall was in a lull unlike before, and she was puzzled. There was still a lot of time left until the banquet was over, so what was the atmosphere that seemed to have subsided like this?
“Isn’t that also natural?”
To the princess’ question, Cain answered in a calm tone.
“I think the person dancing casually in the banquet hall is even more abnormal when the mountain peaks are collapsing outside and roaring noises are resounding all over the place.”
At Cain’s answer, the princess burst into a bright smile.
“I heard that he did too. No, I should rather give it a compliment. It’s because the things that I consider terrible for myself didn’t manage to escape outside the palace and were waiting for me at the banquet hall.”
Cain did not hesitate to explain that the people in the banquet hall were still there because of Arya’s quick action, as he watched the mountain peak collapse in real time. There was no need to upset the princess by mentioning another woman’s name at a moment like this.
Regardless, the atmosphere normalized again when the man and woman, who could be called the protagonists of the banquet, returned to the banquet hall. The gazes around them, which were only directed at them, are gradually withdrawn one by one, and soft melodic music begins to flow gently again throughout the banquet hall.
Watching the scene of young men and women gathered in the middle of the room dancing together again to the sound of dancing, the princess glanced at Cain and cautiously began to open her mouth.
“…Come to think of it, it can be said that it is a banquet after a long time, but it seems that they haven’t danced yet. Since I have an occupant who promised to marry another man, no man asked me to dance.”
The act of the arrogant kid who reached out to her and asked for a dance had long been erased from her mind.
“Kain, won’t you dance a song with me?”
Seeing the hand reaching out to him, Cain puts a faint smile on his lips.
“I remember that originally, it was manners to invite a man to dance first.”
“What, what does it matter whoever asks for a dance first? No matter what, it’s just a matter of dancing with you.”
The two men and women’s eyes crossed each other, and soon they smiled as if they had waited. Regardless of who said it first, the two held each other’s hands again and moved to the center of the banquet hall.
“Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve danced, so I’ll have to tell you beforehand that you may offend the poor man’s feet.”
“What, don’t worry too much. You just have to follow my movements. Let me lead you today.”
The princess put her hand on Cain’s shoulder, and Cain put his hand on the princess’ waist. Soon, the two of them began to step lightly to the sound of music gently flowing in the banquet hall.
Everyone’s eyes are focused on the man and woman dancing gracefully in the middle of the banquet hall, as if they were dancing a sword dance. However, they did not even care about the eyes of others, and only looked at the other person in front of them.
Facing each other at a close distance where each breath meets, she whispers something to him in a very small voice.
“…Come to think of it, the one who lost the duel was promised to become the one who won. According to that logic, I now belong to you, so shouldn’t I use honorifics towards you from now on? I wonder if it’s really rude to speak casually toward my one and only master like now.”
At her mischievous question, Cain sighed and smiled.
“I do not know. I have no intention of forcing you to respect me.
For some reason, I thought that the princess, who used honorifics to herself, would be afraid of something.
“Ho-oh, even if I don’t have to be bound by ostentatiousness such as the way I speak, I already belong to you, so is it a good attitude? Well, in order for me to pretend to be the duke’s mistress, as you are aiming for, I must use a more modest tone of voice. In fact, there was a moment when I was more attracted to sitting in the back room and managing small household chores rather than pretending to be the cumbersome emperor.”
“If you give up the throne, who can be the emperor of the empire?”
“That’s none of my business. Why don’t you pick someone who is suitable and incompetent in the room?”
She seems to be happy just imagining it, and she smiles.
“Actually, this is my confession, but since I was very young, I have dreamed of being a wise mother. I was nervous, thinking that I had to become an emperor without moving, but thanks to you, I was able to fulfill my wish.”
Saying that, she paused for a moment, stopped her body, stared at him, and then brought her lips to his mouth.
It was a kiss.
That too, in the middle of everyone else watching. And only full of romance.
It was the end of a classic banquet worthy of a woman with a rather old-fashioned way of thinking.
****
Just as a man and a woman were dancing in the middle of the banquet hall looking only at each other, there was a woman who was watching them from outside the banquet hall.
Ariel Thiers.
Called the incarnation of a goddess, she always showed a face filled with kindness towards all people, but now she is showing a very distorted expression. No, in a way, Ariel, who has dead eyes like a fish, captures the image of a man and a woman dancing there in her eyes, and shows an indescribable face filled with sadness, frustration, pain, and anger. was building
“…Ahhh…”
I didn’t understand. Why on earth was that man she knew so well dancing with such a strange woman? Why the hell are they holding hands so naturally? Why on earth are we facing each other at such a close distance?
And why the hell does he have to be in so much pain?
Involuntarily, I gasped for breath. My brain was on fire, and I felt like all kinds of thoughts were rolling around in my head like clutter. Unknowingly, I grabbed my own arm. When the fingernails dug into the arm, blood leaked out.
However, this kind of pain was not even the pain of condemnation to her.
He whom he once loved more than his own life now feels so hateful. As much as my love for him, I felt a feeling of hatred. At this moment, he couldn’t understand why he had to feel so miserable.
I hated that he was tangled up there with another woman. I hated that he was only looking at other women and not at herself. I hated that he prioritized other women over himself.
…I hated the fact that he was with that woman who dared to get past me and said she was going to have a baby first.
Only you, only you should not be like that to me. As much as you, you shouldn’t act like that to me.
don’t you know Don’t you remember too? About the warm 10 years we spent together in a small cabin.
About the treasure-like time the three of us made together with our one and only child.
But how could she dare to leave me alone and say that she would marry another woman first?
Among us, I was the first to connect with him.
Among us, I am the first person to bear the fruit of love with him.
Among us, the first person to like him was me.
I was the first to like it, I was the first to love it. I was with him first…
Why on earth did he choose that savage woman first, over me?
Anyway, why-
Ariel buried her face in her lap as she watched the two men and women kissing in the middle of the banquet hall with a pain that seemed to tear her chest apart.
The current self, I felt so miserable and shabby.
I missed the cabin at that time so much. He missed the days when there were only the three of him, himself and the child.
Baby, I missed you so much.
I missed my lovely daughter so much that it would not hurt even if I put it in my eyes.
That’s why I didn’t like it. This emptiness that no one exists around you. this emptiness.
…This feeling of loneliness, that there is no one around to hold the hand of the one who is grieving right now.
I just hated it.
so much
