Chapter 18

Chapter 18 : I Will Annul the Engagement (2)

Inside the banquet hall where Theore’s birthday celebration was being held, many nobles were gathered. At a glance, it appeared to be a warm scene of people catching up, but upon closer inspection, one could see that the pro-Emperor and pro-noble factions had divided the hall in half, each holding their ground. As if an invisible wall existed, these divided groups ignored each other’s presence and continued their own conversations, yet exceptions always existed.

“Is that Sir Aaron of the Vestein Ducal House?”
“I’ve heard rumors, but he’s more than that, isn’t he?”
“Oh my goodness… How can a person look like that? Is he even human?”
“Doesn’t he seem to have his own halo around him?”
“I heard he rarely attends banquets because he’s not interested. What’s going on?”
“Didn’t you know? His Highness Legina’s partner for this year is Sir Aaron!”
“Good heavens! Then what about the young Duke of Slyveig?”

Whether stealing glances or staring openly, the eyes of the nobles gathered in the hall were fixed on Aaron, who stood where their gazes converged. Dressed in a black uniform, black gloves, and black shoes, his face seemed to glow, and his eyes were fixed on the grand, ornate central doors of the banquet hall, maintaining an indifferent attitude that showed he paid no mind to the murmuring sounds around him.

“It’s been a long time since Aaron appeared at such an event.”

“Ah, Uncle.”

Gissley, who had been observing his brother from afar, warmly greeted the man who approached and offered him a drink. With golden hair, blue eyes, and a prominent scar across the bridge of his nose, he was Egil Vestein. He had left the eastern border and arrived in the capital yesterday to submit his spring report and attend Theore’s birthday banquet. Despite his serious appearance, he was observing Aaron and his surroundings with playful eyes.

“Everyone seems to be looking at him, don’t they?”

“With Aaron’s face, it’s understandable.”

“Are you staying separate because it’s too burdensome to be near him?”

“I have some things to think about.”

Since Duke Vestein had not yet returned to the capital, Gissley was attending today’s event as the representative of the Vestein Ducal House. He was deliberately standing apart because being with Aaron would change the level of attention he received entirely, making it difficult to move freely. Gissley smiled faintly, looking at Egil, who was clearly aware of this yet still teasing him.

“Well, if you say so, then it must be. By the way, Aaron’s partner isn’t visible. He wouldn’t have come alone like you, would he?”

“Charlotte caught a cold, so there was nothing I could do. And I couldn’t possibly come with another lady while engaged, could I?”

“It’s just an engagement, not a marriage, so what’s the problem? Love, you see…”

Gissley listened idly to Egil’s absurd philosophy on romance, which sounded like something even a book wouldn’t teach, and looked back at Aaron. Why did the Imperial Princess offer Aaron the role of partner for this banquet? No, even more, why did Aaron accept the offer? The Aaron he knew would have refused by any means necessary if he didn’t like it, even if the Imperial Princess ordered it in the name of the Imperial Family. Yet here Aaron was. What sweet bait did the Imperial Princess throw to get his brother here?

“Are you listening to me?”

“You say the same thing every time, so it makes no difference whether I listen or not.”

“You little rascal?”

“And you always explain your views on romance… but you’ve never been in a relationship, have you?”

“Wh-Who said that?!”

“Father and Mother. Which one would make you less angry if I named them?”

“…If you don’t stop beating around the bush like that, you’ll get stabbed by a sword on the battlefield, you know?”

“Aaron sometimes says something similar.”

“You boring fellow.”

Those with long tongues were troublesome for this reason. Egil found it easier to draw his sword and perform a sword dance than to utter one more word for negotiation. Indeed, that was his primary method of communication with the barbarians threatening the border. To him, Gissley, who would cheerfully poke at his blind spots with his words, was a formidable opponent.

‘The eldest is troublesome because he’s long-winded, and the second is troublesome because he’s short-winded… I wonder how my brother managed to raise children so lacking in moderation.’

Egil drained the glass Gissley had handed him in one gulp, then called a servant for a fresh glass. Gissley smiled faintly at his uncle, fiddling with the glass in his hand, thinking:

I’ll find out what Legina B. Alpere used to move Aaron in a little while.

Gissley’s blue eyes began to shine as he watched the attendant clear his throat in front of the hall’s doors, which were opened only for royalty.

“His Imperial Majesty Larousse I. Alpere, the Sun of the Ellias Empire, enters!”

The chief attendant’s loud voice echoed through the banquet hall, and nobles scattered throughout began to gather towards the center. In response, the largest and most opulent doors of the banquet hall slowly began to open.

Larousse appeared in the space where the shadow of the colossal doors had vanished. Legina and Theore also appeared behind him, following as he slowly moved into the banquet hall, wearing a golden crown.

Black hair and violet eyes.

Seeing the three, who brazenly displayed the symbols of the Imperial Family, all the nobles gathered in the banquet hall bowed their heads.

“Thank you for coming to celebrate my son’s birthday.”

Larousse, seated in his chair on the lavish dais, spoke. Meanwhile, Legina and Theore stood before the chairs placed on either side of Larousse, looking down at the nobles.

“Theore.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Happy birthday.”

“Thank you.”

“Happy birthday, Theore.”

“…Thank you, Noona.”

After Larousse’s and Legina’s birthday wishes, the nobles applauded, celebrating Theore’s birthday. Even Theore, who detested such atmospheres, had no choice but to quietly accept this cringe-worthy situation today.

“Then, enjoy yourselves.”

At Larousse’s light gesture, the musicians raised their instruments and began to play. And Theore and Gretta, today’s protagonists, began to perform the first dance, signaling the start of the banquet.

Legina sat in her chair, watching the two children dance. Theore, who still had a lot of growing to do, and Gretta, who would soon be engaged to him, performed a dance that was more cute and charming than elegant.

As expected, his looks are undeniable, aren’t they?

If only his innate character had followed even half of that face… While she had given up on Theore’s reformation, she sometimes felt a pang of regret. However, she still believed that a troublemaker who enraged both sides was better than a pushover who gave everything to both sides. Legina looked at Gretta, dancing with Theore, and mentally apologized to her.

I’m sorry, Gretta. Still, a troublemaker husband who at least pretends to understand when hit with a club will be better than a pushover husband.

If he was a troublemaker, she could at least curse him out and gain sympathy from others. Remembering herself before regression, gritting her teeth with a smiling face, unable to say anything about Theore’s foolishness, Legina nodded, thinking that a troublemaker husband, whom she could curse out to her heart’s content, would be better. He was, in fact, better, as she planned to diligently educate him to be a competent troublemaker, even if he was a troublemaker.

If all else fails, I’ll just make another club and gift it to him.

Legina clicked her tongue in regret, thinking of the club she hadn’t brought today. She had been forced to leave it in her room due to Selma’s opposition, who insisted that it was absolutely not allowed today. Legina spotted Selma standing with Johan in the distance and smiled faintly. The sight of the two standing together as partners, even though she didn’t know what words Johan had used to coax the unyielding Selma, was quite pleasant to behold.

By the way… the distance is quite considerable…

The Imperial Guard was in charge of the banquet’s security. It was practically the only time escort knights, who were responsible for the close protection of the Imperial Family, could have personal time, aside from regular training. This meant that there was a gap in the Imperial Family’s security. It was also half the reason for the Emperor’s poisoning attempt before her regression.

‘A special law to avoid making the banquet atmosphere heavy, my ancestors must have been overflowing with confidence.’

Not just overflowing, but excessively so, creating holes everywhere. No, what kind of mindset would dismiss personal escorts at a banquet where the risk level was sky-high?

They must have been out of their minds.

Legina seriously considered for a brief moment if that madness of her ancestors had been passed down to Theore, causing her brother to be born a troublemaker, then let out a small laugh. Perhaps she was nervous, as her thoughts kept drifting in different directions.

Focus. The assassin made his move around the end of the final musical piece.

It was an incident that occurred as the banquet was ending, at a moment when people’s attention was dispersed, when an assassin disguised as a servant approached Larousse. She knew what happened, but she didn’t know who orchestrated it. She had already exhausted her strength once from Theore’s sword dance, and it happened so suddenly that she couldn’t identify the assassin’s face. Furthermore, after the banquet, the Emperor himself handled the assassin’s interrogation and punishment, so Legina only heard the news that the assassin had died afterward.

For these reasons, her information was limited, but Legina was not pessimistic.

I clearly remember when the incident occurred. And I know that the assassin was lurking around His Majesty disguised as a servant. This alone significantly increases the chance of preventing the assassination.

She could stop it. It was different from before her regression. As Legina steeled her resolve, her violet eyes gleamed.

– Mochinuna.