“Hey. Don’t practice theater on me. And that was cheesy.”
I whispered softly. Licht gave a short laugh deep in his throat and released my hand.
I had been wearing thin silk gloves ever since I entered the hall, so I had not actually felt Licht’s lips.
When it came down to it, it was a common greeting too.
So I did not think much of it.
“But you look pretty today.”
At my whisper, Licht scratched his cheek with an awkward expression.
“What am I supposed to do if you say what I was going to say? ......Do I look all right?”
His hair, which usually fell naturally around his face, had been neatly arranged. He looked completely different from when I saw him in the archives or at the Academy.
“I’ve never tried this kind of style before. It feels awkward.”
Licht muttered.
He’s kind of the type to make a fuss, huh.
In any case, I raised both thumbs and praised him, saying it suited him well.
“By the way, Rubian. Listen.”
“Yeah.”
Licht’s eyes curved softly as he reached out his hand to me. With a slightly nervous look, his lips moved.
“Later, would you dance with.......”
That was when it happened.
Piyu! Ppyu!
“......?”
A creature that had appeared from somewhere came pattering over and swung something at Licht.
Mm, a tree branch?
“......A squirrel?”
A squirrel holding a tree branch in one hand with a majestic air was radiating a murderous aura.
“Where did you come from? My little squirrel. Aww, aww. So cute.”
Licht reached his hand out to me again.
“Anyway, happy birthday.......”
Ppyuk!
“Later, dance with.......”
Ppyu!
“.......”
“.......”
No.
“You mustn’t swing tree branches at a prince.”
I taught the squirrel soldier proper manners.
Licht, smiling coldly, completely ignored the squirrel and reached out his hand again. Rarely for him, a vein stood out on his smooth forehead.
“Happy birthday, and later, with me, dance.......”
“Licht, you ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) really don’t know when to give up.”
“Of course not. So.......”
At the same time, the prince’s hand was grabbed firmly.
“.......”
Together with the rough breathing of someone blocking my view in black.
“It’s been a while....... Hooo.”
“.......”
“—Your Highness.”
Squeeeeeze.
When Khal tightened his grip around the hand he held, Licht smiled more brightly than ever.
“That’s filthy, Sir Khalid.”
“It’s filthier for me.”
“When did you develop the habit of grabbing other people’s hands so freely?”
“Just now, and I already fixed it.”
Khal hastily let go of his hand, took out a handkerchief, and carefully wiped his own. Licht did the same.
“What an arbitrary habit. It exists, then it doesn’t...... entirely as you please.”
“What would a man who rolled around outside the palace know?”
“Yes. Magical-beast suppression seems to suit your tastes, so why not go back to the front?”
“I’ve had enough military achievement. I’ll yield that to Your Highness, who sits in the Imperial Palace like a flower.”
The cold battle of nerves between the two handsome men drew everyone’s attention. I sighed and left them there.
“You two really only grew bigger on the outside.......”
Still, now that Khal was grown, he wasn’t speaking casually to a prince anymore......
I could leave him there without worrying he would get dragged away.
Growl, snarl, crash, thud.
What was I supposed to do with those sworn enemies?
Ugh, it was hot.
I moved toward a small balcony.
To be honest, all the energy in my body had already been sucked dry by the attention pouring down on me throughout the banquet. The ball had not even begun yet. I was doomed.
In one hand, I was holding sweet strawberry soda. I could legally drink alcohol now, but......
I’m too nervous to drink.
What if I started acting drunk?
“I’ll drink later with my brothers.”
Or with Dad.
“Anyway....... This place is incredibly pretty.”
Beyond the balcony, a wide lake came into view. The sight of the lake sinking into the reddish glow of sunset was truly spectacular.
Who thought of building a banquet hall in the middle of a lake like this?
It had been a little frightening when we crossed the bridge, but now that I was here, nothing could have been more beautiful.
It’s really pretty.
The glittering red ripples seized my gaze. The capital did not get very cold even in winter, so ice did not form easily.
If one came during the day, they would probably see a lake as blue as sapphire.
“Princess.”
Just then, a familiar voice came from behind me.
It was Sebelena.
“Ah, Princess. I was looking for you anyway.”
“Um.”
Sebelena approached with quick steps, greeted me briefly, and said,
“I’m sorry.”
“Yes?”
At the sudden apology, I tilted my head.
“That potion.......”
Just as Sebelena continued speaking,
Kuuuuung!
A thunderous boom that had gone off somewhere shook the entire banquet hall.
*****
“Aaaah! I’m sorry!”
Asha Drukan folded herself at the waist until her head touched the ground and apologized.
“There was a bit of an accident while moving the fireworks magic tools outside. I told them, I told them so many times that they had to handle them more delicately......!”
The Emperor let out a short sigh.
“Any injuries?”
“The servants moving the boxes were hurt a little, but there are no serious injuries. However, the only bridge connected to Sapphire Hall has been damaged somewhat...... It seems some time will be needed for repairs.”
Those words were delivered by the Emperor’s attendant, who had returned after checking the situation outside.
When the Emperor glanced away, he saw Leviathan frowning with a displeased expression.
Without even looking, it was obvious that he considered this a flaw in his daughter’s event, where even perfection layered upon perfection would not have been enough to satisfy him.
“Make sure it is repaired before the banquet ends. There must be no confusion when everyone leaves.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll do my best.......”
The stationed mage wiped away the sweat trickling down his face and tried hard to ignore Leviathan’s gaze, which seemed ready to bore through the side of his head.
“In the meantime...... since there may be unavoidable need to move about, we will have to use boats.”
“I will give orders to prepare transport boats immediately.”
The Emperor’s attendant disappeared like the wind.
Since this place was surrounded by a lake, people often came and went by boat for entertainment and to enjoy the surrounding scenery, so this was not a major problem.
There. You saw that, Duke? I dare you to get upset and say there’s a problem with the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor stared fixedly at Leviathan. As if reading his thoughts, Leviathan whipped his head away and began whispering with his wife again.
It had been the Emperor himself who suggested holding the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony here. So he had no intention of being taken out on over some pointless problem.
Once the small happening ended, the nobles began enjoying the party again.
Since the Emperor was here, and the banquet had not yet begun in earnest, everyone seemed to assume the problem would naturally be fixed by the time they left.
Meanwhile, Rosetta shrugged as if relieved.
“That startled me, truly. And since it was a mistake, there’s nothing to say.”
Thud. At the same time, a large piece of chicken was placed on her plate.
“Why is there nothing to say? I’m going to say something later.”
“To Asha?”
“To the Emperor.”
“Ah.”
“Oh, that looks good too.”
Muttering, Leviathan picked up a scallop dish covered in cheese this time.
It too landed on Rosetta’s plate.
“.......”
Rosetta stared silently at her plate, which had formed a small mountain of food.
“That too.......”
This time, butter-glossed grilled shrimp.
“This is.......”
“Stop.”
Unable to bear it any longer, she stopped her husband.
The grand banquet hall.
Under the golden chandelier light, the man was perfect as always, and his expression was no different than usual.
“Are you that upset? Because the magic tool went off wrong?”
Leviathan raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Upset......? I’m in a good mood.”
“No, you’re not. You’re in a bad mood. When you’re in a bad mood, you vent through food.”
On me.
When Rosetta whispered, Leviathan finally looked at her mountainous plate.
Drip. As though mocking him in his daze, a slice of tomato slid off and dropped to the floor.
“Ah.”
It was one of Leviathan’s habits that only Rosetta knew.
He often vented his mood by feeding her things like this. For a man who kept saying everything looked delicious, none of it ever went into his own mouth.
Her husband was the kind of man who could eat quite a lot, so this sign was clear.
“If it isn’t because of the explosion just now...... tell me what has you sulking.”
Only then did Leviathan set down the serving tongs and stroke his chin.
“I wonder. Maybe it’s because Ruby and I used the potion this morning.”
“The potion?”
“That ridiculous Casalia potion.”
“Ah, that.......”
“She said we should test whether it was real.”
At his low murmur, Rosetta thought for a moment before carefully opening her mouth.
“Did you want it to mix?”
At that, Leviathan slowly met her gaze. His vivid purple eyes caressed her gently.
“There is no sound in the world more horrifying than that, Rose.”
A short silence flowed between them.
“......Well, that’s true.”
She whispered as she embraced Leviathan.
The music that had paused for a moment began to flow softly, and Leviathan kissed the crown of Rosetta’s head.
Their child had died. A very long time ago.
That story had ended there. Could there be any other possibility? Even if there was, it was something so cruel that merely thinking of it felt repulsive.
