Chapter 15 Part 3: Triumphal Banquet

She didn’t even know how the previous day had passed.

When Rosa finally came to her senses, Caron had already disappeared.

If she had followed him immediately, she could have at least asked about his intentions.

‘I didn’t have the presence of mind for that.’

At the time, she was just too flustered.

After she returned to her seat, she ended up worrying the Count for no reason.

She had said she was going to the restroom but had been gone for too long.

In the end, Rosa couldn’t talk to Caron until the garden party was over.

And the second day of the triumphal banquet dawned.

The square banquet hall was filled with the fragrance of flowers and food.

Soft music played, and the ceiling was filled with colorful lights.

Nobles dressed in colorful clothes mingled under the brightly lit chandeliers.

Among them, the center of attention was the young ladies who had dressed up to the nines.

They gracefully waved their fans and laughed, as if enjoying the attention.

“Lucia. Are you confident in your dancing?”

“Of course. It’s not like this is my first social gathering.”

“Ah, I heard you recently hired a private tutor.”

Lucia hung her head as if she had been caught.

“..How did you know? I thought I kept it a secret.”

“Where in the capital’s social circle is there such a thing as a complete secret?”

Soon, the topic of conversation shifted to the tutor Lucia had hired. Several young ladies chattered excitedly.

“He’s handsome. That Sir Henrik. With his melancholic blue eyes and blond hair that shines in the sunlight.”

“Above all, he’s a close aide to the First Prince, so his future is bright.”

“As a knight, his physique is also amazing. Hey, Lucia. You must have had other intentions, right?”

“N-no!”

The five or six noble ladies burst into laughter. They were at an age where they were very interested in the opposite s*x. Although they appeared graceful on the outside, their conversation topics were mainly about such things.

“Ah- He’s right over there!”

One of the ladies said. The other ladies’ gazes followed.

Sir Henrik, dressed in a white formal suit, was the epitome of a nobleman. Occasionally, he would converse with the people next to him or clink glasses filled with wine.

But his blue eyes kept glancing in a certain direction.

In fact, the gazes of most of the men in the banquet hall were the same.

A light blue dress. The neckline was slightly low-cut.

Like yesterday, it was an off-shoulder style. A transparent shawl was draped around her slender, white neck.

The dress was beautiful enough to draw attention, but it couldn’t compare to its owner.

A girl with wavy silver hair braided, seemingly lost in thought.

To be precise, it was the prospective Second Princess, who had just blossomed into a lady, boasting the beauty of her prime.

“It’s Rosa Anencia, right..?”

The ladies whispered in hushed tones.

“Oh, relax your expression, Lucia. If you keep biting your lip like that, it will bleed.”

“She doesn’t look like it, but she’s quite the fox.”

The other ladies chimed in.

“Look at her, trying to set the mood from the beginning. If you come to a banquet, you should mingle with people.”

“Maybe she’s doing it on purpose? Did she think that would attract the attention of the opposite s*x?”

“What’s the use? She’s already the Second Prince’s fiancée. They’ll register their marriage tomorrow.”

All the attention and conversation were focused on Rosa Anencia.

‘I can hear everything, you know.’

Rosa sighed deeply and sat down. At the same time, she felt the gazes directed at her.

Rosa picked up a drink with cherries floating in it from the stand and carefully sat back down in her seat.

Of course. In the meantime, she didn’t forget to glare at the place where she had heard the  about her earlier.

The five or six noble ladies flinched as if feeling guilty. They were immature kids not even worth dealing with.

“Haa-“

The attention and gazes of people were tiring, but not as much as the thoughts that filled her head.

‘How did the garden party end last night?’

She couldn’t even remember that clearly. She just vaguely recalled tossing and turning in bed until she fell asleep, not even knowing how she got back.

‘What on earth was that..?’

What Caron had said to her yesterday kept replaying in her mind.

[Friends don’t do this.]

‘Of course, that’s true.’

So, without even having a chance to get angry, she had let the stolen kiss go.

Rosa unconsciously reached for her lips, then caught herself and chuckled dryly.

‘What am I doing..?’

Honestly, her mind was too confused to think deeply.

If she had to summarize the feeling at that time, it was just bewilderment. That was all.

Caron’s unfathomable intentions, and the tension of sitting in the banquet hall.

‘Yes. I’ll meet him and ask.’

With that anxious feeling, Rosa’s gaze kept searching for Caron.

But Caron had been nowhere to be seen since she first entered the banquet hall.

Her father, Count Anencia, was also missing. He had come to the palace with her but had followed a servant somewhere.

Then.

One of the large doors at the front of the banquet hall opened.

A servant shouted at the top of his lungs.

“The highest and noblest, the masters of the dragon’s blood enter!”

The murmurs of the nobles stopped, and silence fell over the banquet hall.

The orchestra’s music stopped. Only the sound of footsteps could be heard.

The Emperor, dressed in a splendid gold formal suit, headed to his rightful place on the high throne. Standing upright, he looked down at the view of the banquet hall as if overlooking it.

Next, Empress Savina entered through the door, wearing a purple velvet dress.

She led the Emperor’s five or six concubines and stood beside the Emperor with a relaxed expression.

Of course, the concubines’ seats were below the platform.

Finally, the two princes entered one after another.

The First Prince, Leon, with his reflective reddish-gold hair and sharp golden eyes.

And the Second Prince, Cayron, with his shadow-like black hair and cool red eyes.

The two went up to the second level of the platform and took their seats, keeping a considerable distance from each other.

“Everyone. Seeing you all gathered here together after so long, this Emperor’s heart is greatly pleased.”

The Emperor with his vibrant white hair spoke with a smile.

“We greet the most brilliant sun of the Empire, Your Majesty!”

The Emperor quietly raised a hand to stop the nobles who were about to bow.

“Do you know why we are gathered here today?”

No one dared to answer that question.

“I know, Your Majesty. Is it not to commemorate the victory in Elchen?”

The almost only being who could answer the Emperor without hesitation. Empress Savina answered in her characteristic alluring voice.

“That’s right, Empress. A recent concern of our Empire has disappeared.”

The Emperor looked at his faithful wife, Savina, with affection. Then, he shifted his gaze to Caron below the platform.

“My son, the Second Prince Cayron, played the biggest role in that. As a father, and as the ruler of a nation, I am truly pleased, and that is why I have arranged this gathering today.”

The Emperor picked up the glass on the throne.

“In addition, tomorrow morning, my grown son’s imperial marriage is scheduled. So let me introduce you. A member of the founding contributor family, and the one who will become my in-law, Gunther Anencia.”

Only then did the door open once more.

Surprisingly, the Count, who had been missing, appeared dressed in a splendid formal suit.

He approached Rosa and held out his hand as if to escort her.

“Rosa. Take this father’s hand.”

The two walked past the focused gazes and stood before the Emperor on the top level of the platform.

The Count knelt first with a reverent attitude.

“I, the head of the Anencia family, Gunther Anencia, greet the Emperor of the Empire.”

Rosa did the same.

“The eldest daughter of the Anencia family, Rosa Anencia, greets the Emperor of the Empire.”

The Emperor chuckled.

“My, he wasn’t like this earlier. There’s no need to be so stiff. Both of you, rise.”

As she awkwardly stood up, Rosa momentarily met the Empress’s gaze.

The First Prince, Leon, was also staring intently at Rosa.

There was surprise and a sense of bewilderment in his gaze.

On the other hand, the Empress’s gaze towards Rosa held no emotion.

It was like looking at a card she had used and discarded.

As if that feeling was an illusion, Empress Savina smiled gracefully and said to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty. The new bride’s beauty is truly outstanding. Her heart seems as beautiful as her appearance, so isn’t this all a blessing for the Empire?”

“Indeed, it is.”

The Emperor nodded in admiration. This was the first time he had met Rosa in person.

‘There was a reason he fell for her.’

Her beauty was truly remarkable enough to bring down his stubborn son.

The Emperor raised his glass and said with a satisfied expression.

“Restart the music, and let the wine flow freely. Tomorrow morning, after the triumphal procession, I will distribute rewards, so for today, just enjoy yourselves!”

The soft music started playing again.

A large square space was created in the center, and the nobles took their places one by one.

They danced with their escorted partners to the music they were confident in.

At other times, they drank wine from their seats or chatted with the nobles next to them.

Count Anencia was also chatting with a noble next to him.

“So.. the wedding will be a simple ceremony?”

“Yes. They will probably hold another ceremony later.”

“Haha-“

The noble clicked his tongue.

‘It’s still a wedding with royalty.’

A simple ceremony was, in the literal sense, a ceremony attended only by the two parties to the marriage and their respective parents. It lacked flair.

But since it was the Second Prince, it was understandable. It wasn’t unusual for a political marriage to have a simple wedding ceremony.

“I see.”

While such a conversation continued.

‘Where did he go again..?’

Rosa was again looking for Caron. It wasn’t because she wanted to dance.

She just had something to say about yesterday.

Suddenly, a large hand reached out to her.

Rosa looked up.

A somewhat expressionless Caron.

He was holding out his hand to her.

“May I have this dance, my lady?”

Rosa stood up from her seat.

That’s what he says as soon as he sees her? What happened yesterday?

She should have asked.

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”

Caron’s tone towards her had changed.

“Ah-“

Officially, they didn’t know each other. They were just connected through a political marriage.

The Second Prince, Cayron Winslet. That was Caron now.

Nevertheless, in this place where there was no one she knew, she felt an unbelievable sense of relief.

Suddenly, Rosa gladly took his outstretched hand.

Her tone was blunt, probably because of what happened yesterday.

“I’m, I’m not very good at dancing. I might accidentally step on Your Highness’s feet.”

To some extent, it was true. She really hadn’t had much practice, and this was her first social gathering.

“I don’t mind being stepped on. If it’s by my lady.”

At a loss for words, Rosa was leisurely escorted by Caron.

In fact, court dances always involve partners holding hands.

The steps were light, and the arm movements were elegant and slow, so there was no real risk of stepping on each other’s feet.

Soon, the soft music of the orchestra flowed out. As if on cue, everyone, holding hands, began to take steps.

One, two.

And on the third step, a turn.

Rosa definitely knew. She had learned it once.

But her body didn’t move as she thought it would.

The attention of people who pretended not to care but were focused this way. The suddenly narrowed distance between her and Caron.

Everything felt awkward and burdensome for some reason.

Her steps began to falter.

Noticing her nervousness, Caron whispered to her in a low voice.

“Relax your body. Don’t put strength in your feet, and entrust your body to me.”

“Alright.”

Rosa did as Caron instructed.

Caron’s firm hand supported her slender waist.

“Now, look at my feet.”

Strangely, his low voice calmed her down.

Gradually, Rosa’s steps matched Caron’s perfectly.

This music was quite slow in tempo. Caron led her more skillfully than she expected.

The hand on her waist, the hands clasped together, were large.

It felt as if she were held firmly by Caron, unable to move.

‘But..’

Feeling strangely secure, Rosa was lost in a new sensation.

‘When did he, grow so much..?’

When they first met, he was just a small kid.

Now, her eye level could barely see the protruding Adam’s apple of the young man.

Their arms were within touching distance.

She could feel each other’s warmth and breath.

Rosa, who had intended to bring up yesterday’s incident, closed her mouth.

‘Right now, somehow..’

It felt too embarrassing to say such things.

Under the splendid chandelier, the two danced a rather plausible dance.

Every time the hem of Rosa’s dress fluttered, a firm arm supported her.

So just a little. Just a tiny bit.

‘It’s a relief that Caron is my partner…’

Rosa sincerely thought so.