Chapter 18 Part 6: Triumphal Banquet

Cheers, shouts, and chaos.

The voice did not stop.

The deputy commander, Pavel Crouis, wearing a silver monocle, conveyed only the facts in a voice that seemed to contain a hint of pride.

“..And lastly, Ruslanche and Experia. A total of seven castles were recaptured.”

Everyone had to doubt their ears.

Most people had predicted that the Second Prince had recaptured only one or two castles at most.

But to have recaptured Ruslanche and Experia as well.

Some gaped, some cheered.

Some faces darkened rapidly, while most were stunned and mulled over what they had just heard.

‘It can’t be.’

And Rosa was also speechless.

Ruslanche. How could she forget that name?

The name of the female lead in the original novel was Freya Ruslanche.

‘In the original work, Ruslanche was only recaptured in the middle of the story..’

He had already done it.

Indeed, even more important than that was the name Experia.

That place was the end of Elchen. It was highly regarded as a natural fortress, and beyond it was a forest that no one could pass through.

If he had recaptured up to there, it was really over. The Elchen rebels were virtually disbanded.

Waaa-

So the square was filled with joy and cheers.

What did the common people know? They were just enjoying this moment when the war was over.

Of course, not everyone joined in the atmosphere.

“Mother. What on earth is going on?”

The First Prince asked, his face pale.

The Empress remained silent, her expression hardened.

This was also unexpected for her. The Second Prince, who had been driven to the battlefield of death, had returned as a beast with sharp teeth.

It wasn’t that there was no information at all. But it was also undeniable that she had dismissed it as an unreliable rumor.

[The Second Prince has virtually conquered Elchen.]

Who knew that report would actually be true.

In fact, even if she had known, nothing would have changed.

It was already far beyond the scope of her influence.

‘At least it’s fortunate that he’s shackled by a political marriage.’

While the Empress was thinking that, Caron stood up.

And with his usual expression, he commanded his subordinates.

“Those who have brought the banners of the castles, step forward.”

Several horsemen moved. They were holding flags covered with black cloth.

Whoosh-

When they removed the black cloth, flags with different emblems were revealed.

A roaring gray wolf, a deer with three horns, a white bird of prey in descent, and a rose blooming in a vine.

In addition to these, flags with three other emblems fluttered under the winter sky.

Seeing the total of seven flags, people gasped in their own surprise.

“That’s..”

“The castle banners-!”

The castle banners were kept in the rooms of each castle’s lord.

And it was a symbol of the authority over that castle.

From the material of the flag and the pole to the craftsmanship of the jewel attached to the end of the pole. There were artisan families who had been making them for generations, so it was difficult to make counterfeits.

More than anything, it was in front of the Emperor. Who would dare to present a counterfeit castle banner?

“Your Majesty. We have confirmed that they are all genuine.”

In fact, the verification process had already been completed before this procession.

At the words of the Minister of the Interior, the Emperor spoke again.

“Good. Second Prince Cayron. Receive my command.”

Caron knelt again. The red cape draped on the white floor of the square like a wing.

“Second Prince Cayron. I am about to receive the command of the most venerable dragon’s blood.”

“You have recaptured seven castles in Elchen. You have brought an end to the long civil war, and you deserve to be commended for your merits.”

The Emperor took out a sword and held it out to Caron.

“Following your request, I grant you the authority to govern the entire territory of Elchen. This sword with the seal signifies the imperial decree, and as my delegate, you must not abuse that authority.”

And Caron gladly received the sword with both hands.

A moment later, the sight of him drawing the sword looked like a hero from a novel.

Flower petals fluttered in the air, and cheers erupted along with applause.

Many people had to admit it then.

The Second Prince, who had been looked down upon and despised for a long time, had returned as a powerful predator.

And so the triumphal procession ended.

A pure white dressing room. Sunlight seeps in.

In a sense, the best talents of the Empire were busy at work.

“Sera. Bring me some pins.”

“Madam Dotre. Wouldn’t it be better to braid her hair here?”

“No. Usually, it would be with a dress that exposes the back. But to emphasize a more innocent look, wavy hair is better.”

Delicate touches continued, as if crafting a small jewel.

Rosa looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror with an awkward expression.

“How is it? Wavy hair is better, right?”

“..I think so.”

Dotre’s question didn’t even need an answer.

Her warm silver hair flowed down to her slender waist. The subtle curls seemed to emphasize a feminine feeling.

The neckline was just right, not too revealing, and from the upper part of her elbows, a transparent lace was added.

Feeling quite awkward with her appearance, Rosa couldn’t even look at the mirror.

“Her waist is so slender.. I don’t think a corset is necessary.”

A maid from the Imperial Palace muttered in surprise.

Dotre chimed in.

“That’s right. That’s why we started with the dress. Corsets are usually uncomfortable, so we put them on after the makeup is done.”

It took quite a long time to do the makeup, so some noble ladies felt uncomfortable.

“But our prospective Second Princess is different. Honestly, I was surprised when I first saw her. Rosa. Do you have any special management secrets?”

“..No.”

Rosa smiled and brushed it off.

“Not really.”

Dotre smiled and replied.

“I knew you’d say that. Real beauties always say they were born with it.”

It was quite a mischievous joke. As if noticing her expression, Dotre burst into laughter and said.

“Well, the time I can comfortably joke with you like this is running out. You’re the bride. You’ll soon have a noble status. Smile brightly on a day filled with such good things.”

“Haha..”

Rosa laughed.

She must have looked quite tense.

“You look much prettier when you smile. I thought a flower was blooming.”

Feeling her face flush, three more maids joined in.

“Her skin is so fair. We don’t need heavy makeup.”

“Let’s go with light makeup. To give a dewy look.”

Rosa’s pale cheeks gradually gained a light pink hue. Her cute lips became more moist, and her delicate eyelashes were enhanced.

Everyone marveled at the appearance of the bride after her transformation.

“Oh my god. She’s almost glowing.”

“She’s so beautiful. I’m sure His Highness the Prince will be surprised too.”

It might be a bit much to say this.

‘She’s pretty..’

Even she thought so.

Suddenly finding herself thinking that, Rosa let out a chuckle.

Lastly, as Madam Dotre placed a silver tiara on her head, she bade farewell.

“Then. Our task is now complete.”

Her style of speech had changed.

She was Countess Chalin. In other words, she had the status of a count.

That was why she had been treating Rosa, a count’s daughter, relatively comfortably until now.

But in a moment, Rosa would officially become the Second Princess.

Knowing that fact, Rosa wasn’t flustered.

“Thank you. Dotre.”

“You’re very welcome. It was an honor, Your Highness.”

Dotre smiled and left with the maids.

Mary, who had been sitting in a corner until then, approached.

“My lady. You’re so beautiful! The imperial maids are definitely something else.”

“Mary. Can you call Father first?”

“Ah, yes!”

Mary hurried off to fetch the Count, who must be waiting downstairs.

Alone in the pure white room.

Rosa couldn’t stop pacing back and forth.

‘Oh no. What do I do..’

She wasn’t nervous because of the shocking triumphal procession earlier.

Rather, something else was filling her head, making her completely forget about it.

It was the wedding. The act of two people becoming one.

Rosa was now more vividly aware of that fact than ever before.

‘First, I’ll have to kiss him in front of everyone.’

Because that’s what a wedding is.

Yes. She was confident in acting.

Just simply touching skin to skin, although it was a slightly different concept.

‘It’s just for a moment. I just have to endure it for a moment.’

There was definitely an unavoidable reluctance within her.

‘Kissing a man..’

It had been seven years since she had lived as a woman.

Still, if she had to choose, she would be more comfortable kissing a woman.

‘The good thing is..’

She didn’t know about other men, but she felt she could endure that moment if it was Caron.

‘He’s a familiar face, and we’ve already done it once.’

They were close friends and like family who cared for each other.

The fact that she had known him since childhood and was familiar with him probably lessened her reluctance the most.

In fact, the biggest hurdle was having to kiss in front of everyone.

‘But. I have to act like a loving couple in the future anyway.’

Rosa once again clearly reminded herself of how she should act.

‘Yes. It’s just acting.’

Thinking of it that way, her mind calmed down a bit.

Knock-knock-

And the Count entered the bridal waiting room.

“..Are you ready?”

Soon, he couldn’t contain his exclamation at Rosa’s fully adorned appearance.

“You’re so beautiful. I thought I was seeing your mother.”

And he held out his hand to Rosa.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Rosa gladly took his hand.

A neat room.

Caron was lost in thought alone.

He was leaning against the window, dressed in a neat white formal suit.

‘They said it would be a simple ceremony..’

The Emperor had rented out an entire temple. Beautiful fountains and various statues could be seen below the window.

The bridal waiting room was in the building directly across. Rosa must be finished with her preparations and be with the Count by now.

Even for Caron, he couldn’t help but feel nervous at this moment.

Even during the triumphal procession in the morning. Even when he first went to the battlefield.

Even when death was right in front of his nose.

He had never been this nervous.

His heart was pounding so hard that it was hard to breathe. In a moment, Rosa would become his wife.

Wife. Or spouse.

Those expressions were somehow insufficient.

The only companion of his soul. The reason he lived.

Rosa was such a being.

Caron recalled what happened earlier in the morning.

[I’ll, I’ll do well as a princess. So that you’re not ignored. I’ll try.]

It wasn’t something he had expected. But it made him realize once again how kind Rosa was.

It was a meaningful statement to him.

When did it start?

When did he start to have these feelings for Rosa?

A chance encounter between the two.

Of course, even Caron wasn’t drawn to Rosa from the beginning.

Definitely curiosity at first.

It was the first time someone had approached him without any wariness and taken care of him.

At some point, the girl had seeped into his heart.

The way she worried about him, her affectionate gestures.

The way she took care of him as if she were his older sister.

From the moment he was born, Caron had no one on his side. He had never even experienced the affection of his parents, which others took for granted.

But.

A girl he met by chance became his ally without asking for anything in return.

In fact, all the beautiful or good memories in Caron’s life were memories of the two of them together with the girl.

The setting sun of a spring evening. They played a game of heroes with the village children. At that time, Caron first learned the joy of playing with his peers.

A hot summer. They went to a cool lake.

He had a dizzying memory of seeing the defenseless girl at that place, which was like their own private playground.

In the fall when the leaves fell. The two played chess together.

He remembers the girl pouting when he kept winning.

But that day was the same.

At the harvest festival, as always, the girl placed the meatiest part of the turkey leg on his plate alone.

When the world turned white again. The two went to the Glass Lake together and made a snowman.

[Are you a child..?]

Of course, she said that on the outside, but in fact, making a snowman with the girl was quite enjoyable.

It was the first time. Everything he did with the girl was like that.

And as the days went by, she became more and more feminine. Like a flower blooming beautifully.

Caron often felt breathless when he looked at Rosa.

He thought it was unfair. With that kind and good personality, she had even transformed into the most attractive woman he had ever seen.

The last memory he recalled was relatively recent.

[You’re the protagonist of this banquet. Why are you hiding..?]

The girl, Rosa Anencia.

She was the only one who felt upset and angry on his behalf.

‘So, how can I let you go.’

What Caron desperately longed for was nothing else.

The Emperor’s seat? He didn’t need it. Revenge on those who despised him? He didn’t feel the need.

The only being that made him breathe. At the same time, the being that made him able to throw everything away.

It was enough to have Rosa by his side.

The only thing Caron was concerned about right now was.

‘Rosa might have feelings for someone else.’

He had definitely thought so.

‘When I think about it again, I don’t think that’s the case..’

Now he had another guess.

When he kissed her, and when he held her hand tightly.

Judging by Rosa’s reactions, it seemed like it was her first time for everything.

She liked someone enough to have a fake marriage, but they had never had any physical contact?

It didn’t make sense.

‘If I try one more time, I should be able to tell for sure.’

Just as Caron had organized his thoughts.

“It’s time to go.”

At the sound of a voice from outside the door, Caron slowly began to walk.

It was time to go meet her.

Rosa Anencia, who would now become his eternal companion.