Chapter 82
#082. Slow Rumors: Like Father, Like Son
The Emperor smiled faintly at the report that the Princess had appeared in the banquet hall. He and the Empress headed to the banquet hall with relaxed hearts.
There was nothing to worry about.
The Princess, who had thoroughly checked the White Crystal Mine in the Territory of Vikander, would successfully conclude this Summer Ball as always.
Furthermore, the Madeleine Dukedom and the Crown Prince would quickly return the Princess to her place.
Everything was perfect.
…That is, until he encountered the Princess stomping out with an angry face as he entered the hallway leading to the banquet hall.
The Princess, who had been coming out with a very angry face, also looked at the Emperor and Empress in surprise. And soon, she smiled softly and paid her respects. Her clear greeting filled the hallway.
“I greet Your Majesty. I am grateful to see both of Your Majesties through the Summer Ball on this beautiful night.”
However, instead of accepting the greeting, the Emperor scanned his surroundings. Since the Summer Ball had begun, those standing in front of the banquet hall door in the distance were servants, not nobles. But he knew very well that rumors did not discriminate between high and low.
The Emperor maintained his smiling lips and spoke in a friendly voice.
“…You’ve worked hard to prepare the Summer Ball, Princess. But why is the host of the Summer Ball absent?”
At first glance, it sounded like he was worried about the Princess's social life. But the Princess knew better than anyone that the Emperor's eyes were not smiling.
A chill ran down her spine. The Emperor, with his keen eye, would realize the moment he entered the banquet hall that the concept of the Summer Ball was the same as last time. If so…
The Emperor's wrath was chilling just to think about. But instead of showing it, the Princess smiled.
“I came out for a moment because the two most high Majesties had not arrived. Everyone is as eager for the appearance of the two Majesties as I am, the host of the Summer Ball, so I was short-sighted as I was only considering that.”
The Emperor frowned for a moment at her smooth words.
It was completely different from the angry face she had shown a moment ago. A strange premonition slowly raised its head at the sight of her different actions and words. But soon, the Empress, who was next to him, gently stroked the Emperor's arm.
“Your Majesty. Since the Princess says so, you must enter quickly. All the nobles are waiting for Your Majesty.”
“…Yes. We must go in first.”
The uneasy feeling did not disappear, but the Emperor agreed with the Empress's words.
However.
“Grand Duke!”
Before the door to the banquet hall could be opened, the Emperor had no choice but to shout at the fierce voice that erupted.
“What is all this commotion!”
In the middle of the banquet hall.
In a place surrounded by nobles in a circle were the Crown Prince, Maria Etel, the Princess, and the Grand Duke. Unlike the Crown Prince's distorted face, the Grand Duke was smiling as if nothing had happened.
This couldn't be happening.
The Crown Prince losing his dignity and getting angry at his dog. And in front of his dog, who was smiling leisurely.
As if cold water had been poured on them, the nobles awkwardly bowed their heads towards the Emperor and Empress. In the meantime, a servant who didn't know what to do squeezed through the crowd and announced the arrival of the Emperor and Empress.
“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress enter!”
“Homage to the sun and moon of the Empire. We greet His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”
The nobles were seen paying their respects busily here and there. Their voices filled with embarrassment and stiff gestures seemed no different from the commoners in the marketplace.
The only fortunate thing was that Heferti and foreign delegations would be attending the Summer Ball from tomorrow.
The Emperor silently looked at the banquet hall. In this place where everyone was embarrassed and flustered, there was only one person who was calm.
Edwin Lowell Vikander. The war hero, the dog whose leash the Emperor held, was surprisingly looking at the Emperor calmly with a beautiful face.
“That's what I'm saying. What is this… at a Summer Ball I was invited to.”
What had happened to his dog?
The Emperor stared at the Grand Duke with his lips tightly closed. The face of the Princess next to him also looked firm.
In stark contrast to the Crown Prince, who was standing right in front of him with a sharp attitude, and Maria Etel, whose face was flushed red.
He couldn't even guess what had happened to them during the dozens of days they had been in the Territory of Vikander. In the meantime, the Crown Prince, as if he had finally come to his senses, paid his respects to the Emperor.
“…I greet His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress. There was a disagreement for a moment, causing a commotion at the entrance. I will tell you more about this later.”
The words coming out between his teeth were rough, as if he had not completely suppressed his anger. But instead of pointing it out, the Emperor nodded.
“…I’ll go get some air for a while.”
As Leopold, who had raised his head, strode towards the terrace, Maria Etel, who didn't know what to do, hurriedly followed him.
Everything was a mess.
The Crown Prince, who should have started the first dance at the Summer Ball, was leaving.
No one dared to understand this situation, so they only looked at each other. Even the elegant melody was cut off, and silence fell in the banquet hall.
Then, would the Grand Duke be the one to start the first dance at this Summer Ball?
Questions arose in the nobles' eyes. There was a justification for him being a war hero back then, but not now.
The nobles looked back and forth between the Grand Duke and the Princess. The Princess blinked as if she had realized the situation she was in.
Now that the Crown Prince had left, the Princess was the one who had to start the first dance in terms of rank. But the Princess, who was unmarried and the host of the Summer Ball, had come to the Summer Ball without a fixed partner.
In this situation, the best picture would be for the Princess to start the first dance with the Grand Duke, but…!
“…The Princess, the host of the Summer Ball, will start the first dance. Grand Duke, please join her. You must have worked hard to welcome the Princess's visit this time. Since you have had a close relationship in the past, you can share a reunion with a dance.”
The Emperor said with dignity. There was an unpleasant feeling in his voice, but it was the most efficient way to resolve this situation.
In the meantime, the Emperor subtly linked the Grand Duke and the Princess together. It was also a strategy to show that the imperial family and the Grand Duke were always close. But before the Princess could move, the Grand Duke smiled.
“I am sorry, but…”
His face and voice were not sorry at all. The Emperor clenched his fist at the Grand Duke's words, which added fuel to the fire when he was already angry. But without paying attention, the Grand Duke continued in a fluent voice.
“According to His Highness the Crown Prince, I am acting as cute as a cat with a bell. I don't do anything that goes against my owner's wishes.”
A cat with a bell and an owner.
The Emperor immediately realized that the owner the Grand Duke was referring to was the Princess. The Emperor hardened his lips at the rising anger that he could not control.
How dare the Grand Duke. His dog was calling the Crown Prince's fiancée his owner. As long as the White Crystal Mine belonged to the Princess, the Territory of Vikander and the Grand Duke were nothing more than his dogs.
At this rate, the Princess's position would become ridiculous. Before the Emperor could express his displeasure, the Grand Duke smiled and said.
“Also. When did Her Highness the Princess say she visited the Territory of Vikander? Please tell me if I have misunderstood anything. The Territory of Vikander is currently prohibiting all access to the imperial family and the Madeleine Dukedom.”
At the same time as his suspicious voice, the Princess's face turned pale. But the Emperor, who was already full of anger at the words "prohibiting access," did not even notice it.
“Be careful with your words, Grand Duke! What place is there in this empire that the imperial family cannot go to? Especially the place where the Princess has been is the Princess's property!”
The Emperor, who was furious, suddenly felt a chill down his neck. The red eyes that were staring at him widened loosely.
Ah.
A pleasant tone deliberately made a mark.
As if he knew something the Emperor didn't.
Before the Emperor could ponder the meaning,
“May I have permission to open the first dance with the Madeleine Duke, Your Majesty?”
The Princess bowed. The Emperor had a feeling that something was wrong with the Princess's pale face.
However.
“…So be it.”
He couldn't dig it out among these many nobles. With the Emperor's permission, the Princess quickly approached Conrad Madeleine. And she forcibly dragged him and stood in the middle of the banquet hall.
The dance music started a beat late. The nobles, who had not properly started dancing, continued to dance to a tune that did not match the melody.
What a mess of a Summer Ball.
Among them, there was only one person who was smiling as if he was truly enjoying himself.
.
.
.
“…It seems that the rumors are slow for both father and son. Olivia.”
Olivia could not smile along with Edwin's appearance, who was smiling as if he was truly enjoying himself.
Her head was dizzy from the sudden events, and she was confused by the various pieces of information.
The fact that even the Emperor knew about the Princess's White Crystal Mine, and the story that the Territory of Vikander was prohibiting access to the imperial family and the Madeleine Dukedom.
But the cheerful Edwin looked at Olivia and smiled.
“I never knew the Summer Ball would be so enjoyable. I would have regretted it if I hadn't come.”
Seeing him so excited like a child, Olivia shook off the thoughts that had been lingering in her head. That's right. This was a Summer Ball. The problems that she could only worry about alone no matter how much she thought about them could be asked about when she went to the mansion.
Edwin was completely different from his earlier self, who wanted to leave the Summer Ball and go on a date with just the two of them.
It was good that he was enjoying himself. As Olivia smiled along with Edwin, his friendly eyes curved and he said formally to Olivia.
“May I have this dance?”
Olivia tilted her head for a moment at the hand he extended. It was when she felt a mischievous playfulness fleeting across his green eyes.
“Only one dance?”
Edwin blinked for a moment. It was a perfunctory dance request, but he felt like he had been hit on the head. Suddenly, he remembered the words he had grumbled to Winster at the victory Summer Ball.
“Why is the time for a waltz song fixed?”
“Because you have to change partners.”
Olivia's words now overturned that perfunctory etiquette.
Olivia, who was more faithful to etiquette than anyone else.
Olivia shook her head primly, winking at the dazed Edwin.
“Your attitude in asking for a dance is very disappointing. It's not like the person who told me to increase my boldness.”
As Olivia's eyes sparkled provocatively, Edwin's Adam's apple bobbed slowly.
“Then, in line with Olivia's boldness.”
It felt like a drop of sweet temptation falling on top of a constant, stifling thirst. His voice, now lower, sincerely requested.
"May I reserve all the dances of this banquet with you in advance, Olivia?"
Olivia, who had been looking at the outstretched hand, smiled brightly.
"If it's that much, then you're more than qualified to share my first dance."
* * *
When Maria came out onto the terrace, beautiful melodies filled the hallway. It was unbelievable. She and Leopold were supposed to be the center of attention at this banquet.
To miss the first dance like this.
But she couldn't go back inside the terrace and ask Leopold again.
The strong cigar smoke that had lingered on the terrace dissipated. At the same time, the conversation with Leopold swirled around in her messed-up head, refusing to disappear.
"Let's go back, Leopold. Are you going to let the Grand Duke take over the banquet?"
"...Maria."
"Yes, Leopold."
"I have a headache. Can I go out for a bit? What's so important about some dance?"
Maria gritted her teeth at the vividly recalled conversation. If she went back alone now, all the ridicule from the banquet would be directed at her. To be in a position where she had to go into any drawing room and wait for the banquet to end.
Just as she was about to enter a drawing room in despair.
"Then, what about Lady Etel?"
"I knew it from the way she was acting like a peacock. His Highness the Crown Prince is looking at the Madeleine, what else."
Maria instinctively hid herself at the voices echoing in the hallway. She was filled with the urge to pour hot tea on those who were carelessly gossiping, even right now.
She had to endure it.
She had no power right now. At least if she had been the officially announced fiancée.
She should have held her engagement ceremony today. She should have solidified her position in front of everyone.
But no matter how much she regretted it, it was too late.
It was regrettable that she had given herself plenty of time because the dress was difficult to complete.
She had to move up the schedule now. The Crown Prince's one and only fiancée position. She had to announce in front of everyone that the position belonged to Maria Etel.
A precarious childishness flickered in her blue eyes. They were filled with greed that she could never let go of.
* * *
And at that moment, in the grand banquet hall.
The Emperor stared at one place with sharp eyes. The Princess, who always skillfully controlled the atmosphere among the nobles, couldn't hide her restless demeanor today.
Her beautiful sea-colored eyes darted around, watching the Emperor while also looking elsewhere.
The Emperor followed the Princess's gaze. At the end of it was.
Olivia Madeleine.
Was there something fun going on? When her brightly smiling face briefly met the Emperor's eyes.
Unbelievably.
The Madeleine's appearance now was surprisingly similar to Lowell's princess, whom he had so desperately wanted.
The surprised Emperor blinked. Only then did she return to the Madeleine he knew, whose only resemblance was her green eyes.
