Translator: Nox

Chapter 90

#090. The Engagement Ceremony of the Century (3)

When the doors of the banquet hall opened to the elegant melody, Maria believed that her world had finally changed. Everything was perfect.

The flower petals and sparkling lights showering her, the dazzling engagement dress sprinkled with diamond dust, and all the jewels that would make her shine.

And even the gazes that followed her every step.

She wanted to show them clearly. That the person who deserved to be revered in this noble place, with envoys from other countries present, was not a lowly half-blood, but the precious Maria Etel.

Especially to Olivia Madelaine, who would be looking up at her from somewhere in the banquet hall with a distorted face.

An ecstatic, intense pleasure coursed through Maria from her toes to the top of her head. Her heart felt like it would burst.

When Leopold, who seemed to have spotted her, came running up the stairs, backlit by the light,

Maria couldn't help but smile brightly.

The most radiant person in this place was Leopold, who was coming up now. And it was she who would take his hand.

However.

"Ol, Olivia..."

The name that echoed through the quiet banquet hall was not hers.

The rosy future she had been floating on crashed down in an instant. Maria Etel blinked slowly and looked at Leopold.

He should be taking her hand and smiling gently at her. But Leopold had his broad back to her, staring at one spot in the banquet hall with a face she had never seen before.

And there.

Olivia Madelaine was there. With the Duke by her side, Olivia Madelaine was smiling as if she had everything.

This, this can't be happening. A strange sense of déjà vu surged towards Maria. Without even knowing the identity of that déjà vu, Maria desperately called out to Leopold.

"...What are you doing, Leopold? I'm here...!"

Maria's voice trembled. Whenever she teared up like this, Leopold always looked at her. But the affectionate eyes that should have been on her were fixed in one place, unwavering.

An uncontrollable fear washed over her. Shaking off the whispers from deep within her heart, Maria grabbed Leopold's arm tightly.

She felt like she would die if she let go of this arm.

"I, I'm here. I'm your Maria!"

Your Maria.

The screaming voice echoed through the high-ceilinged banquet hall.

"I'm here,"

Where are you looking, Leopold.

"Stop!"

Only when the Emperor's heavy shout rang out did Maria flinch and shut her mouth. Now, everything was visible in her vision, which had been clouded with darkness.

The back of her once-affectionate lover, who no longer looked at her. Olivia Madelaine, where his gaze was fixed.

And the foreign envoys and nobles watching the situation with interest. Princess glaring at her as if to tear her apart, and the Empress next to her.

Seeing the Empress looking at her with cold eyes, Maria Etel suddenly felt as if she had been splashed with cold water and came to her senses. She began to hear the whispers of the nobles that she hadn't heard before.

"What's going on? Did Crown Prince just call the name of Madeleine?"

"While he's having an engagement ceremony with Lady Etel? No, is this even an engagement ceremony? I thought it was a congratulatory performance by the envoys."

"It's quite a spectacle. Such a thing happening when envoys from other countries are here. Is Lady Etel doing this alone?"

"That can't be. Princess is watching the banquet so carefully."

"So, does that mean Princess allowed this to happen?"

She couldn't understand. Duke Elkin had clearly said that he would prepare everything.

With a pale face, Maria hurriedly scanned the banquet hall. The only person who would take her side now was Duke Elkin.

And when she saw Duke Elkin's face in the distance, Maria cried out in a desperate voice without realizing it.

"Something's wrong, Your Majesty! Duke Elkin, no, Empress, ungh!"

Suddenly, a large hand pressed down on Maria's shoulder. Maria was terrified by the force so strong that she couldn't even breathe. Leopold, if Leopold saw this, he wouldn't stand still.

"...I won't let it slide anymore, Etel."

Maria's eyes widened. Her perfectly curled eyelashes fluttered. The growl that reached her ear was definitely Leopold's voice. The Emperor's voice was faintly heard in the distance.

"...The Lady's condition is not good. Take her outside."

What is all this? Is this a dream? Leopold's back, turning away, was cold. Even though his hand had fallen from her shoulder, she felt like a heavy weight remained.

"We will escort you, Lady."

Knights and maids who had rushed over surrounded Maria. Despite their polite words, they gagged Maria and twisted her arms roughly as if arresting her.

Maria barely looked around the banquet hall between the knights. Someone had to see this situation properly.

But all the gazes she had thought were of reverence were mocking her.

"...Why would she covet the Crown Prince when he already has a fiancée? Covet him."

"Lady Etel probably didn't know that Crown Prince's heart would lean that way."

"Oh my. I would have noticed it yesterday. Pet name, my foot."

The whole world was muffled and slow, as if she had sunk into the water. The whispering words recklessly judged Maria's position.

The moment she saw the hem of her priceless dress dragging wretchedly on the floor, the source of the déjà vu flashed through her mind.

"You'll keep being pretty under my protection and affection, right?"

The sea-blue eyes that looked at her coldly, the voice of her affectionate lover demanding a fixed answer as if that was the end.

"...There's no way that could happen."

Even the strong answer she had given, perfectly dismissing the possibility that Madeleine might not return.

No, no. That can't be.

She was confused. She couldn't believe it. As Maria Etel blinked and shook her head, she suddenly saw a woman with green eyes.

Olivia Madelaine.

Why, why are you looking at me with that expression?

Maria's eyes, frozen like ice, widened.

Soon, the doors of the banquet hall slammed shut. When the cold wind of the hallway touched her cheek, Maria burst into a hollow laugh.

Everything.

Was a mess.

.

.

.

"Maria!"

Marquis Etel shouted with a heartbroken feeling. He was blocked by the nobles standing firmly like a wall, and he couldn't even see his daughter being dragged away surrounded by knights.

"She was too greedy."

"Crown Prince didn't even look back."

The whispering voices criticized and belittled his daughter. This could never have happened. His precious youngest daughter was not a child who deserved to hear such things.

There was only one person who could resolve this situation. Marquis Etel pleaded with Duke Elkin in a trembling voice.

"Duke, please do something..."

"What can I do?"

His voice was nonchalant. The Marquis looked up at Duke Elkin with a dumbfounded face.

"Pardon?"

Until yesterday, he was the Duke who had asked his daughter if she was ready. But now he was standing there with an indifferent face!

"Duke, until yesterday...!"

"That's right. Until Crown Prince called Madeleine by her pet name."

The Marquis's face went blank. Duke Elkin raised the corners of his lips thinly.

How could a father and daughter be so foolish? To carry out the plan even after seeing the Crown Prince's face when he called her by her pet name yesterday. Duke Elkin shook his head.

Duke Elkin had prepared for both directions.

He was going to go in that direction if Lady Etel did well. But now that Lady Etel had incurred the Emperor's wrath, it was the perfect time to adjust relations with the envoys and gain the trust of the Emperor and Crown Prince.

Especially if Duke Madeleine was on the verge of falling out of favor with the Emperor for failing to bring the Madeleine.

Duke Elkin looked at Madeleine, who was standing a little further away.

To have the Crown Prince's attention all to herself and still have such an indifferent face. And even the Grand Duke who stepped forward to protect her. The more he looked at her, the more he coveted her.

"...Come to think of it. In a way, I am like a god to that child."

Duke Elkin muttered leisurely. He was the one who had attached a woman to Duke Madeleine to give him a warning, so he was a god in the birth of the Madeleine.

On the other hand, Marquis Etel was out of his mind. What was urgent now was his precious youngest daughter who had been dragged outside.

"What is that? No, Duke!"

"I spent a lot of money on the dress. The merchant guild will send you a bill soon."

The Duke said in a carefree tone. The Marquis's face, which had been pale, turned red as if he had finally understood.

"Knowing that the situation would turn out like this, you still used my daughter...!"

"You must come with me, Marquis Etel."

A dry voice cut in over Marquis Etel's words. The Emperor's Chamberlain, who had secretly approached while his attention was on Maria Etel, said calmly.

As if realizing his changed circumstances, Marquis Etel's lips trembled. Duke Elkin took two steps back and whispered.

"Why were you so greedy, Marquis. I won't see you off."

.

.

.

The orchestra played a new waltz tune according to the conductor's direction. But no one was dancing.

The Summer Ball was supposed to be enjoyable. But now, the people in the banquet hall were just watching each other.

Olivia glanced at the door where the Emperor and Empress had left a moment ago.

"...An unpleasant thing happened in a place where envoys from far away have come."

Olivia wasn't the only one who saw the Emperor's lips trembling as he tried to laugh heartily.

"I hope everyone will forget what just happened and enjoy the banquet."

Following the Emperor and Empress, even the Crown Prince hurriedly left the banquet hall. Olivia felt Leopold's gaze on her until the end, but she didn't make eye contact. She didn't want to dwell on the voice that called her name so carelessly.

The nobles, who had been whispering in the frozen atmosphere, cautiously looked for prey.

The most interesting people now were Olivia, whose name had been called, and Princess, who was far away.

If there weren't three knights in front of her now, she would have been torn apart long ago. The nobles were weighing the relationship between Olivia and Princess as if testing the waters.

Olivia blinked. Strangely, Maria's eyes, which had briefly met hers and glared at her as if turning over her doll-like blue eyes, flickered in her mind.

"...Are you okay, Olivia?"

"Yes?"

"I think I saw an interesting sight. Olivia seems a little dazed."

Of course. She would remember that she dared to call Olivia at the end.

Olivia broke her eyes into an arch with a smile at the words added like a joke. There was a strange power in Edwin's voice.

A mysterious power that made her forget Maria Etel's eyes and the dress that Crown Prince had sent.

"What should we do? If Olivia is okay with it, I would like to request a song, but I think it would be okay to return to the Grand Duke's Residence."

Now that she looked, not only Edwin but also Howard and Winster were waiting for Olivia's decision. Looking at those faces, Olivia shook her head.

She had to take only good memories to the Grand Duke's Residence. She had to shake off this unpleasantness at the banquet hall.

"I'll be safe under the protection of two wonderful knights, so why don't Edwin greet the envoys?"

It was a cheerful answer. Edwin's eyes, which had been looking at Olivia for a while, curved mischievously.

"Well, I don't want to be away from Olivia for a moment. Then how about we just watch together and go back?"

"Watch?"

It was a strange word. Edwin, who was raising the corners of his lips seductively, took Olivia's hand and led her.

When they got closer to Princess, there was a comfortable sofa and table prepared as if it had been prepared.

The splendid performance was reaching its climax. Edwin, who smiled, whispered kindly.

"For my kind Olivia, who doesn't even say to bring Princess's head."

Bring her head. The conversation Olivia had with Edwin in the mine suddenly came to Olivia's mind, who was horrified.

As soon as she thought of the words that he would bring Princess's head if she wanted, Edwin continued.

"I had a feeling that I could show you an interesting situation that would happen by chance."

"Are you planning something fun?"

"Well, just a light taste?"

Edwin, who shrugged his shoulders, gestured in the direction of Princess.

"But how dare Lady Etel think of putting something like that in Her Highness's banquet?"

A gentle question erupted from the group of nobles surrounding Princess.

"Everyone knows how carefully Her Highness looks after the banquet."

"Surely Her Highness couldn't have known that Lady Etel would do this."

Among the following aristocratic tones, Princess's pale face was etched in her eyes. The sea-blue eyes that met Olivia's trembled.

Ah, so that's why they were watching. Olivia smiled faintly.