Chapter 69
The first waltz began with the orchestra's performance. With the crown princess's seat empty, the crown prince's partner was one of his twin daughters. In truth, it was more accurate to say it was fixed to one. In official events, the crown prince always chose Yeremi, and this time was no exception as he took the hand of his daughter wearing the green gem.
While the girl with the onyx necklace watched her father and sister dance with evident boredom, the father and daughter—who shared strikingly handsome features and blue eyes—continued their elegant dance. The multi-layered, puffed dress spread out in a circle. The young unmarried noblemen watched the hem of the dress spin and settle in rapture.
"Lady Yeremi is truly beautiful."
"She looks exactly like Lady Tenebrey."
"Tsk, their inner natures are different, aren't they? Even with the same face, Lady Tenebrey has this somehow gloomy air about her."
Outwardly identical as if cast from the same mold, the sisters' personalities were polar opposites. Yeremi was bright, cheerful, and lovable, while Tenebrey was gloomy and always failed to hide her melancholic demeanor.
That was probably why the crown prince discriminated between them. The ominous tales of twins should have applied to both, yet they always seemed aimed specifically at Tenebrey. There were even rumors that the crown prince, who could foresee the future, had tried to kill Tenebrey himself the moment the ill-omened twins were born.
The music flowed into a familiar pattern. People who sensed the first dance was ending soon began preparing with their partners for the second piece. As the performance built toward its climax, the brilliant chandelier lights began extinguishing one by one.
"No wind blew, so why are the lights going out?"
The lighting lingered last at the center where the crown prince danced, as if focused there, before fading entirely. The splendid banquet hall was engulfed in darkness. A perfect blackout—not even objects right in front could be discerned.
"What is this...?"
"Who is it! Damn it, don't push!"
"Eek! Someone stepped on my foot!"
"I can't see...! I, I need to get out of here!"
With chaos like this, one would expect the music to stop, but the orchestra—fearing punishment for halting without permission at the crown prince's banquet—continued the accompaniment at its peak. There was precedent: a cellist who once accidentally snapped a string at the emperor's banquet had been executed by dismemberment.
The crowd's murmurs, blending budding fear and confusion, mixed with the sweet orchestra melody to form an eerie harmony. It was almost comical, like a scene from a well-scripted play.
Fortunately, before greater uproar could erupt, the stage lights snapped back on. The chandeliers blazed anew as if they'd never gone out, and the people, barely regaining composure, busied themselves blinking and adjusting their eyes.
"What is this..."
Only after their vision adapted to the light, taking in the banquet hall's ornate decorations once more, did they begin covering their mouths in horror one by one.
Before the darkness had blinded them, the last sight had been the father and daughter at the hall's center. So it was natural to seek them first when light returned.
Yet the dancing pair was gone, leaving only the girl with the green necklace standing dazed, splattered with dripping red liquid as she stared blankly at the ceiling. Following her puzzled gaze upward revealed the unbelievable.
Some screamed, some lost their minds, others collapsed to the floor or retched. Perhaps it would have been better if the darkness had persisted, hiding everything from view.
The music faltered.
The accompaniment continued unnoticed amid the murmurs due to the performers' focus, but as they one by one realized the horror, notes began dropping out. The lone remaining piano carried the majestic finale alone until, unable to withstand the intense playing, its strings snapped with a dying wail—bringing all music to a halt.
What remained was the rhythmic ticking of droplets. Blood gathered at the fingertips followed the heartbeat, falling like a metronome. The clear sound echoed over the small puddle pooling on the floor.
The crown prince, murdered with an antique dagger plunged into his heart, dangled from the chandelier. The fixture, tilted by the corpse's weight, creaked and swayed, its crystal glasses clinking faintly. A chilling, goosebump-inducing sound, even if slight.
"Father!"
One of the crown prince's twin daughters wailed. Wearing the black necklace, it was undoubtedly Tenebrey. Another voice followed, noticing the sword in his heart.
"Th-that's the, the dagger Lady Rohanson gifted to His Highness!"
Gazes turned to the hilt. Many had witnessed Evangeline Rohanson present the dagger upon entry, drawing attention. Realizing the handles matched, eyes shifted en masse.
"Lady Rohanson assassinated His Highness the Crown Prince!"
With everyone keeping their distance, a circular clearing formed around Evangeline, making the red-stained hem of her dress particularly visible. She covered her mouth, but if she removed her hand, her lips would likely curve into a smile.
"Lady Rohanson..."
Kinder bit her lip calling Evangeline's name. Unlike the others, having regained her senses, Kinder stared solely at Evangeline.
Lady Rohanson wouldn't kill the crown prince—let alone in a way that confessed guilt so blatantly. This was clearly a trap. No wonder Sir Gabriel had warned of unease before leaving! But who would believe Kinder's defense?
Evangeline's white dress was stained red. The clash with the Hosakwin Duke had been far from quiet. She'd nearly been drenched in wine, but Gabriel had shielded her, limiting the splashes on her white dress to mere drops. Just before the lights went out, her dress had been unstained.
"I let my guard down."
Evangeline's eyes flashed as she boldly voiced her thoughts. Her tone was chillingly exhilarated.
The banquet hall doors opened belatedly. No one had noticed they were closed—or for how long. Some recalled the doors wide open even when Gabriel had left to change.
Entering was Sir Muetta, the crown prince's guard knight—who had abandoned his post during the murder, leaving his lord to die.
"Y-Your Highness!"
Muetta began securing the body and restoring order. He reported the crown prince's death to the emperor, protected the bewildered imperial grandchildren, and sent them away. The girl with the green onyx stood dazed, blood dripping from the chandelier-bound crown prince, until her twin led her back to her chambers.
