Chapter 34
Chapter 34.
“Ma’am. The Marquis is waiting.”
“Alright, I’m coming out now.”
As she descended the stairs, her eyes met Enoch’s, who was waiting at the entrance.
The outfits, coordinated as a pair with hers, suited Enoch wonderfully as well. Agatha, pleased with this, descended the stairs lightly and stood beside him.
“Your outfit suits you very well.”
“You are also truly beautiful today.”
The compliments exchanged seemed formal, but they were not. Agatha felt Enoch’s sincerity and smiled faintly.
She was particularly fond of the white cravat made from the same fabric as her dress and the suit with a subtle pattern matching her dress.
“Let’s depart before it gets too late.”
As she stepped out of the entrance, First Commander Leon Takran, assigned to escort her, was waiting by the carriage with about ten knights.
“I’ll be counting on you today, Sir Leon.”
“I will escort you safely.”
As Agatha and Enoch boarded the carriage, the knights thoroughly surrounded it, front and back.
“We will depart now.”
The carriage began to move immediately after Sir Leon’s report. After passing through the mansion’s garden and exiting the gates, the carriage soon reached the main road.
Though it was a familiar route, the capital at night, hosting the Imperial Ball, felt special.
As they neared the Imperial Palace, yellow leaf motifs, symbols of the Imperial Family, illuminated the ground as brightly as daylight, and carriages of nobles lined up, moving forward.
After being caught among numerous carriages for about ten minutes, the palace where today’s ball would be held came into view.
Asagrat, the second-largest party hall in the Imperial Palace.
The white ivory palace, shining brilliantly under the evening sun, was lavishly decorated with the most beautiful flowers and jewels of the season.
It certainly gave the impression that the Emperor had allocated ample funds for this event.
“We have arrived.”
“Thank you for your service, Sir.”
Agatha, who alighted from the carriage with grace, ascended the stairs with Enoch’s escort and stood at the palace entrance.
Lanterns, centered around a crystal chandelier, decorated the ceiling, bathing the hall in dazzling light.
The vast hall was already bustling with nobles who had arrived earlier. A servant, after checking their invitation, announced loudly,
“Marquis Aratus and Marchioness Aratus!”
The noise abruptly ceased, only to erupt even louder. Agatha gracefully stepped onto the red carpet and surveyed her surroundings.
It was a grand Imperial Ball, and unfamiliar faces were visible. Among them were likely those from distant provinces and young nobles making their debut.
The number of attendees seems to have increased this year.
As Agatha walked, countless noble gazes fell upon her. Not a single aspect, from her gestures and glances to her attire, went unnoticed.
“Welcome, Marquis Aratus, Lady Agatha. We have been waiting for you.”
“We heard you’ve accomplished something great. The rumors are already all over the capital.”
Before even leaving the entrance, a group of ladies and young noblewomen had come out to greet Agatha. Led by Marchioness Iris Domunia, they were Agatha’s closest confidantes.
“It’s been a while. Everyone, did you enjoy your vacation?”
“Of course. As soon as we returned to the capital, we heard various rumors about Lady Agatha and were delighted.”
“How was your honeymoon?”
“They say you went to choose new dresses with the Marquis?”
“The social circles have been abuzz with that matter lately.”
Agatha was listening with a smile as they discussed the trend of couples visiting boutiques together, which had recently begun to gain popularity.
Baa-ba-bam-
A cheerful trumpet fanfare sounded. It signaled the arrival of royalty.
“His Highness Crown Prince Antony Roxiva, the little sun of the Roxbard Empire, has arrived!”
Agatha and all the nobles immediately bowed in respect.
Antony, his signature platinum blonde hair of the flamboyant Imperial Family cascading softly, was already dressed with a few buttons undone.
“Ah. Don’t mind me, continue on.”
Antony waved away their deference and walked towards Agatha and Enoch, who had paused on their way to see their lover.
Agatha covered her face with her fan, her brow furrowing slightly.
Is this good news, or bad news?
“We greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”
As Antony smiled and waved away those bowing again, he said,
“I hear visiting boutiques as a couple is the trend these days? The harmony of the Aratus Marquis couple is shaking the capital. Newlyweds must be enjoying themselves.”
It seemed to be the former. Agatha’s face brightened as she saw her childhood friend and sixth cousin, who had come to tease her unnecessarily.
The noblewomen and young ladies, led by Marchioness Iris Domunia, tactfully moved away.
“Your Highness, why are you here instead of with your companion?”
“Am I not an exception? I am, after all, the greatest rake in Roxbard.”
“Exactly. Then why is a rake like you here, bothering your sixth cousin, leaving all your many lovers behind?”
The conversation between the two did not cross the line purely out of consideration for Enoch, who was present.
Antony, with a playful smirk, feigned a complaint to Enoch.
“My cousin here is treating me so poorly, Marquis.”
“Your bond of kinship seems deep.”
As meaningless conversation flowed, the three moved to a secluded corner of the hall. Soon, the Crown Prince’s escort knights and aides naturally took up positions around them.
With fewer eyes on them, Agatha grumbled softly.
“What is it today?”
“It’s been a while since the Imperial Ball, hasn’t it? I must show off my acquaintance with the blood relative who is married to the sole heir of Nobilis and a war hero.”
“You speak well, considering you are His Majesty’s only legitimate son.”
Antony casually scanned the hall and added,
“It also felt like something interesting might happen.”
“……”
Enoch, who had been listening intently to the Crown Prince’s meaningful words, spoke up.
“Are you referring to Duke Theodore Neuta?”
“Oh, you knew?”
Antony looked back at Enoch with a look of pleasant surprise, and Agatha covered her mouth with her fan, replying,
“I thought you were referring to my own relatives.”
“You knew both. I thought you wouldn’t know.”
How could she not know?
Though she was always the center of attention, today there were particularly persistent gazes following her.
The relatives of Nobilis, whose attention had become even more obsessive, and Duke Theodore Neuta, her sixth ex-husband, who kept looking her way.
However, Agatha hadn’t known that Enoch was aware of Theodore’s gaze.
First Fernand, and now Theodore.
I hope he doesn’t misunderstand.
Her ex-husbands, with whom she had no particular contact after their divorce, kept appearing. Even if Enoch knew about Agatha’s previous marriages, it wouldn’t be a pleasant situation.
Her relatives were one thing, but she didn’t understand Theodore’s intentions.
Of course, even if the situation was turning out strangely, Agatha didn’t mind. There was only one thing she needed to be sure of.
If Theodore wanted to meet her, Enoch must be present.
It wasn’t a cheerful conclusion, but it was the best course of action.
“Enoch. What do you think about summoning Duke Neuta here right now?”
Upon hearing Agatha’s suggestion, Enoch looked at her and fell into thought for a moment.
“If it cannot be avoided. Now would be the best time.”
The Crown Prince, who could act as a mediator, was conveniently present.
As Enoch agreed, Agatha turned around. Theodore Neuta, her sixth ex-husband, who had been watching her moments ago, was there.
When their eyes met, the Duke paused for a moment before approaching them without hesitation.
“We greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Welcome, Duke. Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes. Thanks to the concern of His Majesty and Your Highness.”
Unlike his gaunt appearance at the wedding three months ago, he now looked somewhat recovered.
After greeting the Crown Prince upon arrival, the Duke glanced at Agatha for a moment. She spoke first.
“Hello, Duke.”
“……Greetings, Marchioness Aratus.”
Theodore also offered a brief greeting to Enoch, who stood beside Agatha.
After the appropriately polite exchange, Agatha asked directly without hesitation,
“If I’m not mistaken, you have something to tell me, correct?”
“I have something to inform you about our family, Marchioness.”
As soon as those words were spoken, Crown Prince Antony Roxiva uncrossed his arms.
Enoch, standing with a somewhat cynical demeanor, also looked at Theodore and spoke.
“Is this content I can listen to as well?”
“Yes, it is fine.”
Theodore nodded gravely and then looked at Antony.
“If it is not an imposition, Your Highness, I would like to request your presence. It would be better for the Marchioness if Your Highness were present.”
“My, my. It seems the Duke still cares quite a bit for his ex-wife, even after the divorce.”
Agatha stopped Antony’s teasing remark.
“Your Highness.”
“I was merely stating what came to mind.”
As Antony shrugged and fell silent, Theodore smiled bitterly.
“That is precisely why we divorced. I cannot inflict further harm on my wife, who has now become an outsider due to my family’s affairs.”
“……”
“I have spoken too much, Marchioness. First, please consider my visit today as a form of apology.”
