Chapter – 13
“Anyway, whose face did you inherit? Show me!”
“Ah, even you think Ikali is handsome?”
Psyche’s face flushed like an apple at Anna’s words.
Anna found it both adorable and fascinating how Psyche openly expressed her feelings.
Eventually, Anna laughed and said,
“Oh my, I have eyes too, you know. I’m sure other women are eyeing Prince Gongja’s wife position as well. It’s quite dangerous right now. Rivals everywhere.”
“Hmph. I don’t want to hear that.”
Psyche pouted at Anna’s teasing. Anna glanced at the remaining time until the party and grinned.
“But today will be fun for you. It’s a grand banquet, so Prince Ikali will be there, right? It’s been a while since you last saw him.”
“Yes. It’s been a few months. I’m so happy. So make me look my absolute best today. Make it so I don’t notice anyone else.”
“When have I ever not made you look beautiful?”
Psyche laughed heartily at Anna’s playful remark.
As mentioned, today was the day Psyche would see Ikali again after their contact had been cut off since her coming-of-age ceremony.
There was a large event in Dosen, after all.
Both of them were at an age where, in the future, they would probably only see each other at official events.
Psyche felt a little sad at the thought that she might not see Ikali often, but she forced herself to smile again, imagining the face of the boy she liked.
With Anna’s help, Psyche was beautifully dressed and ran through the corridor leading to the banquet hall. She stopped just before opening the door to catch her breath.
Then, she checked her appearance one more time with a small hand mirror she had brought and hurriedly entered the hall.
The royal banquet was crowded, but finding a boy her age was easier than she expected.
When Psyche spotted the back of the person she liked, she barely managed to calm her racing heart.
“Ikali.”
She called out cheerfully, but he didn’t turn around.
Had he not heard her?
“I… Prince Dmiosis!”
The thought of seeing her crush after months filled Psyche with excitement. She stepped forward and grabbed his arm as she called his name.
Her heart pounded violently, almost ready to burst, when…
“……Huh?”
Psyche’s eyes widened in shock.
It was certainly Ikali’s face, but something about his aura was unfamiliar.
Underneath the black hair, his wall-colored eyes glimmered coldly, like snake scales.
They were completely different from the starry eyes she remembered.
At that moment, Psyche felt goosebumps rise all over her body, her neck hair standing on end.
He looked exactly like Ikali, but he was not him.
“Uh… who are you?”
The boy’s red lips curved into a gentle smile.
Then Psyche noticed a small mark on his cheek.
The boy stared at her with a serpent-like smile.
‘Where is the real Ikali?’
Psyche was too shocked to ask.
Preparations for the salon proceeded smoothly.
Anna quickly mingled with the duke’s maids. Today was practically Psyche’s official debut in the empire’s social scene, so Anna was determined to get everyone to put in their best effort.
The duke’s maids busied themselves decorating Psyche, chatting cheerfully as they did.
“Madam, how is your skin so flawless? What kind of packs did you use in the Dosen Kingdom? Milk? Or flour?”
“And your hair is so smooth. You don’t even need to brush it for an hour?”
“A pearl bracelet would suit your pale skin perfectly. Or perhaps this garnet?”
Psyche blushed at all the compliments.
“Thank you, everyone. You’re saying this to make me happy, right?”
“Oh no, Madam, it’s not flattery. We’re sincere!”
Anna, standing beside her, adjusted the dress and laughed heartily.
“This is our Madam’s first social outing since getting married. We must make you look the most beautiful of all.”
“Of course. Just trust us.”
It must have been rare for the duke’s household to have such a young lady to dress up. Psyche smiled, taking into account the maids’ excited mood.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“It’s Hans.”
“Come in.”
Hans entered, bowing politely as Psyche styled her hair into curls.
“The carriage to go to the Huliem estate is ready.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“And… um…”
Hans hesitated.
“Since the duke has a schedule, he will likely arrive at Huliem estate later. So you two will be going separately…”
“Hmm.”
Psyche looked at Hans with narrow eyes. Hans avoided her gaze, looking apologetic.
It was as if his eyes were saying, ‘See, I told you it wouldn’t work.’ Psyche’s gaze made him feel even more guilty.
Hans whispered a small voice in explanation.
“Well, he did say he would go later, though.”
“Is that supposed to reassure me?”
“Well…”
Psyche opened her eyes slightly in a sly look at Hans, then burst into laughter.
“Don’t worry about such things.”
“Huh?”
“I wasn’t expecting him to come anyway.”
Hans looked at her in confusion.
Psyche seemed to give a silent signal to those around her that she wouldn’t be disappointed no matter what Ikali did. Even though this was an arranged marriage, it was natural for a twenty-year-old woman to seek her husband’s affection…
“But, Hans.”
“Yes?”
Psyche called Hans over, looking at him intently.
She had another matter to worry about besides the salon.
‘Ikali will probably be heading to the battlefield soon…’
The empire was in a tense standoff with the northern kingdom of Omalite.
Dosen had long been under the empire’s control through a peace treaty, but recently, Omalite had been aggressively expanding its influence and eyeing imperial territory.
In her previous life, Ikali had abruptly announced he would depart around the falling leaves season. He left for war just a week after informing her.
‘Does Hans know that a war is about to break out?’
It was common for lords to lead their men to protect their lands. Wealthy or pro-empire nobles sometimes sent puppets or stayed far from the frontlines, but Ikali went all the way to the Bluecliff Mountains, the front line.
No matter how skilled he was, it was extremely dangerous. People marveled at his survival after four grueling years at the front.
‘Strange… why would someone like him go to the front?’
Had he fallen out of favor with the emperor? Or had he made some secret pact with him?
Only a few people knew the internal details of the war.
Psyche opened her mouth to ask Hans about the war, then closed it. She couldn’t act rashly yet.
“No, it’s fine. Let’s just assume my husband won’t attend the salon.”
“What? Why… may I ask?”
“If he were to come but then be unable to, it would inconvenience the hostess. And it might be awkward for me too. You don’t know exactly when he’ll finish his work, do you?”
“That’s true…”
“Honestly, I don’t think he’ll come at all.”
Hans was flustered but could not argue with Psyche’s firm tone.
Even if he said he would attend later, Ikali was far too busy. He might even forget about the salon entirely while working.
For him, a couple attending a salon was not important. If he came and then didn’t, Psyche would look foolish.
“I see… in that case, shall we have someone accompany you?”
“Someone?”
“Yes. There was someone who intended to attend the salon with you. It should make you feel more at ease.”
“Wow, I thought one of the three goddesses of the empire had descended, Madam! You look dazzling!”
Baron Roil Huens exclaimed dramatically. Psyche blushed as his words dripped with honeyed flattery.
“I didn’t expect the person accompanying me to the salon would be you, Baron Roil.”
“I was invited to the salon as well, but I thought I wouldn’t have time to attend. It seems circumstances have changed.”
Roil’s dark hair was neatly combed back. He seemed like the child of a distinguished family. Now the head of his house, he spent most of his time at the duke’s estate.
“But is it proper for someone like me to go to a salon? Wouldn’t it be considered neglecting my duties…?”
“No. I am going on behalf of the duke. As you said, he is busy today, isn’t he?”
It was true that the Huliem family, although assisting the Warren Viscount, could not completely break ties in the social scene. Roil reasoned that he should maintain good relations.
“Indeed.”
Besides, the Huliem family was also a house that would soon be involved in the northern war, as the Huliem marquis was a famous knight.
‘Perhaps I’ll hear something about the war at Madam Huliem’s salon.’
It would be a lie to say Psyche wasn’t worried about the war. Ikali had survived four years on the front lines, only to face the grim fate of treason.
