Chapter 11
Inside the dazzling banquet hall—
Wow.
The deep navy ceiling was densely studded with golden stars. Hundreds of crystal chandeliers poured down light, and beneath them, the marble floor gleamed like a mirror.
“…His Grace the Grand Duke is obviously here too, right?”
Prina looked at the servant who had come with her.
“This banquet is being held for His Grace in the first place. Would there even be a party without the guest of honor?”
His expression clearly said, What kind of obvious question is that?
Well… fair point.
“Do you happen to know where His Grace is?”
“If even the others don’t know, how would a mere servant like me know?”
Why do you keep saying nothing but correct things?
Left speechless, Prina shut her mouth.
She wanted to avoid running into Declan as much as humanly possible. Of course, even if they crossed paths by accident, would the Empire’s hero even spare a glance for an ordinary kitchen worker?
Still, now that she knew about the blood-soaked future awaiting him, she didn’t even want to go near him.
“Why are you so late?!”
As they entered the banquet hall through the servants’ passage, a steward hurried over.
“There’s no time. Just leave it on the table and go.”
Prina nodded and set the food down. Her only thought was getting out of this place as quickly as possible.
She carefully scanned the hall.
The famous black hair and red eyes of Declan’s appearance… were nowhere to be seen.
…Good. Let’s leave while we can.
Grab.
Someone suddenly caught her shoulder.
“Ah, perfect timing. We’re busy, so take this directly to the guest room where Count Seiton is staying.”
Count Seiton?
The steward handed her a small silver box.
At once, her heart dropped.
That’s the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on Declan!
She really didn’t want to do this.
Why did situations like this always happen to her?
“…Is Count Seiton in the guest room right now?”
“We haven’t received word that he’s gone in yet. So hurry and leave it there while the room is empty.”
That was a relief.
As long as she didn’t meet him, it would be fine.
In the novel, Count Seiton was the kind of scum who whipped servants on a whim whenever he was displeased.
…It was best not to encounter him at all.
Prina quickly walked along the red carpet the steward pointed out.
Fortunately, there wasn’t even a fly inside the guest room.
Thank goodness. Seriously, thank goodness.
Relieved, Prina turned to quickly leave the corridor.
That was when it happened.
Footsteps echoed nearby. About three or four people, judging by the sound.
“Y-Your Grace, the Grand Duke…!”
What?
Prina froze.
“P-Please reconsider just this once!”
A desperate voice cried out not far away.
Declan Kaizar must be here!
Prina hurried behind a pillar. She didn’t know why, but she felt like she absolutely had to hide.
“Enough! His Grace wishes to rest. Do not continue this discourtesy.”
“B-But…!”
“Have you forgotten that today is the victory celebration? If you truly care for His Grace’s honor, then retreating now is the proper duty of a vassal.”
“How dare a mere aide interfere?!”
“Draven, if the Count takes even one more step forward, draw your sword immediately.”
It felt like she had overheard something she shouldn’t have.
Draven?
The name called by Declan’s aide sounded strangely familiar. She’d definitely heard it somewhere before…
Then she remembered.
The knight who gets assassinated by Count Seiton instead of Declan!
From the voices, there seemed to be four people present.
Count Seiton, desperately pleading. Declan’s aide, blocking him. A knight protecting Declan.
And lastly…
Declan himself, silent the entire time.
“I-I shall return another time, Your Grace.”
Thankfully, Count Seiton chose to flee instead of continuing his desperate appeals.
Prina remained hidden behind the pillar, waiting for them to completely disappear.
But then—
W-Who’s coming?
Judging from the footsteps, it was only one person.
Only then did Prina realize where she was standing.
The rooms lined along the corridor were all guest chambers.
“Enough! His Grace wishes to rest.”
Looks like Declan’s coming here to rest…
This is bad…
If Declan realized she’d overheard the conversation, there was no way he’d be pleased.
But it was already too late to run out, and there wasn’t even a rat hole to crawl into. Staying hidden behind the pillar without moving was her only option.
Prina clung to a small hope.
She was at the very end of the corridor. Surely Declan wouldn’t come all the way here when he had his own guest room.
Creak—
Right on cue, a door opened nearby.
I survived…
The moment relief flooded through her and her legs nearly gave out—
“So how long are you planning to hide there?”
She’d been discovered.
Her heart sank.
She thought she’d hidden perfectly, but thinking about it now, Declan was the greatest swordsman in the Empire. He was probably exceptionally skilled at sensing presences too.
Maybe he’d known from the beginning.
W-What do I do?
…Wait a second. Why does that voice sound familiar?
“Did you enjoy overhearing such interesting things while hiding there?”
The footsteps that had stopped began moving again.
Toward Prina.
“It’ll look bad for both of us if I drag you out myself. Why not come out on your own?”
In other words: If you don’t want to die, come out now.
With tears in her eyes, Prina finally stepped out from behind the pillar.
And then she saw him.
Declan’s face.
Huh…?
Jet-black hair contrasting against pale white skin. Ruby-red eyes. And beneath them, a seductive beauty mark.
It wasn’t Declan—
It was Hugo.
Why is Hugo here?!
Prina stood there, mouth opening and closing in shock.
But Hugo seemed just as surprised, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
“I did say we’d meet again, but I didn’t expect it to be like this.”
Looking at her with clear surprise, he spoke.
“Miss Renia Felt.”
The moment Hugo called out the fake name she’d given him, Prina unconsciously flinched.
But something felt strange.
Just moments ago, Declan had supposedly been heading toward the guest room to rest.
The only person who should’ve come here was Declan. So why is Hugo…
Prina’s thoughts were interrupted by Hugo’s next words.
“People usually call this kind of behavior stalking, don’t they?”
Prina’s brain stopped functioning.
“You’ve been following me, haven’t you?”
“…What?”
“And eavesdropping on other people’s conversations too. That’s quite a nasty hobby, Miss Felt.”
“N-No, it’s not like I was eavesdropping on purpose—”
A stalker?
“Then am I wrong?”
“O-Of course you are!”
What kind of accusation was that?!
But Hugo continued looking at her suspiciously.
The suspicious one here is you!
At that moment, a chilling realization struck her.
How had Hugo appeared in the very place where Count Seiton and Declan had just been locked in a tense confrontation?
Could Hugo’s true identity possibly be…?
