Chapter – 32
What, what is this? An assassination?
Sideron brushed a hand through my hair a few times before pulling away.
A small feather was caught between his fingers.
“Ah…”
It must have gotten there earlier when I was weaving through the crowd.
He twirled the feather between his thumb and forefinger and asked,
“When you say it will work, does that mean it hasn’t yet?”
So he caught that.
“What are you talking about? This is more than good enough.”
I leaned back against the wall beside me, spouting words I didn’t mean, and closed my eyes for a moment.
Soft, pleasant music drifted gently through the hall. The murmur of conversations and the sound of footsteps layered faintly over it, like background noise woven into the melody.
Hmm. What should I do now?
Should I just kill time until Adriana shows up?
That was when it happened.
A trumpet blared somewhere, and the master of ceremonies’ booming voice filled the hall.
“His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince enters!”
Those who had been dancing, chatting, eating—everyone bowed their heads at once.
From high above, a man bathed in brilliant gold descended the staircase with measured, disciplined steps.
I swallowed hard.
The Crown Prince…
When I saw him years ago, I was too young to truly register it. But now, seeing him like this, it struck me.
That man is the male lead of this novel.
So different from how he looked seven years ago, I found myself staring in a daze.
I’ll spare further description. Comparing him to anyone else would have been absurd to begin with.
I was about to bow, but instead I forgot all etiquette and simply stared at him blankly.
Thank goodness this was a secluded corner of the ballroom.
If anyone had seen me, I might have been dragged away for lèse-majesté.
“If you keep staring like that, someone might think you’re having an affair.”
The chilling joke whispered close to my ear snapped me back to my senses.
Sideron was looking at me with faint dissatisfaction.
I hurriedly lowered my head.
So today he’s playing the sly husband, is he?
I seriously wonder what he ate on the battlefield.
Now we just need the heroine to appear.
Whether it was anticipation—or simply the thrill of experiencing the novel in three dimensions—my heart pounded as I tried to steady my thoughts.
It really won’t be long now.
When the Crown Prince had descended about halfway, he spoke.
“Thank you all for making time to attend. His Majesty unfortunately could not join us tonight due to a sudden indisposition, but I hope you will enjoy yourselves nonetheless.”
An indisposition, huh.
So that’s why the Emperor wasn’t here.
But no one present would actually believe that.
Even the Crown Prince delivering the message probably knew it was nothing more than a pretense.
I glanced subtly at Sideron.
The man who had sent him to the battlefield for seven years—despite hearing that the Emperor was furious because of him—Sideron showed no emotion. His face was calm, indifferent.
Most people would at least reveal a flicker of satisfaction or anger.
But his expression was so blank it felt as though he were listening to someone else’s story entirely.
Though that’s nothing new.
This is Sideron.
It’s only that the Sideron I’ve seen lately has been a little strange. Originally, he was always like this.
Right on cue, the Crown Prince continued.
“And I hear that a true hero who has labored for the Empire is present here tonight.”
His gaze moved unerringly in this direction.
Amid the crowd, he found Sideron instantly. I almost wanted to applaud his keen perception.
Truly, the male lead is the male lead.
Wait. Did he see that I didn’t bow?
Still, unlike Sideron, the Crown Prince was known for his gentle temperament and wasn’t the type to nitpick over trivial matters, so I didn’t worry too much.
A refined smile curved his lips.
“A formal banquet will be prepared later to properly celebrate your return. I do hope you will attend, Grand Duke Asitria.”
At the words directed toward him, Sideron—who had kept his head bowed—lifted his eyes.
Their gazes met in midair.
A brief silence passed before Sideron lowered his eyes again and gave the faintest nod.
As if satisfied, the Crown Prince nodded as well and turned back toward the crowd.
No—while turning, his gaze brushed mine for the briefest instant.
Though “brushed” might be too generous a word.
After a few more words of encouragement, the Crown Prince ascended the staircase and disappeared.
Did he really come just to say that?
Adriana is supposed to be here tonight too. Isn’t he going to meet the heroine?
Ah, wait!
It suddenly occurred to me.
Since Sideron returned a year earlier than in the original story, I don’t know exactly what events were supposed to happen at this point.
It would be troublesome if the three of them met here…
My goal tonight is simply for Sideron and Adriana to become aware of each other’s existence. I’d rather avoid any exhausting complications.
I widened my eyes and watched the direction in which the Crown Prince had disappeared.
Fortunately, it wasn’t connected to the ballroom.
Relieved, I glanced around with a lighter heart.
With the Crown Prince gone, people straightened from their bows and resumed their activities.
Adriana, hurry and come.
Leaning against the wall again, I organized my next steps.
First, have Sideron and Adriana meet.
And then…
That’s it.
My plan was astonishingly simple.
When the heroine appears, it’ll be obvious enough. Until then, maybe I should try enjoying the banquet.
But I’d forgotten something.
Right. I don’t know how banquets work.
I’d only read about them in books, so I had no idea what I should actually do.
Even if I counted the one I briefly attended seven years ago, I still knew nothing.
From what I can see, people are either dancing or chatting.
But I don’t have the connections to make conversation, and dancing…
I’ve never done it. So that’s out.
As I idly looked around, I spotted a servant carrying a tray of champagne.
Right. When else will I get a chance to drink like this?
My throat was a little dry anyway, so I started toward him.
“Why are you limping like that?”
A sharp voice flew from behind.
“Huh? Someone stepped on my foot earlier…”
“Why didn’t you say anything before?”
Before?
Ah, he did ask if I was hurt earlier.
It hurt, but calling it an injury would’ve been an exaggeration.
Besides, one of the few traits of the water attribute is rapid recovery.
There was no need to mention it.
Not even thirty minutes had passed, and it was already much better.
“Don’t walk around. Just stay put.”
Sideron said irritably and headed off somewhere.
Toward the servant I had just noticed.
The servant nearly jumped out of his skin upon seeing him, but Sideron casually took two glasses of champagne from the tray.
Handing one to me, he said,
“It would be troublesome if rumors spread that the Grand Duchess is limping. Best to refrain from moving too much tonight.”
“…Ah. Right. Thank you.”
I awkwardly accepted the glass and took a sip.
I still can’t get used to this.
Then my eyes widened.
It’s good?
It had been years since I’d had alcohol. Maybe that’s why it tasted even better.
The alcohol content seemed fairly low, though.
I took another sip.
“Lady Adriana Rigen enters!”
The gatekeeper’s resounding voice echoed through the hall.
I downed the champagne in one go and, as if possessed, began walking toward the entrance.
“Don’t move.”
Sideron’s voice caught me from behind, but it didn’t register this time.
The heroine of this novel had finally arrived.
I steadied my trembling heart and walked toward the sound.
The top of my foot, stepped on earlier by a heel, throbbed slightly, but not unbearably.
“Lilia.”
A low voice growled in warning.
When I turned, Sideron had come close and seized my wrist.
“Don’t make me worry.”
For a split second, countless emotions flashed through me.
If he doesn’t want to worry, he could simply choose not to.
“Let go.”
I shook off his hand.
He hadn’t been gripping me tightly, so his hold fell away easily.
Normally, I might have watched his mood even over something this trivial. But right now, I didn’t have the luxury to care.
If I miss this chance, I don’t know when another will come.
He may be treating me kindly now, but there’s no guarantee it will last.
I stepped forward again.
“Lilia!”
But before long, I stopped.
Not because he grabbed me.
Because I stopped on my own.
So that woman is…
At that moment, I felt genuine awe.
The instant I saw her, I understood why all the male leads had fallen for her so completely.
