MPBGS 69

Chapter : 69

With the orchestra’s performance, the first waltz began.

Since the Crown Princess’s seat was vacant, the Crown Prince’s partner was one of his twin daughters. In truth, it was practically fixed—at official events, he always chose Jeremiah, and this time was no exception. He led the hand of the daughter wearing the green gem.

While the girl with the black onyx necklace watched her father and sister dance with a bored expression, the elegant pair—so alike in refined beauty and blue eyes—continued their graceful steps.

The layered dress spread out in a wide circle as it twirled.

Young, unmarried noblemen gazed at the hem of the dress as it floated and settled, as if enchanted.

“Lady Jeremiah is truly beautiful.”

“But she looks exactly like Lady Tenebre, doesn’t she?”

“Hah, their insides are different. Even with identical faces, Lady Tenebre has something gloomy about her.”

Though their appearances were identical—as if cast from the same mold—their personalities were completely opposite.

Jeremiah was bright, cheerful, and lovable.

Tenebre, on the other hand, was dark and perpetually melancholic.

That was likely why the Crown Prince treated them differently.

Rumors that twins were an ill omen should have applied to both—but in reality, they were always directed at Tenebre.

There was even talk that the Crown Prince had once tried to kill Tenebre himself when the twins were born, believing her to be the ill-fated one.

The music reached a familiar rhythm.

Sensing the first dance would soon end, guests began preparing for the next.

Just as the performance approached its climax—

The chandelier lights began to go out one by one.

“…There’s no wind. Why are the lights going out?”

The illumination lingered last over the center, where the Crown Prince danced—then even that faded.

The grand banquet hall plunged into darkness.

Complete blackout.

Not even objects right in front of one’s face could be seen.

“What is happening…?”

“Who was that?! Damn it, don’t push!”

“Ahh! Someone stepped on my foot!”

“I can’t see—! I-I need to get out!”

Despite the chaos, the orchestra did not stop.

Afraid of being punished for halting the music during the Crown Prince’s banquet, they continued playing the climactic piece.

After all, there had once been a cellist executed for snapping a string at the Emperor’s banquet.

The murmurs of fear and confusion blended with the orchestra’s melody, forming an eerie harmony.

It almost felt like a perfectly staged theatrical scene.

Fortunately, before the panic escalated further, the lights returned.

The chandeliers blazed back to life all at once, as if nothing had happened.

People, finally calming down, squinted and struggled to adjust their eyes.

“What… is this…?”

And then—

As their vision cleared—

One by one, people covered their mouths in horror.

Before the blackout, the last thing the crowd had seen was the father and daughter dancing at the center.

So naturally, they looked there first.

But—

The father was gone.

Only the girl with the green necklace remained—

Standing still,

Staring blankly upward,

As red liquid dripped down onto her.

Following her gaze—

They saw it.

Someone screamed.

Someone laughed hysterically.

Some collapsed.

Others retched.

Perhaps it would have been better if the darkness had remained.

The music faltered.

The orchestra, finally noticing something was wrong, began to fall out of harmony.

One by one, instruments stopped—

Until only the piano remained, carrying the grand finale alone.

Then—

Snap.

A string broke.

The sound shrieked like a dying cry—

And the music ended.

All that remained—

Was a steady dripping sound.

Like a metronome.

Blood fell in rhythmic drops from fingertips—

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Each drop struck the growing pool below with chilling clarity.

The Crown Prince hung from the chandelier.

A dagger was embedded in his heart.

The chandelier tilted under the weight of his corpse, creaking softly as crystals clinked together.

A faint, chilling sound.

“Father!”

One of the twins screamed.

The black necklace—Tenebre.

Then someone else shouted:

“Th-that’s… the dagger Lady Rohanson gifted!”

All eyes turned to the hilt.

Many had witnessed Evanjelin presenting the dagger earlier.

The identical design made it unmistakable.

Then—

The accusation rang out:

“Lady Rohanson assassinated His Highness!”

Because everyone had instinctively distanced themselves, a wide empty space surrounded Evanjelin.

Her red-stained dress stood out starkly.

She covered her mouth—

But it almost seemed like, if she lowered her hand, a smile would appear.

“Lady Rohanson…”

Kinder called her name, biting her lip.

Unlike the others, her gaze was fixed solely on Evanjelin.

There was no way—

No way Evanjelin would kill the Crown Prince like this.

This was a trap.

It had to be.

Gabriel’s warning suddenly made sense.

But who would believe that now?

Evanjelin’s white dress was stained red.

Before the blackout, it had only been lightly splashed with wine.

Now, it was completely soaked.

Meaning—

This had happened during the darkness.

“…I let my guard down.”

Evanjelin muttered.

Her tone—

Strangely excited.

Almost thrilled.

Then—

The doors of the banquet hall burst open.

No one had even noticed when they had been closed.

Some recalled that when Gabriel left earlier, they had still been wide open.

The one who entered—

Was Muzeta,

The Crown Prince’s guard knight,

Who had been absent at the very moment his master was murdered.

“Y-Your Highness!”

Muzeta quickly took control of the situation.

He secured the Crown Prince’s body,

Reported the death to the Emperor,

And began evacuating the panicked royals.

The girl with the green gem—

Jeremiah—

stood frozen for a long time,

Blood from her father dripping onto her.

Only after a while was she led away by her twin.