chapter 10
The man’s dark crimson eyes stared as if they would swallow the viewer whole.
Merely sitting beside him was enough for his presence to overwhelm them. He was indeed the one who had become the first in history to slay a demon.
The “Reaper” twitched the corners of his mouth, forcing an awkward smile.
“Ha ha… I doubt it’s a topic the Commander would find pleasant. Just trivial talk about the world.”
“Indeed. Gossip from old men in back rooms isn’t exactly entertaining.”
“Back rooms… what did you just say?”
The Reaper’s face flushed red and blotchy.
Old men in back rooms? Everyone gathered here was a representative of their homeland.
The man clicked his tongue.
“As one grows older, one should learn the virtues of prudence and humility. For example, when speaking ill of others, one ought to at least look around first.”
“Wh-what did you say!”
“And when speaking carelessly, one should be prepared for the possibility that one’s own neck may be the one tightened in return.”
At his chilling tone, the surroundings fell silent.
Since his arrival, he had not spoken a single word to anyone. Always wearing an indifferent expression—had he been listening to all the contemptuous remarks about him?
“There are topics better left unspoken. However, I do enjoy meaningless conversation as well. So please, do not be so tense.”
After delivering that cold warning, the man smiled faintly. It was as if saying: if you don’t have the courage to say it to my face, then shut your mouth.
Before the frozen atmosphere could thaw, the halted military band resumed playing.
The delegation of envoys straightened their posture in unison. It was time for the nobles of Elovice and the royal family to enter.
The sealed golden doors swung wide open.
Led by Duke Valer, the most prominent nobles of Elovice entered.
Most of them were elders of the Royal Council, individuals who held voting rights in matters of state. All wore white ceremonial robes designated for Founding Day.
Next was the most important moment.
Everyone in the hall stood.
The military band played a solemn entrance march. As the Royal Guard split to protect the Red Road, the King of Elovice and the Princess entered the hall.
The once-conquering king who had ruled the northwestern continent now had a fuller body and graying hair, but his authority carved through blood remained as formidable as in his youth.
The princess beside him was dazzlingly beautiful. Together, they embodied the prosperity of Elovice itself.
The king took his seat upon the throne, and the princess stood at his right.
With a single gesture, the king stopped the music. Everyone waited for him to speak.
“Thank you all for attending. As you know, we are gathered here today to celebrate the founding of Elovice, but also to observe each other’s futures.”
The king’s gaze swept across the envoys seated in the hall, briefly resting on the commander of Winterbark.
“We extend gratitude and respect to the envoys who answered our invitation. Matters of friendship will be discussed individually later. For now, let us enjoy this joyous day…”
The king’s eyes narrowed slightly, focusing on something.
Following his gaze, the guests looked toward the entrance with confusion.
The doors were still not fully closed.
Catherine, also looking toward the entrance, furrowed her brows slightly.
‘What is going on? There should be no one else left to enter.’
As if refuting her thought, the half-closed doors swung wide open again.
The silhouette revealed beyond them plunged the entire hall into shock.
The moment Iolet appeared in the banquet hall, the entire room fell into dead silence.
There was no grand announcement from the military band, no standing ovation from the guests. It was an eerily quiet entrance.
Yet every eye in the hall turned to her—not merely because of her beauty.
Someone murmured as if in disbelief.
“…The dress…”
As the princess walked into the center of the hall, the hem of her dress rippled like waves.
Her long platinum-blonde hair flowed down her back, swaying with each movement.
Catherine recognized her sister’s dress and almost screamed.
‘How… how is that possible?!’
It was the wedding dress she herself had personally selected and sent to Iolet.
She had chosen the most extravagant gown so that, at her wedding to Count Castleine, she would be the most radiant bride in the room. And yet its color was entirely different.
The pure white symbolizing a bride’s purity had turned as black as night.
In any nation, there was a color strictly forbidden at Founding Day ceremonies: black, the color of mourning.
Not only the guests but even the king widened his eyes. A sense of urgency filled the hall.
“If you think you can just—this is not the place for—”
But Catherine could not finish.
The moment Iolet reached beneath the chandelier, the dress shifted into an entirely different color.
Its shade changed depending on the angle of light—from deep black, to a blackish blue, and then gradually into a profound, mysterious teal.
The fabric absorbed light, revealing shifting tones that changed with every perspective.
Among the guests dressed entirely in white ceremonial robes, she stood out unmistakably.
She had even entered after the king and princess—an unprecedented breach of protocol.
Walking through the sea of blue, the princess reached the throne and bowed deeply. Her etiquette was flawless.
“Greetings to His Majesty.”
Instead of the frowning king, Catherine stood.
Descending the steps, she embraced Iolet. Though her gesture was affectionate, her voice—heard only by Iolet—was filled with anger.
“What are you doing here, Iolet? I don’t recall calling for you.”
“What do you mean, ‘what am I doing here’?”
Iolet tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.
“I simply came because I was supposed to. According to the scheduled order of events.”
“The scheduled order?”
“It’s my wedding day, isn’t it, sister? I followed the rehearsed entrance. Is there a problem?”
Catherine let out a hollow laugh.
The schedule had been changed three days ago.
The wedding ceremony had been canceled, and the entire Founding Day program revised. And now this?
“After everything that happened, there’s no way the wedding would proceed as planned.”
“But no one told me.”
Iolet smiled brightly, wearing the same foolish expression she had shown days ago.
“You kept emphasizing how important today was. So I dressed appropriately to show respect to my bedridden fiancé.”
“Don’t be absurd. If wearing mourning colors is your idea of respect—”
“But didn’t you tell me to treat the count as a husband from the heavens?”
In the silence of the hall, Iolet tilted her head innocently.
“You said, ‘From now on, the person you serve is not His Majesty, but Count Castleine. If you live as the count’s wife instead of a princess, I’ll allow you to return in five years.’”
“Th—”
“I’m sure that’s what you said, sister.”
It had been a long time since Catherine felt so speechless.
As the ceremony stalled, the envoys began to murmur.
The king clicked his tongue irritably.
“Princess. Return to your seat. The princess should stand in front of Duke Valer.”
There was no other choice but to yield for now.
Catherine bit her lip hard and turned away.
The exhausted king motioned for the commander of the Golden Eagle Knights.
“Proceed with the banquet. And summon Sir Perrin separately. Confirm whether the princess truly did not receive the updated schedule.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Iolet stood at the front row of nobles, holding her dress.
Countless gazes pricked at her like needles.
The protagonist always appears last. A timeless truth.
If Lucian had not been her escort knight, she would have been blocked at the entrance.
If Vara had not assisted her grooming so skillfully, she would have been ridiculed.
Thanks to them, her long platinum hair flowed beautifully, and around her slender neck shimmered the Queen Charlotte necklace.
The mysterious black-blue hue covering her voluminous dress struck those who recognized its value with silent shock.
At the very least, no one in this hall would forget the name “Iolet.”
‘I made it onto the stage. Now the real beginning starts.’
Iolet straightened her posture and waited for the opening ceremony to end.
