Chapter – 15
“The naval ship docked at the harbor, so I suppose that’s when you arrived.”
“Yes. I came earlier than scheduled to surprise you… What’s wrong, Eva?”
“Mm… It’s nothing.”
For a fleeting moment, her eyes dimmed as she recalled someone who had once set out in secret, hoping to surprise her—just like Kirion had. But this was not a place where she could reveal her feelings so freely. For Kirion’s sake, who would only be troubled by her reaction, Evangeline quickly forced a smile back onto her face.
“Kirion, I’m just glad you arrived safely. Truly.”
“What are you saying? It’s a greater relief to see that you’re doing well, Eva.”
“….”
Touched by his tact—by the fact that he didn’t pry into what hurt her—Evangeline felt at ease for the first time since arriving here.
So this is why old friends are precious.
When Philip had delivered news of Kirion before, she had refused to meet him because of her circumstances. But that hadn’t made her feel any better. Having wandered across the world for most of her life, Evangeline had few childhood friends. Kirion was her only one.
She had first met him at the age of ten, when she was staying in the colony of Addis with her father. At a welcome banquet hosted by Count Rebel—governor of Eastern Continent Addis and Kirion’s father—Kirion had been the only child her age.
It was Kirion who had first extended his hand to her, when she struggled with the heat of the eastern continent and its unfamiliar culture. Until the day she was hurried back to the homeland and Kirion later enlisted in the navy, he had always remained by her side.
Even now, when she still felt like an outsider unable to fully belong.
“Eva. I always seem to miss the important moments in your life.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m truly sorry about your father. I regret not being there for you sooner.”
“Why would you apologize?”
She shook her head, insisting she was fine, but Kirion lowered his gaze, his expression heavy with sincerity. It was so earnest that, strangely enough, she felt like laughing.
Or perhaps she simply wanted to laugh at least once, in any way she could.
As she finally allowed herself a faint smile, having barely shaken off her gloom, a long shadow slipped past behind the balcony curtains.
◇ ◆ ◇
“They’re already making quite a spectacle of themselves.”
Viscount Chloe raised his brows in amusement as he exhaled a plume of smoke. Though each man drew on his cigarette at a different pace, all of their eyes were fixed on a single woman. The distance was too great to hear what was being said, but it was obvious that things were not going well for her as she faced off against the wives aligned with the Imperial Princess faction.
“That’s only natural. Even if they never said it aloud, they’ve all been waiting for a chance to take aim at Lady O’Hara.”
“Lady O’Hara? Why?”
“She appeared out of nowhere and secured the position of Duchess of Teze. Of course she’d be an eyesore. Thanks to her immense wealth, no one dared to speak ill of her before—but now they must think they’ve finally found their opportunity.”
Several men added remarks with feigned sympathy, but their gazes toward Evangeline had subtly changed as well. If before she had been a flower blooming atop an unreachable cliff, now she seemed untouchable for an entirely different reason.
Perhaps acceptable for brief amusement—but nothing more.
“What a waste, though. If we can’t see that face anymore, attending these banquets will lose half its charm.”
“True. When she first appeared in high society, she was something else. I heard there are many curious objects in the eastern continent—I swear, I thought Count O’Hara had brought back a talking doll.”
They would never have dared speak of her so freely before. Today was different. Though she was still officially the fiancée of the Duke of Teze, granting her a final veil of courtesy.
“…Still, I wonder if something might happen at this rate. Baroness Carlisle is practically the Princess’s right hand. It seems she’s the one stirring the winds.”
“Lady O’Hara won’t go down quietly. She did live under the same roof as the famed former Duchess of Teze, after all.”
“Shall we make a wager?”
Viscount Chloe flicked his ash with a sly grin.
Suddenly, the laughing nobles fell silent. Curious, the viscount glanced over his shoulder—only for his face to drain of color.
“Y–Your Grace.”
“…….”
Did he hear?
As the Duke of Teze entered, the men instinctively lowered their heads, guilt prickling at their spines. His unhurried steps carried him toward the exclusive seating reserved for the ducal house, and dry throats swallowed nervously all around.
His expression revealed nothing—no hint of thought or feeling. If anything, that made the tension worse.
“Y–Your Grace. You’ve arrived.”
“Please, remain at ease.”
“…….”
At his smooth, composed voice, the men released quiet sighs of relief. Though young for his rank, Duke Decarno was undoubtedly their leader. Seizing the moment to curry favor, Viscount Chloe sidled up beside him.
“We were just wondering when Your Grace would arrive.”
“Is that so.”
“To be honest, gatherings like this don’t interest us much. The true pleasure lies in seeing Your Grace again.”
The viscount casually set his hat down on the small table beside the duke’s armrest, claiming the seat before anyone else could. Ignoring the envious glances of others, he continued eagerly.
“Since Your Grace adjusted the Central Federal Bank’s interest rates at the last meeting, breathing has become far easier for many of us.”
“Is that so.”
“Indeed! Not just me—any noble conducting business in Roark has benefited from it. Ah—my apologies, Your Grace.”
Mid-sentence, the viscount noticed the duke’s hand holding a cigar. The glowing ash was on the verge of falling. Only then did he realize his hat was blocking the ashtray. He hurried to remove it.
“Ha ha, I completely forgot. I only meant to speak from as close to Your Grace as possible. I’ll move it at once—”
“No. That won’t be necessary.”
“Y–Your Grace?”
The crumbling ash fell directly onto the viscount’s hat. Without so much as blinking, the duke pressed the burning tip of his cigar into it. A sharp, acrid smell rose between them, harsher than the smoke itself.
“I greatly dislike others touching what belongs to me, Viscount.”
“Th–That was not my intention—”
“I do not forgive a second time. Whatever it may be.”
Only then did the Duke of Teze withdraw his cigar and leisurely turn his gaze forward once more. This time it had ended with a hat. Next time, it might not be.
In the suffocating silence, the duke crossed his legs and cast a calm glance out the window.
“….”
Through the hazy smoke, his eyes narrowed slightly—though at whom, none could tell. His jaw tightened as he began to rise—
The entrance to the ballroom erupted in noise.
“Her Imperial Highness the Princess has arrived! Please rise and receive her!”
At the chamberlain’s booming announcement, people bent their knees or lowered their heads. Even the men who disliked the princess hurried to greet her. Yet the first person she sought was, of course, Duke Decarno.
“Ah, Duke! There you are!”
“Thank you for the invitation, Your Imperial Highness.”
“Oh, no thanks are needed. I’ve always wished to invite you.”
At a mere greeting, Bellona’s cheeks flushed red, making her appear almost innocent. Meeting Decarno again after so long felt like a dream.
“I was so surprised when I heard you would attend. You’re always so busy—you rarely come to events like this.”
“I was told it was a celebratory banquet for the navy.”
In contrast, the duke’s tone and expression were entirely formal. Impeccably polite, yet devoid of any personal warmth. On any other day, Bellona might have felt hurt—but tonight, she was overflowing with joy. The mere absence of Evangeline at his side was more than enough.
“To be honest, I agonized over whether inviting Lady O’Hara here was the right choice.”
“…For what reason?”
“Well, it might put her in a rather difficult position, don’t you think?”
“Unless she intends to remain indoors her entire life, it is something she must endure herself.”
Just as I thought!
The princess struggled to contain her delight at his emotionless reply. A man like the Duke of Teze would never reveal his heart so easily. Of course, a fiancée was not exactly “just anyone,” but that only made it better. Ever since Evangeline’s visit to the imperial palace, Bellona had found herself restless, losing sleep over growing irritation.
“I agree with you, Duke. A noble must take responsibility for her own actions.”
“…….”
“My late father always said—one must uphold the honor of noble blood and the responsibility of adulthood…”
But where is he looking?
Trying to prolong their time together, Bellona noticed that his gaze had subtly shifted. His silver-gray eyes were fixed somewhere around the second floor—flickering darker for a brief moment.
But that balcony was empty.
The unfamiliar emotion in his eyes sent a chill down her arm.
