Chapter 32
“I really hate being royalty at times like this.”
Since there was a private entrance to the temple reserved only for members of the imperial family, someone I didn’t want to see could easily wait for me there.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and gave a bright smile.
“Hello, Derian!”
My half-brother and the Second Prince of the Lornod Empire.
Derian, who looked exactly like the Emperor, silently extended his hand toward me even further.
As if telling me to take it.
I met his intense red eyes for a moment, then let out a small sigh and reached out my hand.
Derian escorted me very carefully, as though handling a fragile glass doll that might shatter at any moment.
In contrast, the voice that left his lips was thick with suppressed anger.
“You look well. Now that you’ve blocked my access to you, can you finally breathe a little easier?”
At his low voice by my ear, I rolled my eyes and glanced at the people nearby.
A few Royal Guards stood at the gorgeously decorated temple entrance for the wedding.
And a few imperial attendants who were originally supposed to escort me.
They were watching Derian’s sudden behavior nervously.
‘Especially the one in the very front.’
He was the Deputy Chief Chamberlain of the Central Palace, the Emperor’s closest aide.
In front of someone who was practically the Emperor’s eyes, I could not show my true self.
So I deliberately shot Derian a light glare and spoke.
“That’s because you always act so threatening!”
“What?”
“Let go of this first. It hurts!”
“I’ve told you countless times to stop that act that doesn’t suit you.”
As if displeased by my clear, ringing voice, Derian’s expression twisted unpleasantly.
His grip on my hand tightened for a moment.
That was exactly what I had aimed for, so I deliberately cried out loudly.
“I said it hurts! You’re going to leave a bruise!”
At the word “bruise,” Derian instinctively released my hand.
In truth, the person in this imperial palace who hated seeing me injured more than anyone else was Derian.
‘He’s obsessed with beauty itself. Not even the slightest flaw can be allowed.’
What a fool.
He practically displays his weakness openly, as if begging me to use it, yet he dares to covet someone.
Mocking him inwardly, I asked Nesgal,
‘Nesgal, can you make just this hand turn red?’
[All I need to do is push a tiny bit of my energy into that spot. That’s easy.]
My hand quickly grew hot.
I swiftly pulled off the glove from the hand Derian had been holding.
The skin was visibly flushed.
Against my unusually pale complexion, it looked even redder.
Derian frowned slightly.
“Damn it. I didn’t even use that much strength.”
Clicking his tongue, he reached out to me again.
“Before it swells more, we should see a physician—”
Naturally, I visibly shrank back and avoided his hand.
“I’m used to you bullying me.”
“What?”
Since I had openly shown my reddened hand, the attendants and knights nearby looked at me with pity.
Before they could sense anything strange, I quickly put my glove back on and spoke.
“Still, today is an important day. So please stop, Derian.”
At my words, Derian became agitated and shouted.
“Don’t be ridiculous! The one who’s always suffered was me, not you!”
When it came to matters involving me, Derian lost control easily.
Sure enough, with just a slight provocation, his voice rose immediately.
“You were the one who toyed with me from above my head since we were children! And yet you—!”
As Derian stepped forward with blazing eyes, the Deputy Chief Chamberlain finally stepped in and blocked him.
“That is enough, Prince Derian.”
“Move.”
“His Highness the Crown Prince’s ceremony will begin shortly. His Majesty would not wish for a disturbance at such an auspicious occasion.”
At that, Derian’s aura turned even more vicious.
“How dare you overstep—”
Of course, the seasoned Deputy Chief Chamberlain merely bowed calmly.
“I would rather not report today’s incident to His Majesty and disturb his mood.”
“…So that is how you choose to handle this.”
Derian glared as if he wanted to tear the man apart for shielding me, then suddenly turned his gaze to me.
With a crooked smile, he spoke.
“I’m sorry, Neroli.”
My eyes widened slightly at the unexpected words.
Seeing my subtle reaction, Derian seemed pleased and continued clearly.
“I had no intention of hurting you. If you were wounded because of my attempt to get closer to you, then I apologize.”
“……”
“Shall we go in together as a sign of reconciliation? If we show everyone a harmonious pair of siblings at the ceremony, His Majesty will be pleased.”
As he said that, he extended his hand to me once more.
Gently. Confidently.
As if to say—how could you possibly refuse a hand offered in reconciliation while continuing your own disgusting act?
Perhaps the Deputy Chief Chamberlain judged this acceptable, because he quietly stepped back from between us.
Seeing that, Derian’s smile deepened.
I silently looked down at his hand.
‘To think he would respond like this.’
Derian, whose pride was as high as a mountain, apologizing?
So, you’ve grown up a little, have you?
Just as I lifted my gaze from his hand and was about to speak—
Neigh!
With the sound of a horse, someone came rushing over.
The man hurried toward us, dismounted, and bowed his head.
“My apologies. I am late.”
I broke into a bright smile and shook my head.
“Not at all, Duke Sanderlin!”
In fact, you arrived at the perfect moment.
Perhaps displeased that the Duke had broken the atmosphere in his favor, Derian said coldly,
“This entrance is reserved for members of the imperial family, Duke.”
“But—”
I cut in cheerfully.
“But a royal’s partner may enter as well, right?”
As if anticipating what I would say next, Derian narrowed his eyes.
I clasped my hands together, smiling sheepishly as though apologetic.
“I had a prior engagement with Duke Sanderlin this time! Still, I’m very happy about your apology, Derian!”
“You… since when have you had ties with the Duke of Sanderlin to become his partner?”
“Hm? He’s the father of my childhood friend Brillint. Of course we’re acquainted. Isn’t that right, Duke Sanderlin?”
When I asked brightly, the Duke quickly grasped the situation and nodded.
“I happened to have a matter to discuss regarding my daughter, and had the honor of becoming Her Highness’s partner.”
“…There is no need to explain yourself to me.”
Derian silently withdrew the hand he had extended toward me.
He clenched his fist, then abruptly turned and strode alone into the temple.
Watching him, I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
“Oh dear. Is he angry?”
“I fear it may be because of me. My apologies.”
“No, Duke! I cannot ignore a prior engagement with you. Shall we go in as well?”
“Yes. Of course.”
With leisurely steps, we passed the attendants and knights and entered the temple.
As we walked, the Duke whispered quietly,
“Prince Derian has not changed since childhood.”
He must have vaguely noticed that I was the object of Derian’s obsession.
Well, that was only natural.
‘He can’t even hide his possessiveness toward me.’
Even the Duke of Sanderlin, who rarely visited the capital, could notice.
‘How disgusting.’
Sometimes I seriously consider carving a permanent scar into my own face.
Would that lessen Derian’s obsession?
Suppressing a sigh, I simply nodded.
“By the way, I heard you had a very important task today, Duke. Did it go well?”
I meant—was the plan to rescue Agasa prepared successfully?
At my words, the Duke inhaled slightly, as if tense, and whispered,
“Yes. Thanks to you.”
“Hehe, I hardly did anything!”
As we continued walking, the grand dome ceiling and the ornate stained-glass windows came into view.
Inside the temple, fully prepared for the wedding, the aisle for the bride and groom was laid out, and colorful floral decorations filled the space.
The round tables on both sides were packed with carefully selected guests.
“Neroli, over here.”
Someone called me.
Turning my head, I saw a silver-haired man seated at a table in front, smiling gently.
Together with the Duke, I approached him.
“Brindel!”
He was my other half-brother, the Third Prince—Brindel Jelauer Lornod.
I naturally took a seat beside him and spoke.
“You came early?”
“It’s our elder brother’s wedding, after all. By the way, Neroli, you look beautiful today.”
“Hehe, so do you, Brindel!”
“Ha ha. Me too? I’m a little embarrassed.”
Brindel smiled warmly.
We were quite close.
When Brindel was seventeen and first manifested his madness with severe auditory hallucinations, I helped him.
‘More precisely, I recruited a palace physician and supplied my medicine through him.’
There was no need to advertise my skill in pharmacology to the Third Prince’s consort.
Thanks to that, Brindel regained his sanity and was deeply grateful to me for building that bridge.
We had not been on bad terms to begin with, but after that incident, we became much closer.
“Ah, it’s been a while, Duke Sanderlin. It’s good to see you in the capital.”
Brindel greeted the Duke as well.
As the Duke lightly returned the greeting, my eyes met the person seated beside Brindel.
I beamed brightly and greeted them.
