“Episode 52”
Daphne frowned as she looked at the two men blocking her way. They were the soldier she had seen in the engine room and the familiar aide of Romeo.
Celestian’s arm quickly reached her side. Daphne hooked her arm around his and affectionately leaned her head against his shoulder.
“Why, can’t we go in again?”
“You may enter. But the gentleman beside you cannot.”
“He is Duke Thériosa.”
The aide replied crisply, ignoring Daphne’s opinion.
“A traitor cannot participate in the ceremony. This is considered common sense.”
Daphne had no choice but to agree. Even though she had only exchanged a few words with them, she felt the gazes quickly turning towards them.
Daphne grabbed Celestian’s arm. Then, with a very slight sigh, she said, “I’ll just leave too.”
“His Highness the Crown Prince wishes for Miss Beaucater to attend.”
The soldier said. Daphne alternated between looking at them with an expression of ‘so what?’ The aide handed her a small note.
It was torn from the corner of the paper used for the prince’s written duties.
<Out of my jurisdiction.
You’ll have to see the end of the contract yourself.>
Episode 52
I Hate Such Weddings
Daphne looked at the paper note with a troubled expression.
So, it meant that it was difficult for her and Celestian to enter together because it was beyond her jurisdiction.
She had to look at it a few more times to understand how hastily it was written. Daphne clicked her tongue once.
Celestian also glanced at her from the side. Before she could turn around, he lowered his shoulder slightly and whispered in her ear.
“Daphne, it’s okay. I’ll wait.”
Daphne looked at Celestian. He had been expressionless until now, but now he was smiling with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
“Your Highness, this way, please.”
“Just to the room…”
“It’s for surveillance purposes. If you try anything funny, it’ll be trouble.”
Daphne’s eyes widened.
‘What funny business?’
If she didn’t know anything, Daphne would have argued and demanded to be sent to the room. But seeing Celestian smiling oddly made her feel strangely uneasy.
‘Not just a smiling Celestian, but a smiling Celestian who knows everything.’
The aide seemed to continue explaining something, but nothing registered in Daphne’s rigid mind. They soon escorted Celestian away to somewhere.
Daphne absentmindedly entered the hall alone, but paused. When she turned around hurriedly, she saw the heavy door slowly closing.
“Ah.”
She should have answered ‘yes’ to the last word.
—Can Lord Beaucater really take responsibility for everything?
***
“They’re holding the wedding here?”
The Prince of Azenthar muttered in confusion. Oscar was also quite bewildered.
The large hall located below the decks was clearly the location mentioned by the chief aide of Prince Sekradien. It was elaborately decorated to be suitable for a grand party, but there wasn’t a single person inside, not even a single ant.
“They said it’s for reconciliation with the commoners, tsk.”
“We’ll have to check again.”
Beside the prince, who was expressing displeasure, Oscar bent his waist to the servants.
He guided the prince and his attendants to the table and then approached the door to investigate. At that moment, the door opened from the outside.
It was the younger sister of the prince, and the first princess of Azenthar, Laria, and five maids. Laria’s black eyes looked at Oscar inquisitively.
Seeing the princess wearing a foreign-style blue dress instead of the traditional attire of Azenthar, Oscar’s brow furrowed slightly. He quickly composed himself and bowed politely.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Where are you going?”
“I was on my way to check since it seems this isn’t the place where the prince and princess’s betrothal is taking place.”
She said, frowning deeply, as she slumped into the chair covered in white satin. One of the maids handed her a bottle of wine.
“Here it is. We were a bit late because Prince Sekradien’s Romeo Rodríguez negotiated directly and the story is being spread to the commoners.”
Laria muttered irritably.
“Stop talking and come have a drink. People will start arriving in a few minutes.”
“It’s a bit strange for the nobles to be waiting for foreigners, Laria.”
The prince said while gesturing to his attendants. Even if they were a bit drunk, it wouldn’t matter since Azenthar’s knights were outside. They took their seats obediently at the tables scattered around.
“Brother, then you shouldn’t have boarded this ship.”
“I haven’t forgotten our goal.”
“Not our goal. Your goal.”
“That’s right.”
The prince approached his sister slowly. At his words, Laria, with a resigned sigh, gave him a wry smile. Decadent plum liquor from Azenthar followed the glasses placed on the table.
“You’re planning to deal with the Green family girl, right? Aren’t you embarrassed to resort to kidnapping even when you’re a prince?”
“If we loot all of Amber Green’s property, we can afford another thousand mercenaries. And if we kill the Crown Prince, the world will be ours.”
The prince smiled at his preferred liquor. He lifted one of the maid’s hips onto his lap, laughing lowly as if it were a trivial matter.
“Only a thousand?”
He accepted the liquor served by the maid without a trace of caution. As the maids diligently refilled their glasses, they all soon drank a toast along with the prince.
“Idiots.”
Laria thought, relieved that they were only half-blooded, so they were lucky.
“Moreover, there’s some outsider attached to your side. Until a few months ago, you were alone, suddenly you’re accompanied by a man.”
“Just a man? He’s Duke Thériosa.”
“Tsk, that’s just a formal title. A ghost island.”
Laria murmured, her black eyes shining, lips slightly pursed as if she wanted to say something. But the prince, already drunk after two glasses, was losing focus rapidly.
“That girl is something, though. Even to me, she looks far more aesthetically pleasing.”
“Well… She’s just a good-for-nothing, all appearance and no substance… Laria, but was this liquor high-proof…?”
“It’s not just about appearances.”
Laria muttered.
The prince suddenly felt light on his lap, realizing that the woman he had embraced was gone. He waved his hand around trying to find her. His speech slowed, and his vision began to dim.
“It’s so sloppy. Even Terrios knew your plans without ever meeting you. I’m frustrated by how predictable you all are. Even stray dogs passing by can smell treason in the air if you prepare for it.”
“…”
“Why do you keep targeting Daphne? I’ve always wondered… Now I understand.”
He said cryptically, then chuckled briefly.
“What are you talking about?”
“I see only too well that you’re the intruder.”
***
Oscar opened his sand-filled eyes. Before him, he saw the blood-stained tip of a shoe.
“Hello.”
The man pressed Oscar’s cheek with just enough force to not cause pain. With a boot.
Oscar turned his head to look at the man pressing him down. Although the inside of the dimly lit room was dark, the man’s face was clear as day.
Celestian didn’t bother to lower his posture. His boot was on Oscar’s nose, preventing eye contact.
“Why are you waking up so late? Keeping me waiting.”
A rough voice sounded in Oscar’s ears from top to bottom. The smell of wine and blood vibrated from all directions.
“Why, how do you speak like that?”
“What?”
“Oh, I forgot to cut out your tongue.”
Celestian remarked to himself before muttering, “I hate this tone of voice,” grumbling. Oscar’s shoulders began to tremble slightly. It was because he saw a familiar mark behind Celestian’s ankle.
“What did you do to the prince?”
“I boarded this ship…”
The man paused for a moment and tapped his boot once, twice, three times.
“Even after the fourth time, your actions are the same, and it drives me crazy. If you prepare for treason, even passing stray dogs can smell it.”
“…”
“Why do you keep targeting Daphne? I’ve always wondered… Now I understand.”
He said cryptically, then chuckled briefly.
“What are you talking about?”
“I see only too well that you’re the intruder.”
The man lifted his boot. Oscar struggled to get up with his numb body. Celestian, without lowering his posture, watched him rise. Despite standing up straight, Oscar had to raise his chin slightly to meet Celestian’s gaze.
“You’re small.”
Celestian said lightly. Oscar growled, but didn’t respond. He kept his distance, backing away, creating a certain distance between them.
“Prince No. 6 is going to become the emperor. To me, his aide…”
“As far as I remember, he has never been an emperor. He died before that. Probably this time too.”
“What?”
