Episode 124

 

Everyone’s faces showed surprise as they watched Jade Anais kneel before Princess Daina to ask her for a dance.

Even the people who had been dancing paused, their eyes filled with curiosity as they watched the two of them intently.

Ignoring the stares of others, Daina smiled brightly and took Jade’s hand.

“Alright.”

“Thank you.”

Jade responded with a gentle smile as he stood up.

Hand in hand, they moved past the onlookers and stepped to the center of the banquet hall.

They began to dance lightly.

As Jade and Daina started dancing, the other nobles, who had been watching, also resumed their dancing.

However, despite dancing, it seemed their attention was still on the pair.

Many people continued to steal glances at them throughout the dance.

But for Jade and Daina, the reactions of others were of no concern.

Now, Jade’s eyes were filled only with Daina, and Daina’s with Jade.

Surprisingly, their movements were in perfect harmony.

As if they had always danced together, their movements were incredibly natural and harmonious.

“My name is Daina Leteus.”

Princess Daina broke the silence first, initiating the conversation.

Because of the music, even speaking right in front of each other required close attention to hear.

“Not Diana Retis.”

“I know…”

“I couldn’t properly introduce myself then because I had sneaked out of the temple and couldn’t reveal my identity.”

“I understand.”

“And… about not keeping my promise to meet you on the last day…”

Daina paused and looked at Jade.

After all this time, she felt embarrassed to explain what happened in the past.

But seeing Jade’s understanding expression, she found the courage to continue.

“That day, Crown Prince Cloud visited me at the temple without notice.”

“The Crown Prince?”

“Yes. So, I couldn’t go. I’m sorry.”

Back then, she had thought she would never be able to apologize for breaking their promise.

She had believed that since she and the man before her had become strangers, an apology would be meaningless.

But incredibly, she was now apologizing to him.

Of course, this act meant more than nothing to them.

“It’s alright. You couldn’t come due to unavoidable circumstances.”

Jade smiled warmly, showing his understanding.

Seeing him like this made her want to confide in him, something she usually wouldn’t do.

It felt like this man could accept everything about her.

Maybe she had never had anyone to confide in because there was no one to accept her in that way.

Her mother had passed away right after giving birth to her, and although her father cherished her, they weren’t close enough for her to confide in him.

Moreover, having served the gods from a young age, she had no one to talk to about her worries or hardships.

She had to behave maturely, like an adult, even though she was still a child.

Maybe that was why she had sneaked out of the temple.

At that time, she felt overwhelmed by the burdens she was carrying.

Even though she knew it was wrong, she felt suffocated and saddened by her life of confinement.

So, she sneaked out of the temple to wander outside.

It was the first time she had felt so free and joyful.

Meeting Jade made her feel happiness for the first time with someone else.

To the point where she thought about staying with him forever…

Back then, she had thought it was impossible and gave up from the start, but not anymore.

Taking a deep breath, Daina tightened her grip on Jade’s hand and began to pour out her thoughts.

“Honestly, I wanted to go to our promised meeting place, no matter what.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Even while I was with the Crown Prince, my heart was still there. Did you wait for me long?”

“…No.”

Although he had waited for her for a long time, Jade lied to prevent her from feeling bad.

But Daina noticed his slight hesitation.

“Really? So, you didn’t wait for me?”

“…No. In truth, I waited for a long time. When you didn’t come, I even checked the inn later.”

Unable to lie any longer, Jade began to recount everything that had happened that day to Daina.

“You went to the inn?”

“Yes. But the innkeeper said no one from the Retis family had stayed there.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I…”

As Daina apologized with a regretful look, Jade quickly added,

“I’m not telling you this to receive an apology, Your Highness.”

“What? Then…”

“I just wanted you to know that I kept waiting for you. From that day until now.”

“Oh…”

Daina was momentarily speechless, touched by what felt like a confession from Jade.

While she was grateful for his words, she still felt a lingering sense of guilt.

“I’m still sorry. After you dropped me off at the inn, I immediately went back to the temple through the back door. So…”

Daina steadied herself and apologized again, explaining what had happened.

“So that’s what happened.”

“Yes, that’s what happened.”

Daina repeated Jade’s words, and they both burst into laughter, finding the situation amusing.

At that moment, the music changed.

They adjusted their positions and continued dancing to the new rhythm.

“That day, I wanted to dance with you.”

“Dance?”

“Yes. I wanted to dance with you under the fireworks…”

Daina had decided to part with Jade after creating one last enchanting memory to cherish forever.

Jade fell silent, seemingly deep in thought, as Daina continued to move gracefully, thinking she could watch him for days without getting bored.

After a while, Jade spoke, surprising her.

“Then, how about we go now?”

“What?”

Daina looked at him with wide eyes, not fully understanding his words.

“The fireworks will start soon. Let’s go outside together.”

“But…”

Various thoughts rushed through Daina’s mind about what might happen if they left the banquet together.

Seeing her hesitation, Jade gently urged her, as if nothing could stop him now.

“But if you don’t want to, we don’t have to do anything.”

Don’t have to do anything?

Daina felt a surge of emotion at his words.

She didn’t want to do nothing.

She had had enough of that already.

“No. I want to go. Please take me.”

Daina looked directly at Jade with a determined expression.

Jade smiled softly at her and led her out of the banquet hall.

People began to murmur again as the two, who had been dancing the entire time, suddenly left.

“What’s going on?”

“Since when have they been like this?”

While most people in the banquet hall were trying to make sense of the situation with puzzled expressions, Ayla was the only one with a satisfied smile on her face.

* * *

As I danced with Lloydin, I kept an eye on Jade and Princess Daina.

When I saw them looking happy as they disappeared from the banquet hall, I realized what had happened.

‘They finally worked it out.’

My role in this was over.

Now, it was up to the two of them to take things from here.

Feeling a sense of pride, I heard Lloydin’s voice.

“My dear, how about focusing on me now?”

“What? Oh, I’m sorry, Duke.”

Feeling apologetic, I quickly turned my head from the door to look up at him.

Fortunately, his expression didn’t show any signs of disappointment despite his words.

“It’s alright. But I’d appreciate it if you could focus only on me now.”

“I will.”

His adorable jealousy made me feel even better, so I smiled brightly at him.

Then I continued to dance, looking only at Lloydin, just as he wished.