132. The Tension in the Banquet Hall

Roselia bit her lip tightly, forcing herself to keep looking straight ahead.

She was grateful that her back was turned—at least he couldn’t see the helpless tremble in her eyes.

A part of her longed to lean into his embrace and stay there.

But… she knew all too well how that would end.

Nadia’s premature death, the story events that had begun to unfold earlier than they should have…

It was as if the twisted threads of the original plot were desperately trying to force themselves back into place, tightening their grip around them even more.

As though it were the natural order of this world.

If anything, severing the tie completely might be the only way for them to stay safe.

As long as they remained loosely bound like this, the disrupted narrative would only push them harder—more violently—back into the path of the original story.

Just like Nadia’s death… and the near-deaths of herself and Klaus, which almost came too soon.

Roselia bit her lip harder and coldly pushed away the strong arms encircling her.

“I’m tired of explaining myself.”

Despite the wavering in her heart, her voice came out cool and composed.

“How many times do I have to say it for you to understand? What drew me to you was only physical.”

Klaus, now distanced from her, froze where he stood.

Without looking back, Roselia drove the final nail in.

“If even after all this you still don’t get it, then think whatever you want. Misunderstand me all you like. Not that it’ll change anything.”

With those parting words, she turned coldly and walked away.

She could feel Klaus’s gaze piercing into her back, aching like a blade—but she walked forward with forced confidence.

As if this was the only thing she could do… the only right thing left to do between them.

* * *

Carriages continued arriving at the imperial palace well into the night.

It had been one week since the Crown Prince’s coronation.

For over a month following the ceremony, the entire empire entered a period of celebration.

Festivals took place across cities and small villages alike, and the palace hosted banquet after banquet in honor of the new crown prince.

While some foreign delegations had returned home after attending only the coronation, most stayed on as guests, taking part in the celebratory banquets.

Roselia ascended the grand staircase of the banquet hall with Johannes.

Wearing a gown the color of water, she stiffened as she recalled what had happened the last time she stood on those steps.

It was a subtle change, but Johannes, escorting her, noticed and tightened his grip slightly.

“Will you be alright?”

His voice was firm yet gentle, as if vowing not to let something like that happen again. The tension in Roselia’s shoulders slowly eased.

When she offered him a reassuring smile, a smile finally bloomed on Johannes’s face as well.

The two of them, graceful and refined, entered the banquet hall looking every bit like an affectionate and elegant pair of siblings.

“Marquess Johannes von Euciliod of the House of Euciliod and Lady Roselia von Euciliod!”

The herald’s loud announcement made all eyes in the hall turn toward them at once.

With confident strides, Roselia and Johannes walked into the room under the weight of countless gazes.

Soon, a few young ladies who had become acquainted with Roselia at Countess Langley’s banquet approached her.

“Lady Roselia!”

“I heard something terrible happened recently. We were so worried. Are you feeling better now?”

At their friendly approach, Johannes looked toward Roselia in mild distress.

He clearly didn’t want to leave her side, still shaken by what had occurred at the coronation.

Roselia gave him a soft smile, silently reassuring him that she was alright.

Reluctantly, Johannes bowed his head and stepped aside.

“Then… I hope you ladies enjoy your evening.”

His polite departure caused the young ladies to blush and giggle.

“The Marquess is so handsome and kind. The way he looks at you is full of affection.”

“You two must share a special bond, especially after being apart for so long. He’s so caring.”

“I bet he’s just as sweet to his partner. I wonder what kind of woman he likes? Is he seeing anyone?”

At their subtle probing, Roselia could only give an awkward smile.

Now that she thought about it, she didn’t know what kind of women Johannes liked—or even if he was seeing anyone at all.

Considering how much time he spent at the palace, it didn’t seem likely.

“Hmm… As far as I know, there’s no one in particular.”

Her curt response only made the young ladies’ eyes sparkle with anticipation as they blushed deeper.

It was clear they had resolved to get on Roselia’s good side.

“Aren’t you hungry? I know a perfect table I had my eye on—should we go sit down?”

“Yes, let’s sit. Lady Roselia still isn’t fully recovered, after all.”

Not recovered? If anything, she was in annoyingly perfect health.

The one who had taken the injuries was Klaus—who had shielded her.

Even then, he’d bounced back within days, thanks to his monstrous recovery.

As she was walking toward a table with the young ladies, Roselia suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Princess Tania had taken a seat there, surrounded by young ladies of the concubines’ faction.

The noble girls around Roselia stiffened as well, clearly uncomfortable.

Princess Tania sat leisurely at the center of the table, glancing down at them with haughty eyes.

“Oh, were you planning to sit here? What a shame. My feet hurt terribly, so I’ll just have to sit here instead.”

With a sigh at the childish behavior, Roselia turned her body away.

“Let’s find another table.”

Just as she was about to walk away, the princess’s voice called out to her.

“Oh come now, sit with us.”

Roselia turned around in surprise.

The princess, flanked by sneering noble girls of the concubines’ faction, looked smug and confident.

The young ladies beside Roselia exchanged helpless glances, clearly unsure of how to respond.

Unlike Countess Langley’s gathering, which had mostly featured neutral nobles, the palace banquet was Princess Tania’s domain.

Even though Prince Aaron had been crowned crown prince, the concubine faction led by Empress Gwenhella still held significant sway in the imperial social scene.

Naturally, this inflated Princess Tania’s pride all the more.

Then, a familiar voice called out from behind.

“Lady Roselia.”

Turning around, she saw Countess Langley, who stood with a gentle smile, flanked by a group of respected noblewomen from the neutral faction.

“If you don’t mind, would you care to sit with us?”

Unlike the younger girls around Princess Tania, the countess was backed by powerful, well-regarded women.

“I’ve been dying to hear the rest of our conversation from last time. Would that be alright with you, Your Highness?”

The countess gave a polite bow to the princess.

Princess Tania reluctantly opened her mouth.

“…If you must.”

Unable to outright refuse the influential countess, the princess’s expression soured.

Roselia gave a dazzling smile as she bowed.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Shall we, Countess?”

Roselia walked over gracefully to the countess’s side, and the young noblewomen who had been hesitating quickly followed after her.

As if their earlier hesitation had never existed, they now trailed Roselia confidently and proudly.

The sight made Princess Tania’s brow furrow deeply.

* * *

Seated among Countess Langley and the other noble ladies, Roselia turned her head.

A new figure was approaching them—and everyone’s expression stiffened as soon as they saw who it was.

It was Empress Gwenhella.

Accompanied by Consort Sabina, her daughter Princess Tania, and a number of ladies-in-waiting aligned with the concubine faction, Gwenhella made her way toward their group.

Even Countess Langley—despite her renowned influence in the social sphere—could only lower her head before the Empress.

One by one, the ladies rose from their seats and bowed respectfully.

Roselia did the same.

“We greet Your Majesty, Empress Gwenhella.”

As everyone bowed, Tania—standing just behind her mother—smirked with thinly veiled satisfaction.

Roselia’s brow twitched ever so slightly, beginning to grasp the intent behind their arrival.

“Raise your heads,” Empress Gwenhella commanded.

“I’ve been quite busy managing the imperial household lately, so I haven’t kept up with the social scene. Seems the atmosphere has changed quite a bit in my absence?”

It was a thinly veiled defense of Princess Tania.

Countess Langley, wearing a composed yet unreadable expression, bowed her head slightly and replied,

“That’s not the case at all, Your Majesty.”

Though she remained deferential, her voice was neither flustered nor timid.

Clearly displeased by her poise, the Empress shifted her attention to Roselia, staring her down.

“The Marquess’s daughter must have heavy feet. Imagine making me come all this way. Or… perhaps you were never taught proper noble etiquette and don’t know such basic manners?”

Having lost the opportunity to dethrone Prince Aaron thanks to Roselia, there was no way Gwenhella would look upon her favorably.

Behind the Empress, Princess Tania wore a smug smile, as if enjoying the sight.

Roselia did her best to keep her expression calm and lowered her head, suppressing any trace of emotion.

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

Just then, cutting through the frosty tension, another figure entered the scene.

“Lady Roselia, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

It was Crown Prince Aaron, leading a group of nobles descended from the bloodline of Raphelios, accompanied by Johannes.

The Empress bit her lip and stepped aside at the sudden arrival.

As the Crown Prince—the legitimate heir to the throne—Aaron was not someone even the Empress could treat lightly.

As she withdrew, bowing her head, so too did the concubine faction behind her.

Aaron glanced at them indifferently before smiling warmly at Roselia.

Roselia blinked in surprise.

“You… were looking for me?”

“I was just discussing the merchant venture with the Marquess. Since it’s a project you’re leading, I wanted to hear more about it directly.”

Though his words were casual, it was clear he had noticed the tense situation and come to defuse it.

Despite his youth, Aaron had a sharp awareness of his surroundings. Grateful, Roselia smiled as she stood.

“Of course.”

Roselia offered a respectful nod to the Empress and the noblewomen, seeking their understanding.

Empress Gwenhella and Princess Tania’s expressions twisted in frustration, unable to say a word in protest.

Smiling as if in triumph, Roselia followed after the Crown Prince and Johannes.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Aaron cleared his throat awkwardly.

Ahem. Ahem! “I really am interested in the business, so please don’t misunderstand.”

Roselia chuckled quietly, exchanging a knowing look with Johannes.

Still young and inexperienced, Aaron nevertheless had grown considerably—likely thanks to Johannes’s efforts.

That shadow of gloom and uncertainty from before had largely faded.

With continued support and protection from the House of Euciliod, he would no doubt become a great emperor.

“So, what aspect of the merchant venture are you curious about?”

As Roselia looked at the Crown Prince with a proud smile, someone stepped in front of them.

Focused on Aaron, Roselia hadn’t noticed the approaching figure. When she turned and saw who it was, she froze.

“We greet His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

The silver-haired middle-aged man bowed with perfect grace.

Behind his confident smile gleamed eyes honed to a sharp edge.

It was none other than Grand Duke Rubelio.