056. The Imperial Banquet (5)

The emotion reflected in those red eyes was the same one I had seen earlier when we danced together.

‘…It might be true after all.’

Earlier, I thought it was more likely that it wasn’t.

Jealousy is something that can only exist if there are feelings involved, or so I thought.

But now, I realized that might not necessarily be the case.

Even the Crown Princess felt jealousy when she looked at Lucia.

Although it was more akin to envy, so the context was slightly different, it still wasn’t entirely impossible.

‘Jealousy, huh.’

Oddly enough, the thought that Lucia might have been jealous filled my chest with a tight feeling.

This was undoubtedly excitement, and joy.

Her jealousy made me happy.

Those eyes looking at me with such intensity were pleasing.

Her obsession, possessiveness, jealousy that whispered to me to look at her and only her.

It was all just so wonderful.

“You have nothing to worry about.”

Even though the distance between us was too far for my voice to reach her, Owen still muttered those words.

He figured she could see his lips moving.

And even if she couldn’t, he just wanted to say it.

“There’s no way I would look at anyone else but you, Lucia.”

How could I, who reacts to every single one of your emotions, dare to?

Such a thing could never happen.

No matter the circumstances.

“Your Grace.”

Suddenly, his view of Lucia was blocked.

When his open view was obstructed, Owen furrowed his brows and turned his gaze to the person calling out to him.

Brown hair and brown eyes.

Though his hair and eye color were not particularly remarkable, this was common among nobles below the rank of marquis.

Only the Imperial family and the two ducal families had distinct hair and eye colors.

Unique hair and eye colors could also be found in the Mage Tower and the Temple.

‘With looks like this, at least he’s a supporting character.’

However, the person before him had a striking appearance, one that was difficult to describe as ordinary.

In this world, the most renowned handsome men were Owen, Kyle, Crown Prince Richard, and Louis.

‘And after them, there are…’

Owen quickly reviewed the settings of *The Flower of the Empire* and his memories.

“…The young Marquis of Ceres.”

Fortunately, he found the answer in time.

Yes, there were a few more men in high society known for their handsome looks.

The young Marquis of Ceres was one of them.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by you.”

“Well, you’re quite famous after all.”

Owen wasn’t particularly good at remembering faces.

That’s why he often couldn’t recall people’s names.

As mentioned in *The Flower of the Empire,* the number of names he knew probably didn’t exceed ten to fifteen people.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask in what sense?”

The young Marquis of Ceres slowly curved his lips into a smile.

It was indeed a smile, but it somehow felt creepy and cold, as if there was a hint of hostility.

“…You were once engaged to Lucia, weren’t you?”

As Owen traced the reason for the hostility, something came to mind.

The reason the Marchioness of Ceres disliked Lucia was because of the broken engagement.

And the person who had been rejected in that engagement was this young marquis.

“Yes, that’s correct. I didn’t expect you to know, given your usual lack of interest in the social scene.”

The way the corners of his mouth curled up gave him a snake-like impression.

It reminded Owen of a coiled snake with its mouth full of venom.

“I didn’t know.”

“Did you not? Then how did you come to know now?”

“I’m sure you can guess the reason.”

Owen met his cold gaze head-on.

Unlike the unpleasant, creeping chill emanating from the young Marquis of Ceres, Owen’s coldness was plain, icy, and devoid of emotion.

“…You mean because of Lucia.”

“Why does the young marquis dare to utter her name?”

There was a layer of contempt in Owen’s tone, adding to the lack of emotion.

It carried the implication that no matter how arrogantly you behave, you’re only being presumptuous and should know your place.

“I….”

“If you’re going to say you were once engaged to her, stop right there. What are you doing clinging to the remnants of a relationship that’s already ended?”

“….”

The young marquis of Ceres widened his eyes at Owen’s remark.

His venomous glare was quite fierce.

Looking down at him, Owen realized what Lucia might have thought when she looked at Louis.

While reading *The Flower of the Empire,* Owen had honestly not understood it well, but now he thought he got it.

No matter how much one considers oneself a predator, what’s the use if others don’t see them that way?

Even if one is a viper, all it can do is squirm when trampled; it can’t even muster the strength to strike.

“Even in an ended relationship, one should know how to maintain decorum.”

“….”

The young Marquis of Ceres remained silent, offering no retort.

Watching him, Owen wondered if he should think that this man was still better than Louis.

Louis was so immature that whenever he got angry or upset, he showed it immediately.

‘Then again, perhaps dealing with him is easier.’

But on second thought, it’s better to deal with someone who’s foolish and straightforward.

Rather than someone who swallows all their sly intentions inside.

“…Thank you for the advice, Your Grace.”

After a long silence, this was all the young Marquis of Ceres said.

Owen looked down at him, finding him rather amusing.

He seemed about a hand’s breadth shorter and was said to be a year older than Louis.

‘So, he’s a year younger than Lucia.’

It seemed he was twenty years old this year.

Still young and naive.

Though it was hard to say that when his intuition screamed that there was something off about this man, it was rare to meet someone who gave such a snakelike impression on the first encounter.

Especially in a negative sense.

‘Should I ask her about it later?’

Lucia must have had a reason when she informed him of the broken engagement.

No matter how much she lived her life getting everything she wanted, she wouldn’t end a relationship without a reason.

Moreover, Lucia herself would have been aware.

For nobles, an engagement or marriage between a noblewoman and a nobleman who are not heirs, businessmen, knights, or mages must eventually be beneficial to the family.

In a family where the parents dote on and protect their children, and the siblings get along well, things might be different, but unfortunately, the House of Edelte was not such a place.

Given that the young Marquis of Ceres was not a bad match in terms of status or appearance, there must have been a reason for the broken engagement.

“Duke Verdun, may I ask you one more question?”

Just as Owen was considering whether to ask Lucia about the young Marquis of Ceres, the young marquis spoke up.

Owen nodded, and the young marquis continued.

“What made you fall in love with her now?”

Was that the problem?

It seemed that the young Marquis of Ceres, in his naivety, believed he still had a chance.

Judging by the resentment mixed in those snake-like eyes.

Aside from Owen, the remaining candidates were heirs of marquis families and young noblemen, so it was a somewhat understandable calculation.

Except for the fact that Lucia never looked back at someone she had once cut ties with.

“Lucia, no, Lady Edelte, has liked Your Grace since three years ago.”

Owen, who had been calmly thinking, paused at the young marquis’s next words.

There was something in there that made no sense.

“If you count the years, it’s been four. Lady Edelte has been looking at you since she was 18, but Your Grace seemed uninterested all this time. Why have you only now started to notice her?”

“….”

Should he correct this misunderstanding right away?

Owen pondered deeply.

It seemed that the young Marquis of Ceres had a significant misunderstanding.

That Lucia had fallen in love with Owen the day she first met him three years ago.

That she had pursued him for years out of deep love.

“Is it because you need her? Is that why?”

Need.

The meaning of that word was clear.

The question was whether Owen was using Lucia now that he needed a partner for marriage.

Though the young marquis didn’t state it directly, the insinuation was clear, and it was certainly rude.

A mere heir to a noble family should not be offering such advice to a family head.

Especially not to Owen, who was no ordinary baron or viscount but a duke.

“I recall mentioning the importance of maintaining decorum not long ago.”

“…I apologize.”

The young Marquis of Ceres apologized with a face that didn’t look apologetic at all.

He didn’t even seem to have the energy to fake remorse; his expression was cold.

“And it seems you have a bad habit of making assumptions and jumping to conclusions. I doubt you’re someone who’s ignorant of rumors.”

Both Louis and the young Marquis of Ceres had a knack for thinking whatever they pleased.

Louis might be forgiven, given that he had no interest in rumors and often disregarded his sister.

But the young marquis wasn’t someone who should be so clueless about rumors, yet his disbelief was quite apparent.

‘At this point, should I consider this my fault?’

Owen clicked his tongue inwardly as he looked down at the young Marquis of Ceres.

He seemed to be thinking hard, trying to recall all the rumors.

“Young Marquis, I don’t like things that are complicated.”

Owen considered waiting but decided it wasn’t worth his time.

He had come to the ball to be with Lucia, not to engage in a conversation with someone like this.

Being surrounded by nobles might be a better option than spending time with the young Marquis of Ceres.

Even if the latter was more exhausting.

“I’m not the type to take on burdensome tasks. Do you think someone like me would act out of mere obligation?”

“….”

“If that were the case, I’d rather bring in an heir than be motivated by such a need.”

Owen kindly put an end to the young Marquis of Ceres’s worries.

He made sure it was clear enough that the young marquis couldn’t deny it.

“I care deeply for Lucia. Far more than you might think.”

At this point, it felt like he was making a forced confession to someone who didn’t want to hear it, but Owen didn’t mind.

After all, the young marquis had started it, not him.

“And she desires me as well, just as you mentioned.”

Though it was in a different sense than the young marquis had implied, Owen deliberately put it that way.

He thought this would be better than correcting the young marquis’s misunderstanding.

It might help him understand his place.

And since it wasn’t entirely a lie, Owen felt it was acceptable.

After all, Lucia did want him in some way.

“So, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t misunderstand.”

“…Yes, I apologize.”

At Owen’s quiet warning, the young Marquis of Ceres retreated.

As Owen watched him offer a brief bow and turn away, a thought crossed his mind.

‘Why now?’

Owen slowly recalled his memories.

His first meeting with Lucia had been three years ago.

But the first time he became aware of her was…

[Lucia Edelte. The name belonged to the center of the social scene, with hair and eyes as red as roses.]

It was five years ago.

Back when he was a high school student, shortly after losing his parents and struggling through difficult times.

On a day when he habitually opened a web novel app, he saw the promotional banner for *The Flower of the Empire* and ended up binge-reading the novel.

At the time, the novel was still ongoing.

So, the part where Lucia appeared was only her initial introduction.

[Bella couldn’t take her eyes off her. She had never seen anyone as dazzling and beautiful as Lucia.

“Nice to meet you.”

The lady with a picture-perfect appearance approached Bella.

With a radiant smile, Lucia’s voice was just as distinctive.

A slightly low and husky voice.

Yet, it was a voice that was pleasing to the ear.]

In a way, it was a simple description and introduction.

But with that one appearance, Owen had an instinctive feeling.

[I can either help you or harm you, depending on the choices you make, Your Holiness.]

He knew that the character of Lucia would leave a significant impact on him.