When Rachel finished talking with Cian and they came out into the hall, Theodore entered the hall from the other side.
The appearance of the dark, unfamiliar man, made Theodore wary.
“Rachel. Who is this?”
“He’s an informant from the Guild. I made a request.”
Guild, informant, request.
Originally, the person who did something wrong would feel wary. Perhaps because there was a threat, Theodore tensed up and glared at Cian.
Cian must have sensed that the glare was aimed at him, so he politely looked towards Theodore.
“You must be Count Elrosa, I’ve never met you before, I’m Alias, the Guild’s informant.”
“I see. You were commissioned by Rachel?”
“Yes.”
Cian’s gaze, covered by the mask, was still directed at Theodore.
Theodore was very sensitive at the moment, having sensed a terrible murderous intent from his son in the morning. He deliberately straightened his slumping shoulders and forced strength into his voice.
“What is it?”
“I thought the Count would be very happy.”
Theodore laughed, one corner of his mouth lifting, as if he’d heard something ridiculous.
“Happy? You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Pardon me, sir, but I thought you would be happy to receive such a gift from your wife.”
“A gift?”
Theodore looked back at Rachel, and she shrugged.
It didn’t mean anything to her, so she might as well get it over with.
“I wanted to give it to you, it’s supposed to mean ‘I will love you forever,’ and I’d be happy if you could wear them on your cuff tomorrow at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.”
Berengella, who had been watching from afar, rushed over and opened the box. The pink diamonds gave off a brilliant light.
The middle-aged woman’s laughter rang out, and Theodore forced himself to express happiness.
While answering the mother and son’s question about how she prepared such a gift, Cian disappeared.
* * *
The reaction at the banquet hall was as expected.
“Oh my, Count Elrosa! Aren’t these cufflinks so rare that not just anyone can get them!”
“There were rumors going around that your relationship was bad because only the Count ever showed up at official events, but now I see it was all just a rumor. I really envy you, Count Elrosa.”
“It must’ve been expensive. How on earth did you get them?”
“I was told that there was only one of these imported into the Empire from a neighboring country, and I was wondering who would get it, but it wasn’t the Emperor or the Duke, it was the Count!”
“Ahaha…….”
Theodore laughed awkwardly, and Berengella chatted excitedly, surrounded by noble ladies.
“Our Countess Elrosa is so beautiful. She apologized for not being able to appear together at public events because she was not feeling well. She is a wise and thoughtful person.”
“Oh my, Lady Berengella. It must be really nice. How did you get a daughter-in-law like that?”
When she wasn’t secretly calling Rachel stupid, she was making up stories and talking about things that weren’t true.
Unlike Berengella, Theodore stayed in the corner of the banquet hall, responding appropriately to people who tried to talk to him.
“Count, are you feeling unwell? I hope you’re not overworked from all the preparations for the banquet.”
“Oh, yes. I’m a little tired, but it’s fine.”
He didn’t look okay at all.
Ever since Theodore had entered the ballroom, he had been busy looking around like a lost puppy. He seemed to be looking for something, but there were so many people coming up to him and talking to him about his cufflinks that he didn’t know what to do.
She wondered what he was looking for.
Didn’t he prepare for the banquet because he wanted to impress those in authority? At the moment, high-ranking nobles were speaking kindly to him first, so why was he so distracted?
Berengella seemed displeased with her son and stabbed Theodore in the side several times.
He pretended to talk to her for a while, but it was only for a moment before Theodore turned his attention back to searching the ballroom.
At that time, the main character of the banquet arrived with the sound of a trumpet.
Crown Prince Atreille, who was only ten years old, entered the banquet hall riding a golden palanquin. Following him, Emperor Sigar, Empress Beatrix, Empress Belwinder, High Saint Tityenis, and finally Cian appeared.
It was a splendid entourage, but all Rachel could see was Cian.
‘So, that’s what he looks like.’
He was barely mentioned in the original story. She had no idea what he looked like, but he looked even better than she thought.
He was a handsome man with pitch-black hair perfectly hidden under a black hood, golden eyes sparkling beneath it, a sharp nose and jawline, and red, full lips. Everything was perfect.
He had a pretty face, but he was tall and broad-shouldered. His muscular, well-proportioned body, graceful movements, and regal demeanor were indescribable. The way he looked around him was majestic.
It was a shame that such a magnificent figure was covered by a cloak and mask. Of course, there would be no point in going undercover with a new name if he were to show his face.
‘He’s in a whole different class. I thought Theodore was quite handsome, but he’s a monkey compared to the Archduke.’
As the group ascended the stairs and took their seats on the throne, the nobles bowed and curtsied.
“Long live your Majesty the Emperor!”
“Today is a banquet celebrating the crown prince’s birthday, so everyone should enjoy it.”
As soon as Emperor Sigar’s order was given, the banquet hall became noisy again.
Even as the banquet was getting underway, Theodore was still wandering around, looking for something.
“What are you looking for?”
“Oh, nothing much……. Hmph.”
Theodore, who was about to give his usual curt response, sucked in a breath when he saw who had spoken.
It was Cian.
People began to gather around.
“It’s the Archduke. Why did the Archduke come down here?”
“Even if he attends a banquet, he usually just stays there and then leaves.”
“Does he have any connection to Countess Elrosa?”
“She’s a beautiful woman, by the way. She makes me happy just looking at her.”
Berengella seized the opportunity to interject, making the first move.
“Your Highness. I am Berengella Elrosa, mother of Count Elrosa.”
“I’m Cian Dicarsignac.”
It was a simple answer that was neither friendly nor cold. It was a completely different atmosphere from when he went undercover as Alias.
Rachel followed suit and bent her knees.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Rachel Elrosa, wife of Count Elrosa.”
Cian nodded and locked eyes with Rachel.
‘Are you ready to receive evidence?’
‘Of course.’
Finally, Theodore bowed and greeted the Archduke. His voice trembled with embarrassment.
“Oh, hello, no, nice to meet you. I am Count Theodor Bae Elrosa.”
“You are the rumored Count Elrosa.”
The voice was casual, but Theodore was taken aback.
“I heard you received cufflinks with pink diamonds as a gift from your wife.”
“Ah, yes.”
“It’s something I’ve been wanting to get myself. I’m jealous. It seems like you and your wife are very happy with each other.”
Neither Theodore, who hid his affair, nor Rachel, who was preparing for a divorce without revealing it to Theodore, were bad at acting, but they were no match for Cian, who looked at the object he’d procured for them as if he were seeing it for the first time and spoke with genuine envy.
Rachel was impressed. He’s so good at acting, it’s like he’s playing a part in a play. Doesn’t he look like he’s really envious?
When the greetings were over, the assembled noble lords and ladies busied themselves. Their cheeks were flushed and they were all trying to somehow speak to Cian.
“Your Highness, if you don’t mind my gift…!”
“I can tell you the story of the Eloisa family’s conjugal gold thread……!”
“If you are curious about how the two of you were promised in marriage as children, I can tell you……!”
Berengella mingled with the women and rushed at Cian. It was like a swarm of zombies attacking a fresh human being.
Rachel stuck her tongue out and took a step back.
When she finally broke through the crowd, she couldn’t see Theodore anymore, who had just been standing beside her.
The storm passed, and the ballroom grew dark. It was time for the dancing to begin. Everyone found a partner and stood in the center of the room.
Cian was pressured by several women to ask them to dance, but declined them all, and Theodore, who was supposed to ask Rachel to dance, was still nowhere to be seen.
The two people stood side by side in the corner of the banquet hall while the dance began.
Cian’s gaze briefly passed over Rachel’s face.
“Aren’t you going to dance?”
“I didn’t come here to dance.”
“I see.”
“When are you going to give me the evidence? I’m in a hurry.”
The lights had dimmed, people’s eyes had turned away, and if ever there was a time to be handed something secretly, now was the time.
Cian raised his body from leaning against the wall of the banquet hall.
“Very well. This seems like a good time to give it to you, if you’ll follow me.”
Rachel followed Cian, who was walking away. They went around the corner of the banquet hall and arrived at a place lined with terraces.
Each terrace was curtained off. This meant that the men and women who had met at the banquet were enjoying a secret relationship.
The man and woman entered an empty terrace and drew the curtain. They make passionate love behind the curtain. No one is allowed to open the curtains until those who have entered have drawn them back themselves. It was an unwritten rule of aristocratic society.
The terrace was the place where most noble children were created and will be the place where they will be created in the future. It was a place loved by everyone, regardless of social status, so it was never going to disappear. It was a secret and sometimes beautiful place.
Cian stopped in front of a terrace with curtains drawn.
“What I’m about to give you is clear evidence of an affair that your husband won’t be able to get away with or excuse, and I’m afraid you might be surprised or shocked to see it. Will you be okay?”
“Why would I be surprised or shocked when I already know all of this?”
“Because the human heart is not that simple.”
“It doesn’t matter even if I am surprised or shocked. I have no intention of backing out now.”
“… All right.”
Cian answered briefly and held the end of the closed curtain. Several nobles standing nearby were startled, but did not dare to ask the Archduke what he was doing.
Cian raised his arm as if he was about to pull the curtain. The number of surprised nobles increased. Some nobles even stopped dancing.
Cian waited calmly with his arms raised, waiting for more people’s eyes to focus on him.
His glare caused the music in the ballroom to stop.
‘Are you sure you want to open the curtains? Even if you are a Archduke, is that okay?’
Many eyes asked.
Rachel was also curious.
‘What on earth are you trying to do? Weren’t you trying to go inside a terrace to deliver something?’
Cian raised his index finger and placed it on his neat lips and made a hissing sound.
“Then, please excuse me.”
Snap!
The thick curtain was torn by Cian and fell to the floor of the banquet hall.
“Aaaah!”
Those who were young, weak-willed, or shy would scream and close their eyes. However, most eyes in the room were fixed on the man and woman who were mingling promiscuously on the terrace.
Theodore and Jane, the two people who were enjoying their time on the terrace, became frozen in their tangled posture.
On Theodore’s cuffs, the pink cufflinks that Rachel had given him sparkled.
Cian whispered.
“How do you feel, ma’am? The ‘clear’ evidence of an affair I prepared.”
Theodore, who was embracing another woman while wearing a token of love gifted by his wife, revealed his mistress to the world in the ugliest way at the crown prince’s birthday banquet, with all nobles looking on.
