Chapter 46
Arden stormed out of the room.
She only watched his back as he left and didn’t try to stop him. Watching his back wasn’t a difficult or sad thing for her.
Since she had to finish the banquet, she called the maid and hurried the preparations.
The maids, noticing that Leticia was in a low mood, tried to change the atmosphere by flattering her. Despite her indifferent expression in the mirror, they chattered incessantly.
“You look so beautiful.”
“No matter what anyone says, tonight’s main attraction will be Her Majesty, the Queen.”
“Everyone will be amazed and exclaim in admiration when they see you.”
Leticia lightly smiled as she adjusted her hair.
She looked at herself in the mirror for a long time, wearing a red dress adorned with gold embroidery.
“Luena, by the way, did Verotin leave safely?”
“He said he would send a letter upon arrival.”
“And did His Majesty say anything else?”
Come to think of it, is that why he came by the other day? To ask about the banquet and Verotin? No, even if he was told, he wouldn’t have listened.
“Yes, it seems His Majesty wanted to leave things as you wished.”
“…Since the preparations are finished, shall we go now? Everyone must be waiting.”
Luena finished adjusting Leticia’s hair.
The banquet would go smoothly today. Since Arden had already shown a warning to the nobles, whatever she did, they would all put on a mask and treat her with respect.
Leticia left the room. She had to hurry since she was supposed to go with Arden. There was no need to cause a scene in front of others, especially when his mood was not good.
Arden was waiting for her at the entrance to the carriage. He could have gotten in first, but why did he always wait like this? He stormed out as if he’d never see her face again, yet here he was, waiting for her. Wasn’t this contradictory?
He was someone who knew how to hide his feelings well. Even though he probably didn’t want to see her, he extended his hand to her naturally and gracefully.
Perhaps she was becoming like him, as she took his hand and climbed into the carriage.
To others, their actions were so natural that they appeared to be a harmonious couple.
Inside the carriage on the way to the banquet hall, the two of them did not exchange a single word.
When the carriage came to a stop, they put on their masks and got out. As the carriage halted in front of the banquet hall’s courtyard, people noticed the two of them.
Raymond, who had hurried over, whispered quietly.
“Your Majesty, the Pope of Arserion has arrived.”
“He’s early. Where is the Pope now?”
“He’s preparing to bestow a blessing upon Her Majesty, the Queen.”
“The Emperor will leave after today, right?”
“Yes, he didn’t say much else.”
Leticia listened quietly to their conversation. The Pope, whom she had waited for so long, had finally appeared! His presence was significant to her. This was something that hadn’t happened in her previous life, and it could lead to another turning point.
She forced herself to hide her racing heart and kept her expression stern.
The banquet went smoothly, just as she had expected. However, it was almost too smooth—no one approached her. The guests were too busy gauging the situation, leaving only the sound of their darting glances.
Still, having time alone wasn’t bad. If she were called to dance, it would tire her out, so it was more comfortable to remain seated, acting dignified while looking down on others.
“It seems the Queen doesn’t really belong here.”
At the sudden voice, her eyes wavered. It was a soft voice, filled with gentleness, one she could never forget. Whenever she heard it, it was like heaven whispering to her, soft and soothing.
“Is that so? Even if it isn’t my place, I know this is where I belong.”
“I was wondering why you suddenly changed your mind… Now that the music has changed, shall we discuss it while dancing?”
Cardius extended his hand to Leticia. All eyes were on the two of them. She quickly looked around for Arden. While he had stepped away briefly, the Emperor had approached her. He must have been waiting for this moment.
Like a snake, he had likely been patiently watching, waiting for her side to be left empty.
Her hand trembled as she took his.
“How could I possibly refuse Your Majesty’s request?”
She smiled softly and took his hand. Just as she was about to rise from her seat, something she hadn’t done even once until then, Arden appeared. Alongside him was Raymond, his mouth agape with a look of surprise.
As the music changed and a somewhat new tune began, the two of them stepped onto the dance floor and started to dance. She entrusted her body to the music, hoping that her fear wouldn’t show in their clasped hands.
“Are you really going to stay by the side of someone who doesn’t love you here?”
“…My feelings have never changed. I think you’re misunderstanding something, so let me make it clear: Even if I were to leave Arden, you wouldn’t be the alternative.”
“Oh… Is there someone else besides me?”
Cardius’s red eyes followed her continuously. Though they weren’t facing each other, it felt as if their gazes met, sending a chill through her entire body.
Leticia squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again, trying to stay composed and avoid making a mistake.
Every time they spun while holding hands, Arden came into her view. He stood frozen in place with an expression she couldn’t quite define. His blue eyes tracked her every movement, not missing a single detail.
Was the music always this long?
She wanted to pull away from Cardius’s hand, which seemed unwilling to let go. If she did that, everyone would gossip, questioning her qualifications. They might even complain that her response was unfit for a queen.
“I don’t understand why you think this way. I don’t know why I have to hear such words either. I know this much: You must think very little of me, for you to be so rude.”
“Leticia, that’s not what I meant. I just… as a friend, as someone who knows your heart well…”
“You’re wrong. You’re mistaken, so let me correct you.”
Just then, the piece of music ended. Leticia gently released his hand, lifted the hem of her dress, and curtsied.
“It’s arrogant of you to think you understand my heart so well, Your Majesty.”
“That might be true.”
“So don’t be so quick to judge my feelings in the future. You don’t know if I’ve shared everything with you or if it’s all been a lie, do you? Just like you’ve deceived me.”
“Oh… It seems you’re quite angry.”
As Cardius smiled, Leticia’s expression hardened even more. As soon as their dance ended, Arden immediately stepped forward and took her hand.
Leticia didn’t resist, letting herself be led by him into another dance. Although she could have been flustered by the sudden change, she remained composed. The only thing that bothered her was Cardius’s intense gaze.
“I didn’t expect to lose the first dance.”
He grumbled like a child whose toy had been taken away. His unfamiliar behavior made her smile subtly as she responded.
“You’re the one who left, Your Majesty.”
“It’s my fault, then.”
“Yes, it is. If you were going to blame me, you should rethink it.”
Arden tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her closer. She tried to calm her pounding heart, acting as if she wasn’t surprised by the sudden proximity.
Warmth seeped into her from the hand that tightly held hers. It was strange—she had thought Cardius’s hand was warm, but Arden’s hand was even warmer. Like a flame radiating heat, could he always be so warm?
Though his blue eyes were cold compared to Cardius’s red ones, they still burned.
“I was the problem every time.”
“In any relationship, it’s never just one person’s fault. I must have my share of the blame too.”
“It’s something that can be fixed.”
“We’re already too late for that. Timing is everything, and don’t you think we’ve come too far?”
“Everyone has different standards. I’m quite lenient.”
Lenient?
He called himself lenient after preventing the nobles who had slandered him from attending, and that’s not all—her only maid had also died at his hands.
“You seem skeptical.”
“Think about the things you’ve done, Your Majesty. Don’t you see why I look at you this way?”
“It seems the Queen still doesn’t know what kind of person I am.”
Arden whispered in her ear as his hand lightly brushed against her back. Every place his hand touched sent a shiver through her. His touch was slow but persistent.
“It seems you haven’t considered that I was lenient, which is why things only went that far, my Queen.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Arden pressed a deep kiss to the back of her hand.
When the music ended and she finally let go of his hand, Leticia exhaled the breath she had been holding in.
