The first thing that caught their eye was the pure white silver hair. Underneath the neatly swept-back silver hair was a smooth forehead. And his unique aura was completed by calm violet eyes wrapped in a languid yet sharp gaze. Below his prominent nose were thin lips.
Beside him was Philome, with brown hair almost blonde, neatly tied in a braid. Beneath her slightly upturned forehead were soft green eyes. Her full lips, especially striking beneath her straight nose, were particularly attractive.
The reason their attention was focused on them was not merely due to the harmonious appearance of the two.
Their slightly tilted heads towards each other, closely positioned bodies, shared glances, and smiles created a subtle and strange atmosphere that others could not easily approach.
As Kaien whispered something in her ear, Philome burst into laughter. Her slightly sharp gaze softened into a beautiful smile that revealed her straight teeth.
Kaien smiled gently at Philome.
The nobles quietly gazed at the two, unknowingly captivated by their smiles towards each other. For some reason, their eyes kept being drawn to them.
It was only after some time had passed that the nobles could finally tear their gaze away from the two.
“By the way, the two… seem to be getting along even better.”
“I’m not the only one who feels that way? They really… look like a couple.”
The two of them had never officially appeared together before, so they didn’t remember well, but they strangely felt closer. The atmosphere was suffused with a pinkish hue, drawing people’s gazes repeatedly towards the two.
Kaien and Philome found that attention puzzling.
“Does it feel like people are looking at us differently today?”
“Yeah.”
Whereas before it felt like they were being watched as if in amusement, now it was subtly different in a way that words could not describe.
“Is there something on my face?”
Philome believed without a doubt that if there was a problem, it would be with her, as Kaien’s face seemed to shine brighter than usual.
“Let me see.”
“Is there really something on my face?”
Philome turned to Kaien, startled. Kaien grasped Philome’s chin and carefully turned her face this way and that to inspect it.
Philome’s heart sank at Kaien’s serious expression.
‘Is there really a problem?’
But if there was a real issue, Kaien would have said something.
Watching Kaien examine her face cautiously, Philome finally spoke up.
“…Your Grace, are you really going to joke around?”
Kaien broke into a wide smile.
“Did I get caught?”
“You almost had me fooled!”
Philome shouted softly into Kaien’s ear.
Thanks to that, Kaien, who had taken a good look at Philome’s face, wore a satisfied smile.
“I just wanted to see your pretty face. And there’s nothing wrong with it, so don’t worry. In fact, you look even prettier than usual, which is a problem.”
Saying that, Kaien added, looking somewhat dissatisfied.
“Should we just go back? Huh? I only want to see you.”
Ignoring his words, Philome murmured.
“Then why are they staring like that?”
For some reason, the stares had become even more blatant than before.
She was used to getting a lot of attention, but this kind of gaze was new. It felt similar to the atmosphere during their engagement ceremony, leaving Philome feeling a bit fatigued.
“Are you tired?”
Kaien slightly turned his body to block the people’s gazes and asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Shall we go up to the lounge? Or maybe to the terrace?”
“It’s just starting. I can manage. If it gets too hard, I’ll let you know, so don’t worry.”
“Even if you don’t say anything, if you look tired, I’ll make you rest, so keep that in mind.”
Kaien said it as if he would force a break if Philome endured too much. Philome smiled faintly and nodded.
“Got it.”
Since Kaien was blocking the stares, her fatigue lessened significantly.
Philome talked while facing Kaien, and as high-ranking nobles and royals entered, the attention on them dispersed.
Before long, the Emperor arrived. Without further ado, he announced the official start of the banquet, and the two approached him to greet.
“May the eternal glory of Vernium be with you. We greet Your Majesty.”
The emperor chuckled and waved his hand.
“Lift your heads.”
As they straightened up, the Emperor looked at them with a warm smile.
“Lady Philome, have you been well?”
It had been a while since they last met the Emperor.
Philome was a bit surprised to reflect on how she thought of this as a long-awaited meeting. She had once been a commoner who would never meet the emperor, and the change in her situation felt significant.
Philome smiled and slightly lowered her gaze.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I have been well.”
“And you? I heard rumors that since your engagement, you’ve been living only in your mansion.”
“Have you just now heard the rumors? It’s been quite a while since I’ve been holed up in the mansion.”
Kaien and the Emperor exchanged a smooth and friendly conversation, flowing naturally.
Philome did not deliberately ignore the Imperial Consort’s penetrating gaze from beside the Emperor. When their eyes met, she smiled brightly.
The Imperial Consort reflexively smiled back, but her expression gradually stiffened.
‘Don’t underestimate my part-time job experience.’
What I gained from my part-time jobs in my past life was only the ability to identify difficult customers and to smile at them, but I never expected it would come to this.
Seeing the Imperial Consort’s expression, Philome smiled even more prettily. The Imperial Consort tried to smile by twitching the corners of her mouth but quickly turned her head away.
Only then did Philome turn her gaze from the Imperial Consort.
In the meantime, Kaien and the Emperor were wrapping up their conversation.
“So, are you heading north again this time?”
“Yes, that’s the plan.”
“I am always grateful to the Duke of Wintbell’s family. They’ve been responsible for the north, which is like a dragon’s den, for hundreds of years.”
The Emperor added sincerely, as if truly grateful.
“You all have a tough job.”
“Your acknowledgment is enough.”
Philome flinched at Kaien’s words but soon realized there was nothing wrong with them. After all, the north was the territory of the Duke of Wintbell’s family, and it was better to be aware of gratitude than to be ignorant of it.
But the Imperial Consort was different.
She raised her eyebrows and spoke up.
“It seems the Duke of Wintbell is expecting some compensation from Your Majesty?”
Kaien spoke without even properly looking at the Imperial Consort.
“Is it me you’re referring to?”
“Imperial Consort.”
The Emperor took hold of the Imperial Consort’s hand.
With considerable strength, the Imperial Consort forced a smile.
“I was just curious about something I’ve wondered for a long time. No matter how much the north is the territory of the Duke of Wintbell’s family, it is still Your Majesty’s land, and they are also Your Majesty’s subjects. Yet, they have never once requested compensation, have they?”
The Emperor turned to Kaien.
But before the Imperial Consort could speak, Kaien spoke up first.
“I don’t want any specific compensation.”
“Don’t say that, just tell me, Duke.”
The Imperial Consort continued to demand that Kaien mention some compensation. Kaien understood well what the Imperial Consort was plotting.
‘So this is how you treat someone who protects you.’
If Kaien asked for something too trivial, it would undermine the Emperor’s praise for him, and if he asked for something substantial, it would suggest he had ulterior motives for protecting the north.
While Kaien was deep in thought, an unexpected voice spoke up.
“If I may be so bold, can I request that compensation?”
“Lady Philome?”
The emperor, who was trying to navigate the situation, hesitated for a moment.
“Yes. Although Lady Philome is still engaged to the Duke, I have already given my approval for their marriage, so they are as good as a couple. Lady Philome, please speak.”
“We would like to open today’s banquet ourselves.”
The official start of a banquet typically begins with the highest-ranking person present dancing. Since the Emperor and Imperial Consort do not dance at official events, it would fall to the royal family or high-ranking nobles to initiate.
Today, since Winston was also present, it would normally be expected for him to dance the first dance with his partner to open the banquet.
Philome was requesting to take on that role with Kaien.
The Emperor was impressed, the Imperial Consort was outraged, and Kaien was surprised.
What Philome proposed was a suitable compensation that did not overstep any boundaries. It was a choice that was neither excessive nor diminished their status.
Thanks for the chapter