Today’s banquet is the last and largest imperial banquet before entering the full winter season. If it were any other imperial banquet, the request for compensation might have seemed insufficient, but there would be no major banquets for several months after today.
So, if Philome and Kaien danced the first dance, it would be a topic of conversation in high society for a long time.
It was not an unreasonable request either. Since the Emperor and Imperial Consort were not dancing, they could graciously show their benevolence by yielding to the newly engaged couple, allowing both sides to get what they wanted.
“Hahaha!”
The Emperor threw his head back and laughed.
“Very well! I shall grant permission!”
Philome and Kaien immediately bowed.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“It will be an unforgettable memory, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor, still smiling, said to Kaien, “Indeed, you’ve brought a spouse that looks just like you. I like it very much.”
The Emperor beamed and gestured to the orchestra.
“Prepare for the protagonists of this year’s last imperial banquet!”
Kaien escorted Philome to the center of the hall.
As the nobles, already focused on their conversation, made way, Kaien and Philome found themselves standing alone in the large center of the hall.
“I’m seeing Duke Wintbell dance for the first time!”
“I’m really envious. To be the protagonists of an imperial banquet!”
“Those two will be the stars this winter as well.”
All eyes were on them.
As Philome took her position with Kaien, she asked, “Are you okay?”
Knowing what Philome was asking, Kaien immediately replied.
“Yeah. I’m not just okay; I’m doing wonderfully.”
Kaien was planning to stall for time, either ending ambiguously or waiting for the Emperor to make the first suggestion.
Philome interrupted in the middle, surprising him, but he didn’t stop her. He trusted Philome.
Then Philome blurted out an answer he hadn’t even imagined. It was truly a perfect response.
“I think I’ve fallen for you again.”
Philome chuckled softly.
“Was that really a great answer? I was a bit worried, you know.”
Even though he had lived here for a long time, he didn’t know much about the royal family. Although Winston didn’t have a significant position, it still bothered him that he was taking away what Winston should be doing.
“Were you worried about Winston?”
“Yes.”
“Philome, I could probably go over and punch Winston right now without any issues.”
“Really?”
Kaien nodded at Philome, who looked at him with wide eyes.
“Really. If I talk to His Majesty separately and provide an appropriate compensation, there won’t be any backlash.”
Philome hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is it because you’re so capable?”
“That’s part of it, but also because Winston’s position is so weak.”
After all, the Crown Prince was in his forties, practically at the peak of his life. Moreover, he had the Emperor’s support to the extent that he handled most of the Emperor’s duties.
Given this situation, it was natural that the third prince, who had returned after living abroad for ten years, had no place.
Winston was well-groomed and known for being polite and gentle, but that alone wouldn’t make him an Emperor.
Furthermore, since the Crown Prince was healthy and intelligent, the noble faction had long since lost its power. There were no longer any noble factions left to support Winston.
At least the Kevan Marquisate was closer to the noble faction than to neutrality, but it had completely fallen, taking that with it.
On the other hand, the Wintbell Duchy accounted for a significant portion of the taxes collected by the imperial family from the nobility, making it almost the lifeline of the empire. Therefore, it was a situation where the Duke of Wintbell could strike Winston without fear of punishment.
“And His Majesty knows everything.”
Kaien murmured calmly.
The Emperor didn’t particularly favor Winston, but he cherished him as his youngest son, born later in life. Thus, he likely knew that Winston had been close friends with Kaien during their academy days and the reasons their relationship had soured.
“So, His Majesty knows that the Duke is planning revenge?”
Last time, Kaien had mentioned that he had a plan that could justify revenge. No matter how much he lacked the Emperor’s favor, it was natural for him to protect his own.
If Kaien were to kill the Imperial Consort, the Emperor would certainly not remain passive.
“There’s just one thing His Majesty doesn’t know about the Imperial Consort.”
“Is it about the magician?”
“Exactly.”
He wanted to discuss in more detail, but the music started, forcing their conversation to pause.
Kaien gently led Philome. Every time she turned in place at close distance, the floating hem of her dress brushed against his calves and knees, sending a ticklish sensation through him.
Kaien forgot that he had just had a serious conversation with Philome and became completely absorbed in the dance.
He generally didn’t like dancing much. When his older brother was alive, before he became the heir, he disliked the gazes that clung to him and the strong scent of perfume whenever he danced at banquets.
But Philome was different.
Philome also had a scent of perfume, but it was pleasant to him.
It wasn’t that she wore a special perfume or an overwhelmingly subtle one, but he liked it nonetheless.
Moreover, when he danced with Philome, it felt as if they were the only two people left in the world. He didn’t care about the gazes of others and focused solely on Philome before him.
As Kaien spun around and made eye contact, he realized he was met with Philome’s faint smile.
Ah, I really do love this person.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Winston tilted his glass.
The bitter wine flowed into his mouth. It wasn’t high in alcohol content, but he could feel the warm sensation as it went down his throat.
“Ah.”
The nobleman beside Winston hurriedly turned his dazed eyes toward him.
“How unfortunate. I heard that the Third Prince dances exceptionally well, and I was really looking forward to seeing it.”
Winston smiled and shook his head.
“I’m definitely not that skilled. In fact, I was worried my lack of ability would be exposed, so this turned out well.”
That was a lie.
Winston had practiced all night yesterday, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his feet.
However, it wasn’t that Winston’s dancing skills were poor enough to require all-night practice. He had just the basic skills, but upon hearing that the Imperial Consort would attend the banquet, he rushed to practice, leaving him short on time.
‘I wanted to show it to my mother.’
Winston turned his head deliberately to hide his disappointment and looked toward the center of the hall.
There, a well-matched pair of a man and woman were dancing closely together. Whether it was because of the bright lighting or the soft smiles they exchanged, they exuded an atmosphere as if they were detached from the world.
That was a place where Winston should have been standing.
However, Kaien occupied it, dancing as naturally and comfortably as if he were the original owner of that spot.
Moreover, his dancing skills were quite impressive.
Even with the complicated tempo that split the beat, he led his partner gracefully. The parts that Winston had struggled with all night were executed perfectly by Kaien.
His mouth felt bitter.
He couldn’t tell if it was because of the remaining wine or for some other reason.
Soon, the music stopped, and their dance came to an end.
After greeting each other, they affectionately linked arms and returned to their seats.
One by one, others entered the central hall with their partners, but Winston did not.
After all, the Emperor and Imperial Consort would leave once the first dance was over.
“Are you not going to dance, Third Prince?”
Winston turned to look at the nobleman who had been speaking in a frivolous tone. This nobleman was of lower rank, and in truth, he was not someone who should be beside Winston.
However, Winston had recently returned from ten years abroad and had not clearly shown his intentions regarding the throne, so families with some influence personally kept their distance from him.
Of course, they welcomed Winston, but no one wanted to establish a close relationship with him.
Naturally, only lower-ranking nobles hovered around him, and since a prince could not be alone, he had no choice but to keep such company.
thanks for the chapter