Chapter 7 A New Trick
Saint Evangeline took the dais alongside the Emperor.
The entire Templar command, including Killion, knelt before her.
She placed her hands on their heads, chanted a prayer, and blessed them.
‘So that’s the power of a saint’s holy power! How wonderful!’
The sight of a brilliant cluster of lights resembling snowflakes landing on the heads of the knights was so mysterious that it cannot be described in words.
‘Evangeline and Killion are finally reunited!’
This was the beginning of the main storyline of the original Evangelina Of The East.
Veronia was excited, but also confused.
As a reader who remembered the novel she spent her school years with, she couldn’t help but be thrilled to witness the beginning of the original story in earnest.
But as a possessed person in the body of a wicked woman, Veronica was scared and nervous.
She was happy, but she couldn’t be completely happy.
She bit her lower lip and steeled herself.
She cried out in her heart to the Creator of this world.
‘It will never go as the original! This evil woman will soon disappear! Just wait and see!’
***
“May I dare ask to have the honour of being your first dance partner?”
As the ballroom music began to play, Killion extended his hand to Veronia and asked her to dance.
His manner was so polite that Veronia was momentarily speechless.
Such a handsome face, such a dignified demeanour, it would be hard for any woman not to be swayed.
“Of course.”
She smiled and took Killion’s hand in hers.
‘I’m sure I can dance! Oh, that is, of course, assuming I don’t accidentally step on my skirt.’
Veronia had been practising for days, under the supervision of Empress Sandra.
The Empress, who was quite sincere in her socialising image, had worked hard to prepare for the banquet.
She even had a deputy of Killion’s height and build practise the dance with her.
Luckily, she retained her physical memory.
She was able to dance to the music and never aroused Sandra’s suspicions.
Fortunately, the memory of her body remained.
The music played a cheerful tune, and Veronia stepped to the rhythm as she had practised.
But her confidence was short-lived.
It was her first imperial banquet, and her opponent was an otherworldly Count.
It was also the first time she’d ever danced in real life, not just practice.
Veronia, nervous as ever, kept stepping on the hem of her skirt, and then on Killion’s foot.
“Uh, I’m sorry, Sir Killion.”
“No, Your Majesty. It’s because I haven’t danced in such a long time that I’m not good at it.”
Veronia marvelled at Killion’s gentlemanly manner in excusing her mistake.
In time, as she grew more accustomed to the splendour of the place and her opponent, her mistakes became less frequent, and she found herself falling more and more into the dance with Killion.
She locked her gaze into his eyes and leaned into his touch.
It was her first dance with Killion, but she felt comfortable as if she had been dancing her whole life.
‘I’m sure… you’ve danced with the real Veronica many times…’
Suddenly, the years that had built up between the real Veronia and Killion felt like a tingling sensation on her skin.
‘It must have been an exciting time for Veronia, and a not-so-exciting time for Killion.’
It was inevitable that their paths would diverge.
‘The real Veronia would have been thrilled to be dancing with Killion right now, wouldn’t she?’
She felt guilty that she was taking Veronia’s place.
‘No. Why should I feel guilty, when there are others who have stolen all her time!’
The thought of the imperial family made her blood run cold.
While she pondered this, the music ended.
Veronia was thrown into Killion’s arms.
His muscular arms wrapped tightly around her waist, their bodies pressed together.
Ha, ha, ha… Veronia and Killion looked at each other, breathing heavily.
‘…so close!’
Veronia panicked as her forehead was so close to his lips that she immediately pulled back.
After bowing and greeting him, she left her seat and only then did she notice that people’s eyes were fixed on her.
Embarrassed by the many stares, Veronia gulped and swallowed hard.
At that moment, she locked eyes with the Emperor and Empress, who were looking at her.
The Emperor’s mouth was curved in a satisfied smile, but the Empress was expressionless. She must have realized she had made a mistake in her dance.
‘Let’s get out of here!’
Veronia fled to the back table, where cocktails and desserts were piled high.
Left alone, Killion was again overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
His aide Windler, who had come to his side, summed up his feelings.
“Today’s message is strange, as usual.”
“What do you mean?”
Killion asked, feeling unnecessarily annoyed that he’d given away his secret.
Windler didn’t hesitate to say what was on his mind, either because he hadn’t noticed or because he chose to ignore his lord’s mood.
“At the banquet, you stayed by my side the whole time, lest the Count should dance with any of the other young ladies, and not only did you dance with them for the first dance, but for the second and third as well.”
“…”
That’s right.
Even though they were engaged, it was extremely rare for them to dance the entire dance alone.
But Veronia was the kind of person who would make it happen.
It wasn’t the only time.
The purpose of nobles attending parties is to eat, drink, have fun, and socialise.
But Veronia gave Killion no such opportunity.
She followed him everywhere with her arms folded tightly.
So even though Killion didn’t like parties or social gatherings, he was even more reluctant to attend one with Veronia.
‘But why is tonight different than usual?’
It was almost embarrassing to even think about it.
It was as if he wanted Veronia for himself.
‘No, it’s not!’
Killion downed the champagne in his glass in one gulp.
It was then. Windler called out to Killion in a booming voice.
“Huh? Huh! Count, look over there, Your Majesty is taking another man’s hand! It’s the Marquis of Robinson, who goes around telling everyone… that he’s been admiring Your Majesty for a long time.”
“…”
“As expected, it’s strange.”
Windler shook his head, watched Veronia and the Marquis of Robinson dance together.
“Maybe.”
Windler glanced around with a wide-eyed glance, then spoke in a low voice.
“Perhaps Your Majesty has devised a new trick?”
“A new trick?”
Windler said excitedly, noticing Killion’s interest.
“Why, isn’t there a saying… that goes something like this to win your opponent’s heart, don’t interest them!”
“I’ve never heard that before.”
Killion’s handsome face contorted as if steaming.
But Windler didn’t hesitate to make his point.
“But look here, Your Majesty has shown no interest in you at all, so you are wondering, and so am I.”
“It is not that he has shown no interest at all.”
Kilion’s eyes grew harsh at the exaggeration.
Windler shook his head and retorted.
“You haven’t shown any interest, not since the beginning.”
“No, I’m not. I made it clear earlier…”
He couldn’t get the words out of his mouth to say that they made eye contact and even laughed.
It seemed like such a lame excuse, even to himself.
“Forget it.”
Sighing heavily, Killion grabbed a fresh glass of champagne and headed out onto the terrace.
He needed the cool air.
Stepping out onto the corner terrace, Killion sipped his champagne and looked up at the sky.
The stars against the black night seemed to be flowing somewhere, undulating.
It was an eerie sight, not unlike the night sky he had seen from the fields of war.
Every time he looked up at the night sky alone like this, a face came to mind.
‘Brother, it’s still the same here, just more complicated … and noisy.’
He had a brother who died a long time ago.
A man who excelled at everything, who was an inspiration to many, and who was infinitely kind to him.
“Actually, I liked it when we were on the battlefield, but the good times are over. What’s it like there?”
As always, Killion’s brother was the only person he could open up to.
It was the most relaxing time of the day for him to vent to his brother.
Maybe it was the alcohol.
Or maybe it was the music in the distance.
Just when he wanted to have a quiet conversation with his brother, he was interrupted by a distraction.
About Veronia.
‘I wonder if Your Majesty has come up with a new trick?’
‘Why, isn’t there a saying… that goes something like this to win the heart of an opponent, don’t let them know you care!’
Windler had heard it before.
The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.
‘A new trick… Not paying attention…?’
It was a plausible idea, but it was completely out of character for Veronia.
She’s not the kind of person who thinks things through and comes up with a plan.
She’s more of an improviser.
“Okay. So this isn’t a plan.”
Killion shook his head, muttering to himself.
‘Hold on, if it’s not a trick…’
‘Does it make sense… that he just lost interest?’
He was gulping down his champagne, irritated by the next thought.
He turned his head at the sound of a figure entering the terrace.
‘…Your Majesty?’
He’d deliberately chosen a quiet corner of the terrace.
Killion’s brow narrowed and a deep crease formed between his brows.
‘You can’t be… looking for me?’
