RVMPT Chapter 53

Chapter 53

“……!”

The crowd stirred up louder than before. I felt the same shock as them.

I swallowed dryly as I met Kaiden’s burning gaze.

‘I thought it was impossible when he stopped in front of me with flowers, but… he really gave them to me?’

What about the female lead, Ella? Why me…?

I glanced at Harold, wondering if he had ordered Kaiden to do this.

But Harold’s eyes, locked onto Kaiden, were chillingly cold.

‘So it wasn’t his idea.’

That meant Kaiden had acted on his own. 

…Why?

“……I gratefully accept the flowers.”

Suppressing my confusion, I accepted them.

With that, everyone had given me their flowers, and I became the undeniable winner of the hunting competition.

“The Duchess must now stand before His Majesty the Emperor.”

Following the servant’s instructions, I approached the Emperor.

His white hair and wrinkled face carried the weight of time. His gaze had lost its sharpness, now dull and clouded, but the authority he exuded remained unshaken.

“Congratulations on winning the hunting competition. You are the first champion of the Eclipse Hunt held during my reign, and I bless your future.”

“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”

There were moments when standing near Harold made me feel suffocated—like prey being cornered. My instincts screamed at me to run, yet I never truly feared him.

Maybe it was because I knew I was the only one who could heal him.

But the emperor was different. He openly displayed his displeasure.

Perhaps as a silent warning.

“And so, what is your wish?”

The emperor raised his right hand, resting it near the sword of a knight standing beside him.

“Speak.”

“First, I was deeply moved by this event, which honors the tradition. As a loyal subject of the empire, I will never forget today and will continue to serve Your Majesty, the sun of our empire.”

I bowed deeply before lifting my head again.

“The Eclipse Hunt was held to celebrate the prince’s return. Though I have received the honor of being today’s ‘flower,’ but the true protagonist of this event is someone else.”

“……”

“I wish to give my chance to make a request to the prince.”

The emperor tapped the armrest of his throne and then spoke.

“Are you truly giving this opportunity to the prince?”

“Yes.”

“This is a chance you won’t get again. Think carefully.”

“I looked into past records and found that some winners have given up their requests before. From that moment I learned about this, I had already decided that if I won, I would give my chance to the prince.”

I finished speaking and bowed my head, making my intention clear.

While I was carefully analyzing my words for any missteps, the emperor stopped tapping his armrest.

“…If that is your final decision, then so be it. Prince.”

Andrew, who had been seated to the emperor’s left, stood up at the call.

“Yes, Father!—Whoa!”

He nearly tripped while getting up.

Luckily, he only stumbled a little, but the emperor sighed deeply, as if worried about his son.

However, despite his sigh of concern, his previously tense aura had softened.

“Tell me what you wish for.”

“Yes, I shall! But first—”

Andrew turned to me.

“I want to thank the Duchess for giving me this precious opportunity. I will never forget today.”

In response, I bowed deeply before lifting my head again.

Then, Andrew turned back to the emperor and dropped a bombshell.

“Respected ruler of our great empire, my wish is to have the authority to care for the people of this nation!”

“……Prince. Do you truly believe you can handle such responsibility?”

“Aha, of course not! I know very well that I am still lacking and foolish.”

Andrew smiled brightly, acting as if he didn’t notice the emperor’s expression hardening.

“If you think that, then change your request.”

“Huh? But why? Didn’t Your Majesty tell me to grow and improve myself?”

His eyes widened in innocence, but beneath them, his crimson gaze shone with intelligence and clarity.

“I wish to meet Your Majesty’s expectations and work hard to grow.”

“……Prince.”

“This is my one and only wish, Father. Please grant it.”

Andrew’s request didn’t go against the rules of the Eclipse Hunt.

“……Very well.”

In the end, the emperor had no choice but to grant his wish.

---

After the Eclipse Hunt ended, a grand banquet was held to celebrate the prince’s return.

I moved around the hall with Harold, sharing champagne with those who congratulated me on my victory.

After about six glasses, I started feeling tipsy.

‘If I drink any more, I’ll get drunk.’

Still, I was in a good mood, pleased that everything had gone smoothly.

I playfully rolled my tongue inside my mouth.

But then, a question lingered in my mind.

What was the “minimum loss” Harold had mentioned I would have to bear?

So far, it doesn’t seem like there’s been any major loss.

‘My reputation was already bad, so I don’t think he would consider that a loss.’
…Or maybe not.

<My wife, Diana, has changed.>

Heat rushed to the tips of my ears, and my gaze instinctively dropped to the ballroom floor.
After barely composing myself and looking up, I met the eyes of Baron Hendley and his wife as they approached us.

“Congratulations on winning the Eclipse Hunting Tournament, Duchess. May blessings follow you in the future as well.”
“Thank you for your kind words. I also wish you both a future full of blessings.”

I sincerely meant my words, hoping only good things would come to the couple.

“On such a meaningful day, would you care to join us for a glass of champagne?”
“Of course, I’d love to.”

Happily agreeing, I called over a servant.
Soon, the servant arrived, carrying glasses.
He handed one to me first, then passed them to the Baron and his wife.

“Diana, why don’t you stop drinking for now? If you keep going, I might end up feeling lonely tonight.”

…What? Lonely at night?
His ridiculous words left me speechless.
Meanwhile, Harold turned to the Baron couple and spoke.

“In that case, why don’t the two of you share a celebratory drink with me instead?”
“Your Grace, I thought you didn’t drink?”
“People change. And one glass is fine.”
“You must really treasure your wife. Very well, let’s drink together.”

Since I was getting tipsy, I had no reason to oppose Harold’s drinking in my place.

After some light conversation, the Baron couple excused themselves and left.

“Harold, does it really show that I’m drunk?”
“Well, I’d say it does.”

His deep blue eyes briefly flickered to the left.
I followed his gaze, then muttered under my breath.

“It’s just that you read me too well. Anna said my expressions aren’t that obvious.”
“Of course, I read you best. Who else would be more curious about what’s going on in your mind than me?”

…He’s curious about my thoughts?
But he already reads them so easily, like a fortune teller laying out a mat.

His gaze softened, and then, suddenly, he smiled.
Normally, that look alone would be enough to make me feel weak. But with alcohol in my system, it felt even more dangerous.

Still, I had to get used to it quickly.
Determined, I forced myself not to look away and met his gaze directly.

“……”
“……”

Harold’s lips curled up slightly, as if he had seen right through me.
Then—thud.

Our foreheads touched.

“……!”

I almost flinched back, but Harold wrapped his arm around my waist.

“The closer you get, the faster you’ll get used to it.”

…He’s just trying to help, like always.
A shiver ran down my spine at his whispered words.

Right. I do need to get used to his touch.
I braced myself, keeping my gaze locked on his.

But it wasn’t easy.

My head was spinning from the alcohol, the music felt distant, and my eyes kept slipping away—until they landed on his lips.

“So? Are you getting used to it?”

…Not at all.
If anything, I felt even more self-conscious.

Just as I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, a familiar voice interrupted like a lifeline.

“There you two are.”

“Your Highness, Prince Andrew.”

“I came to formally thank the Duchess. Thanks to you, I had the chance to prove my abilities to my esteemed father.”

His cheerful smile was bright and innocent, the complete opposite of the Emperor’s dark, stormy expression when he left the ballroom earlier.

“But what exactly were you two doing just now?”

“Just a private conversation between husband and wife.”

“That close? With your faces almost touching?”

“The Duchess is obsessed with my face.”

…No, I’m just weak to good looks, that’s all.

Harold’s handsomeness was so overwhelming that I started questioning whether I would ever get used to it.

Lost in thought, I unintentionally muttered my concerns under my breath.

By the time I realized, both men were staring at me.

Oh no.

My throat went dry as Andrew’s lips curled into a playful grin.

“Duchess,” he called.

“Yes, Your Highness?”

Andrew tilted his head at me, an amused glint in his eyes.

“I’ve been told I’m quite handsome myself, yet you don’t seem affected by me at all.”