Chapter 84
“Scarcity, luxury, necessity, meaning. There are many different criteria for valuing objects, but it’s rare for something to gain value just because it belongs to a friend.”
“Is that really true? Even for me, when I sell something I’ve used, its value goes up—just because I used it. Is that also childish?”
“That means Sierra holds that kind of significance for you, then.”
“Wh—”
“A being you want to resemble and possess. Someone who has more qualities than you do.”
A crack formed in Bellieta’s previously composed smile.
As her expression hardened, Aden flicked the fan out of Bellieta’s hand.
The fan flew from her grip and landed on the floor.
After glancing at the fan that had fallen, Bellieta slowly turned her gaze back to him.
“Are you angry? Or frustrated?”
“…”
“You pushed me away, or rather, you were almost disgusted with Rippleton, and your thoughts about me were uprooted.”
Seeing Bellieta’s unresponsive face, Aden leaned back slightly.
As he distanced himself, Bellieta naturally straightened her back.
“Thinking that way is impressive. It’s not common for someone to have such an influence over another’s thoughts and values, and for Sierra to be that person for you.”
Aden put on a grin as if holding back laughter.
“It seems I’m being swayed by someone I consider more remarkable than I expected.”
As he stifled his laughter, Bellieta let out a slow breath.
When the air escaped her mouth, she finally understood the meaning behind what Sierra had told her.
“It’s just a dance.”
Bellieta relaxed her previously furrowed brows at the voice echoing in her ears.
Seeing Bellieta’s sudden calm demeanor, Aden slowly lowered his hand.
“You’re quite the smooth talker. You have a way with words and tone that’s perfect for turning my insides upside down.”
“Thanks for that.”
“Thanks? I don’t think so.”
With a faint smile, Bellieta stepped back to pick up the fallen fan.
She gracefully lifted the fan and waved it before approaching Aden again.
“But just like me, it seems you also need some education. Your attitude toward your fiancée is quite lacking in courtesy and manners.”
“Fiancée, huh…”
“I can understand your feelings for Sierra. It’s impossible to stop your heart from swaying. But remember this.”
Bellieta narrowed her eyes as she looked at Aden’s impassive face.
“Today, you’re going to have an official engagement ceremony with me here, and that little letter you have is completely useless.”
Bellieta pulled a folded letter from her pocket and waved it around.
It was the request document to annul the engagement that Bozbourne had sent to Rippleton.
Bozbourne had already taken action to void the legal effect of the contents written in the letter.
They could make the impossible happen.
Only Bozbourne could pull off such acts.
“No matter what alternative method you try, this engagement will happen. Do you really think Rippleton can maintain his conscription rights without the help of Bozbourne and the council?”
“…”
“Don’t waste your energy worrying. Just enjoy the day. When you step out that door, you’ll see it for yourself: Sierra reciting a poem to bless our happiness.”
With that, Bellieta placed the letter down on the chair where Aden sat, smiling brightly.
In the meantime, a sound echoed from beyond the door.
As Bellieta glanced back, she sensed the moment had come.
When that door opened, she believed the troubles that had been tormenting her would vanish and everything would return to normal.
She thought Sierra would once again be within her grasp after desperately trying to escape.
“Don’t even think about being brave and running to Sierra. Bozbourne can erase Brilloxen just like three years ago. So, I hope you won’t do anything foolish in the name of helping Sierra, understood?”
As Bellieta smiled and turned away, Aden twisted his mouth into a smirk.
His golden eyes, filled with burning intensity, momentarily wavered before he rose from his seat.
Bellieta quietly looked up at Aden as he approached her.
He slowly extended his arm, pressing his hand against the door to block her exit.
Bellieta met the gaze of the fierce beast looking down at her with an emotionless expression.
“The princess would do well to learn to choose her words carefully before lecturing me on manners. Keep talking recklessly like that, and one day, the words that come from that mouth will trip you up.”
“Do you really think that will happen?”
Bellieta’s voice stretched into a mocking smile, dripping with sarcasm.
After all, Bozbourne was someone no one dared to touch.
She believed that her future would always be filled with bright light.
Aden twisted his lips as he faced that smile.
“We’ll just have to wait and see. In a situation where no one knows what will happen next, whether the path ahead is a cliff or a flower garden, no one can know.”
Their gazes clashed coldly.
* * *
The grand ballroom was filled to the brim with nobles, symbolizing the power of Bozbourne.
It was packed with so many people that it felt like all the nobles of the empire had gathered there.
Most of the people present were celebrating Bozbourne, but some young nobles were trembling with fear.
To them, Bozbourne’s only daughter was like a princess on a white horse, a chance for upward social mobility.
The young nobles who followed Velieta around like obsessed fans sighed heavily.
“Rippleton? The ghost duke?”
“It’s absurd for a monster embedded in the desolate Hermonia to be engaged to Bozbourne’s princess!”
“It’s not impossible based on rank, but still, this isn’t right. The princess is way better than that monster. Don’t you think?”
They lamented as if Rippleton had forcibly taken the princess away, even though Bellieta wasn’t being sold off.
Watching from a distance, Layton twisted his lips quietly.
“…Those fools.”
He too had dreamed of his family’s resurgence using Bellieta’s status, but he was like a dog chasing a chicken.
And now, with Rippleton being a duke, he would grasp power that was no longer within Layton’s reach.
Just thinking about Rippleton and Bozbourne joining forces made Layton’s stomach churn.
Having already emptied five glasses, he signaled a servant to replace his drink.
Meanwhile, Gilard was lost in a haze of excitement, boasting about Bozbourne and his daughter.
As he sipped his drink and laughed at Gilard, Layton’s eyes landed on Sierra, who was by Kestian’s side.
“…”
Tilting his glass, Layton stared intently at Sierra before slowly making his way toward her.
He staggered through the crowd, his steps unsteady from the alcohol.
With flushed cheeks, glossy lips, and bleary eyes, he approached Sierra.
Some nobles looked at the drunken Layton with uneasy expressions.
Just as Layton was nearly upon Sierra, she suddenly moved.
Layton awkwardly stumbled after her, his legs feeling loose.
At that moment, the door slowly opened with Gilard’s introduction, and applause filled the ballroom.
In the chaos, Layton reached out to place his hand on Sierra’s shoulder from behind her.
“Stop it.”
But his hand didn’t reach her.
Before it could touch Sierra’s shoulder, a strong hand grabbed Layton’s wrist.
Layton grimaced and looked up at the person who interrupted him.
Kestian, still holding Layton’s wrist, leaned down and whispered in his ear.
“Don’t interfere.”
With that, Kestian dragged Layton away to somewhere unknown.
The sight of Layton being pulled along disappeared into the crowd.
Oblivious to the two vanishing, Sierra let out a long sigh as she gazed at the open door.
In walked Bellieta, dressed in a gorgeous gown, exuding beauty.
Beside her stood Aden, his expression dry and stoic.
Sierra’s eyes fixated on the elbow that Bellieta held.
The enthusiastic cheers from the crowd didn’t reach her ears.
The voices and applause echoing around her faded away.
At that moment, all the spotlight was on those two.
Sierra was just another ordinary noblewoman lost in the masses.
Just one among a crowd that no one noticed.
But even as everyone overlooked Sierra, one person was looking directly at her.
In the midst of the chaotic crowd, Sierra bit her lip at Aden’s unwavering gaze locked onto her.
Wondering if she was imagining things, she took a step to the side, and Aden’s head followed her movement clearly.
No matter where she was or how she looked, to Aden, Sierra was the only shining presence.
As Bellieta walked with a smile on her face, she shifted her gaze toward where Aden was looking.
‘…’
In Bellieta’s view, Sierra was locking eyes with Aden.
A hint of crack appeared on her previously smiling face, but it quickly reverted back.
Bellieta quickly pulled Aden’s arm and moved forward, hurrying along.
The two people, moving slowly while receiving congratulations, soon distanced themselves from Sierra’s sight and halted in the center where Gilard stood.
Sierra slowly approached Bellieta, who was greeting everyone.
“Thank you all for coming to my engagement ceremony. I genuinely appreciate it.”
As silence descended upon the lofty ballroom, only Bellieta’s voice rang out.
Facing the collective gaze directed at her calmly, Bellieta felt a refreshing smile spread across her face, finally regaining her place.
“This engagement ceremony, which has been prepared for such a long time…”
While Bellieta continued her speech, Sierra moved toward her.
Receiving the whispers brushing past her ears and the gazes of people she brushed against, Sierra slowly made her way to where she needed to go.
“…Now, for the final part, I would like to invite my dearest, most cherished friend to share a blessing poem.”
Bellieta smiled and scanned the crowd until she spotted Sierra emerging from the crowd.
She reached out with an encouraging smile as if to say, “Come here!”
Drawn in by that hand, Sierra moved slowly toward Bellieta.
Those who had expected Gilard to recite the blessing were stirred when they saw Sierra, who had been the talk of the town.
Gilard, who hadn’t wanted this to happen in the first place, cast an annoyed glance at Sierra.
“Cough!”
With a loud cough, Gilard silenced the softly murmuring crowd.
In the renewed silence, Sierra drew closer to Bellieta.
“Thank you, Sierra, for agreeing to this difficult request.”
“Of course. It’s the least I can do.”
Sierra smiled back at Bellieta, who wore a mask of a kind smile.
It was a farce where only the deceivers existed, and there were no victims.
Sierra felt as though this grand ballroom and the people in it were mere spectators who had come to watch a play.
“My most beloved friend, Bellieta.”
If that were the case, who were the protagonists and supporting characters in their eyes, and who played the villain?
It was obvious without needing to think deeply.
“I do not bless your engagement.”
The role of the villain was already determined.
🥰😍🤩🥳