Perhaps, just perhaps. Kaela might not have loved Peon as much as he desperately loves her now.
When love turns upside down, it can become terrible hatred, but Kaela was quite generous to him. She stared at him briefly before giving a slight nod to accept his earnest dance request.
After granting him the honor of two consecutive dances, she sat quietly in the place he had prepared and ate the food and drinks he brought.
So perhaps her feelings weren’t as deep as his love. She really hoped that was the case.
She hoped she loved less than he thought, and therefore hurt less. Because if Peon were Kaela, he would have intensely despised and cursed her, not even keeping her in sight.
“Does it suit your taste?”
Peon brushed aside Kaela’s hair while checking if she liked the food. She looked at him while nibbling. Perhaps, just perhaps.
“It’s delicious.”
She wasn’t sure what kind of affection he held for her. Although Kaela was extremely cautious about making assumptions, it was now unmistakably clear that Peon had developed feelings for her.
And perhaps those feelings were deeper than expected. Maybe it wasn’t just him playing the role of a kind husband out of guilt, responsibility, and sense of debt for past actions – maybe it was genuine.
There was no clearer signal than jealousy. Kaela, who had experienced jealousy until her heart was worn away, knew this all too well.
“Is it good?”
He smiles. He was busy. Even now, Duke Ostein was moving around everywhere, continually talking with foreign delegates.
While it’s partly because her father knows four foreign languages from dealing with various merchants and politicians in Ostein, he’s currently managing the aftermath of what the Crown Prince carelessly mentioned about the Bayetta naval base during the eve of the festival.
Peon, as an important figure included in this regency and a key person in charge of military affairs, also needed to busily move around and converse with people.
Today’s reception marks the end of the engagement ceremony events. So they needed to manage what they could while they still could. But Peon just sat quietly by Kaela’s side, keeping his position.
“Would you like to try something else?”
“Shouldn’t you go… meet with people?”
“You always use formal speech for things like that. Don’t worry about it. People who need to see me will come this way anyway.”
Peon gestured for her to take just one more bite. It seemed his only purpose at the reception was to ensure Kaela sampled a variety of foods.
“Even if we try to manage what’s already happened, it won’t be managed.”
He laughed coldly enough to send chills through this hot summer night. It almost sounded like he didn’t care what happened to the Crania Empire.
“Still.”
“After you finish eating.”
“I’ll stay here eating, so you can go ahead.”
“I don’t want to. Who would that benefit?”
Peon immediately frowned. The wind blowing coolly from the Ener River seemed to tell Kaela as it rustled her hair. This isn’t an illusion. This is reality. That man really likes you.
“Don’t you remember when we went to the Ener riverbank? If I leave even for a moment, they all take that chance to come to you. Rather than seeing that again, I’d rather just go home.”
He really likes you. Kaela stared at him blankly before quickly lowering her head. It was difficult to face the indescribable displeasure and clear jealousy in his violet eyes. This can’t be.
“No one is interested in me…”
“Right now, thirty-four men are staring at you. I excluded the women since you wouldn’t give them the time of day.”
At his matter-of-fact voice, Kaela unconsciously lifted her head and looked around.
Some people avoided her gaze when their eyes met, some smiled, and some just stared openly. But isn’t that how receptions usually are?
“Look at me, Kaela. Since you looked at those guys, you should look at me too.”
Peon leaned down to look at Kaela obliquely.
A handsome man who could enchant onlookers tilted his perfectly balanced large frame toward her. There must be far more women looking at Peon than men looking at Kaela. That was certain.
“Don’t tell me to go.”
He closed his eyes briefly as if barely holding back.
“I’ve held back for too long, so I don’t think I can hold back anymore.”
Kaela gripped her fork tightly. Yes. That man seems to like her. Then, when he stops liking her, what happens then?
Something impossible had happened. There was no way this could end well. Kaela was a flawed person who got bored easily, and in the end, was always unhappy.
She was scared.
****
Beatrice was experiencing firsthand what it meant for something to be an eyesore. Although she had deliberately stopped by the magic tool room because that sight was irritating, looking at it again made it even more unbearable.
“Don’t they make such a good couple?”
“I know right. Everyone in the country knows the Grand Duke is handsome, but looking at the Grand Duchess now, she’s so pretty too.”
First of all, even hearing such words made her stomach turn. Peon had been her most splendid ornament. But now that ornament was not only decorating another woman but even receiving comments about how well they matched!
“The Grand Duke seems to really like her. He can’t take his eyes off her.”
She didn’t like seeing Kaela, whom she had dismissed and kept against the wall, sitting leisurely decorated with large aquamarines. Moreover, Peon, the most indifferent man she knew, was desperate to feed food into Kaela’s mouth.
‘Since when did he become so affectionate…!’
Beatrice had to make noise several times, including the taboo, to get his response. But that cold man talked non-stop in front of Kaela.
“They unexpectedly match well. The Grand Duchess is very intelligent after all. She’s well-educated.”
She’s just a fool who knows nothing about the world despite all her education!
Beatrice covered her face with her fan as soon as she heard what she hated most. She hated hearing it. She hated it so much that she circulated drinks and made merry noise with her mother and her followers.
She could feel people’s gazes on her, but she knew they weren’t as admiring as before. Beatrice’s reputation had been significantly damaged due to the Hillhouse banquet incident.
“Ah, looks like the fireworks are about to start.”
People began heading down the stairs toward the dock en masse. The fireworks viewed from the dock, cleared of ships and decorated with beautiful lanterns and small boats, were exquisite. People hurried to claim their boats.
“Shall we go, Miss?”
Beatrice chose the wealthiest and most distinguished man among those eagerly extending their hands to her, took his hand, and walked with her chin held high.
But she couldn’t help but notice Peon clearing away Kaela’s empty plate and rising to embrace her.
The dock was full of food and drinks. There were especially plenty of light drinks, perfect for sipping while watching the fireworks.
“I’ll stay here.”
The Duchess of Monde stood at the dock, not letting go of her wine glass. Beatrice boarded a boat with the gentlemen.
“Don’t go too far.”
Beatrice spoke while glancing at the Grand Duke and Duchess of Lusenford standing at the dock.
What an unpleasant thing. She needs to be thoroughly humiliated once.
She herself couldn’t understand why her eyes rolled so irrationally whenever she saw Kaela. She just disliked her.
She disliked everything – her demure face, her being wealthy, being well-educated, receiving praise for saying proper things. Above all, she was most irritated that she ended up marrying Peon.
To have to keep watching Kaela, who possessed all the elements Beatrice most disliked and found annoying, pretending to be weak while being held by Peon. Beatrice looked down at the Ener River waters gleaming with the reflection of lanterns and fireworks.
While everyone exclaimed at the fireworks celebrating the Crown Prince’s engagement, those engaged in conversation didn’t stop talking, including the Duchess of Monde.
“…that’s what happened. I was so dumbfounded.”
When loud laughter burst out, elderly ladies frowned and avoided that direction.
The crowded dock was bustling with young ladies and gentlemen boarding the boats, the Crown Prince and Princess Keruzhan greeting people, and high officials busy discussing politics even at this time.
“Ah, you. Come over here and say hello.”
Peon, who had always tried to stay by Kaela’s side, received a summons he absolutely couldn’t refuse. Duke Ostein was gesturing with a faint smile.
Around Duke Ostein were all elderly foreign dignitaries. It was certainly all about politics. If nothing else, Peon, who felt deeply indebted to his father-in-law, looked back at Kaela.
“Stay here for a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Peon spoke after placing Kaela in the midst of elderly ladies and foreign noblewomen.
“Take your time to talk. I’ll stay here.”
He nodded reluctantly. It was painful that there was nothing more he could say. He couldn’t even jokingly tell her not to look at other men or to be careful of men – they weren’t that kind of relationship.
Would she dislike seeing him being surprisingly jealous? No, does she even care about him enough to dislike it?
Although he had expressed himself quite well for several months, Kaela pretended not to notice. He forced himself to take heavy steps away.
“Ah, we’re too far inside the dock here. Be careful, it’s dangerous.”
The elderly lady’s worried words brushed past her ears. Some foreign languages could also be heard.
“Oh my, our Young Princess. How did you manage to host such a wonderful reception?”
“I didn’t do much.”
Kaela shook her head and smiled when she was recognized.
“Oh my, everyone here knows who did it!”
Laughter broke out among the noble ladies. They were all people who knew the Empress or had deep connections with Ostein. Of course, despite being the Empress’s chief lady-in-waiting, the Duchess of Monde wasn’t part of this group.
“The Princess is coming this way. She wishes to thank and greet the noble ladies.”
Unexpectedly, Princess Keruzhan came with her attendants.
As Kaela gradually made way, she unconsciously looked at Peon visible from there. Being a head taller than others, he was easy to spot even in such a crowd.
‘Why does he like me?’
Though her desperate wish had come true, that wish was so old that thoughts other than joy emerged first.
Why would he like her when he could meet much prettier and more impressive women? Is it because someone with a strong sense of responsibility feels guilty, and affection starts from there?
‘Why now? What do I have that’s better than Beatrice? …Then, can I hurt him just as much?’
Useless thoughts kept coming. The days when she imagined she’d be happy just to have Peon’s attention were destroyed, and only bad thoughts surfaced.
“Princess, congratulations.”
Where Princess Keruzhan came to exchange words with the noble ladies was much quieter than other places. This made the noise from elsewhere more audible.
“Maybe I should just remarry now! Hm? Husband? Oh, how funny.”
The Duchess of Monde’s cackling voice could be faintly heard.
“My husband’s been dead for so long!”
It was such a problematic statement that even Kaela, who had been standing indifferently, tilted her head after a few seconds.
“Dead? Did she just say he died?”
“That was the Duchess of Monde just now, right?”
Whispers began to boil up. Meanwhile, Princess Keruzhan was passing through, shaking hands with the noble ladies.
“Just a moment. Be careful.”
Kaela gradually backed away while watching people moving aside for the elderly ladies.
“Please step a little more inside. Just a moment.”
“Oh my, it’s so cramped.”
She silently gave up her spot. There were plenty of people here who wouldn’t let the Duchess of Monde’s statement slide.
“Oh, it was just a joke!”
The duchess’s forced laughter trying to smooth things over could be heard, though quieter than before.
“The smell of alcohol reaches even here.”
“I hear she’s been drinking heavily lately.”
Someone’s muttering about the Duchess of Monde could also be heard.
As the conversation went back and forth, Princess Keruzhan kept moving, and a flow of people began to form at the dock. Some were flustered, and there were continuous moments of people trying to steady others who couldn’t maintain their balance.
“Be careful!”
The elderly ladies in particular tended to stumble even while being careful.
Whose idea was it to watch fireworks from the dock? Ah, yes. It was Marchioness Schroz’s idea. Kaela tried to support the stumbling elderly ladies and moved to the edge to block them with her body to keep them safe.
What she overlooked was that she herself had a delicate frame that could be pushed aside easily.
“Oh! I’m sorry!”
“Oh my!”
As the ladies kept apologizing to each other, Beatrice, who had been watching Kaela barely maintaining her balance at the edge, narrowed her eyes. With her mother causing trouble, she too needed to somehow divert people’s attention elsewhere.
Beatrice didn’t touch Kaela. She just watched the women stumbling in their uncomfortable dresses and moved her lips behind her fan. The spell she had tested in the magic tool room, as expected, worked perfectly.
“Oh my!”
People started bumping and pushing again. Someone fell, an elderly lady was pushed, and Kaela at the edge was pushed along with them.
Unfortunately, there was nothing behind Kaela. The water-colored dress and radiant platinum blonde hair fell helplessly.
After the splash faded, screams belatedly rang out.
“Kyaaah!”
Beatrice watched the scene blankly and thought.
It would be good if she died. If not dead, then coming out with some disability would be nice. If not that, then losing all those dangling jewels and coming out to catch pneumonia and die would be good too.
