TVLT 15

Chapter 15

In fact, dancing a waltz was quite a good way to have a private conversation in a place filled with so many people.

The same was true when it came to having a secret conversation rather than an ordinary one.

For that reason, there had been exactly one time when she had danced a waltz with Cedric. It had been at the wedding reception of Lawrence and Lissia.

That wedding had also been the moment when Lawrence was transformed from an illegitimate son who could not even be called a prince into the Crown Prince.

No one had expected Cedric to attend. After all, he was the bride’s former fiancé, the man she had broken off her engagement with.

But he had attended both the wedding and the reception.

And he had asked Artizea to dance.

It had probably been the strangest thing to happen in high society around that time.

“I thought you couldn’t dance because I’d never seen you dance before.”

“Wasn’t Your Highness the one who never danced?”

Cedric had looked down at her with an expressionless face.

“Do you know why I asked to dance with you today?”

“I cannot even begin to guess.”

“Is there anything the Marchioness cannot guess?”

“I am neither a saint who has received a divine prophecy about the future nor a sage who can see through the heavens. How could I possibly guess everything? There are countless things I don’t know.”

Just like now, they had held hands and spun around the ballroom that day.

But he had maintained a perfect distance, as though he did not even want the hem of Artizea’s dress to brush against him.

The tension had made it difficult for her to breathe, and she had felt as though every hair on her skin was standing on end.

Artizea had never had much stamina, so the moment the waltz ended, she had nearly collapsed.

She had desperately straightened her back and endured it because she did not want to show such a state in front of Cedric. The memory was still vivid.

“There is something I would like to ask of you, Marchioness, but I do not want anyone else to hear it, or to hear about it from someone else and misunderstand it. I simply wanted to speak face-to-face, looking directly into your eyes, without any political meaning behind it.”

“Please speak. I would never misunderstand Your Highness’s intentions.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“If I were going to misunderstand you, it would make no difference whether I spoke with Your Highness face-to-face or not.”

Cedric had laughed softly.

The vibration of his laughter had sounded beside Artizea’s ear and struck deep into her chest.

Artizea had denied it, but his words had been right.

Words spoken while looking directly into someone’s eyes were different from words spoken while hiding behind a fan or accompanied by a subtle sideways glance.

Unable to look directly at him, Artizea had lowered her eyes, but before long, she had found herself looking at him again as if drawn in.

She had thought her reflection in his clear, dark eyes looked ugly.

“You’re right. That’s how it is. Truth and sincerity mean nothing to you, and you must have always gotten the result you wanted.”

“I apologize.”

“I want you to look after Lissia. That’s what I wanted to say.”

Cedric had said it so simply.

Artizea had looked up at him in surprise.

She was somewhat better than most people at reading others’ feelings, but she had never imagined that Cedric would say something like that to her.

“Why are you telling me? Please tell Crown Prince Lawrence.”

“I cannot trust Lawrence.”

“Do you trust me?”

“I know you did everything you could to marry Lissia to Lawrence because of his legitimacy. Even going so far as to manipulate the prophecy.”

“……”

“But whatever the reason, in the end, it was Lissia’s decision. If that is the case, then there is nothing more I can say.”

Cedric had continued.

“Still, she is like a younger sister to me, so I cannot help but worry about her. You wanted to place the woman who received the prophecy that she would become Empress on the throne. So I only hope that you will protect Lissia, and the Empire, for a long time.”

Even then, Artizea could not lower her head. She could only lower her eyes.

“How could I pretend not to hear Your Highness’s words? I will do my best to protect her.”

But she had failed to keep that promise.

And now, as she danced with Cedric like this, she could not help but remember those thoughts from that time.

Unlike then, Cedric’s expression was relaxed. The hand around her waist moved gently, as though allowing her to lean against him.

Because he doesn’t know anything.

Artizea thought that as she steeled herself.

The ache deep in her chest hurt because she had failed to keep her promise.

That was what she told herself.

By returning to the past, the consequences of the sins Artizea had committed had disappeared.

But that did not mean the sins themselves had disappeared.

This time, she would keep her promise. She would protect Lissia and look after her so that she could become a complete Empress.

As she was thinking about this, she lost focus for a moment.

Artizea had never been particularly athletic. She was not experienced enough at dancing to follow the steps without thinking.

Just as she was about to make a mistake and step on Cedric’s foot, he lightly wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her.

Then he turned half a circle and set her down, as though that had been what he intended to do all along. His lead never faltered.

Artizea suddenly returned to reality. Her face turned bright red with embarrassment.

Cedric smiled.

“My dancing is a little better than yours, Lady.”

“Isn’t it rather unfair to compare me with the movements of a renowned military commander like Your Highness?”

Artizea replied with a straight face. Cedric let out a small laugh.

It was the first time Artizea had seen him laugh like that up close, and she stared at him blankly.

The dance ended. Cedric escorted her outside.

The small carriage Artizea had arrived in was already waiting in front of the entrance.

Cedric helped Artizea into the carriage and climbed in after her. It was easier to talk that way.

The door closed, and soon the carriage began to move.

Only then could Artizea speak.

“Thank you for looking out for me.”

“For what?”

“For dancing with me.”

“I was only doing what a gentleman should.”

“I know you were protecting my dignity in front of Lady Laila of Attiya.”

“It was nothing.”

Cedric shook his head. Artizea smiled faintly.

“Since you’ve already shown me such kindness, may I ask one more favor?”

“Please, go ahead.”

“There is somewhere I would like to go while I am already out. Could you accompany me?”

“I will. I don’t have anywhere in particular to be.”

When Cedric answered, Artizea instructed the coachman to go to Rev Street.

Cedric asked curiously,

“What business do you have in Rev Street?”

Rev Street was a slum. Even sturdy men would hesitate to go there alone, so it was certainly not a place for a noble lady like Artizea.

“There is someone I need to meet there. I was wondering what I would do because I don’t have anyone who can safely escort me that far. It’s a little far, but we have plenty to talk about anyway, so it should be fine. You can come with me, can’t you?”

“I came here to meet you in the first place. Whether we talk in the carriage or in a quiet teahouse makes no difference to me, as long as you’re comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

Artizea bowed her head. Cedric looked at her with interest.

“But it seems you already know what I came here to talk about.”

“You went to the Imperial Palace today, didn’t you?”

Cedric fell silent for a moment. Then he slowly spoke.

“Isn’t it possible that I entered the capital secretly? There would have been no harm in meeting His Majesty after speaking with you.”

“You mentioned Countess Yunis.”

Artizea replied.

“You aren’t close enough to Countess Yunis to have met her privately, so you must have encountered her by chance. And Countess Yunis would have gone to see His Majesty today.”

Cedric remembered Countess Yunis asking him to tell Artizea that she was sorry and grateful for her advice.

“Did you advise Countess Yunis to go see His Majesty today?”

“I didn’t specifically tell her to go today. I only told her that if she wanted to push my mother out of His Majesty’s heart, she would benefit more by being cherished as his daughter than by getting angry, blaming His Majesty, and competing with her.”

Artizea said this calmly.

Cedric looked once again at Artizea’s swollen cheek.

Artizea sat with her shoulders straight and a peaceful expression on her face.

Cedric saw another image layered over that face—an image of her in despair and grief, crying tears.

He could not understand why he felt this way.

He remembered the dream in which he had thought he should not wipe away her tears, while at the same time being unable to bear how much he wanted to do so.

Artizea, unaware that he was angry, continued calmly.

“So, what did you think after going to the Imperial Palace?”

“His Majesty knew that we met yesterday. Did you tell him?”

“I didn’t deliberately tell him. When I went home yesterday, His Majesty was already there.”

“I received a report that you had encountered Sir Kishore.”

“Yes. So I explained the situation. Sir Kishore has always been very kind to me as well.”

Cedric smiled bitterly.

“You don’t need to deceive me with words like coincidence or hide anything from me, Lady Rosan. His Majesty’s attitude has already changed. Just because he encountered you and had you see him off.”

“Yes. I expected that. His Majesty can see much farther ahead than my mother or my brother.”

“His Majesty told me that I was family. It was the first time he had said that to me in several years. He even said that he could never forget my achievements with the Western Army.”

Cedric continued,

“He gave me some time to think, but I believe he will consider it positively. And your relationship with me will probably influence that positive consideration.”

“Yes. I think so too.”

“I didn’t expect His Majesty to be so openly favorable toward me. You really seem like someone who can see the future, Lady.”

Artizea felt embarrassed.

“It may also be because His Majesty was in a good mood thanks to Countess Yunis.”

“Wasn’t that also your doing?”

Cedric pointed at Artizea’s cheek again.

Without thinking, Artizea touched the area around her wound.

“This isn’t important.”

“Don’t you think you should at least explain what happened to someone who is worried about you?”

“It was nothing. Countess Yunis swung her hand in anger, and I happened to get hit.”

“How can you call that nothing?”

“I deliberately let her hit me. She was extremely angry, and I thought she wouldn’t calm down enough to listen to me unless she had some way to release that anger.”

After answering, Artizea said,

“So, have you decided on your answer to my proposal?”

“There is one thing I want to ask first.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Why do you want to divorce after two years?”