TSIMG 19

Chapter 19

Alisis waved her hand with exaggerated gestures and shrugged. As if to show that her actions so far had been a joke, Lodia eventually let out a hollow laugh.

Then, Alisis grinned at her and headed off in another direction, and only then did Lodia breathe a sigh of relief. Histein, who had bowed toward his superior’s retreating back, looked at Lodia as soon as he straightened up.

“Are you alright? Her Excellency can be quite playful.”

“I’m fine. She just seems a little mischievous, but it doesn’t bother me, so don’t worry.”

Lodia gave a light smile.

Relieved by her expression, Histein let out a small sigh and extended his right hand to her. Just then, the orchestra began to change the piece they were playing.

“Then, if you’re willing, would you care to dance?”

“Alright.”

After a very brief moment of hesitation, Lodia lightly placed her hand on his palm. Histein pulled her hand and led Lodia to the center of the ballroom. People’s gazes instantly clung to them. There were several other couples there besides Histein and Lodia, but everyone’s attention was focused solely on the two of them.

“Who is that woman…?”

“Th-that, you know. Proxheit…”

“Ah, the one said to be Mr. Roatt’s ward…?”

“Her maternal line…”

“The rumors… are…”

In fragments. The murmuring of the crowd faintly entered her ears. Like on a certain day long ago, people were whispering about her. Lodia, facing Histein, squeezed her eyes shut. The sweet music of the orchestra, which had been sounding right before her, grew distant.

‘After all, was it a mistake? What if I’m causing trouble for Mr. Roatt.’

Just as that thought flashed through her mind, Histein’s voice cut through the murmuring and flew straight into her ear.

“Look at me, Lodia.”

At his words, she slowly opened her eyes. Right before her were turquoise eyes as deep as a forest. Steady, unwavering eyes.

“It will be alright. You’ve done well so far, and thanks to you, I’ve gotten past a difficult situation. So it will be fine going forward as well.”

Histein nodded after finishing his words. His hand, holding hers, tightened. Only then did Lodia feel Histein’s warmth seeping into her cold fingertips.

“…I’m sorry.”

“In times like this, ‘thank you’ comes first.”

With a soft laugh, Histein confirmed that Lodia’s eyes were no longer wavering, then slowly began to move his feet. Lodia’s body followed his lead.

Behind the high and low strings of the violins and cellos, the bright tones of a flute followed. A slow, arranged allemande in duple time filled the ballroom.

Following the beat, Histein pushed Lodia’s hand forward. Lodia took a large step forward in response, and when he pulled her hand back, she naturally spun around and nestled into his arms. The hem of the blue dress rippled like gentle waves. The opaque, shimmering tulle, catching the chandelier light, sparkled like broken sea foam.

Histein looked down at his partner’s face. A lovely pink flush rose on her fair cheeks. For a moment, he thought about how warm and soft it must feel, and how he wanted to brush it with his thumb.

“……!”

Startled by his own involuntary thought, Histein’s foot slipped. He had tripped over his own feet, messing up his step.

“Are you alright?”

Lodia quickly noticed and adjusted her steps. Because she spun around half a turn, the people around didn’t seem to notice Histein’s slight stumble.

“I’m, fine.”

Lodia tilted her head at Histein’s answer. His eyes, which had been steady just moments ago, were now shaking violently, as if struck by an earthquake. What could be agitating him so much? Lodia wondered briefly, but then dismissed it.

“Mr. Roatt, hello. Do you have a moment?”

As soon as the dance ended, people flocked to him like vultures. Lodia sent Histein, who looked at her with an apologetic expression, off to them, and then stood in a corner of the ballroom.

Leaning against the wall, Lodia could see almost the entire hall where the banquet was being held. There were many people in the hall.

Among them were people Lodia recognized, those who had once been high-ranking nobles. In the old days, commoners couldn’t have set foot in such a ballroom. Lodia rolled her eyes and looked into every corner.

The people gathered in small groups, chatting, were divided into three types: those who were all commoners, those who were mixed, or those who were all former nobles.

She knew intellectually that the class society had been abolished, but seeing it in person was completely different. It felt different from what she had seen at university.

As she stood quietly with her arms crossed, surveying the ballroom, several men approached her to ask for a dance. But Lodia refused them, pleading fatigue. As this repeated, there was no one left near her. Glancing around, she raised her right hand.

“Excuse me.”

Lodia called over a passing servant of Vicebian Palace and asked for a glass of cold sparkling wine. She couldn’t drink high-alcohol beverages at a gathering like this. Thinking her throat was a little dry, her gaze returned to the ballroom.

Inside the ballroom, people of all ages and genders, dressed in free styles within the dress code, were gathered and chatting.

It was a stark contrast to the old days, when everyone wore uniform clothes and talked about who was superior.

“It’s fascinating, isn’t it?”

“Ah!”

Just then, someone approached Lodia’s side. Short platinum blonde hair. It was Alisis. Holding a wine of a color similar to Lodia’s hair, she stood close beside Lodia.

“If you look so surprised, you’ll make me feel self-conscious.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s a joke, a joke.”

Alisis waved her empty hand at the pure reaction.

“I can’t seem to joke with you. Your guardian handles things so slickly that he’s sometimes no fun, but you respond so earnestly that I feel bad joking around. I don’t mean that in a bad way, though. I trust you understand.”

“Of course, Your Excellency.”

Lodia took the wine glass the servant handed her and replied smoothly. Alisis, as if waiting for it, lightly clinked her glass against Lodia’s. A clear *ching* sound resonated softly.

“It’s good to see. Amazing. Isn’t it?”

Alisis’s eyes were taking in the entire ballroom. Lodia nodded silently at those words.

“Countless people bled for this. I did too. So I cannot forgive anyone who tries to shake this peace. It’s all the more precious because so many people bled to obtain it.”

Lodia couldn’t fully grasp it, but she understood to some extent.

“Are you enjoying the banquet?”

“Yes. It’s awkward because it’s been so long, but I’m enjoying it.”

“Oh my. Roatt left his partner, who hasn’t been to a banquet in a long time, and went where?”

Alisis put on her usual exaggerated expression. Her crumpled, pitiful-looking face was so funny that Lodia couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“So many people are looking for Mr. Roatt. You know it too, Your Excellency. That he’s the richest and busiest man in Heint.”

“That’s right. My aide being richer and busier than me is… well. Is there nothing he lacks? The gods are truly unfair.”

She complained sincerely.

“Anyway, I hope you enjoy the banquet. According to my prediction, something very interesting is going to happen today.”

“What kind of interesting thing?”

“Hmm, wouldn’t it be no fun if I told you in advance? Just watch and see. What it is.”

With a low chuckle, Alisis waved her hand and left Lodia’s side.

She had approached so quietly no one noticed, but left leaving behind a lingering impression. Lodia sighed lightly and took a sip of her wine.

‘Interesting, huh…’

This banquet was held to welcome the Second Prince of Cheda and the Chancellor. Of course, Lodia, who had known of their entry into Heint much earlier, suspected that the ‘interesting thing’ the Chancellor mentioned was related to the purpose of their visit.

But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t even begin to guess what the Chancellor meant. Lodia soon gave up speculating. Whatever it was, it probably had nothing to do with her, so she’d find out naturally while enjoying the banquet.

Her eyes, which had been staring blankly upward while she was lost in thought, slowly drifted down. The former Crown Princess, who had supposedly invited Cheda, and the Second Prince of Cheda had not yet appeared, and the banquet atmosphere was already reaching its midpoint.

Having drunk about half her wine, Lodia’s eyes caught Histein in the distance, his deep golden hair slicked back with pomade.

What a striking man.

Lodia thought that and followed Histein’s movements with her eyes. There were many adult men around him, but quite a few unmarried women were also crowded around him.

“……”

Objectively speaking, Histein Roatt was truly an impressive man. Tall, well-built, and his looks went without saying. Lodia could swear she had never seen a more handsome man during her time at the academy and university.

Furthermore, he was a self-made man with the nickname ‘Hotel King of the Western Continent,’ and he was the Chancellor’s aide. Since he was the same age as her brother, it wouldn’t be strange at all if he were already married. So it was natural that there were many unmarried women around him. Anyone would want to marry him.

Lodia pouted her lips for no reason and averted her gaze to the other side.

And just then.