TVGS 112

Chapter 112

A little later, the attendant filled his glass with wine, and the palace servants also poured wine into all of our glasses.

It was the first toast shared by everyone after taking back the throne from the Rebel Emperor.

“Welcome to all the noble guests and foreign envoys present.”

Etias spoke without taking his eyes off me.

“With a beautiful will, Oswell has passed through the age of darkness and opened a new sky, and that glory…”

My heart pounded.

“…will be eternal.”

He then raised the glass he was holding upward.

Everyone lifted their glasses together and shouted loudly.

The sound echoed so loudly my ears tingled.

“Eternal glory!”

Soon, I saw Eti tilt the glass of wine.

The wine flowed through his red lips, and his masculine throat moved up and down.

I, entranced by that sight, also slowly lifted my glass and drank the wine.

Behind me came the hearty laughter of Camel Beatrice and the cheerful voices of other nobles.

“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Long live!”

The music started again.

As the beautiful melody began, Etias handed his empty glass to the attendant and stepped forward.

He came down from the platform, closer with every step, until he was standing in front of me.

He looked at me with eyes so piercing it was as if he could see through me.

Awkwardly, I smiled and spoke.

“Today… you look wonderful.”

He was always wonderful, but dressed in the emperor’s ceremonial robes and standing neatly before me, he was like a perfect prince from a fairy tale.

“….”

Even at my compliment, he said nothing, just gazed at me quietly.

‘What is he thinking?’

When the silence lasted too long and I flinched my eyebrows—

He reached out his hand to me.

“Dance with me.”

His low voice brushed my ears, and I looked at him with a dry mouth.

It was a ball, so it wasn’t like I hadn’t thought of this. Still, my cheeks grew hot.

I nodded and slowly placed my hand on his.

As we began to move, all eyes followed us.

At the party celebrating the new emperor’s enthronement, the emperor’s first dance was meaningful enough to be recorded in children’s textbooks.

And since the partner of that first dance was usually the future empress, it was even more so.

With the calm rhythm of the waltz, Etias’s arm wrapped around me.

“….”

Even after asking for the dance, he remained silent.

I still couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

Under the dazzling chandelier, I moved lightly across the dance floor, matching Etias’s steps.

‘He’s good….’

During the Rebel Emperor’s reign, he had rarely danced, mostly just standing still at parties.

He never even attended the academy’s graduation party.

So I didn’t think he’d be good at dancing.

But now, Etias was leading me flawlessly, with precise posture and movement.

Each time his hand wrapped around my waist, heat rose in me.
Each time his lips and breath leaned near, my heart tickled.

At the end of the waltz, he spun me around, then caught my waist and lowered me slightly.

His low voice brushed against my ear.

“You’re so beautiful, my heart almost stopped.”

“…!”

I flinched and looked at Etias.

“It felt like being struck on the head.”

Under the chandelier, his sharp eyes glowed like a beast.

Then, still not looking away from me, he slowly raised me back up.

‘He said… beautiful.’

A smile threatened to spread at my lips, but I held it back.

‘It was worth dressing up.’

As we finished our first dance, loud applause filled the hall.

Soon, the other nobles began dancing with their partners.

Etias, who had been staring at me for a long time, slowly turned his gaze to the newly arrived guests.

They were envoys from the West.

With pale faces and nearly silver eyes, dressed in their ornate fashion, they looked at us.

“…Guests from the West have arrived.”

Barzenka and Gran Orden.

They were core members of the five Western nations that sought to invade us.

Two of their representatives approached Etias and me, bowing politely.

One was a young man, the other a young woman.

“We greet the sun of Oswell. I am Prince Dale Ordens of Gran Orden.”

“May Oswell’s glory be eternal. I am Gomels, foreign minister of Barzenka.”

Nodding slightly, Etias spoke to them.

“It must have been a long journey.”

“No, it is only right to come when the new emperor ascends the throne.”

With blue-toned hair and light-blue eyes, the prince of Gran Orden spoke smoothly.

“We brought a humble gift, please accept it.”

“We too brought a gift, Barzenka’s royal perfume, used even by our king.”

Though they offered congratulations and favors, their hidden intent was war. My lips twisted bitterly.

Then the prince of Gran Orden turned his eyes briefly to me and spoke.

“I have long heard of Duke Elemore’s reputation. It was a pity my marriage proposal was refused, but it is an honor to see you now.”

Marriage proposal.

At his words, everyone’s eyes turned to me.

Among the many proposals sent to House Elemore, one had been from the prince of Gran Orden—it seems it was him.

His face was handsome, but still nothing compared to Etias.

And I detested people whose outside and inside didn’t match.

If those plotting to invade Oswell sent me a proposal, the reason was obvious.

They wanted to use me to help conquer the empire.

“If it pleases you, may I have the next dance?”

He stepped closer, knelt on one knee, and smiled.

“I refuse.”

Etias’s cold voice cut off the prince’s request.

He stepped between me and the prince, blocking me with a strong gesture of possession and protection.

“….”

The prince, already pale, slightly raised his brows in surprise.

He slowly rose, speaking with faint complaint.

“Your Majesty seems to cherish Duke Elemore very much. Well, I can understand—she is so beautiful.”

Then, with those pale blue eyes, he looked at me.

At his side, Gomels lifted the corner of his lips and spoke to Etias with a joking tone.

“A beautiful flower always attracts bees, so you must always be careful, Your Majesty.”

“Are you saying I am the bee?”

The prince of Gran Orden laughed as if finding it absurd, and Gomels laughed again.

Watching them exchange such words with calm faces chilled my heart.

‘On the surface they joke, but inside their thoughts are black as pitch.’

Etias, noticing, gently placed his hand on my shoulder.

I gave him a faint smile, recalling what we had once spoken.

—It’s not proper for the host to strike the guest, no matter how filthy the guest may be.

Etias, clever as always, understood what I meant.

—But conflict between guests is another matter entirely.

At that moment, someone appeared who could play the role of sword in this play.

“…That’s…”

The nobles’ eyes turned to the two tall men entering late.

“Isn’t that His Grace the Grand Duke?”

Walking with blazing green eyes full of anger, wearing Montella’s uniform, was the Grand Duke.

Beside him, with a sly smile of satisfaction, walked Heros, who had fulfilled his task.