Chapter 101

One’s Blood (13)

The crown prince escorted Rowena to her seat and he also took his seat.

The aristocrats kept a close eye on the figure. It was not just chivalry that the crown prince made Rowena sit down first.

It was to show what position she was in for him.

Rowena’s attire could be said to be a pass in the aristocracy’s baseline. She did not enter the ball herself and became one of the colorful and beautiful birds showing off her feathers after her family’s troubles.

Cecil raised Rowena’s hand, kissed the back of her hand, and looked back at the nobles. They still couldn’t raise their heads.

“… Look up.”

The aristocrats raised their upper bodies in unison, expressing their gratitude. A piercing glance fell on Rowena, but she was not frightened.

She knew that she was scared of being assaulted in reality and that those eyes were nothing.

The Marquis, the head of the pro-emperor faction, and the Duke of the pro-noble faction approached. From their standpoint, they were keeping each other in check, but in practice, both were Cecil’s servants.

They were all aware of their fear of the crown prince, and they were also those who had already given in to him and vowed obedience.

“I would like to congratulate you both on your engagement!”

Rowena’s ostensible status was a Count’s daughter, but their engagement a few days ago allowed her to be treated like a princess.

It was the custom of the Isfacia Empire that the prince’s fiancee should not be lower in status than the Duke or the Marquis. It was also to prevent being called out by other nobles due to their low birth.

The two nobles who kneeled were also representatives of all the other nobles. Cecil accepted their greeting as if he were used to it.

“Yes, let’s hope that the loyalty of everyone to me will continue in the future. Even to the woman who’s gonna be my wife.”

“…”

No one doubted that the current crown prince would also lead the empire well, following the current emperor who led the golden age of the empire.

They stepped down and only a few of the high-ranking nobles were allowed to go near the crown prince and his fiancée. Cecil ordered to play music again when he felt that the ball had become somewhat of a greeting.

The first dance at the ball was performed by others.

It was natural in a way since the emperor was ill and Count Adelia had a fire incident.

Rowena looked at the dancing couples with indifferent eyes and at the nobles surrounding them.

Music was being played, but after this dance, everyone wanted to come to the crown prince and Rowena and say hello.

The people Rowena really shouldn’t forget came up one by one and greeted them.

Cecil had an excellent brain. But not all nobles were remembered.

In that case, the adjutant or servant standing next to them informed them of their names. Rowena also had such a secretary and a maid.

“Your Highness.”

A gorgeous beauty in a dress with red and black lace appeared with her father. Cecil looked at the father and daughter with indifferent eyes.

“I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

She was the daughter of the Marquis of Hasler. That daughter was also a woman who was listed as a candidate for the crown princess for Cecil.

…Was it the nephew of the second Empress?

Emilia Hasler.

Although her father was the younger brother of the second queen, her mother was different. She was a pretty woman who was rumored to have been born by the Marquis sleeping with his pre-marriage lover.

Emilia was also a great beauty, like her father. Like a colorful rose with red and black decorations, she would have caught the eyes of people even if she was in a corner.

Her outfit must have been mindful of the fact that the emperor was ill. The red color would have avoided criticism that it was likely to go to a funeral.

It was a colorful and beautiful dress, so it drew attention to her naturally. It was a powerful outfit different from Rowena’s golden dress.

In Cecil’s eyes, the problem was that she looked like a dung fly in a spicy sauce.

Cecil was like this to any beauty. In the first place, a woman like Emilia didn’t suit his taste.

Nevertheless, Emilia could hardly let go of her greed.

The marriage involved two queens at a time. On the outside, they pretended to embrace the two forces and unfolded a conciliatory policy, and on the inside, the two forces were made to speak ill of each other.

The two queens fought bitterly over the love of the beautiful emperor.

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