Chapter 49

“I, I…”

I could tell how embarrassed Yuria was just by looking at her face.

She lowered her small head in front of me for the first time.

With trembling hands, she crumpled the flowers that adorned the frills of her dress.

‘Damn, looks like she’s having a hard time.’

I narrowed one eye and looked at her.

If Yuria’s question was one in which the effect of the trap only appeared if I answered it, my question was a snare.

Just throwing it would choke the opponent, regardless of the answer.

Everyone in this space knew the answer to my question.

So, the nobles were frozen like ice statues used for party decorations, not making a sound.

In the first place, I didn’t ask a question because I wanted an answer.

With my strangely shining eyes that did not feel human at all, I looked down at her, who was almost on the verge of crying.

‘You can really see clearly, it’s transparent.’

She was showing quite a bit of resentment and misery.

Naturally, with her personality, she would have proudly shouted that she loves him, but I felt she had realized now that she was not in a position to do that.

I asked casually.

“Of course, you love him? The Crown Prince.”

“Oh, no! I…!”

She denied it, but tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

Her face was now red to the point of being pathetic.

“Hmm…”

I looked down at her, slowly turning the glass of champagne in my hand.

“As a citizen, it is natural to love the ruler of the country.”

“!”

“How can you say you are a noble of Aktoum without such loyalty?”

Yuria’s expression hardened for a moment. She might be thinking that she had been beaten.

As she bit her lip, I asked casually.

“Isn’t that right, Lady Mavis?”

“…I’m sorry, I have to go.”

In the end, Yuria turned around, wiping the trickling tears.

The voice that said, “I have to go,” was covered with sobs and could not be heard well.

I watched Yuria weakly stagger back for a moment. Then, embarrassed, I said to Yuria’s maid, who was simply standing there.

“What are you doing, go and take care of her.”

“…Ah, yes! Your Majesty.”

After a while, the maid hurriedly followed Yuria.

‘I feel like I’m the only wicked woman here.’

I shook my head and took a sip of champagne.

It was like watching a chihuahua with a lot of energy coming to attack, then run away while whimpering. Wasn’t the difference in combat power too big in the first place?

‘I wanted to have a good time.’

It would be a little difficult now, wouldn’t it?

She seemed to have a bigger heart for Rixus than I expected.

“Your Majesty.”

Then I heard a familiar voice next to me.

When I turned my head, I saw a woman with luxurious blonde hair.

“Madam Verdi.”

“Did you have a lot of trouble…? Lady Mavis has been chasing the Crown Prince for a long time.”

“It sure looks like it.”

“Because she is the daughter of an outstanding duke and has a good personality, she was often referred to as the partner of the Crown Prince from an early age.”

…Was she taunting me? I didn’t think she would be like that.

Madam Verdi smiled and whispered in my ear.

“I know a lot about the Duke of Mavis. If you ever need it…”

“I can’t just use the precious ‘Verdi’s Ear’ for that kind of information.”

“Oh my goodness!”

Madam Verdi was slightly surprised when her provocation didn’t work, but she seemed quite happy.

That was when I was exchanging words with Madam Verdi.

The gatekeeper shouted in a loud voice.

“The Crown Prince has arrived!”

‘Let’s not look at him.’

As soon as I heard the announcement of Rixus’ arrival, I deliberately turned my gaze away.

I was going to ignore him as if he wasn’t here today.

But, because of the austerity and exclamations of the young girls around me, I couldn’t help but look.

I was so curious. Why were they doing this?

“…….”

After looking around for a bit, I was startled.

‘What, why is he so handsome…?’

He was wearing a white suit with gold embroidery, and looked as innocent as a reindeer that grew up eating only dew. While his intense eyes and strong jawline were like art.

He usually wore Aktoum’s black suits, so he looked cold and difficult to approach.

It was a foul to exude such an atmosphere with a tall stature.

“Oh my… His Highness the Crown Prince is really cool today!”

“My face turns red just by looking at him.”

“He’s handsome.”

Because all women’s eyes recognize good-looking things equally, the reactions of the surrounding wives and young ladies were crazy.

Strangely, my review was twisted.

No, for who did he dress up so nicely?

‘When Yuria sees him, she will be very stunned.’

Just in case, I looked around, and saw that Yuria was not there.

Without realizing it, I was relieved, but somehow I felt strange.

‘Why am I so relieved?’

‘…How do I hate Rixus when he dressed so nicely like this?’

As I was thinking about it, my eyes met with Rixus’.

“!”

For a moment, my heart was pounding and I quickly looked away. As if I never looked at him in the first place.

Fortunately, Madam Verdi spoke to me.

“Your Majesty, those two really have different charms, don’t they?”

“Huh? Those two?”

“His Highness, Crown Prince Rixus, and Archduke Marquis. They compete for first and second place as the best groom of society.”

“…….”

“One is already out of stock.”

Madam Verdi winked at me and pointed with her eyes.

There, there was a handsome man with black hair and black eyes, dressed in neat black clothes like a priest.

Johann Marquis.

Rixus’ uncle and second in line to the throne.

And the center of the nine nobles.

Johann was having a conversation with the nine nobles, including Prime Minister Bernard.

It seemed that Deborah and Marquis Kalen were not at the banquet today.

‘The more I look, the more I crave it.’

I looked at him and had the same thoughts as I did on the day of the high priest’s visit.

If only I could convince that principalist who only wanted Aktoum to prosper and bring him to our side……

Then the nine nobles without its foundation stone would crumble.

He was on the opponent’s side of the chessboard, but I really wanted to bring it over to mine.

This was also a time to move, not just to covet.

“Your Majesty, by the way.”

I listened to Madam Verdi, hoping to hear some important information about Johann.

But what I heard was quite surprising.

Whisper, whisper.

“Since a while ago, the Crown Prince has only been looking at this side.”

“……Yes?”

Surprised, I turned to Rixus and saw him looking this way, just 100 steps away.

It looked like he could observe what I was doing, who I was talking to, whether I laughed or cried, and how many times I took a deep breath.

‘It’s closer than I thought, 100 steps.’

It was clear that he was 100 steps away – baby steps. So he could see everything like a change in facial expression.

When our eyes met, Rixus smiled, folding his eyes slightly in a mischievous manner.

Then he said something with his mouth.

“……?”

What was he saying now? I frowned a little because I couldn’t understand properly.

Rixus moved his lips once more.

‘…What?’

‘Let me shrug my shoulders and raise my hand to show that I don’t understand.’

He mouthed one last time.

You’re pretty, Candy.

As soon as I understood, he smiled lightly and gently.

That smile hit my chest like a spring breeze, and made me excited.

It just made me excited and flustered.

I wasn’t going to care that much, but he was a genius in the aspect of making me care.

I should pretend I didn’t understand… It was during the time when I was trying to turn my gaze away.

“Your Majesty the Queen.”

There was a man who appeared that hooked and pulled my nerves at once, which had been focused on Rixus.

He resembled Rixus a lot, but he was a man with dark, deep eyes and a gentle, pleasant aura.

“Welcome, Archduke Marquis.”

I greeted him with a warmer smile than usual.

He lightly kissed the back of my hand.

“Now I can show my manners.”

I didn’t understand what he was saying for a moment, but belatedly, I remembered the day of the high priest’s visit.

I remembered that Johann subtly retreated because Rixus didn’t let go of my hand.

I said with a smile.

“He’s going to be my husband, but I still can’t predict his behavior.”

“Please give up. He’s my nephew, but I haven’t been able to predict his behavior for over 20 years.”

“Haha.”

It was the first time I had a conversation with someone about Rixus like this, and I genuinely burst out laughing.

Then the band started playing a new song.

“Can I request a dance?”

‘Oh, it’s a chance to get acquainted.’

Still, the talent I was aiming for was asking for a dance. 

Which was great as I was thinking about how to talk to him. 

While dancing, I might be able to gently try to get his seal on the marriage permit…?

With such dark thoughts, I smiled brightly.

“I’d love to.”

Should I slowly open the capture net?

“Take my hand.”

When I grabbed his hand, I was shocked. It was so soft. Rixus’ was hard, with a bit of calluses from holding the sword… 

‘Didn’t they say this man’s hobby was staying in his house to pray? So I guess it’s true.’

Despite the large size, it felt soft as it wrapped around mine.

And it was a little cooler and colder than my hand.

Our dance was far more clumsy than the one I did with Rixus.

We were both taking beginner-like steps.

“It’s like a five-year-old dance.”

“Does the Archduke feel that way too?”

“Since earlier. All the way.”

He nodded his head and smiled quite cutely.

At this point, I seemed to understand why the young ladies went crazy over him, and why he was in either the first or second place when it came to the empire’s best grooms.

“I heard you like to pray.”

“Your Majesty, are you also interested?”

“Honestly, no.”

I answered without hesitation. He laughed again.

“It’s good to be honest.”

“Praying is boring. But, Archduke, I heard that the space you made for prayer is wonderful.”

“There are many artworks. If you are interested, please come take a look.”

“May I?”

He nodded.

“Anytime, Your Majesty. It is my honor.”

Nice, I managed to blow my nose without touching it.(TL/N: an idiom – she managed to get what she wanted without exerting much effort.)

“By the way… is it okay for us to keep dancing?”

I was in the middle of rejoicing when Johann whispered to me and blinked.

Towards the side where Rixus was.

“…….”

Since earlier, I felt that he had been looking at me.

Because the back of my head was always hot.

Finally, during the turning motion of the dance, I slightly checked on Rixus.

Sitting languidly on a long chair. With a glass of wine as red as blood in his hand.

His blue-purple eyes that somehow felt redder than before.

There was an emotion clearly seen on Rixus’ face. And that was–

…It was jealousy.

Ame: Double updates!!