CH 12

Without saying a word, Cain left pergola first. Lariana anxiously bit her nails. 

No, it can’t be. Lejandro wouldn’t betray her. No, please, let it not be true.

She nervously tried to straighten the crumpled hem of her dress, but it wouldn’t smooth out. Just like the dress that wouldn’t lose its wrinkles, was there something wrong with her life?

“That can’t be true.”

Muttering lightly, Lariana briskly walked back toward the Grand Hall where the ball was taking place.

⋆ ★ ⋆

As she descended the stairs of the Grand Hall, her legs felt weak. In the center of the ballroom, there was an attractive man with dark red hair, symbolizing the Martessen royal family. It was Lejandro, who had just arrived at the ball.

He was surrounded by Serren’s diplomatic envoys. Come to think of it, today’s event was a reception to welcome Serren’s diplomats.

Serren… the betrothal with Princess of Serren. Even though it was spring, she felt cold and desolate. Lariana’s entire body trembled. She wanted to meet Marina before Lejandro.

“Lariana.”

“Your Highness.”

However, as Lariana searched for Marina, Lejandro approached her. As usual, he wrapped his arm around Lariana’s waist. It was the same touch as yesterday, but it felt awkward this time.

“What did you talk about with Cain?”

“Oh, just various things. He asked about my father.”

“About Count Heliosen?”

“Yes, he mentioned how he was grateful for the help he received during his visit to Heline.”

There were many people watching, so Lariana couldn’t bring up the topic of the betrothal. She swallowed hard as she received a glass of champagne from a servant. 

Lejandro, who had been silently observing, grabbed Lariana’s wrist as she held the glass. Lariana winced slightly, feeling the tight grip.

“Your Highness, it hurts.”

“Lari, don’t lie.”

“What?”

Lejandro narrowed his eyes, as if trying to gauge her intentions. Could it be that someone overheard her conversation with Cain and spread it around?

Every aspect of her conversation with Cain was problematic from beginning to end. Lejandro’s betrothal, Cain’s proposal, and even Lejandro’s feelings toward her. He must never find out.

“You really had nothing else to talk about when you met with your former lover?”

“Are you implying that you don’t trust me?”

“Oh, my little songbird. That can’t be true.”

Leaning slightly on Lejandro’s shoulder, she spoke in a sulking manner. As her annoyed expression softened, Lejandro’s previously tense expression also relaxed.

Fortunately, he seemed unaware of anything.

“Your Highness, I have something to tell you.”

“Do it now.”

“Can we do it alone, just the two of us?”

As Lariana took his hand and led him, Lejandro obediently followed.

“What is it?”

Lariana glanced around as they reached the balcony. The other balconies on either side were also empty. It was possible because Lejandro had made arrangements in advance.

“Don’t you look exceptionally beautiful today? Like a bride about to be married? How much more beautiful will you be at our wedding?”

Lejandro exclaimed in admiration, exaggeratedly looking at her up and down.

Lariana felt a little better with his words and actions, and she felt relieved. If he could say something like that while betraying her, then he wasn’t human.

Since they have no need to be conscious of the surrounding gazes, Lejandro tried to pull Lariana into an embrace. Lariana gently pushed him away and stepped back.

She took several deep breaths before asking her question.

“Your Highness, are you betrothed to Princess Julia of Serren?”

Lejandro smiled and tilted his head playfully.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ah, he wasn’t human. Without a moment’s hesitation, Lejandro casually replied.

Cain, and now Lejandro too… At this point, Lariana wondered if there was something wrong with her. In fact, it wasn’t just her, but everyone around her seemed to think she was different from everyone else.

She felt weak, even her small fan felt heavy as she placed it on the balcony railing. Leaning her body precariously against the railing, Lariana continued to take deep breaths.

“Lari, are you alright?”

Surprised by the change, Lejandro approached her. He gently caressed Lariana’s straight spine with affection. As he did, Lariana reacted as if she had been touched by a bug.

“Don’t touch my body!”

“Lari…”

“Then what about me? What am I?”

“Ha… Lari, I returned victoriously from the war in Davask.”

“So what?”

“Don’t you know why I said that? My father had doubts about you. Even though Martessen doesn’t pay much attention to noble status, it’s still not fitting for a count’s daughter to be an Empress.”

Avoiding eye contact, Lejandro raised his arms on the balcony railing.

The Count of Heliosen, Lariana’s father, was originally not a noble. He followed in the footsteps of his knight grandfather and earned his noble status as a knight himself.

Furthermore, Count Heliosen established his reputation and position as a symbol of the changing Martessen by becoming a noble after several hundred years as a commoner.

Despite being a count, Heliosen belonged to a newly emerging noble family, unlike the long-established prestigious families that had been around for centuries.

Lariana was well aware of her humble origins. Due to her social status, she initially rejected the advances of Lejandro. However, it was Lejandro himself who first assured her that it was okay and promised love and marriage to her.

“You knew from the beginning that my father was a count, didn’t you? Didn’t you promise to marry me knowing that?”

“Well, that was when my position was secure. Besides, there were so many rumors about your birth.”

“Your Highness, you know very well that the rumor about me being a witch’s daughter is a baseless rumour.”

Amidst various other rumors that plagued her, Lariana’s birth was naturally included. Her mother was a noblewoman from the long-lost Kingdom of Rindell, which had perished decades ago. Her mother’s family, the Baron Alena family, had migrated to Davask and now held noble status in Davask.

Being a noble from a hostile nation was an issue, but the bigger problem was that Lariana’s mother hailed from the long-lost Rindell.

The fallen kingdom of Rindell was known as a mystical land, renowned for its sorcery and curses. The female sorcerers of Rindell were particularly feared for their exceptional abilities and was often labeled as witches. As a result, even in Martessen, women of Rindell origin were falsely accused of being witches and subjected to mass witch trials.

For Lariana, having a mother from Rindell was a great dishonor, and she had been relentlessly plagued by the false rumor of being a witch’s daughter.

“Lari, don’t worry. When I ascend to the throne, I will introduce a harem system, just like in Davask.”

Lejandro held Lariana’s hand and met her gaze. She forced a bitter laugh, turned her head, and bit her lip so hard it tore.

“Just wait a little longer until I ascend. Your life as a mistress won’t last long. I will make sure to include you as a concubine.”

Lejandro rambled on with nonsensical words.

Even the revered Emperor, who was considered the greatest Emperor in Martessen’s history, failed to introduce a harem system due to the opposition of the nobles.

How could he, even with his status, achieve something that even the Emperor himself couldn’t? Especially with the divided nobility, it would be difficult to secure power and in the event of a contested succession to the throne. How on earth…

“Stop insulting me! I don’t want to hear anymore. Stop, I’ll stop now. If the betrothal is already decided, I will gracefully step aside.”

“Lariana, my love is only for you.”

Lariana questioned whether she loved him. She couldn’t say she was in love, but she did like Lejandro. It felt good to be by his side, with everyone looking up to them. Thinking that way, although she felt angry, she didn’t feel miserable that she wanted to die, unlike when she was betrayed by Cain Delacroix.

Lariana stared silently at Lejandro and decisively stepped out onto the balcony.

She rushed through the grand hall as if she was flying, but she couldn’t go outside. The gatekeeper’s trumpet signaled the Emperor’s arrival.

Lariana had no choice but to kneel and bow her head. All the nobles did the same.

If it was before the Emperor’s entrance, she might have been able to leave the hall. But now, she couldn’t step outside. The entrance gate, which had always been closed after the Emperor’s entrance speech and the subsequent dance of couples or lovers, remained firmly shut.

At this moment, Emperor Ivelian II, who was known for his long-winded speeches, was particularly talkative. All the nobles concealed their boredom and hoped for the speech to end quickly.

“There is an important announcement for everyone.”

All eyes in the hall were focused on the Emperor. Even without hearing it, Lariana somehow knew what the Emperor would say. Marina, who had approached her side unnoticed, playfully nudged her friend and made a mischievous gesture with her eyes.

“The betrothal of Martessen’s Prince Lejandro von Martessen and Serren Kingdom’s Princess Julia Serenika has been decided. The two will be betrothed within this year. We are very pleased and satisfied with this alliance, as it brings together the Kingdoms with long histories.”

Marina, taken aback by the unexpected news, tightly held her friend’s hand. Lariana didn’t even realize her hand was being held. She was disoriented.

Her eyes wandered around, looking for Cain. He had clearly said that the announcement of the betrothal would take some time. When her gaze met Cain’s, he looked at her with genuine sympathy.

Slowly, reality dawned on Lariana’s mind as she took in the scene of the ball. Everyone in attendance looked at her and whispered behind discreetly. The mocking expressions of the nobles were unbearable.

In an instant, she, who was once hailed as the belle of society, became the wallflower of the ball.