CH 187

“Hahaha. We thank you for your hospitality!”

The curtains that were used to separate the groups in place of doors fluttered like the ends of a woman’s robes. They were currently in a luxurious banquet hall overseeing a courtyard. The sight of the gardens in front of them was as beautiful as a painting’s. 

White and pink flowers, the names of which she did not know, were in full bloom. As their petals fluttered down like snow, the blinding sunlight forced her to lower her head. 

She squinted her eyes to a close before grabbing the cutlery in front of her when she opened them again. 

The meal had been moderately enjoyable. 

“Hahaha. Walter’s diplomat has a lot of funny stories to tell.”

“There was something else I wanted to say to the aedile. I think our upcoming discussions will be very enjoyable!”

“Haha. I think so too.”

Sipping her goblet, Ashley glanced over at them. She was staring at the other end of the banquet hall at the gentle-looking prince who was smiling widely. 

Even though she was sure they were of the same age, he felt older than her. 

‘If we’re talking about his age, he’s probably two or three years older than me now?’

Cjezarnian. Though she was more familiar with the name Rusbella calls him dearly by, Cjezarn. 

He was the younger brother of the male lead of the <Light of Rusbella>, Walterlenian, and the man who fell in love with his older brother’s woman. Ever since he was knighted, the possibility that he would become the successor to the throne diminished. 

It was easy to see how politics had a part to play in love and war but that man had wanted little to do with such a heavy subject. The man had ended his love for her as a crush and eventually served his role as a cupid between the main leads.

Trying to recall the boy’s face, she slowly unravelled her tangled memories. 

For his quintessentially minor role as the male lead’s younger brother and a spoiled knight who had the three must-not haves– senselessness, a happy-go-lucky attitude and clumsiness– that would make any company turn him away as a recruit, he was moderately popular. 

However, the problem was that his personality did not bode well for him.

“… I wonder why?”

It felt strange to see Granius with the smiling boy. The prince had been thrown onto the battlefield since he was young so calling him a boy suited him more. 

Still, it was shocking. 

She had never thought she would ever get to see male characters who weren’t from the Empire.

… It was strange. 

‘Isn’t it still too much for him to be the leader of their delegation?’

There were many other capable nobles in Walter. It was not that important of a position to require a member of the Royal Family to take on. This could only be because in recent decades, Walter had been subtly pushing back the Empire’s might and was sending this message through whomever they sent to the Empire’s Founding Festival every year. Though it might not seem that way at first, Walter was not the same as the other nations who would also send their princesses, princes and even kings to attend the festival. 

Honestly, though Kaltanias had boasted its dominance over other nations for thousands of years, its hegemony was now seen as a thing of the past. 

Under the current emperor’s reign in particular, though the Curules were dissatisfied with Walter’s significant cultural influence over the Empire, they did nothing against it. 

Of course, they never expressed their dissatisfaction due to their belief in the emperor’s absolute might but as with any internal issue, this reflected more on the Empire itself. 

‘… At least that’s what Penne said.’

The seats were gradually emptying. 

The male lead’s younger brother. There were so many things she wanted to ask him.

Was his older brother doing alright? Was the academy fun? Did he manage to nag a pretty girlfriend? Why was her name Rusbella… 

If anyone were to hear what she was thinking, they might sign a petition to exile the princess to somewhere far away because she was being crazy. 

Ashley’s trailing thoughts eventually skidded to a stop. And the name of the station she arrived at was ‘An Unrealistic Drama’. (1)

‘Should I just ask Lord Ray to kidnap him one of these dark nights?’

She might sound crazy but if she could deal with it quickly then things might not end up that messy. Why weren’t guests visiting his palace every night? If one of these nights, he gets assassinated… The Empire and Walter might be currently level in terms of power but the Empire was still ahead so what would happen if the Empire presses them down with its might? Ashley then realised. Ah. But she didn’t have the power to do that. 

‘… There’s nothing I can do.’

Murmuring to herself as the grapes which had just arrived as dessert hovered over her mouth, Ashley stared at the goblet. 

She swirled the wine in the goblet around. The pieces of grape skin that floated to the top reminded her of someone. 

‘I, Ashley Rosé.’

There were so many unnamed characters surrounding the main characters. 

Sitting at the corners of the table were people with no buffs, mere nobodies and even though she herself was an extra, she couldn’t approach them even if she wanted to. 

She had a lot of questions to ask but she couldn’t join them because she was the princess, a woman. 

She was treated like a decoration, merely a flower in a vase placed atop a table. An ornament to fill the space in the background. With a broken stem, it was hard to tell if she was even alive. 

‘I don’t think it’s fair. If I have to make a fuss…’

She stared at Castor who was sitting above them. He was leaning languidly against his backrest glittering in gold, looking bored as if the seat he was on was just air. Judging from how he let his long robes flow down like that, he didn’t bother to hide his nonchalance. It was clear that he didn’t care about the seat he was in at all.

She locked gazes with his languid one. Hurriedly, Ashley turned her head away before letting out a sigh.

‘It’d be nice if he stopped looking at me.’

From a little while ago, he had been gazing upon her gently. She couldn’t make too big of a move under his watchful gaze. 

“Enjoy the rest of your time here.”

“It will be our honour. Your Highness.”

After he finished his meal, Castor formally saluted everyone before disappearing from the hall as if he had been waiting for it to end.

Even though it was rude of him to do so, their displeasure could not win against Castor’s presence. Overwhelmed, the people of Walter could only express their bewilderment and burning fury after Castor left. Furthermore, no one dared to speak out. 

“His Majesty has bestowed upon the envoys his precious grape wine to thank you all for your precious time. Wouldn’t you like to taste it?”

Surprisingly, Hernandez, who had been keeping quiet as if he was dead this whole time, was the one who spoke up to absolve the awkward situation. 

She stared at Hernandez blankly. 

“Are you a good dancer?”

Unfamiliar with seeing what the duke was like when he was working, she was captivated by him only to be surprised at the unfamiliar voice that entered her ears. 

‘When did he get here?’

She was sure that he had just been talking with the ministers a distance away with an innocent smile. 

His eyes were so big, it made the rest of him look slender. Nevertheless, he couldn’t hide the warmth and naivety in his bright eyes. 

She took a glance to catch Dane and Hernan in the middle of a conversation with Walter’s ministers and senior nobles. 

‘No one is paying any attention to me.’

There were couches scattered across the hall on which anyone was free to sit on to rest. Everyone was either lying down or sitting down to enjoy a goblet of wine for dessert.

“I’ve already introduced myself, haven’t I? I am the Prince of Walter, Cjezarnian. And I’m really looking forward to this festival!”

“Uh… uh… Right, thank you.”

“I’ve been begging my father and my brother to let me go to one since I was a child but they keep rejecting me. I must be lucky. I heard that you’ll be dancing this year to celebrate the year you reach adulthood, right?”

He was trying his best to speak politely and calmly but there was a warmth and excitement in his voice that he could not hide.

“I’ve been looking forward to it. I’ve heard many great things about it from my knight who has been here often.”

The girl took a moment to examine the memories that ran through her mind. 

‘Alright, you shouldn’t be that different from how you are in the original novel, right?’

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like his personality would be starkly different from what had been depicted unlike Amor. 

However, in a few seconds, Ashley had to rethink her evaluation of him because she had to take a step back since his face got too close. 

“Ah, please don’t be surprised. I cannot let anyone else hear this.”

The fluttering strands of his silver hair caught her eye. In any case, this ignorant man, who looked like a boy, lowered his head before raising his hand and whispering. 

“You know.”

He spoke in a low voice. The way he only lowered his back and widened his eyes made him look like a child about to sneak some snacks without his mother knowing.

“I have a favour to ask of you. Could you please hear me out?”

“A favour?”

Her eyes widened. 

At the same time, he cried out, “Ah, did you get hurt?” before pointing to her cheek as if he had just discovered it. 

“This is not a scar, Don’t mind it and just tell me what you want.”

The boyish man looked agitated.

“There’s something I really want to do before the Founding Festival starts. I’m keeping this a secret from my attendants. Alright?”

What did he mean by a favour? When there was only 5 days left till the start of the Founding Festival?

In addition, it was a personal request to the Imperial Family, no, in fact it was a personal request to the Imperial woman. As part of the delegation and the Walter Royal Family, he could not move on his own. Furthermore, he was the leader of the delegation. 

‘I wonder how this will affect the relationship between the Empire and the kingdom?’

When she gave him an incredulous stare, a man’s eyes still remained bright.

‘He’s being serious. He’s serious.’

Ashley was speechless.

“I’m begging you. Hm? Yes?”

“My prince, could you let go of my hand?”

“Ah, right. Please call me Cjezarn.”

Just to reiterate but he was a senseless man, who grew up in a very loving environment and someone who had a brightness that would not lose to the sun. It didn’t match what she imagined the man with the three must-not haves to be.

Actually, she had expected it but it was worse than she thought. 

He seemed to have no doubt that she would hear him out. 

But, what’s this?

Did the diary change its predictions without her knowledge? The girl was seriously rolling around in misfortune. Even so, her life was such a mess, it would be enough for her if she gets even a little bit of luck.

She smiled innocently as her bright eyes curled like a green leaf.

“Alright.”

***

The sky outside was clear with only a thin layer of clouds. 

The soft sunlight spilling through the windows was stinging her now. 

Perhaps a hot summer would be hitting the Empire after the Founding Festival concludes.

The delegation parted in the hallway and returned to the residences they would be staying in. 

The prince seemed to have had something else to say but backed down unwillingly when he noticed the ministers’ gazes. 

“We will be leaving first.”

She made eye contact with the white-haired duke but she turned her gaze away first. She was not used to this side of him. 

Still, she turned away and walked out of the palace.

“The season of fire is coming.”

When she turned her head to look up, all she saw was Dane’s cheek since he was walking next to her. 

“Right. Time flies so fast. I didn’t know my performance would come so soon.”

As the scent wafted into her nose, Dane’s soft brown hair fluttered over his forehead. His hair kept covering his smile. 

“Are you nervous?”

“Uhm, am I…”

The girl glanced at her hands.

“Honestly, I’m scared. That I’ll make a mistake.”

She couldn’t deny what she was afraid of. 

She struggled to suppress her fear and instinctive desire to escape whenever Castor was present. In a way, it helped with her stage fright. 

“… It’ll be my first time being in front of the people.”

Being the princess, it was something she had to overcome anyway though she had no idea that she would be doing it with the tyrant. 

Well, she couldn’t back out now.