Chapter 105
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Chapter 105
"With that, we conclude Part One of the New Year Ceremony. After a brief intermission, we shall proceed to Part Two...."
By the time I'd replayed the incident before the ceremony began over and over in my mind, Part One had already ended.
Throughout the entire first part, I hadn't heard a single word of the Pope's congratulatory address—which droned on like a headmaster's lecture.
And why was that?
Because the sensation of those scorching lips brushing against my forehead still consumed my every thought!
"Vivian. Are you very angry?"
Lahedis, who'd been fidgeting with my hand as I kept my lips firmly pressed together throughout the address, asked me the moment Part One concluded.
"I thought people might assume I was lying to avoid marrying the Crown Prince, so I figured I needed to demonstrate our relationship properly in front of everyone."
"...."
"If I embarrassed you, I'm sorry."
Ugh, wasn't a facial attack against the rules?
My resolve melted like snow before that handsome face, and I reluctantly opened my mouth in surrender.
"...It's not because I was embarrassed."
Of course, I was embarrassed by such a bold display of affection in public.
We'd successfully publicized our relationship before everyone, exactly as Lahedis intended.
But Curtis Rohan, my Aunt, the Duke—they'd all witnessed that moment!
Still, embarrassment was fleeting.
What truly bothered me was....
"My first... kiss passed by so unromantically and publicly like that?"
It was my forehead, not my lips, but still!
'I'd imagined my first kiss would be in a moment far more thrilling and exhilarating than this!'
Embarrassed at having laid bare my fantasy, I watched Lahedis's expression carefully, and suddenly his eyes widened before he burst into laughter.
'Why, why is he laughing...? I'm being completely serious!'
Lahedis, covering his mouth as he chuckled, spoke in a deliberately casual tone.
"Hmm, so you were thinking about kissing without me knowing?"
"Wh...?"
The way he said it made me sound like some sort of lustful person lost in indecent thoughts!
"If I'd known you'd be this upset, I should have done it beforehand."
I found myself at a loss for words, my lips merely pouting, when Lahedis leaned toward me.
"Then...."
And in a soft voice meant only for me, he whispered:
"Shall we do it properly this time?"
Somewhere no one else was around.
The breath tickling my ear and his subtle voice combined, and my face flushed crimson in an instant.
Yet the person who'd made that suggestive remark wore nothing but that characteristic playful smile.
Suddenly, I wondered if perhaps he was only dating me to tease me up close....
"I'm being serious, and you're always joking around!"
"I'm sincere."
What stopped my hands from pinching Lahedis's sides in frustration was an unfamiliar voice.
"Young Duke."
A man dressed in the robes of a junior priest approached me cautiously.
"There's a rehearsal for Part Two of the ceremony at the Annex Building. Would you have a moment to spare?"
In truth, the division into Part One and Part Two existed precisely because of this rehearsal.
Part One of the New Year Ceremony consisted of blessings and rituals conducted by the Temple, while Part Two was conducted through blessings and rituals of the Imperial Family.
The rituals of Part Two involved not only the Imperial Family but also the prominent noble houses.
Each house sent forth their heirs to participate.
Participation in this ritual signified that a house wielded considerable influence within the Empire, so I'd heard that the nobility took great pride in their involvement.
'I was excluded, though.'
The reason was, naturally, Allen.
Allen's proposal had been completely buried beneath the scandal with Lahedis and the revelation of Lahedis's true identity.
From his perspective, he wouldn't want to dredge up the humiliation of a publicly rejected proposal by stirring up trouble with me, so if he possessed any sense, he wouldn't approach me recklessly—but....
'Since that incident happened not long ago, it's best to avoid creating opportunities to cross paths for a while.'
Do we avoid filth out of fear? No—we avoid it because it's repulsive!
Thus, my Aunt had requested of the Emperor that I not be presented as Rowswide's representative at this year's New Year Ceremony.
She cited the reason that I had only recently begun learning noble etiquette and had only recently become an heir, so I was still inexperienced.
Fortunately, the Emperor readily accepted my Aunt's request.
"Then I'll be going, Vivian."
"Do well."
After waving to Lahedis as he departed with the priest, I was about to approach my Aunt and the Duke, who were in conversation, when—
I suddenly felt a gaze directed at me.
In that direction stood the Imperial Princess.
Only then did the matter with the Imperial Princess, which I'd forgotten amid the commotion with Lahedis, resurface in my mind.
'Will she return my greeting if I offer one...?'
With our eyes already locked, it felt awkward to pretend not to see her, and equally awkward to act as though nothing had happened between us.
As I hesitated for a moment and was about to offer a light nod in greeting, the Imperial Princess withdrew her gaze and turned away.
My heart sank at that.
'So it wasn't just my imagination....'
If the Imperial Princess found our relationship uncomfortable, I had no choice but to accept it.
Wanting the other person to accept me simply because I wish to continue getting along with them—that's selfish.
'But... is it really all right to drift apart from the Imperial Princess like this? Based only on circumstances and conjecture?'
The moment I thought that, my body rose of its own accord and moved toward the outside of the building.
Following the path the Imperial Princess had taken.
I don't know which approach would be wiser or more mature in handling a relationship.
But one thing was certain—
'I don't want to drift apart without saying a word, paralyzed by the fear of being rejected.'
Even if it was foolish to need to ask the other person directly, I didn't want to end things this way.
Even if the probability of there being another reason I'm unaware of—and thus the probability of not drifting apart from the Imperial Princess—was slim, I wanted to hold on to that possibility.
'Where did the Imperial Princess go?'
I thought I'd followed immediately, but looking around, she was nowhere to be seen.
It was while I was wandering down the path the Imperial Princess likely took.
"Vivian."
As if she had been waiting for me to follow, the Imperial Princess appeared before me.
"Can we talk for a moment?"
* * *
We made our way behind the building, where few people ventured.
Yet because of everything that had transpired between us, only an awkward silence hung in the air.
'I have to say something before the break ends!'
Just as I finally broke the silence, my lips trembling with the effort.
"About what happened last time—"
"About what happened last time—"
...We both spoke at once, and an awkward silence descended upon us again.
After hesitating for a moment, I yielded.
"Please speak first, Imperial Princess."
The Imperial Princess chose her words carefully before finally opening her mouth.
"I... I'm truly sorry about my brother's actions."
At those words, my eyes widened in surprise.
I had expected her to mention Lahedis, so this topic was entirely unexpected.
"You mean the Crown Prince's matter...?"
"I'm talking about when my brother made that proposal at the banquet."
"Ah...."
"A public proposal like that—no atmosphere, no consideration... It was truly the worst. I couldn't bear to face you."
The Imperial Princess lowered her gaze, unable to meet my eyes, as if she regretted it even now.
"B-but that wasn't your fault, was it?"
"The Emperor ordered that proposal. I was there too, but I couldn't stop it, so I bear some responsibility."
"The Emperor ordered it?"
"His Majesty wanted to draw the Duke of Rowswide completely into his circle. Fortunately, it failed."
My eyes narrowed as I heard this revelation.
'Now I understand why Allen proposed when he didn't seem to care for me at all.'
Everything suddenly made sense.
The Emperor was wary of the Duke and Lahedis, so he must have been anxious about Curtis Rohan and me, who were close to them both.
'Then wouldn't it be enough to distance myself from Curtis Rohan?'
But was there a reason to keep Curtis Rohan by my side despite harboring such suspicion and anxiety?
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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