Chapter 90
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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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Chapter 90
The moment I witnessed that, my mind reeled.
'Father didn't hear this man speaking ill of me? Why on earth would he—!'
Back when Father and I ran a bakery in the Village.
There had been a time when a drunken stranger accosted me in broad daylight.
Back then, Father had stopped me from beating the man senseless, but now that I knew Father's true identity....
'I need to stop this bastard before he gets pummeled!'
Just as I moved to cut off the Young Noble, who waited for my response with an oblivious, greasy smile, a familiar voice reached my ears.
"Vivian."
When I turned, the Duke had already stepped closer and extended his hand to me.
"Given our history together, might this old man claim the second dance?"
Perfect timing, Duke!
With the Duke's arrival, the Young Noble could no longer press his advances, and though Father seemed reluctant, he at least released his grip on his sword.
I quickly placed my hand upon the Duke's and together we moved to the center of the Ballroom.
Just as I was about to complain to the Duke about Father's overprotectiveness—
"Tsk, what a pathetic creature, looking like some slime spat out and chewed up, yet daring to be so presumptuous."
...Well, it seemed the Duke's overprotectiveness rivaled Father's.
* * *
In the Ballroom, all eyes were fixed upon Kaltz and Vivian as they danced.
Among those watching, one gaze held unmistakable displeasure.
'Of all people, she had to be Dane's daughter.'
Orpen observed Vivian laughing without a care in the world, recalling how his carefully laid plans had unraveled.
'I had intended to frame that half-demon girl as the mastermind and implicate the Duke alongside her, before the Knight Order could capture the dark mages and expose the truth.'
But Dane's unexpected return had made it impossible to frame Vivian as the culprit.
If he did so, Dane—who knew the method to obtain the Demon King's heart—might have a change of heart.
'But can I truly trust Dane Lowsweed completely?'
Dane had said that Vivian had merely caught Princess Isella's eye by chance when she was young, forging a connection with House of Edelwein.
Yet Orpen remained suspicious of the relationship between the two families.
Moreover, Igraine maintained a cordial relationship with Kaltz—not particularly intimate, but favorable enough—which only deepened his doubts.
Consumed by unease, he had directly questioned Dane about his relationship with Kaltz.
[If Your Majesty wishes it, I shall bring you the Duke's head.]
Without the slightest hesitation, without even blinking, Dane had spoken those words.
It was difficult to press further when he spoke with such conviction.
After all, one could not simply take a great duke's head without cause.
And Dane was the only person who possessed the card Orpen so desperately needed.
He could not afford to lose such a valuable piece over mere unfounded suspicion.
'Is there a way to ensure Dane's loyalty, to prevent him from betraying me?'
While he remained lost in thought, the dance between Vivian and Kaltz came to an end.
As Orpen watched Vivian, surrounded by admirers and radiant with laughter, a solution suddenly occurred to him, and his eyes gleamed with realization.
He raised his hand and summoned the Chief Attendant who stood nearby.
"Bring the Crown Prince to me."
* * *
"Ugh, I want to go home...."
After mingling adequately with the guests, I excused myself on account of sore feet and retreated to a quiet corner of the ballroom.
Though my feet were genuinely aching, the greater burden was the exhaustion of maintaining composure among so many people.
'They all looked down on me subtly at the Hunting Festival.'
Or they regarded me with curious eyes, as if observing animals in a menagerie.
'I'm the same person I was then as I am now.'
It was absurd how their gazes had turned favorable simply because the surname attached to my name had changed.
At the same time, I recalled someone who treated me with unwavering consistency, both then and now.
[Now that you've become the Marquis's young lady, I expected you to arrive as a proud and refined noblewoman.]
[Were you disappointed that I'm not?]
[No. That's precisely why I'm pleased.]
Lahedis, being a distant branch of the family, had not been invited to the ball.
Yet his contribution was immense—he had practiced with me every night to ensure my debut went smoothly.
I deeply regretted being unable to show him this magnificent achievement.
'I should rest nearby and return at an appropriate time.'
With that thought, I headed toward the corridor when I suddenly felt a gaze upon me.
When I looked in that direction, I saw an unwelcome face approaching.
'...It's the Crown Prince?'
The sight of him suddenly brought back memories from the Hunting Festival, and an ominous premonition washed over me.
If I encountered Allen now, something similar to what happened then would surely occur.
'The Duke handled it at the Hunting Festival, but if I brought him to Father or the Duke now....'
I suddenly recalled Father's image from moments ago, his hand moving toward his sword hilt as young nobles approached me with dance requests.
'This would certainly become a serious matter.'
Moreover, Father had made a rare appearance at this ball, and I didn't want to drag him into such an unpleasant situation.
'I need to put as much distance as possible between myself and Allen.'
I slipped away from Allen and into the corridor.
Now that I'd left the ballroom, I thought Allen wouldn't follow....
'Why does he keep coming after me?!'
Allen also emerged into the corridor, spotted me, and began pursuing.
Fortunately, quite a few people were gathered in small groups throughout the corridor. Thanks to them greeting Allen, I managed to create some distance.
But Allen showed no signs of giving up the chase.
Fleeing from him, I concealed myself on a nearby balcony.
I had been taught that balconies were typically intimate meeting places for lovers, and one should never enter without knocking.
'Please, just walk past!'
I even drew the curtains to obscure the glass doors of the balcony and prayed desperately.
But unfortunately, the sound of footsteps drawing near grew steadily louder.
'What, what do I do?'
There was only one exit, and directly ahead lay a railing overlooking the first-floor garden.
I was caught between a rock and a hard place.
'It's only the second floor, so it's not terribly high, but jumping from here still looks dangerous....'
Just as I was about to resign myself to facing Allen, a miracle occurred.
A miracle happened.
"Vivian."
My eyes widened in astonishment at the face that appeared from the Garden.
"Lahedis?"
"Jump. I'll catch you."
He spread his arms toward me.
I was full of questions about how Lahedis had appeared at this exact moment, but none of that mattered now.
Allen's footsteps were already nearly upon me.
But....
"...Are you really sure about this?"
Even if it was only the second floor, and even if I wasn't particularly heavy!
Still, gravity would make me heavy....
"I'm sure. Hurry."
Fine, whatever.
After hesitating for a moment, I surrendered to his urging and jumped over the railing.
My hands, flailing through empty air, instinctively wrapped around Lahedis's neck.
At the same moment, large hands embraced my head and back as we tumbled onto the grass.
I had squeezed my eyes shut without thinking, but feeling the warmth that enveloped me, I carefully opened them.
"Lahedis, are you alright―"
"Shh."
As Lahedis whispered softly, the Balcony door opened.
Still holding me, Lahedis quickly concealed us beneath the Balcony.
Allen's irritated voice drifted down from above.
"I could have sworn she came in this way...."
That bastard—he really was chasing me!
I focused on the presence above the Balcony.
Fortunately, Allen merely ruffled a few innocent curtains before spitting out an irritated curse and leaving the Balcony again.
"He seems to be gone now―"
As the door closed and I turned to look at Lahedis with relief, I froze.
Beneath the Balcony, in the darkness where moonlight was obscured, blue eyes gazed at me quietly.
"Ah...."
I suddenly held my breath, as though I had forgotten how to breathe.
Only then did I truly realize how close the distance between us was, our bodies still entwined.
Close enough to feel each other's breath.
Close enough that I couldn't tell whose heartbeat was thundering so fiercely.
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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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