Chapter 54
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 54
* * *
The equestrian tournament and harvest festival were now just a day away.
So tonight, a grand eve celebration was being held to commemorate the beginning of both events.
I had been preparing since early morning to attend the celebration.
Unfortunately, the letter I received from Adela yesterday stated that she would be unable to attend.
Though her health had improved, she hadn't recovered enough to participate in the eve celebration, she wrote.
'So only Aiden Byon will be coming?'
The thought of seeing him brought back the moment we'd met in Hemoa not long ago.
And following that, the image of him at the Banquet Hall kept replaying in my mind.
'That tailcoat suited him remarkably well.'
Though truthfully, nothing looked out of place on him.
'I suppose I'll see him again tonight.'
As I thought of the people I'd encounter, ironically the one man I least wanted to see came to mind.
Yet I'd recently noticed that Cain Maxius had been unusually quiet.
'Has he finally given up?'
If so, it would be a relief, but judging by his words and actions, he didn't seem the type to surrender so easily.
So I couldn't afford to let my guard down or grow complacent.
"Miss, Miss!"
Mary called out as she entered my room.
'Surely not?'
There had been a similar situation before.
The memory made me tense involuntarily, and I watched Mary enter without taking my eyes off her.
"Miss!"
"What is it?"
"The hair ornament I was supposed to wear today—I left it with the dress, but I can't find it anywhere. What should I do?"
Ah, what was I thinking.
"Just use something else."
"But that one matches today's dress perfectly."
Mary said with a dejected expression.
"I can't find it anywhere. I'm so sorry. I should have kept better track of it. This is my fault."
"It's fine. I look beautiful in anything anyway."
"That's right! You look wonderful in everything, Miss!"
I'd only thrown out those words to reassure Mary, but she took them so earnestly that I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me.
"For now, let me search once more, and if I still can't find it, I'll bring something even lovelier."
"Very well, I understand."
Mary hurried from the room with urgent steps.
The gown I would wear to tonight's vigil was a pale blue dress with my shoulders and chest delicately exposed.
I had pinned my hair up neatly to reveal the graceful line of my neck.
For the hair ornament, I had prepared in advance a beautiful piece with tiny blue sapphires densely woven along a strand.
The ornament wasn't something with legs, and I thought little of it—Mary had simply forgotten and left it somewhere, unable to find it.
It was unfortunate, but even if we couldn't locate it, I could simply wear another accessory instead.
"Miss!"
Just as I finished all my preparations except for the hair ornament, Mary entered the room.
"I found it!"
"You did? Thank goodness."
"Yes! It had fallen to the bottom of the wardrobe!"
Mary approached me.
She then carefully inserted the sapphire hair ornament into my hair.
"Oh my, you look absolutely stunning."
I offered a gentle smile at Mary's praise.
"How are Father and Mother?"
"The Duke and Duchess have nearly finished all their preparations as well."
"Then let us go downstairs."
"Yes."
I descended the Second Floor staircase, passed through the hall, and stepped outside the Manor, where Lian stood with dignified composure before the carriage as always.
The moment I saw Lian, he looked toward me as well.
Yet his eyes widened slightly upon seeing me.
"Lian."
"Miss."
"Lian, isn't the Miss looking particularly beautiful today?"
Mary spoke with a satisfied expression.
"The Miss is always beautiful."
Why were they acting this way today?
Especially Lian—he had never said such things to me before, so I regarded him with an awkward expression.
"That may be true, but isn't she far more beautiful today?"
"Mary."
I called her name as a signal to stop.
"Particularly that long, graceful neckline that shows when you pin up your hair—"
But today, she seemed unable to cease her praise of me.
"Enough."
"Oh, I apologize. But surely you've seen yourself in the mirror, Miss. I'm a bit worried today."
"About what?"
"I'm afraid all the nobles attending the vigil will fall for you."
She was exaggerating.
Of course, when I'd glimpsed myself in the mirror earlier, I did look quite presentable—better than usual, even.
But not to this degree.
I was about to say something to Mary when my parents emerged.
And the moment they saw me, they too seemed taken aback.
'What is this?'
The only thing different from my usual appearance was that I'd pinned up my hair.
Or perhaps blue simply suits me well?
In any case, everyone kept calling me beautiful, which embarrassed me at first, but gradually my mood lifted.
And with that pleasant feeling, we set out for the Imperial Palace.
* * *
The banquet hall for the eve celebration had been prepared in the Imperial Palace's grandest garden.
As darkness fell, many nobles had already gathered there for the eve celebration.
I followed my parents around, exchanging greetings with several nobles.
After that, as I was settling into my seat, Aiden Byon and Byon Duke, who had been heading toward the adjacent table, approached our direction instead.
"Duke Heitz, it has been quite some time."
"Byon Duke, I trust you have been well."
Certainly, the two men did not care for each other.
Though they maintained perfect courtesy, it was evident in their eyes, tone, and bearing.
Byon Duke exchanged greetings with my mother after my father, and then with me as well.
And now it was time for me to greet Aiden Byon, who stood behind him.
"Prince Aiden Byon."
My parents still did not know that we called each other by our given names.
There was no need to inform them of it, and besides, using given names at such a formal occasion would be improper.
So for the first time in ages, I addressed him with proper formality.
"Lady Heitz."
He seemed to share the same thought.
"I wish Lady Aiden Byon could have come as well. It is truly a shame."
"She also expressed her regret deeply. In particular, she was saddened by not being able to meet you."
"Is that so? Please convey to House Byon that I hope to visit again soon."
"I shall do so. Thank you."
"Ahem!"
It was my father's clearing his throat—a sign that he disapproved of the current situation.
"Then please, do be seated."
As I suspected, my father was subtly telling the Byon people to return to their seats.
"We were just about to leave anyway. Let us go."
Byon Duke led Aiden Byon back to their table.
"Belita."
The moment they stepped away, Father called out to me in a measured tone.
"Yes, Father."
"Must you keep coming and going from the Byon Family like this?"
"The Young Lady of House Byon is unwell. I cannot very well summon someone who is ill."
"Dear, Belita will handle things appropriately."
Mother gently chided Father, urging him not to interfere.
"Very well. Belita, I trust you."
At Mother's words, Father promptly fell silent.
'Mother, as expected.'
My mother—compassionate and wise.
I wished to become like her.
So when Duke Cain Maxius told me some time ago that I resembled my mother, I was in high spirits the entire day.
I sent a grateful smile toward Mother.
There was still some time before the eve ceremony would commence.
Pretending not to look, I kept stealing glances in Aiden Byon's direction.
Strangely enough, our eyes met repeatedly, as if he too had been watching me.
Each time, he would crinkle the corners of his eyes and smile beautifully.
Then it happened.
Suddenly Aiden Byon vanished from my view, and a figure in black tailcoat commandeered my entire line of sight.
'What is this.'
Irritation flickered within me, and when I lifted my gaze, I found standing before me a man whose very presence ignited not mere annoyance but outright fury.
He stood with such precision that he completely blocked my view, as though he knew exactly whom I had been watching.
I glared at him with unconcealed displeasure.
But true to his shameless nature, his expression remained utterly unmoved.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org