Chapter 127
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I'm a homebody who ended up possessing the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 127
With the arrival of Crown Prince Lyden, the bustling Banquet Hall fell silent in an instant.
As he appeared between the open doors, he gazed down at the nobility with an arrogant expression.
Hair like spun threads of melted gold, and a handsome face visible at a glance even from a distance.
Moreover, the white formal attire that fit his body perfectly seemed to make him stand out even more.
But then.
'What is this?'
As I observed Crown Prince Lyden's appearance intently, I found myself tilting my head without realizing it.
'Something's different.'
Definitely, truly.
While I had sensed only a slight oddness before, the way he appeared now felt completely different from before.
How should I put it—I had thought his complexion had darkened somewhat before, but this time it seemed even more pronounced.
He looked like someone who embodied what it meant to be shadowed.
'Why?'
Naturally, I couldn't help but wonder.
Lyden had finally grasped Lemeia, whom he had so desperately desired. So what could he possibly be lacking?
As someone who knew well of Lyden's obsession with Lemeia as mentioned in the original work, this situation was somewhat incomprehensible to me.
In the meantime, Lyden slowly crossed the Banquet Hall and took his place before the empty throne.
"Though His Majesty has yet to fully recover, it is at times like these that good news should be shared all the more widely."
Lyden then spoke of how he had completely subjugated Salt through the surrender of Salt's king Berga, and how the commander he had appointed was stabilizing the situation.
Fortunately, after a story that wasn't particularly long, Lyden naturally concluded his remarks.
"Everyone, please enjoy this banquet to your heart's content."
After such a brief greeting, Lyden turned toward Lemeia and...
Huh? I thought he would leave?
"We meet again."
Contrary to expectations, the unwavering path of Lyden's steps led him to where Blaire Grand Duke and I stood.
Or, to be more precise... his target appeared to be me.
What on earth was happening? A question mark naturally appeared on my face in that instant.
"Dance with me."
"Pardon?"
Lyden extended one hand toward me, requesting a dance. At that, I felt even greater confusion.
Why? Because the custom was that the first dance of a banquet was always shared with one's official partner.
'Could it be that he's not partnered with Lemeia?'
Now that I thought about it, Lemeia was already seated in the Banquet Hall when I arrived.
Which meant Lemeia was not the Crown Prince's partner, and Lyden had attended the banquet today without a partner.
I couldn't understand it at all. Neither Lyden's particularly poor complexion nor his action of not taking Lemeia as his partner.
'And why is he asking me to dance?'
Was it to insult Blaire Grand Duke, with whom relations were already strained? If so, I absolutely should not accept this proposal.
I stared at Lyden's outstretched hand before me, then lifted my head with the intention of refusing.
At that moment, Lyden finally spoke up.
"Young Lady."
His voice carried an oddly subdued tone.
"You're planning to leave me standing here like this?"
"Ah, well..."
How should I explain this?
That it's awkward because I need to dance the first dance with my partner?
Just as I was hesitating, Blaire Grand Duke stepped in front of me and spoke.
"She is my partner."
"I know."
Lyden replied with a scoffing tone.
"From now on, I'm borrowing her. So cooperate."
"That would be difficult."
At his cold response, Lyden's face, which had maintained composure throughout, began to stiffen gradually.
"Kaian. ...I think I just misheard you."
"...."
"Did you say it would be difficult?"
"You heard correctly."
As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, I shifted nervously between looking at Lyden and the Grand Duke.
Why was the situation escalating like this?
It couldn't be just over a single dance, and it certainly wasn't because of me.
'A power struggle?'
But Blaire Grand Duke had long since withdrawn from the succession dispute.
When I'd seen him at the Imperial Palace before, they hadn't seemed particularly close, but the atmosphere had never deteriorated to this degree.
"Ha."
Soon, a hollow laugh escaped Crown Prince Lyden's lips, and Blaire Grand Duke opened his mouth as if he'd been waiting for this.
"The first dance is danced with one's partner."
"...."
"It's a rule everyone knows."
"It's not a rule with binding force."
"There's no reason to break a rule like that."
As the two men, whose auras were so different it was hard to believe they shared blood, glared at each other, the air around us seemed to freeze even further.
"You wouldn't act like this out of emotion—you're too stoic for that."
"...."
"It seems you have something you want to hide."
"You're quite interested."
Lyden, his face wiped clean of mockery, answered with a serious expression.
"That's right. Very interested indeed."
"...."
"You're barking like a dog worried someone will steal your snack, so how could I not be interested?"
My forced smile finally crumbled as I witnessed remarks that had clearly crossed the line into mockery.
However, if the Grand Duke lost his composure here and clashed with Lyden, I had no way of knowing what consequences might follow.
"Kaian, what are you trying to hide from me? Or are you afraid I might do something to your partner?"
"Your Majesty, I have no reason to reveal everything to you, nor will I allow anything to happen to my partner."
"What admirable spirit for a knight. Truly worthy of emulation."
Lyden laughed with a sneer, then shifted his gaze toward me.
The moment those golden eyes, shadowed with darkness, turned in my direction, I felt a chill run down my spine.
But it lasted only a moment.
"Well, fine."
Interest drained from the Crown Prince's face like a receding tide.
"It's not like today is the only day."
His tone became blunt, matching the sudden shift in his demeanor—as if he'd flipped his hand over.
"I'll postpone my time with the Young Lady for another occasion."
"Ah, ...yes."
The moment I answered reluctantly, the hand that had remained uncomfortably extended before me withdrew as though it had never been there.
The Crown Prince turned and passed by the nobles who pretended not to notice while stealing glances, heading elsewhere.
Precisely toward where Lemeia stood.
Though not officially partners, it was hardly strange for him to share the first dance with Lemeia, the former Princess of Salt, given that he had just proclaimed Salt's incorporation into the Empire today.
And so the two ascended to the floor at the center, their hands clasped together.
But then.
'What is this?'
Though the two made a picture-perfect pair, what caught my eye was not their overall appearance but Lemeia's face.
I had seen her just moments before, and Lemeia remained as beautiful and lovely as ever.
Yet the expression on her face now was not the flutter of excitement one shows a beloved, but rather a rigid, trembling fear.
'Lemeia had always been head over heels for Lyden...'
That was an undeniable fact, since I was the one who had ghostwritten letters to Lyden on her behalf.
So why did she wear such an expression?
'Something feels wrong.'
Everything I witnessed today felt strangely amiss.
In the original story, Lyden displayed an intense obsession with Lemeia.
Yet from the moment Lemeia came into his grasp, unlike the original's description of how he never once tore his gaze from the captivated Princess, he hadn't even cast a glance in her direction after making his entrance at the Banquet Hall.
What on earth was happening? What difference existed between the original narrative and this present situation?
The Crown Prince had requested a dance with me, and I had engaged in a battle of wits with Blaire Grand Duke—yet I found myself pushing even these remarkable events to the back of my mind, so thoroughly consumed was I by confusion.
"...Ril."
"...."
"April."
How much time had passed?
Before I knew it, the first song had ended, and both the Crown Prince and Lemeia had returned to their respective places.
Caught in that strange haze for so long, I belatedly realized that Blaire Grand Duke had been waiting for my response, and I awkwardly scratched my cheek.
"Oh, I apologize. My mind was elsewhere, and I...."
He shook his head as though it were no matter, then extended his hand toward me.
"If you have no objection."
"Pardon?"
"Dance with me."
Only then did I notice that the other nobles were gradually making their way to the floor with their partners.
And that this was the moment I should take his hand and dance with him.
'How strange.'
Until just moments ago, my attention had been wholly consumed by the original story's content, Lyden's altered demeanor, and Lemeia's peculiar expression.
Yet the instant Blaire Grand Duke extended his large hand, all those thoughts scattered like dust, leaving only the deep emerald eyes gazing down at me in my vision.
The concern I sensed in those shimmering jewel-like eyes must surely be my imagination...
"Yes, Kaian."
Still, this time I did not hesitate, and I took his hand.
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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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