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Chapter : 34
“Milady. The Marquis is waiting.”
“Understood. I’ll be right there.”
As she descended the stairs, her eyes met Enoch’s, who was waiting at the entrance.
The matching outfits they were wearing suited Enoch perfectly as well. Agatha was pleased with this and lightly descended the stairs to stand beside him.
“Your outfit suits you very well.”
“You look exquisite today as well.”
The compliments exchanged seemed formal, but they weren’t merely polite. Agatha felt Enoch’s sincerity and smiled faintly.
She was particularly fond of his suit—a white cravat matching her dress and a subtle pattern in the fabric that mirrored her gown.
“Let’s leave before we’re late.”
When they stepped outside, Leon Takran, the First Deputy Commander, was waiting by the carriage with about ten knights as their escort.
“I’ll be counting on you today, Sir Leon.”
“I will ensure your safety.”
As Agatha and Enoch boarded the carriage, the knights positioned themselves firmly at the front and rear.
“We shall depart now.”
As soon as Leon reported, the carriage started moving. It passed through the estate’s gardens and exited the gates, soon reaching the main road.
Although it was a familiar route, the night of the imperial ball in the capital felt extraordinary.
The closer they got to the Imperial Palace, the more the yellow leaves—symbols of the royal family—lit the ground as brightly as daytime, and a line of noble carriages stretched out along the road.
After driving for about ten minutes among the many carriages, the palace where tonight’s ball would take place came into view.
The second-largest banquet hall in the imperial palace: Asagrat.
Bathed in the evening glow, the ivory-colored palace gleamed brilliantly, adorned with the most exquisite flowers and jewels of the season.
It was clear that the Emperor had generously allocated funds for this event.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Gracefully stepping down from the carriage, Agatha ascended the stairs at the palace entrance with Enoch’s escort.
The lights decorating the ceiling around the crystal chandeliers made the hall dazzle.
The vast hall was already bustling with nobles who had arrived earlier. A servant announced the guests’ arrival loudly after checking their invitations.
“The Marquis of Aratus and his wife, Lady Agatha!”
The noise of the crowd briefly stopped, then grew even louder. Agatha lightly stepped onto the red carpet and scanned the hall.
At this grand imperial ball, there were many unfamiliar faces. Some were likely from distant provinces, while others were young nobles making their debut.
It seemed the number of attendees had increased this year.
As Agatha walked, countless noble eyes followed her every gesture, gaze, and detail of her outfit—nothing went unnoticed.
“Welcome, Marquis Aratus, Lady Agatha. We’ve been waiting for you.”
“I’ve heard of the great deeds you’ve accomplished. Rumor has already spread throughout the capital.”
Before she could even pass through the entrance, a group of noblewomen and young ladies came forward to greet her. Among them was Lady Iris Domunia, one of Agatha’s closest confidantes.
“It’s been a while. Did you enjoy your travels?”
“Of course. As soon as we returned to the capital, rumors about Lady Agatha had already reached us. We’ve been excitedly discussing them.”
“How was your honeymoon?”
“I heard you went to match new dresses with the Marquis?”
“Society has been buzzing over that lately.”
As Agatha smiled and listened to the gossip about the recently popular trend of couples visiting boutiques together, a fanfare sounded—pa-ba-bam!
It was the appearance of royalty.
“The little sun of the Roxbard Empire, Crown Prince Antoni Roxiba!”
All nobles, including Agatha, immediately bowed.
Antoni’s signature platinum hair fell softly over his shoulders, and a couple of buttons on his attire were already undone.
“Oh, don’t worry. Continue.”
Waving off the formalities, Antoni approached Agatha and Enoch, having just been about to meet his lover.
Agatha covered her face with her fan, frowning slightly.
Was this good news… or bad news?
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
Antoni, smiling, stopped anyone who was about to bow again.
“I hear couples visiting boutiques together is all the rage these days. The harmony of the Aratus Marquis couple is shaking the capital. Newlyweds must be quite blissful.”
So it was the former. Agatha’s face brightened as she realized her childhood friend and sixth cousin had come merely to tease her.
The noblewomen, led by Lady Iris Domunia, wisely stepped aside.
“Why does Your Highness come to me instead of the other seat?”
“Am I not an exception? I’m Roxbard’s greatest rogue, after all.”
“So why, rogue as you are, do you come to pester a cousin when you have so many lovers?”
Their conversation remained harmless only because Enoch’s watchful gaze was present.
Smiling mischievously, Antoni feigned complaint to Enoch:
“My cousin is treating me with disdain, Marquis.”
“You seem to have a strong bond.”
While this meaningless chatter continued, the three moved to a more secluded part of the hall. Antoni’s bodyguards and aides naturally positioned themselves around them.
With fewer eyes on them, Agatha muttered softly.
“What brings you here today?”
“It’s been a while since an imperial ball, hasn’t it? I wanted to show off my connections as the sole heir of the Nobiles family and husband of a war hero.”
“You speak well for the Emperor’s only legitimate heir.”
Antoni casually scanned the hall and added:
“I also thought something interesting might happen.”
Enoch, quietly listening to the Crown Prince’s cryptic words, finally spoke.
“Do you mean Duke Theodor Neuta?”
“Oh, you knew?”
Antoni looked at Enoch with approval, and Agatha, covering her mouth with her fan, replied:
“I thought you meant your own relatives.”
“So both of you knew. I thought I was the only one unaware.”
How could she not know?
Though always in the spotlight, today she noticed particularly persistent stares.
From her relatives of the Nobiles family and her sixth ex-husband, Duke Theodor Neuta, who kept drawing her attention.
What Agatha hadn’t expected was that Enoch also knew about Theodor’s gaze.
Following Ferdinand, now it was Theodor.
‘I hope he doesn’t misunderstand.’
Her ex-husbands, with whom she had little contact since the divorce, kept appearing. Even if Enoch knew about Agatha’s previous marriages, it wasn’t exactly pleasant.
The relatives were one thing, but Theodor was a mystery.
Still, Agatha wasn’t particularly concerned. Only one thing was clear:
If Theodor wanted to meet her, Enoch must not be absent.
It wasn’t a pleasant conclusion, but it was the best approach.
“Enoch. How about calling Duke Neuta here now?”
Enoch met her eyes and considered it for a moment.
“If it can’t be avoided, now is the best time.”
The Crown Prince was present as a mediator.
Enoch agreed, and Agatha turned to see Theodor Neuta, her sixth ex-husband, who had been watching her, approaching.
“Your Highness, Duke.”
“Welcome, Duke. Are you well now?”
“Yes, thanks to Your Majesty and Your Highness’s concern.”
Compared to his haggard appearance at the wedding three months ago, he now looked healthier.
After bowing to the Crown Prince, Theodor glanced briefly at Agatha, who spoke first.
“Hello, Duke.”
“…Hello, Lady Agatha.”
He also greeted Enoch politely.
After the formalities, Agatha asked directly without hesitation.
“If I’m not mistaken, you have something to say, right?”
“I have information to share with you regarding our family.”
At these words, Crown Prince Antoni unclasped his arms, which had been linked with Theodor.
Even Enoch, standing with a somewhat cynical expression, looked at Theodor and asked:
“Is it alright if I listen in?”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
Theodor nodded gravely and looked at Antoni.
“If Your Highness does not mind, I request you remain. Your presence would also be beneficial for Lady Agatha.”
“Seems the Duke still cares for his ex-wife after all this.”
Agatha teased Antoni, who shrugged with a mischievous grin.
“Just a thought that came to me.”
Theodor smiled wryly.
“We divorced, yes. But I cannot harm a woman who has become an outsider due to my family’s affairs.”
“….”
“I’ve spoken at length, Lady Agatha. Consider my visit a form of apology.”
