🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 5
“What did she tell you?”
“She spoke of the god Dahlia, who protects Titen, and his sacred relic. It seems quite fascinating to people from the Wastern Empire, since such things are unimaginable there.”
Glossa tilted her head slightly as Hippolotes answered with a relaxed shrug. His eyes held nothing but pure curiosity.
That eased her tension a little, allowing her to cover for her foolish younger sister’s mistake.
“It’s merely a legend. Those who failed to conquer Titen’s impregnable walls like to dress up their weakness as mythology.”
“Is that so? That’s a shame. If it were true, Titen’s glory could have lasted forever.”
“…Yes, indeed.”
A faint unease lingered.
His words sounded casual—but somehow, they felt like they implied Titen could one day fall.
Glossa looked up at the man’s unappealing face, then shook the thought away.
Impossible.
He was here to seek a princess and build harmony with Titen, not threaten it.
But before she could settle her thoughts, his hand suddenly slipped into view.
Startled, she met his lowered voice.
“Princess Glossa. Would you honor me with a dance?”
“…Of course.”
Suppressing the disgust twisting her expression, she placed her hand in his.
He led her effortlessly into the center of the hall.
Despite his grotesque appearance, his movements were surprisingly refined—perfectly controlled, even considerate.
The nobles watching them began pairing off one by one, as if inspired by the sight.
Meanwhile, Ezra stood near the edge of the hall, half-hidden behind golden curtains, silently observing everything.
Among the crowd, Hippolotes and Glossa shone the brightest—so bright that everything else seemed dim in comparison.
And yet…
Even in that isolation, she didn’t feel lonely.
Whenever Glossa met his gaze, he smiled.
When he moved, his silver hair swayed.
And when he guided his partner, his arm wrapped firmly around her waist.
Just watching him filled her with something warm.
Something like happiness.
“…It feels like a dream.”
She covered her rising smile, glancing around nervously.
But the dream did not last.
A shadow fell over her.
A presence that swallowed her own shadow whole.
She knew immediately who it was.
She couldn’t lift her head.
She couldn’t breathe properly.
Queen Mineth stood before her, eyes burning with hatred.
“Trash-like thing. Do you even know where you are?”
“Q-Queen…”
“Smile. Or I’ll ruin your face.”
Ezra forced a trembling smile.
Tears threatened to spill from her tightly shut eyes.
The Queen leaned in, voice venomous and low.
“You dare set foot here… You must have forgotten your place since I’ve stopped visiting your tower.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
Her voice broke.
The nobles nearby, unaware of the truth, only saw a benevolent queen gently speaking to the fourth princess.
They praised her kindness.
The hall quickly moved on, laughter and clinking glasses filling the air again.
Only the shadow remained for Ezra.
“Go back. Wait there, and keep slapping your cheeks until I call you. If they aren’t swollen… I’ll use a whip.”
Ezra nodded rapidly.
But then—
A fragment of memory pierced her.
“Wait here for a moment.”
That man’s voice.
Across the hall, Hippolotes still shone among the crowd.
For a brief moment, she looked at him.
Then she lowered her head.
Of course he wouldn’t come back.
She already knew that.
So why had she hoped?
Queen Mineth grabbed her and began dragging her away.
But then—
“Princess Ezra.”
A voice cut through the hall.
The guards froze.
Ezra froze too.
Again.
“Princess Ezra.”
It was unmistakable.
Slowly, Queen Mineth turned around.
Hippolotes was looking at them.
And not just looking—watching.
His red eyes narrowed slightly.
“Your Majesty,” he said smoothly, “may I ask where you intend to take Princess Ezra?”
“She was not invited to this banquet.”
The Queen’s voice remained elegant.
“Then I will consider her invited.”
“…Pardon?”
“If uninvited guests are not allowed, then I, the host of this banquet, must have invited her.”
A quiet smile.
But something about it was unsettling.
Even dangerous.
“I will escort her myself.”
Before the Queen could respond, he pulled Ezra’s arm away from her grip as if brushing off something unpleasant.
Ezra trembled, still avoiding the Queen’s gaze.
“Let’s go.”
And just like that—
The center of the banquet turned toward them.
The crown prince leaving his own celebration to take a “discarded princess” away.
Whispers erupted.
Ezra’s hand ended up in his again.
Warm.
Unreal.
“Do you know something?”
Hippolotes leaned slightly toward her as they walked.
“You’re very beautiful today.”
“…W-what?”
“And honestly, this banquet was getting boring anyway. This works out perfectly.”
Ezra blinked, confused.
Boring?
He was the main guest of honor.
She couldn’t understand him at all.
“You are the protagonist of today’s banquet… I’m fine, really…”
Even as she swayed on unsteady legs, he replied flatly.
“Being the protagonist means I can do whatever I want.”
He tugged her forward.
“We’re leaving.”
“But this is—”
A small struggle at the doorway.
His tone softened slightly.
“Is there someone you want to stay for?”
Ezra quickly shook her head.
Then he pulled her out without hesitation.
Behind them, stares followed like blades.
Hippolotes smiled faintly.
Exactly as expected.
The Queen’s hatred.
The princesses’ jealousy.
All of it already had a target.
“Where are we going?”
Ezra asked quietly.
No answer came.
But she wasn’t afraid.
So she followed.
They passed through the palace corridors, leaving behind the suffocating air of the banquet.
Through narrow passages like a maze.
And then—
A small door.
Beyond it lay a garden reserved for the royal family.
A place few ever saw.
Ezra stepped through the threshold still holding his hand.
Then she looked up at the night sky—and froze.
“…Wow…”
Stars scattered across a deep blue sky.
It was too wide.
Too beautiful.
She wandered forward slightly, eyes filled with wonder.
Hippolotes watched her.
Then she turned to him.
“Thank you for coming to see me today.”
“Ah—well…”
Her face flushed.
Before she could finish, a large warm hand rested on her head.
She froze.
He looked up at the sky.
“Isn’t it beautiful here?”
Ezra nodded slightly.
“I wanted to show you this first.”
He smiled faintly.
“So even if you already know… pretend you don’t.”
Ezra smiled without realizing it.
And then—
He kissed the back of her hand again.
Her heart jumped.
“You’re too… important to someone like me.”
She turned her face away quickly.
“You’d only be troubled by someone like me. It would be better if you treated me like I don’t exist.”
“Is that what you really think?”
His voice lowered.
“Or is that just what you’ve been forced to believe?”
Ezra froze.
For the first time—
She looked inward.
