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~Chapter 26~
As Killian had expected, the hall was already filled with people.
The nobles gathered in groups were busy chatting among themselves.
But the moment Killian and Aisha entered the hall, a heavy silence fell, as if cold water had been thrown over everyone.
“……”
Aisha could feel all eyes on them, especially focused on her, as she stood arm-in-arm with Killian.
I knew this would happen, but really…
It was the worst. The absolute worst.
And it wasn’t just curious gazes. The young ladies and noblewomen were glaring at Aisha with eyes full of venom, as if they could kill her with just a look.
This damn human…
So this was what it felt like to be the shield. She had no choice but to play the part.
Her vision started to blur, but Aisha fought to steady herself. She forced a smile and faced the people staring at her.
“Here is Duke Killian Winters, and with him, his fiancée, Lady Aisha Ashton.”
Aisha thought, There was no need to make that kind of announcement… but she couldn’t say it out loud.
“……That woman is really Duke Killian’s fiancée?”
“Wow. She’s even more plain than I expected.”
I can hear you. I can hear everything!
“Isn’t there something wrong with this? Duke Killian, whose popularity is through the roof, is engaged to someone from the Ashton family…?”
“I agree. If Duke Killian really wanted, he could have chosen someone much better than this.”
They were calling her this. She was being treated like an object now, not even a person.
Aisha squeezed the arm that was linked with Killian’s.
“Still, she’s not completely ugly, right?”
Just as Aisha was struggling to hold herself together, a familiar voice suddenly reached her ears.
“They say you can’t judge a person by their appearance, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen such an elegant and noble lady.”
“…Is that so?”
Who was this brave soul, standing up for her in the middle of all this?
Aisha squinted her eyes and looked forward. She saw a man, standing with his back to her, talking to a group of noblewomen. She could only see his back.
Why does he seem so familiar?
Aisha tilted her head, lost in thought.
“Duke Killian.”
However, her thoughts didn’t last long. The nobles, who had been eyeing Killian, started to approach him.
“Greetings, Duke Killian. I’m Baron Elaine. I’ve heard about all your achievements in the war. I’ve been so eager to meet you.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s like a dream come true.”
“Baron, you’re right. The war seemed impossible to win, but I never doubted we’d come out on top. It seems like divine favor is always with you.”
Ah, the war.
In the original novel The Emperor Can’t Live Without Prisoners, Killian had always been on the battlefield. The reason was simple: Roselia was always trying to undermine him.
Roselia would throw Killian into losing battles, knowing that failure meant death for him. Refusal was treason, and defeat was death.
Killian had no other choice.
And yet, every time, he came back alive, victorious.
Thinking about it, it wasn’t too hard to understand why Roselia always tried to undermine him.
“I also heard that you’re getting engaged. So, that means…?”
“Correct.”
Killian turned toward Aisha with an affectionately fake smile, speaking to the crowd.
“This is my fiancée, Aisha Ashton.”
“……”
“Isn’t she beautiful?”
The faces of the crowd were in shock.
After all, Killian had never once shared any personal information in such a public setting. Simply introducing his fiancée was already a shock, but to call her beautiful?
…Could the great Killian Winters really say such cheesy things in front of everyone?
“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you…”
“Our Lady Aisha isn’t used to these kinds of events, so she seems a little nervous.”
Aisha was about to say something in greeting, but Killian quickly cut her off.
“We were very fortunate that Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, allowed Lady Aisha to join, but I do have some concerns. You see, Lady Aisha’s health isn’t great.”
“Oh, I see…”
“Yes. So, I insisted on bringing her here. I wanted to show everyone that we were together at this official event, especially since it was arranged by Her Majesty herself. What luck we have.”
Now, Aisha was being portrayed as a frail person, and she gave Killian a disgruntled look.
“In fact, I’m still worried. I fear Lady Aisha might be overexerting herself standing here for so long. If she faints again like last time, I would be truly distressed…”
“Yes, of course! There are chairs over there. Please, go and sit, Duke Killian. It’s been an honor to talk with you, even for this brief time.”
“Thank you. Enjoy the rest of the party.”
That was the end of the conversation. Killian, with an outwardly kind demeanor, practically dragged Aisha away.
“Goodness. I didn’t know you were so good at lying. If you were going to do this, you should have just put a gag on me.”
Aisha grumbled quietly, but Killian responded with a sweet smile.
“If I could, I would have done that, Aisha Ashton.”
“…”
“But what can you do? This isn’t a place for childish games like a masquerade ball.”
Hmm.
He was serious.
But what about the Empress Dowager and Belmore? Haven’t they arrived yet?
Aisha quickly scanned the room.
Although the situation was a little awkward, she was curious.
She wanted to see what Roselia was like.
And most of all, she wanted to know just how handsome and amazing Belmore Ellington, her favorite character from the original novel The Emperor Can’t Live Without Prisoners, was in person.
“Remember my words, Aisha Ashton.”
Whether Aisha was thinking anything or not, Killian, with his head slightly bowed, leaned in and whispered into her ear in a low voice.
“Do your best to remain inconspicuous.”
“……”
“That’s half the battle won. After all, the Empress Dowager invited us here, which means she likely wants to make a scene in front of everyone.”
“Oh, I get it. And what can I do? I’m already dying under the pressure of everyone staring at me.”
“That’s a relief to hear.”
Just as Killian shrugged his shoulders, the sound of a door opening rang out.
“The Emperor and Empress Dowager are entering. Everyone, please rise and show respect.”
Bill’s voice echoed through the massive hall, and at the same time, Aisha’s gaze naturally turned toward the entrance.
