AOL 15

Chapter 15

It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head—her mind throbbed painfully. Even though Leo was saying something beside her, her stiffened neck refused to turn.

Isel slowly furrowed her brows. Even after blinking a few times, the face of Duke Canox, greeting the nobles, remained the same.

Compared to her memory, he carried a slightly sharper aura, but there was no doubt…

“…Lahan.”

“Isel? What did you say?”

“Ah… it’s nothing.”

It was not nothing.

Isel quickly turned her body toward Leo, as if trying to put Duke Canox behind her. Turning away from him, she took a small breath—then memories of what she had said to Lahan began resurfacing.

“…!”

It hadn’t just been words. Even the firm texture of his hand that she had absentmindedly touched remained vivid at her fingertips. Her face gradually turned pale.

What on earth did I do to His Grace Duke Canox…?

As she let the thought unfold, she suddenly froze.

One question blocked her thoughts like a stumbling stone.

No matter what else, there was something she simply could not understand.

Why had Duke Canox helped her?

The words he had spoken with a gentle smile faintly brushed past her ears. Her mind was in complete disarray.

But Lahan said he was the teacher’s friend… and the teacher hates nobles… but Lahan is Duke Canox…

Her thoughts tangled endlessly, circling without resolution.

No matter how hard she tried, she could not reconcile Lahan with Duke Canox.

From what Isel knew, Duke Canox had a terrifying reputation—insane, warmonger, butcher.

Whether that was true or not, Lahan was…

During the carriage ride home, the atmosphere between them had felt like a dream. At the time, she had thought Lahan was strangely kind and gentle.

She imagined Lahan’s smiling face on a battlefield, slaughtering people, and quickly shook her head.

Maybe they were just lookalike twins?

Isel subtly turned her head and glanced in Duke Canox’s direction.

Their eyes met once again in midair.

Thinking he would naturally be looking elsewhere, Isel froze in place.

Seeing Isel—now pale as marble—the Duke’s eyes slightly hardened. Isel hurriedly turned her head away.

Leaving the confused Isel behind, an orchestra began playing a grand piece, announcing the Emperor’s arrival.

Silence spread through the hall as His Majesty, Emperor Terban de Ekar, stepped onto the raised platform.

The Emperor, dressed in ornate ceremonial robes decorated with gold and jewels, looked almost unchanged from Isel’s memory—only slightly more wrinkled.

Beside him stood Count Blisha, Isel’s father. Unlike the gentle expression he wore at home, his face was stiff and formal.

The Emperor calmly scanned the hall before speaking.

His solemn voice echoed throughout the grand hall. After praising Duke Canox for his achievements in war, he declared the banquet open for everyone to enjoy.

Applause followed, but suddenly the Emperor’s gaze fixed on Isel.

He looked at her intently for a moment, then turned away.

‘It’s been years since I last saw him… did he recognize me?’

She remembered the Emperor once gently smiling and patting her head—an old memory she still kept.

Isel shook her head. There was no way he could remember something so long ago.

As the Emperor finished his speech, music filled the hall once more, signaling the start of the dance.

Nobles paired up and began dancing, while others gathered in groups to converse.

Among them, Duke Canox stood out most prominently.

Nobles cautiously approached him, and soon he was surrounded by people.

Since their earlier eye contact, Isel deliberately avoided looking at him.

Then someone approached her with quick, slightly urgent steps.

It was a man in knight’s uniform.

The knights assigned to the Emperor’s escort wore their uniforms instead of formal suits, and he was one of them. His downturned brows were stiff with nervousness.

“Deputy Commander.”

Only members of the Second Imperial Knight Order addressed Leo this way. Turning toward the voice, Leo relaxed his expression and greeted him.

“Sir Britt. What is it?”

“A message from His Majesty. He requests that you come to the inner chamber immediately.”

Leo’s face tightened.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

His dark green eyes turned toward Isel, filled with concern.

He clearly did not want to leave her alone.

Isel told him not to worry and go, but Leo hesitated for a long moment before turning to Sir Britt.

“Sir Britt, I have a request.”

“Pardon?”

“Could you escort my younger sister, Isel, while I am gone?”

“Eh? Ah—yes!”

Sir Britt blinked and quickly nodded.

Leo leaned closer and spoke so only he could hear.

“Turn away anyone who tries to approach her. If anything happens, come immediately to the inner chamber and call me.”

“Yes, sir!”

“And also…”

Leo’s gaze turned cold in an instant. Sir Britt swallowed nervously.

“Stay nearby and watch her surroundings, but do not stand too close. Ask if she is uncomfortable, but do not pressure her. And also…”

His instructions became a confusing mix of contradictions. Sir Britt, unable to fully understand, simply kept nodding in fear.

After giving what felt like an overly strict briefing, Leo turned to Isel and spoke as if she were a small child.

He looked like a mother leaving a baby near water.

“I’ll return as quickly as possible. Wait just a little, Isel.”

“I’m really fine, so please take your time, brother.”

Leo sighed deeply and headed toward the inner chamber where the Emperor was waiting.

Silence settled after he left.

Sir Britt, inexperienced in escorting noble ladies, stood awkwardly at a distance, staring at the ground.

He was likely not good at conversation.

But for Isel, this was actually preferable.

Unfortunately, the peace lasted less than three minutes.

Once Leo disappeared, nobles who had been waiting for an opening began approaching her.

“I am Alais Denver, eldest son of the Denver Viscount family. May I know your name, my lady?”

“I was going to ask the lady for a dance first—”

“What are you talking about? I have been waiting much longer—”

The men began competing with each other, even though Isel herself had no intention of dancing.

What is going on…

Isel looked at Sir Britt in confusion.

Unlike Leo, who blocked all approaches, he looked helpless and overwhelmed.

There was still plenty of time before her father or brother returned.

Isel stepped forward in place of Sir Britt and bowed slightly.

“I’m sorry, but I think I need to get some air.”

At her refusal, the nobles looked disappointed.

Turning away from them, Isel retreated toward a terrace beside a pillar.

It was something her father had told her on the way to the palace: if things became overwhelming, she should retreat to the terrace.

Terraces were considered private spaces, so it was impolite to follow someone there.

Sir Britt followed her and said he would wait outside the terrace doors.

Then, hesitantly, he spoke.

“I’m sorry. This is my first time doing something like this…”

Isel smiled at him.

“It’s alright. My brother is just a bit overprotective. Isn’t this normal for banquets?”

At her words, Britt blinked, as if he wanted to say something but stopped.

Isel told him she would rest for a moment and stepped inside the terrace.

“…Phew.”

She closed the glass door and exhaled softly.

Thankfully, since it was still early in the banquet, most terraces were empty.

The cool night air brushed against her exposed skin.

Walking to the railing, Isel looked up at the dark sky. The moon—still not quite full—cast light over the vast imperial garden.

The music and voices of the banquet became a muffled background beyond the glass.

Outside, the garden was quiet and still.

Now that she was away from the attention, her mind finally began to clear.

She was leaning on the railing when she heard the terrace door open behind her.

Isel turned in surprise.

“…Isel.”

“……!”

A voice both unfamiliar and familiar.

The person who had entered through the door was none other than Cezar Lesian.