KDPCD 28

Chapter 28

“Lady Bella.”

Standing before me was Kasper Agla, Sion’s much older brother and the future Duke of Agla.

I rose from the sofa and greeted him. As soon as I did, the young ladies around me also stood and bowed their heads.

He smiled brightly at us.

“I merely approached because I was pleased to see Bellady. I do hope I haven’t interrupted the ladies’ conversation.”

The young ladies were startled.

“Oh my, not at all!”

“Come to think of it, I suppose we’ve been monopolizing Lady Bellady for far too long!”

I watched their reactions for a moment before holding out my hand to him.

“Since you’ve come all this way, shall we have a little conversation?”

“Of course, Bellady. There happens to be some fine wine over there. Shall we have a glass?”

Kasper courteously took my hand in his.

After exchanging glances of farewell with the young ladies, I followed Kasper’s escort toward the center of the banquet hall.

On the table in the middle, wine glasses had been stacked in the shape of a tower. Kasper picked one up and offered it to me.

A red wine that looked strong enough at a glance sloshed inside the glass. I accepted it with a smile.

Nobles were taught proper etiquette and basic knowledge regarding alcohol from a young age. Alcohol was an indispensable part of noble society and a basic form of education included in proper etiquette.

I could casually enjoy a glass or two of champagne, but…

I’m not really a fan of strong wine.

Kasper, oblivious to my thoughts, clinked his glass against mine.

Clink.

As the clear sound of glass rang out, the corners of Kasper’s eyes curved like bows.

“To the flower of high society, who has returned after breaking her long silence.”

Ugh. How cheesy.

Kasper was fond of using an old-fashioned manner of speaking filled with pretension and empty formalities. Perhaps because of that, the nobles of the older generation were quite fond of him.

I, however, could never get used to the way he spoke.

“Thank you for the welcome, Young Duke.”

I gave an appropriate response to Kasper’s toast and took a sip of wine. The bitter liquid spread across my mouth.

As I swallowed the wine, I mulled over Kasper’s words.

The flower of high society…

People commonly referred to the Crown Princess and me as the flowers of high society. But neither she nor I were people who could be compared to flowers that bloomed for only a season before withering away.

If I had to compare us to something, we’d be the two pillars of high society.

But Kasper was a man whose thoughts were stuck in the past, just as his way of speaking was. Whether it was flowers or mountains, he probably considered everything related to high society more or less the same.

Rather than waste my breath arguing with him, I chose to simply drink my wine.

“By the way, why did you come to see me?”

At my question, Kasper smiled mysteriously. To begin with, Kasper and I were not close.

Kasper and Sion were not particularly affectionate brothers, and Kasper’s wife, the Young Duchess of Agla, was very close to the Crown Princess.

Normally, whenever we met, we merely exchanged greetings and moved on… So what is he after by approaching me?

At my suspicious gaze, Kasper spoke gently.

“There’s someone I’d like to introduce to you, Bellady.”

“Someone you’d like to introduce?”

“Yes. He’ll be entering the banquet hall soon.”

The banquet had begun quite some time ago, and all the invited nobles had already arrived.

The sky was already beginning to darken. There was only one kind of person who would enter the banquet hall at a time like this.

The host of today’s banquet.

The Imperial Family…!

And if Kasper was going to introduce someone to me, there was only one obvious candidate.

“You mean His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Kasper was the Crown Prince’s loyal right-hand man, after all.

That was precisely why the Crown Princess and the Young Duchess of Agla were also so close.

At my words, Kasper casually placed his empty wine glass onto the tray of a passing attendant.

“Your coming-of-age ceremony isn’t far off now, Bellady. So it would be good for you to establish connections beforehand.”

My coming-of-age ceremony and building my connections were matters for my father, Duke Alton, to handle. There was absolutely no reason for Kasper to concern himself with them.

Why is he suddenly sticking his nose into my affairs…?

I concealed my discomfort and spoke.

“If it’s connections you’re concerned about, how about introducing him to Meldor?”

I was essentially telling him not to create troublesome matters for me for no reason.

Kasper, who had clearly understood what I meant, smiled sweetly.

“Even at times like this, Bellady, you’re such a good older sister to think of your younger brother first. Don’t worry. I’ll introduce him to Meldor later as well.”

Good older sister, my foot.

For a moment, my fist clenched tightly before relaxing again. Irritation surged through me, but I couldn’t simply lose my temper.

Kasper was an experienced man who was active in central politics. He was smooth, calculating, and quick-witted.

If I rashly became angry, I would only be the one to suffer for it.

His face and smile resembled the innocent Sion’s, but it was obvious that what lay beneath them was completely different.

So he’s pretending to be this close to me now…

From the beginning, Kasper had been quite blatant about wanting to bring the House of Duke Alton into the Crown Prince’s faction. That was why he had always shown more interest in Meldor, the heir, than in me.

I didn’t blame him for that. After all, this sort of power struggle was exactly what nobles did.

But despite having shown not the slightest bit of interest in me before, he was suddenly trying to establish a connection between me and the Crown Prince…

Did Prince Killian’s return make him anxious because Killian has a higher claim to the throne?

I studied Kasper’s face for a moment. There wasn’t even the slightest trace of anxiety on it.

That meant he did not regard Prince Killian as a threat.

I tilted my head slightly.

Then there was only one possibility.

He noticed that my relationship with Meldor had been reversed.

I was well aware of how I was viewed from the outside.

The eldest daughter of a ducal family with little influence.

Because of that, noblemen had never paid much attention to me.

But that assessment was based on the time when I was a good daughter who loved her family.

I was no longer being manipulated by Meldor or my father. Therefore, that assessment was now completely wrong.

However, my position relative to Meldor had been settled entirely within the family.

And it had happened only recently.

For him to notice it this quickly and approach me…

There’s a spy inside the household.

Had they planted one while Mother was unconscious and the entire household was in chaos?

I had already been uneasy because of the previous William incident, so perhaps this was a good opportunity.

When I return, I’ll have to clean house.

Just as I was thinking that, a booming attendant’s voice echoed through the hall.

“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress, the exalted rulers of the Empire! His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess, and Her Imperial Highness the Princess are entering!”

With those words, the doors to the banquet hall swung wide open, and the members of the Imperial Family entered.

The Emperor and Empress, still in good health despite their age, were followed by the Princess, who walked confidently.

Behind them came the Crown Prince with a proud stride, with the Crown Princess holding his arm.

As expected, Prince Killian did not appear.

Then my eyes met those of the Crown Princess, whose platinum-blond hair was elaborately swept up.

She maintained a radiant smile around her lips, but her eyes alone glared viciously at me.

I met her gaze and gave her a faint smile in return.

Even as the Crown Princess followed the Crown Prince, she never looked away from me.

That was one thing I had to give her credit for.

She still doesn’t run away.

There were plenty of people who picked fights with me first, only to tuck their tails between their legs once they were intimidated by my presence.

Unlike them, the Crown Princess was one of the few people who continued to stand against me until the very end.

I like that spirit.

In any case, the Imperial Family’s appearance was the highlight of the Winter Banquet.

As soon as the Emperor appeared, every noble in the banquet hall elegantly bowed at the waist in respect.

The Emperor accepted their greetings with a smile.

“I am very pleased that you have all come to today’s Winter Banquet. I hope everyone enjoys a pleasant time together tonight.”

After giving his brief greeting, the Emperor took his seat of honor on the raised platform prepared at the front of the banquet hall.

The Empress and Princess followed him.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess, however, did not go to their designated seats. Instead, they warmly greeted the nobles who gathered around them.

The music from the orchestra, which had remained gentle until then, became lively after the Emperor’s greeting.

Whenever the Imperial Family appeared, it was time for the festivities and dancing to begin.

People gradually gathered and made their way toward the central hall.

Kasper extended his hand toward me.

“Come. His Highness has arrived, so let’s go.”

Ah, I really don’t want to.

I didn’t want to get dragged into politics so unexpectedly.

Besides, the Crown Prince doesn’t exactly seem like a particularly useful man.

Some of the policies he had introduced were beginning to show results, but for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to trust him.

And now that I roughly understood Kasper’s intentions, there was no reason for me to put up with this.

I stared silently at the hand Kasper had extended.

His hand twitched slightly.

“Bellady?”

I deliberately shifted my gaze toward the Crown Prince.

He was talking with nobles not far away, but I could tell.

All of his attention was focused on us.

When I gave no response, Kasper seemed to grow impatient and urged me again.

“Are you nervous? Yes, I suppose you must be. It’s only natural when you’re suddenly about to meet His Highness the Crown Prince. But there’s no need to worry too much. I’ll be right beside you.”

That was when it happened.

“Lady Bellady Alton.”

Someone called my name, and Kasper and I turned around simultaneously.

A man stood behind us wearing attire similar to the Imperial attendants’ uniforms, but far more luxurious.

He was one of the Emperor’s attendants.

“His Majesty has summoned you, my lady.”

“…Ha-ha. Well, this is something.”

Kasper gave a hollow laugh at the attendant’s words.

He remained silent for a moment before looking at me.

“I suppose today simply isn’t the right day. I’ll arrange another opportunity, so wait for me, Bellady.”

Kasper once again put on his friendly smile.

He seemed to be trying to act kind, but apparently he couldn’t completely abandon his usual personality.

After all, he was still speaking to me in a commanding tone.

I raised one corner of my mouth and tilted my head.

“I wonder… Do you really think that sort of opportunity would suit me, Young Duke?”

“What?”

I slowly continued.

“If I ever need it, I’ll let you know myself. Until then, please wait, Young Duke Agla.”

Only after I deliberately imitated his manner of speaking did Kasper seem to realize how he had been talking to me.

He began to speak with an awkward smile, but I turned away from him without mercy.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, this way, my lady.”

I followed the attendant toward the Emperor’s seat of honor.

As I walked, I glanced to the side and saw that the Crown Prince’s expression had become rather displeased.

That man, honestly. He’s the Crown Prince, yet he’s terrible at hiding his emotions.

In any case, I had managed to escape from both Kasper and the Crown Prince without any major trouble, but…

“Your Majesty, I am Bellady Alton, daughter of House Alton. I offer my greetings.”

“Yes. It has been a long time since the hunting tournament. Since you are Theodor’s daughter, I shall call you Bellady.”

“It is an honor far beyond what I deserve.”

I escaped one problem only to run straight into an even greater wall—the Emperor himself.

I looked at the calm, smiling Emperor and the young Princess nestled quietly in his arms.