MEBD 41

Chapter 41

Spring Banquet (4)

The nobles of Egonid all remembered one thing: Kaiden had never once in his life asked anyone to dance first.

Even during his coming-of-age spring banquet, that had never happened.

Far from dancing, he had sat slouched in his seat, enduring the crown prince’s affectionate nagging to “sit properly.”
And now, that man was asking someone to dance first?
With none other than the Lady of Wiltiera—the woman who’d only recently broken off her engagement?

The eyes of those pretending not to watch instantly grew sharp and blatant.

Berenice was just as startled.
Since the annulment, the two had only exchanged a few short letters while busy preparing for the banquet.
They had agreed to have a proper conversation after the event.
And yet—he was approaching her openly like this?

She couldn’t ignore the prince’s outstretched hand forever, though.

After offering a calm smile to her worried family to signal that she was fine, Berenice laid her hand gently atop Kaiden’s.

“It’s an honor, Your Highness.”

Kaiden’s gaze briefly touched the white ribbon tied around her wrist.
Then, looking toward the yellow ribbon around Nion’s wrist, he let out a soft, amused laugh.

He had probably tucked Berenice’s yellow ribbon somewhere—perhaps in his pocket or the inside of his coat.

Following his gaze, Berenice caught sight of Nion’s ribbon and let out a small, incredulous laugh.

“Did he really think I’d accept it?”

She muttered quietly, as if unable to comprehend Nion’s intentions.
Kaiden, pretending not to hear, led her toward the center of the hall, one hand holding hers, the other settling lightly at her waist.

Berenice placed her free hand gently on his shoulder and began to move in time with his lead.

Their steps flowed easily to the moderate tempo of the music, her skirts brushing softly against her ankles.

“I don’t recall you saying anything about asking me for the first dance.”
“You’re right. Dancing was never my kind of thing.”
“Then why ask me to dance…?”

As she studied him with suspicion, wondering what hidden motive he might have, his gaze briefly shifted toward Nion, who was gritting his teeth as he watched them.

“It was bothering me.”
“Pardon? What did you say…?”
“Nothing. The Empress asked me if I’d like to invite you for a dance.”

That didn’t sound like the truth.

Berenice tilted her head slightly, unconvinced.

“She must’ve gotten curious after hearing I stood as a witness to your broken engagement,” Kaiden added smoothly.

The Empress’s curiosity was easy to guess: ‘Did the Second Prince and Wiltiera form an alliance?’

As someone constantly scheming to secure more power for her own son, the Empress would find it advantageous if the only Marquis household in the Empire sided with the Third Prince. But if Wiltiera supported Kaiden instead, that would be troublesome.

It was clear she had pushed Kaiden to test the relationship between them.

“Her Majesty seems to have quite a few curiosities.”
“I just learned that myself today.”
“Then what’s your reason, Your Highness? You’re not the type to act just because the Empress nudged you.”

Kaiden was known for ignoring even the Emperor’s orders when it suited him.
For him to dance—something he disliked—just because the Empress asked? Impossible.

“You’re looking at me awfully intently,” Kaiden said with a laugh. “Your eyes are rather passionate.”

She didn’t return his smile.

“Then tell me—why did you really do it?”
“You’re bold, asking a prince to explain himself.”
“Your Highness, please.”
“When the Empress herself insists she’ll reveal my secrets, why wouldn’t I play along?”

As he spun her in time with the music, Berenice’s eyes flicked toward where the Empress sat—and her face hardened.
She hadn’t expected the woman to act so blatantly.

“What kind of expression does she have?”
“She’s smiling. Which means I have no idea what she’s thinking.”
“You can’t read her because none of us who live in the palace are really human anymore. We’re all monsters here.”
“Your Highness.”
“Ah, a slip of the tongue.”

Worried someone might have overheard, Berenice quickly glanced around. Fortunately, no one seemed to have caught his words.

“I’d suggest keeping such thoughts to yourself.”
“Wouldn’t bother me if anyone heard.”
“It’s not you who’d be in trouble—it’s whoever heard it.”

Kaiden had said everyone in the imperial family was a monster—but to others, there was only one monster to think of: the Emperor.

If a man who slaughtered his own brothers for the throne wasn’t a monster, who was?

Berenice looked up at Kaiden’s face.
There was a faint trace of self-mockery in his bitter smile.
She hesitated, unsure what to say.

If her twin had been here, he would have lightened the mood with a joke.

“Why that look?”
“…Just thinking you probably didn’t get stabbed for no reason.”
“You call that a joke?”
“Apologies.”

…How exactly did one make a joke again?

She’d been taught conversation etiquette alongside her twin, Lowell, but unlike him, she could never quite master it.

“Well, no need to apologize.”

Kaiden smiled again, the roguish ease returning to his expression.

“But if it still bothers you, you can repay me by saving me next time.”
“…What?”
“What, would you just stand by if a prince were bleeding right in front of you?”

She sighed softly, still following his steps.

“Surely you remember Egonid law. Failing to aid an endangered member of the royal family counts as treason.”
“So, you’ll save me?”
“…I would, yes. But please try not to get stabbed again. I don’t particularly like the smell of blood.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”

As they spoke, the musicians reached the end of the piece.

The first dance was the only obligatory one. After that, they were free to mingle—or, in her case, perhaps slip away somewhere quiet until dawn.

As she entertained the thought, Kaiden gave a faint laugh, as if reading her mind.

“What’s so funny?”
“You think it’s over just because the first dance ended?”
“Isn’t it?”
“Didn’t I say the Empress pushed me into this?”
“Yes…”
“After seeing us dance and smile together, do you think she’ll just let you go?”

Berenice fell silent.

“She’ll probably call you over right away—to ask what we talked about.”
“Or,” he added with a faint smirk, “she might push to formalize your engagement with my dear younger brother.”
“Surely not…”

But she couldn’t say the words aloud. The Empress was absolutely capable of something like that.

“So, what do you think of Ashad? It’s a chance to become a princess.”

A strange light flickered through Kaiden’s red eyes—tension? Concern? It vanished too quickly to name.

Still, Berenice’s answer was firm.

“Please don’t joke like that. You know how old the Third Prince is.”

Ashad, son of the Empress—the Third Prince of Egonid—was fourteen.
He had only just entered the Academy.

She shot Kaiden a look of disbelief, and he gave an exaggerated sigh of regret.

“Pity.”
“Pardon?”
“I just thought it’d be fun to see the chaos it would cause in the palace if you became his fiancée.”

There wasn’t an ounce of actual disappointment in his tone.

“I have no desire to risk my life just to amuse you, Your Highness.”

She meant it.

Besides, Ashad’s partner was already chosen.

Berenice pictured the young saintess, now deep within the temple studying theology, and shook her head.

The music ended.

The two bowed politely to each other, and she could feel the curious gazes of the entire ballroom following them as they returned to their seats.

Then—

“Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see Lady Wiltiera.”

Just as Kaiden had predicted.

“I will go.”

Swallowing dryly, Berenice watched the attendant turn to lead the way.

The very person she had always suspected of being behind everything—
the one she’d thought of first when someone tried to harm Kaiden with a cursed artifact—

At last, she would come face to face with her.