TPES 46

Chapter 46

“You know that His Late Majesty was not in his right mind at the time, Your Grace. We need to look into that matter.”
“That’s right. We believe it is absolutely necessary to investigate that incident.”

Marquis Jefferon and Count Conest continued their argument to the very end, carefully watching the reactions of those around them.

“I have no intention of doing so.”

Trevis was firm. Even if his father had not been in his right mind back then, it had still been his father’s decision—
a decision Trevis was bound to respect.

“There is a letter we truly hope you will read. At the very least, please read that letter.”
“Whose letter is it?”
“You’ll understand once you see it. You must read it.”

Trevis slowly examined Marquis Jefferon. Judging from the steady gaze that did not avoid his own, the man did not seem to be lying.

It was a request from Marquis Jefferon, one of his father’s closest friends.

After a long moment of deliberation, Trevis finally nodded.

“Then I will go and read the letter.”
“Yes. Once you read it, you will change your mind.”

Trevis gave a slight nod and glanced around. Perhaps because he had been talking with them for so long, Espin was no longer nearby.

When he looked farther away, he spotted her near the doors leading out to the terrace.

She was chatting animatedly with Count Kidne, smiling brightly, as if she were in an excellent mood. It was not the stiff smile she wore when she was beside him, but a genuinely radiant one.

‘Why is she with Count Kidne?’

What reason would a lady like Espin have to be with Count Kidne?

Count Kidne was a man who participated in social gatherings solely for business. Even when he attended events like this, he mingled only with heads of households involved in trade, never with young ladies.

Even Trevis, who was not particularly active in high society, knew this well.

Moreover, recalling how Haren—Espin’s closest friend—had once described Count Kidne as a very difficult man to associate with, the sight of Espin keeping him company felt strange.

And with such a bright smile, no less. When she was beside Trevis, she had smiled as if forcing herself.

He didn’t like the sight. He didn’t want to see it.

‘Why?’

At that moment, Trevis questioned his own thoughts.

Why did this bother him? Was it really something that should make him uncomfortable, a lady spending time with an unmarried count?

He couldn’t understand his own feelings. Not knowing his own thoughts was a first for him.

Just then, the middle of the banquet hall grew busy with movement.

Seeing the attendants prepare the podium for the Empress’s speech, it seemed the address would soon begin, followed by the ball.

After confirming this, Trevis exchanged greetings with Marquis Jefferon and Count Conest, then headed straight toward Espin.

“Lady Espin.”

Trevis had no intention of dancing at an imperial banquet.

At such events, the Crown Prince always enjoyed dancing while basking in attention. If Trevis were to dance here, the Crown Prince would surely see it as a provocation. He had no desire to attract needless hostility, so he had planned to decline even if Espin asked him.

Yet now, he wanted to be with her.

“The ball is about to begin.”

He couldn’t clearly explain why he felt that way.

Trevis decided to think of it as a sense of responsibility—to fulfill his role as her partner, now that he had taken that position.

When I saw Trevis appear before me, I instinctively took a step away from Robert.

At the moment, being with Robert in his guise as Count Kidne—rather than the masked master of information—was not particularly strange, but I felt as if I had been caught doing something I shouldn’t.

“The ball is about to begin.”

Trevis held out his hand to me. I alternated my gaze between his large hand and his face, unable to hide my confusion.

A ball… How had I not thought of this?

In a romance-fantasy world like this, a ball was inevitable. In other possession stories, people even practiced dancing in preparation.

Busy swindling others, I had completely forgotten there would be a ball.

Thinking about it, I had never danced even once in my entire life. On the other hand, Espin would surely have learned to dance from a young age as part of her education.

‘I absolutely cannot dance.’

I couldn’t let it be discovered that I didn’t know how. But I also couldn’t refuse his invitation outright. I couldn’t think of a convincing reason to decline.

That left only one option.

“Yes.”

I forced a smile and answered him. And just as I stepped forward to take his hand—

“Oh, oh, oh!”

I deliberately threw off my balance and fell. It would be embarrassing, sure, but if I fell, I could use that as an excuse not to dance.

The embarrassment would pass quickly.

I squeezed my eyes shut as my body tilted toward the floor.

“Be careful.”

Trevis caught my arm far too easily.

‘Why are your reflexes so good?’

If he held onto me like this, I’d have no choice but to dance. So I relaxed my legs and slumped down.

“Oof.”

“Are you all right?”

Trevis tightened his grip on my arm and helped me up.

Behind him, Robert was covering his mouth, laughing. He must have realized I fell on purpose. Anyone else might not imagine someone falling just to avoid dancing, but Robert, who knew my true nature, would easily guess.

But there was no turning back now.

“I think I hurt my leg a little….”

“It would be best to bring a physician. I’ll support you. May I hold your arm?”

Trevis adjusted his grip on my arm.

But because the difference in our heights was so great, it felt as if I were being dragged along.

“Wait.”

Just as I was about to follow Trevis, a familiar voice came from behind me.

“Father?”

“I’ll support Espin.”

My father removed Trevis’s hand from my arm.

“It doesn’t look very proper for an unmarried man to be holding the arm of a lady who is not yet married.”

‘Huh?’

He’d been holding my arm all this time. When we entered earlier, we had even held hands—what was so improper about holding my arm now? And there were people over there with hands on shoulders, even caressing faces.

I looked at my father, baffled by his inexplicable behavior.

“Is your leg all right?”

Father put me straight into the carriage and hastily ordered it to depart.

I was still dazed, having boarded without even properly greeting Trevis.

“Oh, yes. I guess it hurt for a moment. I’m fine.”

Since I hadn’t actually been injured, of course I was fine.

But Father seemed unconvinced and shook his head.

“No. You must see a physician. Once we return to the estate, I’ll summon one. Get examined.”
“Yes.”
“Ahem. And… try not to spend too much time close to Duke Holt. When unmarried men and women stay close together at a banquet, rumors spread easily.”

To be honest, the thought crossed my mind, Wouldn’t rumors be a good thing if it’s Duke Holt? But I simply nodded.

“Yes.”
“Ahem.”

Father looked out the window, appearing uncomfortable and embarrassed.

‘Was my fall really that humiliating? Enough to rush me out of the banquet like this?’

I recalled the moment I fell again.

It had felt like I collapsed in a rather dramatic, tragic-heroine sort of way…

Well, what did it matter.

I pushed the thought aside and gazed out the window. The imperial palace was gradually fading into the distance.

As I watched it recede, a question occurred to me.

‘Then what happens to the Countess and Rose?’

Earlier, the Countess and Rose had come to the palace in this carriage with Father. But now that we were riding it back, they had no carriage to return in.

Judging by Father’s expression, he didn’t seem to have thought that far ahead.

Well. They’ll figure it out.
If they have a hard time, all the better.