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CHAPTER 26
The banquet was in full swing.
Fireworks of all colors burst in the sky, decorating the night beautifully.
The fireworks seen through the large window, along with the orchestra’s violin performance, heightened the mood of the partygoers.
Clink!
Laughter erupted as people in the banquet hall clinked their wine glasses together.
“Isn’t she truly as beautiful as the rumors say? If His Highness the Crown Prince hadn’t declared her his mistress, there would’ve been a fight among the men for her.”
A middle-aged man with a flushed face clicked his tongue in regret.
A young man standing beside him twirled his wine glass and replied:
“Who knows? Since Duke Grederick took her away, anything could happen.”
“Indeed. The fact that they haven’t returned yet suggests Duke Grederick might be interested in her too.”
“You should lower your voice. His Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t seem to be in a good mood.”
While everyone else was excited, Jeremy, slouched on a golden chair on the stage, looked gloomy—hardly the image of the banquet’s main figure.
A few nobles approached to offer their congratulations, but Jeremy barely acknowledged them.
“Your Highness, congratulations on your birthday. We eagerly await the day you ascend the throne.”
“…”
“The Empire will surely stabilize under your rule.”
Jeremy didn’t even glance at the flattering noble, pouring more strong wine down his throat.
His eyes remained fixed on the entrance to the banquet hall. It was obvious he was waiting—rather desperately—for Celia. People whispered behind his back.
“He must be quite anxious.”
“It’s been over two hours since they left, hasn’t it?”
“Still, shouldn’t His Highness be paying more attention to the guests? He’s going to be Emperor soon…”
The young ladies vying for the position of Crown Princess returned to their seats in disappointment.
Balt, who was leaning lazily against a pillar, yawned as if bored with the whole event.
Jeremy felt twisted inside. He’d been told it would only take a moment, yet two hours had passed and still no return.
Meanwhile, Gabriel was not in a good mood either. He had just started to relish the idea of Celia being reduced to the Crown Prince’s plaything, only for her to disappear from the hall with Illeon.
“Is it because she’s from the streets? She still can’t stop throwing herself at men.”
Gabriel spat out the words, and Hariel nodded vigorously in agreement.
“With such a loose body, who knows how many men she’s already been with?”
“Maybe my mother was right. She could’ve already lost her purity before being adopted into our family.”
In noble society, a woman’s chastity before marriage was crucial.
Gabriel and Hariel whispered cruelly about Celia as if breathing.
“Now that she’s officially the Crown Prince’s mistress, if her impurity is revealed, she could be thrown out tonight.”
Gabriel was already prepared to feign ignorance if that were to happen.
“She’s in the palace now… but how can I find a way to connect with Dietrich?”
Despite longing to see Dietrich, he hadn’t shown himself even once, while unremarkable noble youths occasionally approached Gabriel, asking sly questions about Celia.
Back at the banquet, Jeremy kept drinking, his vision becoming blurry.
He was drinking far more than usual, overwhelmed by frustration.
“One more drink.”
His aide, standing beside him, couldn’t bear it anymore and tried to stop him.
“Your Highness, this is already your second bottle. Perhaps you should—”
“Didn’t you hear me say one more?”
Defeated, the aide poured another glass. As soon as the red wine filled the glass, Jeremy downed it in one gulp.
“If you’re feeling unwell, perhaps it would be best to rest—”
Before the aide could finish, Jeremy hurled the glass at the wall.
Crash!
With a sharp sound, the shattered pieces scattered across the floor.
The orchestra stopped. The once lively banquet hall fell deathly silent.
Everyone looked around nervously.
“Are you disregarding me?! As you can see, I’m perfectly fine!”
Jeremy’s irritated voice echoed through the hall.
A heavy silence followed. Then Jeremy suddenly stood up.
The moment he rose, he staggered. The aide rushed over to support him.
“Let go! I can walk on my own.”
Shaking off the aide, Jeremy stumbled out of the banquet hall.
Watching this, Balt shook his head in disbelief.
“He wasn’t like this at public events before…”
Jeremy’s bizarre behavior caused murmurs to spread among the guests.
Meanwhile, Celia was examining the vial Illeon had given her.
The transparent liquid inside looked indistinguishable from water.
“Is this… poison?”
Illeon answered brightly:
“Technically, it’s a poison that disfigures the face. Even a small amount can melt it horribly.”
Celia’s delicate brow furrowed.
“I can’t use something like this. I’m giving it back.”
She handed the vial back. Illeon tilted his head in curiosity.
“Why not, Lady Celia? A time may come when this is exactly what you need.”
“Even if that time comes, I don’t want to resort to such cowardly means.”
She’d rather use her psychic powers. Poison went against her beliefs as a princess.
“Please don’t use this on anyone either.”
Illeon let out a soft laugh and raised a corner of his lips.
“How do you know who I’d use it on?”
“I… wouldn’t know that.”
Celia felt uncomfortable around Illeon.
Thanks to him, she learned about Dietrich’s psychic abilities, but there was something unsettling about him.
Maybe it was because of the way he hid his true thoughts behind a gentle smile—or maybe it was the possibility that he was the very man who destroyed her kingdom.
“If you let your guard down, you’ll be devoured to the bone.”
“Why is he trying to drive a wedge between me and Dietrich?”
Celia couldn’t tell whether Illeon was friend or foe.
If Dietrich was like a wild beast that wouldn’t be tamed, Illeon was like a snake—calm, calculating, and deceiving.
She decided to return to the banquet.
“It’s getting late. I think we should go back.”
“Lady Celia.”
Illeon smiled and called her.
“Before you go, just one question: would you sacrifice the pawn or the queen?”
Celia tilted her head.
“Are you talking about chess?”
“Yes. Just answer me this—would you sacrifice the pawn or the queen?”
The pawn was the lowest piece in chess, and the queen the most powerful after the king. It should be obvious.
“I would sacrifice the pawn.”
Illeon blinked a few times, then smiled with crescent-shaped eyes.
“Good answer. Shall we return then?”
He held out his hand. Celia hesitated, but eventually took it.
Illeon’s hand was still cold.
They left the garden. The palace where the banquet was held remained brightly lit.
Just before re-entering the hall, Celia encountered someone she’d grown familiar with.
The faint moonlight fell over jet-black hair.
Red eyes set within sharply defined features showed complete indifference to the world.
With broad shoulders and a flawless black uniform stretched over a strong body—
It was Dietrich.
He was silently staring at Celia and Illeon’s clasped hands.
Illeon smiled casually and addressed him first:
“Sir—no, I should say Duke Calypso now. Do you have something to say to me?”
“Duke Grederick.”
Dietrich slowly blinked, then looked Illeon straight in the eye.
“No need to return to the banquet. His Highness the Crown Prince has retired early, drunk on wine.”
“Ah, thanks for letting me know. But…”
Illeon placed his free hand on Dietrich’s shoulder.
“Your tone’s gotten quite short since we last met.”
Celia thought Illeon was strange.
Why did he use honorifics with someone like her, a lower status, but speak informally to someone like Dietrich?
“Um… I’d like to rest now.”
At Celia’s words, Dietrich offered his arm immediately.
“Allow me to escort you from here, Celia.”
Celia had to revise her opinion.
Illeon was strange—but Dietrich was acting unusually too.
He normally spoke to her informally, but now that Illeon was around, he used polite speech?
She gave Dietrich a confused look as if to ask what he was doing.
Dietrich avoided her gaze, gently wrapped her other hand in his, and said:
“You’re not planning to head to the Crown Prince’s chambers, are you?”
