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Chapter: 21
“I’m not joking. I really—!”
“My lady! I brought the water!”
Just as I was about to continue, Mei returned with the water.
The moment Evan noticed her approaching, he immediately stood up from his seat.
The faint smile that had been lingering on his lips disappeared as if it had never been there.
“Then please get some more rest before you head back.”
Watching Evan quickly walk away toward the other knights, I let out a quiet sigh.
“My lady! Please drink some water first. Are you feeling better now?”
As I accepted the cup from Mei and took a sip, I wondered if the promise I’d made just moments ago—that I would protect him—had really sounded that ridiculous.
Well… to him, I must still look like a woman who’s spent more than ten years foolishly chasing after love. No wonder he can’t believe me.
Watching Evan standing among the knights, I steeled my resolve.
If he doesn’t believe me now, then I’ll make him believe me from this point on.
A few days later.
The chance to prove my feelings came much sooner than I expected.
“To be honest, I don’t really want to go…”
While sipping my tea, I murmured to myself as I thought about tomorrow’s schedule.
The day had finally come for Evan and me to attend an official event together as husband and wife.
The only thing bothering me was that the host of the party was the Empress.
“If Delos has any sense at all, he won’t show up at tomorrow’s banquet, right?”
Thinking about Delos, who had been unusually quiet ever since the wedding, I shook off my unnecessary worries.
More importantly, I needed to think about how Evan and I should present ourselves at tomorrow’s banquet.
Since it was being held in the Imperial Palace under the Empress’s patronage, countless nobles would be attending.
Our marriage had become one of the biggest topics among the aristocracy, so naturally all eyes would be on us.
“Just wait and see. I’m someone who always keeps my promises.”
Setting down my teacup, I smiled to myself.
It was time to carry out the first step of the plan I had already devised.
The day of the banquet.
Today’s event was the monthly social gathering for nobles hosted by the Empress.
Any noble, regardless of family status, was allowed to attend, so it was always a grand affair.
Among the guests were also many nobles hoping to build connections with the higher-ranking families.
“Let’s go inside too.”
After watching the line of nobles entering one after another, I stepped down from the carriage.
As soon as I entered the ballroom, I found it filled with yellow roses, the Empress’s favorite flowers.
The fragrance of roses brushed past my nose, and the moment I stepped into the hall alone, I could feel the atmosphere around me stir.
“It looks like they really do get along well if they’re attending together.”
“See? I knew the rumors were true.”
No matter where you went, there were always people who spoke far louder than they should.
Ever since my sudden marriage to Evan, all sorts of rumors had spread throughout noble society.
One of the most popular claimed that we had fallen in love at first sight and rushed straight into marriage.
The second most common rumor was that our relationship as husband and wife wasn’t just good—it was passionately affectionate.
If I had to guess, that second rumor had most likely started because of the incident on the bed a few days ago.
Well… even if it isn’t true, rumors like that actually work in our favor.
Just as I’d expected, the more people believed that our two families were on excellent terms, the more Evan’s standing would naturally rise, despite all the insults he’d endured because of his birth.
Looking around, I noticed that today’s host, the Empress, had not yet appeared.
As my eyes wandered across the room, I suddenly spotted a familiar face on the opposite side.
That woman is…
The moment I recognized her, I sighed inwardly.
She was staring directly at me.
It was the Empress’s personal maid.
Standing a short distance away from the ballroom, she was clearly waiting for me to approach.
I glanced at Evan, who was standing faithfully by my side.
I’d warned him beforehand that, even if we couldn’t act exactly like the rumors claimed, we should at least appear somewhat close in front of so many people.
Without saying a word, he had remained beside me ever since.
“Evan. Could you lean in for a moment…?”
Standing on my tiptoes, I placed a hand lightly on his shoulder.
His shoulders stiffened instantly, becoming as rigid as stone. No matter how much I pressed, they wouldn’t lower any further.
With no other choice, I rose even higher onto my toes and whispered so quietly that only he could hear.
“I’m going to step away for a little while. You’ll be okay by yourself, won’t you?”
“Do you take me for a child? I’ll be perfectly fine on my own. Go ahead.”
Without realizing it, concern slipped into my voice.
I couldn’t help worrying that, like before, he might end up silently standing in the middle of people insulting him.
He seemed to notice my concern, frowning around the eyes as he looked at me with an expression that said I was being ridiculous.
They say no one spits at a smiling face.
So I simply gave him a small smile before turning away.
As I walked, I kept feeling as though someone was staring at the back of my head.
When I looked back, Evan had already turned his head in the opposite direction.
Maybe I imagined it.
Touching my hair absentmindedly, I turned back around.
Soon I arrived in front of the maid, who bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Duchess Balenstein. Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see you.”
The moment I heard those words, I had to force the frown forming between my brows to relax.
“Very well. Let’s go.”
Since I’d already broken things off with Delos, I couldn’t imagine what the Empress wanted to discuss with me.
Still, I quietly followed.
If I didn’t meet her today, she’d probably just find another way to summon me later.
After walking for several minutes, we arrived at a small greenhouse near the banquet hall.
Just like the ballroom, it was overflowing with blooming yellow roses.
“It’s been a long time, Dahlia.”
Inside sat a woman leisurely sipping tea.
“…Your Majesty.”
Setting down her teacup, the Empress gestured for me to take the seat across from her.
I’d naturally assumed Delos would be with her, but the greenhouse contained no one except the Empress.
I suppose that’s a relief.
If this wasn’t about Delos, then why had she called me here alone?
When I remained standing instead of sitting, the Empress smiled gently and spoke as though we were close.
“Come, sit. The tea tastes especially wonderful today.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
As soon as I took the seat she indicated, a servant immediately placed tea and refreshments before me.
I was absentmindedly watching the servant pour the tea when a familiar embroidered pattern caught my eye.
The loose robe with blue embroidery along the cuffs wasn’t something an ordinary servant would wear.
That’s…
I lifted my gaze to the face of the man who had served the tea.
“I hope the tea suits your taste.”
When our eyes met, he smiled pleasantly before stepping back.
Although I’d never actually spoken to him, I knew exactly who he was.
It’s him.
The night the rebellion broke out.
He had fled alongside Delos.
He was Delos’s personal mage.
Originally just a low-ranking mage in the Imperial Palace, he’d somehow earned the favor of both the Empress and Delos, rising in no time to become Delos’s exclusive mage.
Why is he… here?
I stared at the man pouring tea with puzzled eyes.
The Empress noticed my confusion and spoke before I could ask.
“Oh, don’t mind him. He’s simply very skilled at brewing tea, so I asked him to help for a while.”
“I… see.”
I nodded awkwardly.
Just as the Empress had said, he did nothing more than serve the tea before returning to where the maids were waiting.
The Empress leisurely savored another sip before setting down her teacup.
“Well, I didn’t call you here to ask why you did what you did over a relationship that’s already over. I was simply curious how you’ve been lately.”
“Thank you for your concern. I’ve just been living an ordinary life, like everyone else.”
“I see.”
The Empress smiled warmly, saying she was glad to hear I was doing well.
After that, our conversation continued with one meaningless topic after another.
I wondered if there was some hidden intention behind her words, but no matter how much I thought about it, the Empress really was just making ordinary small talk with me.
After this strange conversation had continued for quite some time…
“Oh my, I only meant to speak with you for a moment, but it seems I’ve kept you far too long.”
Looking thoroughly satisfied, the Empress finally gave me permission to return to the ballroom.
