#13. Fifteen (1)
When he grabbed the damned servant, Remetel had already entered the banquet hall with his invitation.
He wanted to rush inside immediately to reclaim what was his from Remetel, but without an invitation, he couldn’t get in. If he wanted to enter empty-handed, he had to join someone else who had an invitation.
However, Idren had no acquaintance with any of the Runtalis or Mebasa who participated in the talks. As for the three sons of Yggdrasil, it was better that they weren’t around, and they were already inside the banquet hall.
The guards at the banquet hall told him to just go back. It seemed they had already been given separate instructions from Remetel.
Even though he could clearly hear the mocking tone beneath the guard’s words, Idren realized he had no choice but to obey. The doors to the banquet hall would never open for him.
It was only when he accepted the situation and turned his back that, as if a lie, he saw white shoes before his eyes.
The pure white shoes were slightly larger than the last time he saw them, but again made of deer leather, embroidered with colorful threads.
When he saw the silver hair decorated with waves of fabric and summer flowers above them, Idren realized that he was standing right in front of Ophelia.
The girl had grown much since the last time he saw her, but she was still the most beautiful figure he could imagine.
Staring absentmindedly at that sight, Idren blushed. Ophelia’s transparent eyes reflected him clearly.
Through that reflection, Idren realized he had been rudely staring at someone.
Before committing a greater rudeness, he lowered his gaze. But Ophelia was still looking at him intently. Idren felt embarrassed by her gaze.
Perhaps he had done something wrong.
Although he was now much taller and dressed well compared to the skinny girl from two years ago, Idren knew he was infinitely lacking compared to Ophelia.
Not just her, but compared to any of the children inside the banquet hall.
The irritating voice rang out then.
“You seem to want to come inside.”
Before he could say anything, Ophelia ordered the guard standing by the banquet hall door:
“Open the door.”
The guard immediately protested.
“But Your Highness, this gentleman does not have an invitation.”
“Can’t you see what’s in my hand?”
Her icy retort was laced with irritation. Even knowing she wasn’t addressing him but the guard, Idren felt tense.
The guard countered, incredulous.
“Then… do you mean to accompany him, Your Highness?”
“You must be blind and deaf.”
Her tone clearly showed she was in a bad mood.
Despite any separate orders from Remetel, the guard couldn’t talk back to royalty and soon opened the door.
After unintentionally becoming her companion, Idren quietly thanked the princess, who was standing with a cold expression and her hand on his arm.
“…Thank you.”
They had met only twice, yet every time he seemed to receive help.
Blushing at his muttered thanks, Ophelia didn’t look back and, pretending not to hear, said:
“If you enter the hall with a partner, you must dance with that partner first.”
But unlike when she spoke to the guard, her tone was noticeably softer, and Idren felt somewhat relieved. Ophelia didn’t seem angry with him, or at least not very angry.
That day, while dancing with Ophelia, Idren didn’t make the mistake of stepping on her feet. He had gotten somewhat better at dancing by now.
Perhaps knowing he didn’t need to be led, the girl remained silent throughout. Idren opened his mouth several times but said nothing.
He had only ever dealt with such an elegant girl once before. That was two years ago, and he had been drowning in shame then, so it hardly counted as experience.
Instead of words, Idren took in every detail of the girl’s appearance at that moment. Fortunately, he had grown much taller than her over the two years, so it wasn’t so obvious.
Ophelia kept looking straight ahead the entire time he looked down at her. If their eyes had met, he would have blushed so much that everyone in the hall would have noticed — so it was fortunate for him.
Finally, as the music died down, Ophelia spoke to him, still immersed in the lingering feeling.
“Well done.”
The same words as before. Idren recognized them immediately because he often recalled the memory of dancing with her so it wouldn’t fade.
He bowed once more.
“Thank you.”
Though his words carried complex meanings and weren’t very elegant, they were much better than before. Ophelia lifted her head and looked up at him. Her eyes, like the night sea, met his.
At that moment, Idren wished that the reflection of himself in her blue eyes could be even half of what he saw in her.
Ophelia, who looked at him with a gaze that was almost too obvious, said:
“You look much better than before.”
And before he could reply, she withdrew her hand. The silk glove fell with even more regret than before.
Before the music grew loud again, Ophelia turned away. Not knowing what to say, Idren tried to follow her but was already one step too late.
The music restarted before he could leave the center of the hall, and another girl was already standing in front of him.
That day, Idren danced with every girl in the banquet hall.
They clearly thought of him as mere entertainment, making shameless teasing remarks, but Idren did not run away from their hands.
There was only one reason. A single man who had danced the first dance with a partner could not refuse dance requests from others in the hall if he wished to dance again with that partner.
One princess who danced with him said:
“How pitiful. To be destined to die before you even come into your own.”
She had once shown discomfort when Remetel spoke about him.
Now, more woman than girl, the princess said that and then slid her hand sticky across the back of his hand. She whispered in a low voice:
“You look pure, so wouldn’t it be unfair to die like this? When this music ends, will you leave with me?”
So, Idren pushed her away as soon as the music ended. The princess laughed softly at his action, a laugh so flawless it almost felt pleasant.
“Don’t act too pricey. You’re not a body that can’t be sold at the right price anyway.”
The princess turned and left. Before Idren could calm his upset stomach, he had to hold another sister’s hand.
Still, the banquet wasn’t crowded, so he was able to fulfill the necessary conditions without much delay.
After sending the last girl away, Idren looked around for the girl he danced with first, but the silver hair was nowhere to be seen. No matter how much he searched, Ophelia was gone.
Only then did Idren realize he had forgotten the most basic condition: no matter how many dances he had, it was useless if Ophelia was not in the banquet hall.
If he had known, he thought, he would have left before hearing those words.
To relieve some mental fatigue and emptiness, Idren went out to the most secluded balcony.
Without imagining Ophelia would be there.
Inside the balcony he opened without thinking, was Ophelia, whom he thought had already left.
Hearing the balcony door open, she turned and, seeing Idren, he panicked and turned his head away, closing the door. Even then, unable to calm his surprised heart, he leaned against the door, blushing.
Then came a soft sound from behind.
Knock. Knock. Ophelia, who knocked just loud enough for him to hear but no one else, said:
“You can come in.”
Granted permission, Idren entered the balcony. Ophelia was sitting with her back turned. The hem of her dress, clearly inspired by her eye color, was tangled around a small chair.
Without looking at him as he hesitated and walked toward the railing, Ophelia asked:
“Did you enjoy the banquet?”
Though it hadn’t been that great, Idren just agreed since she didn’t know what he had been through.
“Yes.”
Ophelia seemed to know he was lying but didn’t ask further. She continued in the same unchanged tone:
“There’s a chair over there. If you want to sit, bring it here.”
Idren did as she said.
Bringing the chair and sitting down, he worried if he sat too close or too far.
Soon he realized Ophelia wouldn’t care about the distance and stopped worrying.
Despite his presence, Ophelia looked only at the sky. Idren glanced at her, worried he might be caught, but she never looked back.
Looking at her cheek lit by bluish moonlight, Idren moved his lips a few times. He didn’t want to waste this moment but didn’t know what to do or say.
