Chapter 10
The man’s dark red eyes stared as if they would suck in anyone who looked. Just by sitting next to them, his aura overwhelmed them. He truly seemed like the first person in history to have slain the demon race.
The envoy’s lips trembled as he forced a smile.
“Haha, it’s likely not a topic the Commander would enjoy hearing. Just some trivial talk about the world.”
“Indeed, it’s rarely easy for the gossip of old men in back rooms to be interesting.”
“Back rooms… what did you just say?”
The envoy’s face turned mottled with rage. Old men in back rooms? The envoys gathered here were all individuals representing their respective home countries.
The man clicked his tongue.
“As one gets older, one should learn the virtues of prudence and modesty. For instance, exercising the caution to look around before badmouthing others.”
“What are you—!”
“Or perhaps speaking only when one is prepared for the fact that a rashly uttered word can end up strangling one’s own neck.”
The surroundings fell silent at his chillingly low voice. Since entering, he was a man who hadn’t spoken a single word to those approaching him. He had maintained an indifferent face the whole time—had he been listening to all the contemptuous whispers behind his back?
“There are topics that are better left as thoughts. However, I happen to enjoy useless conversation quite a bit. Don’t think too hard about it.”
Ending his sharp warning, the man gave a thin smile. It was a message to shut up if they didn’t dare to say it to his face.
Before the frozen atmosphere could thaw, the military band, which had paused, began to play. The delegations straightened their postures all at once. It was time for the nobles of Elobis and the high-ranking members of the royal family to enter.
The closed golden doors swung wide open. Led by Duke Valere, the prominent noble families of Elobis entered. Most of them were elders of the Royal Council, figures with voting rights in meetings that decided the major affairs of the state. All were dressed in white formal wear, the designated attire for Foundation Day.
Next was the most important part. Everyone in the hall stood up. The band played a majestic entrance theme. While the divided guards protected the red road, the King of Elobis and the Crown Princess entered the hall.
The conquering King, who once commanded the northwestern part of the continent, was now stout and grey-haired, but the dignity forged in blood was no less than in his younger days. Beside him, the Crown Princess was also dazzlingly beautiful. They symbolized the prosperity of Elobis by their very existence.
The King sat on his throne, and the Crown Princess stood to the right of the throne. With a single gesture from the King, the band stopped playing. Everyone in the hall waited for the King to speak.
“Thank you for attending this gathering. As you all know, we are gathered here today to celebrate the foundation of Elobis, but at the same time, it is for each nation to confirm our mutual future.”
The King’s gaze, which had been scanning the delegations one by one, lingered for a moment on the Commander of Winterbark.
“I express my gratitude and respect to the delegations who accepted the invitation. We shall have individual opportunities to strengthen our friendship later; for today, let us fully enjoy this joyful day…”
The King’s eyes narrowed as he looked toward a certain spot. The guests who followed the King’s gaze wore puzzled expressions. The doors to the banquet hall had not yet closed.
Similarly, Catherine, who spotted the entrance, knitted her brows slightly.
‘What is happening? There shouldn’t be anyone else left to enter.’
As if to directly contradict that thought, the half-closed doors swung wide open. The banquet hall was swept into shock by the silhouette revealed between them.
The moment Ioreth appeared in the banquet hall, the room became deathly quiet. It was a quiet entrance, without the grand performance of the military band announcing royalty or the standing guests.
However, the gaze of the crowd was entirely focused on her. It wasn’t just because of the Princess’s beauty. Someone muttered as if groaning.
“The dress…”
As the Princess walked into the center of the hall, the hem of her dress billowed richly. Her platinum blonde hair, covering her back, fluttered with the movement of the dress.
Catherine almost screamed when she recognized her sister’s dress.
‘That… how could she do that to that dress!’
That was the wedding dress she had personally chosen and sent to Ioreth. She had picked the most extravagant one specifically, so Ioreth would be a bride more noticeable than anyone else at the wedding with Earl Castlein. But the color was completely different.
The pure white dress that symbolized a bride’s purity had turned pitch black.
In any country, there is a color that must never be used on Foundation Day. That is black, which carries the meaning of mourning. Not only the guests but even the King had his eyes wide open. A sense of crisis was felt that this situation had to be handled immediately.
“You, right now, in a place like this, how could you—”
But Catherine could not finish her sentence. The moment Ioreth reached beneath the chandelier, the dress changed to a color entirely different from before.
The color of the dress shifted depending on the angle of the light. From a jet black to a blue mixed with black, and gradually into a deep, mysterious shade of peacock green. The more it caught the light, the more the fabric took on blue tones, changing colors based on the viewer’s perspective.
Among the guests dressed entirely in white formal wear, she stood out uniquely. Furthermore, she had entered later than even the King and the Crown Princess. It was an unprecedented situation.
The Princess, who had walked through the blue depths and reached the front of the throne, bowed deeply. Her etiquette was flawless.
“I offer my greetings to Father.”
Instead of the King, who was scowling, Catherine stood up. Stepping down the stairs, Catherine hugged Ioreth. In contrast to her affectionate gesture, the voice that only reached Ioreth was clearly filled with rage.
“What brings you here, Ioreth? I don’t recall calling for you.”
“What do you mean, what brings me here?”
Ioreth widened her eyes as if she found the question strange.
“I simply came because it is a place I ought to attend. According to the scheduled program.”
“The scheduled program?”
“Today is my wedding day, Sister. I entered just as we practiced beforehand; is there perhaps a problem?”
Catherine swallowed a hollow laugh. The program had already been changed three days ago. Since the scheduled wedding ceremony had been canceled, the entire schedule for Foundation Day had to be reworked. But now?
“The wedding couldn’t possibly proceed as planned after that commotion.”
“But you didn’t tell me.”
Ioreth gave a bright smile. It was the same fool-like face she had seen a few days ago.
“It was you, Sister, who repeatedly emphasized how important today is. I refined my appearance to show full respect to my bedridden fiancé.”
“That’s nonsense. If wearing mourning clothes on Foundation Day is your idea of respect—”
“But, didn’t you tell me to serve the Earl as a husband who is like the heavens?”
Amidst the deathly quiet banquet hall, Ioreth tilted her head innocently.
“You said, ‘The person you must serve from now on is not Father, but Earl Castlein. If you live as the Earl’s wife and not a princess, I will let you return in five years.’…”
“You…”
“You definitely said that. Sister.”
It had been a long time since Catherine was so utterly speechless. As the banquet was delayed, the envoys began to whisper. The King gave a sharp instruction.
“Crown Princess. Return to your seat. Princess, stand there, in front of Duke Valere.”
For now, there was no choice but to retreat. Catherine turned back, biting her lip hard. The King, who had become weary in that short time, gestured to the Commander of the Black Eagle Knights.
“Proceed with the banquet. And call Sir Ferrain separately to confirm whether the Princess really wasn’t notified of the schedule change.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Ioreth stood in the front row of the noble group, holding her dress. Her whole body prickled from the hundreds of gazes fixed on her.
Usually, the protagonist appears last. It was an eternal truth that applied anywhere, at any time. However, if Lucian hadn’t been her guard, she would have been blocked from the entrance. If Bara hadn’t helped her dress with such skillful hands, she wouldn’t have escaped mockery.
Thanks to them, her long platinum hair waved beautifully, and Queen Charlotte’s necklace shone on her long, straight neck. The mysterious blue-black covering the voluminous dress delivered a meaningful shock to those who recognized the value of the color. At the very least, those in this room would never forget the name Ioreth.
‘I succeeded in getting onto the stage. Now the real part begins.’
Ioreth stood with her back straight, waiting for the opening ceremony to end.
