RAPM 15

Chapter 15

“So the naval ship docked at the harbor. You must have arrived then.”

“Yeah. I came earlier than scheduled because I wanted to surprise you… What’s wrong, Eva?”

“Mm… It’s nothing.”

For a moment, she remembered someone else who had secretly set out early, hoping to surprise her just like Kirion had.

A shadow passed over Evangeline’s eyes.

But this wasn’t a place where she could freely show her emotions. For Kirion’s sake, who would only worry if he noticed, she quickly forced a smile back onto her face.

“Kirion, I’m just glad you arrived safely. Really.”

“Come on. I’m more relieved to see that you’re doing well, Eva.”

“…”

His kindness in deliberately avoiding painful topics eased Evangeline’s heart for the first time since coming here.

So this is why old friends are so precious.

When Philip had told her that Kirion was looking for her, she had refused to meet him because of her own circumstances. Even so, it hadn’t made her feel any better.

Because after spending so much of her life traveling around the world, Kirion was practically her only childhood friend.

She had first met him when she was ten years old, while staying in the eastern colony of Addis with her father.

At the welcoming banquet hosted by Count Revelle, the Governor of Addis and Kirion’s father, Kirion had been the only child her age.

When she had been overwhelmed by the unfamiliar heat and exotic culture of the Eastern Continent, he had been the first to reach out his hand to her.

Until the day she suddenly returned to the Empire and Kirion later enlisted in the navy, he had always stayed by her side.

Even now, when she still felt like an outsider wherever she went.

“Eva.”

“I always seem to miss the important moments in your life.”

“Hm?”

“I’m truly sorry about your father.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you sooner.”

“Why would you apologize?”

She shook her head, telling him it wasn’t his fault.

But Kirion lowered his eyes with sincere regret.

The expression on his face was so serious that, strangely enough, she almost laughed.

Or perhaps…

She had simply wanted to smile, even if only once.

Just as the gloom finally began to lift from her heart and a faint smile appeared on her lips—

A long shadow quietly passed behind the balcony curtains.

◇ ◆ ◇

“They’re certainly putting on quite a show already.”

Viscount Chloe raised an eyebrow with amusement as he blew out a cloud of cigar smoke.

The men smoked at different paces, but every pair of eyes was fixed on the same woman.

She was too far away for them to hear the conversation, but anyone could tell that Evangeline had found herself in an unpleasant confrontation with the wives who supported Princess Bellona.

“Well, that’s only natural.”

“Whether they admitted it or not, they’ve all been waiting for a chance to go after Lady O’Hara.”

“Go after Lady O’Hara? Why?”

“She appeared out of nowhere and became the future Duchess of Theseus. Of course she was a thorn in everyone’s side. Before, they couldn’t openly criticize her because of her family’s immense wealth. Now they finally think they’ve found their opportunity.”

Several men spoke with sympathy.

Yet even they looked at Evangeline differently now.

Before, she had been like a flower blooming on an unreachable cliff.

Now…

She was still untouchable—but for an entirely different reason.

Perhaps someone suitable for a brief affair…

But certainly not someone to take seriously.

“What a waste, though.”

“Thinking we won’t get to admire that face much longer makes these banquets far less enjoyable.”

“Well, she certainly made an unforgettable first impression.”

“When she first appeared in high society, I’d heard there were all kinds of amazing things in the Eastern Continent.”

“I honestly thought Count O’Hara had brought back a living doll.”

Normally, none of them would have dared speak so casually about her.

But today was different.

They still observed the bare minimum of courtesy only because she was officially Duke Theseus’s fiancée.

“…Still, I hope nothing serious happens.”

“Baroness Carlisle is practically Her Highness’s right hand. It looks like she started stirring things up first…”

“Lady O’Hara won’t go down without a fight.”

“She lived under the same roof as the famous former Duchess of Theseus, after all.”

“Shall we make a wager?”

Viscount Chloe mischievously flicked the ash from his cigar.

Suddenly…

The nobles who had been laughing and chatting fell completely silent.

Wondering what had happened, the Viscount casually glanced behind him.

The color immediately drained from his face.

“Y-Your Grace.”

“…”

Did he hear us?

As Duke Theseus entered, every man instinctively lowered his head.

His calm footsteps carried him toward the reserved seats of House Theseus.

The sound of nervous swallowing echoed throughout the room.

Because no one could ever read the Duke’s expression, everyone else’s expressions became increasingly tense instead.

“Y-Your Grace. You’ve arrived.”

“Please, don’t mind me.”

“…”

His voice was as elegant and calm as always.

The men quietly let out sighs of relief.

Although young by their standards, Duke Decarno was unquestionably their leader.

Hoping to gain his favor, Viscount Chloe cautiously moved to the seat beside him.

“We’ve all been waiting for your arrival, Your Grace.”

“Have you?”

“To be honest, none of us are particularly interested in these kinds of parties.”

“The real reason we’re here is simply to have another chance to see you.”

The Viscount smoothly claimed the seat beside the Duke and placed his hat on the small table next to the Duke’s armrest.

There were no assigned seats except for the Duke’s own.

Whoever sat down first kept the place.

Ignoring the envious looks from the others, he proudly continued flattering him.

“Ever since Your Grace adjusted the Central Federal Bank’s interest rates at the last meeting, business has become much easier.”

“I see.”

“Absolutely. Not just for me. Every noble involved in business throughout Roak has benefited from— Ah… My apologies, Your Grace.”

The Viscount suddenly noticed the Duke’s hand holding a cigar.

The ash had grown so long it looked ready to fall.

Only then did he realize his hat was blocking the Duke’s ashtray.

“Haha, how careless of me.”

“I was so eager to sit close enough to speak with Your Grace.”

“I’ll move it right away—”

“No.”

“Y-Your Grace?”

The burning ash dropped directly onto the Viscount’s hat.

Without even blinking,

Decarno calmly pressed the glowing end of his cigar into the hat as though extinguishing it in an ashtray.

The smell of burning fabric quickly became stronger than the smell of tobacco.

“I dislike people touching what’s mine, Viscount.”

“Th-That isn’t what I meant…”

“I don’t forgive a second time.”

“No matter what it is.”

Only then did Duke Theseus lift the cigar away.

He calmly turned his gaze forward once more.

This time it had only been the man’s hat.

Next time…

It might be his head.

Silence filled the room.

Crossing one leg over the other, the Duke’s indifferent gaze drifted toward something outside the window.

“…”

Whoever he had spotted,

his silver-gray eyes narrowed through the drifting smoke.

His jaw tightened.

Just as he was about to stand—

The entrance to the ballroom suddenly became lively.

“Her Highness the Princess has arrived! Everyone, please rise and welcome her!”

At the chamberlain’s loud announcement, everyone either bowed or knelt.

Even the men who disliked Princess Bellona hurried over to greet her.

Naturally…

The first person Bellona searched for was Duke Decarno.

“Oh, Duke! There you are!”

“Thank you for inviting me, Your Highness.”

“Oh, don’t thank me.”

“I’ve always wanted you to come.”

Bellona’s cheeks turned bright red from that simple greeting.

Just being able to meet Decarno again felt like a dream.

“I was so surprised when I heard you were attending.”

“You’re always so busy that you never come to events like this.”

“I heard this banquet was being held in honor of the navy.”

Unlike Bellona,

the Duke’s expression remained perfectly polite and formal.

His manners were impeccable.

But there wasn’t the slightest hint of personal affection in his attitude.

Normally, Bellona would have been disappointed.

But today she couldn’t stop smiling.

Simply because Evangeline was no longer standing beside him.

“Well… I actually thought about it for a long time.”

“I wondered whether inviting Lady O’Hara here was truly the right thing to do.”

“…Why do you say that?”

“Well…”

“This situation could be rather uncomfortable for her.”

“If she doesn’t intend to spend the rest of her life hiding inside her home…”

“Then it’s something she must learn to endure herself.”

Just as I thought!

Bellona’s lips twitched with delight.

There was no way the famous Duke Theseus would reveal his feelings so easily.

Of course, his fiancée wasn’t just anyone.

But somehow…

That only pleased Bellona even more.

Ever since Evangeline had visited the Imperial Palace, Bellona had found herself increasingly irritated, even losing sleep over it.

“I completely agree with you, Duke.”

“A noble should clean up the consequences of their own actions.”

“…”

“My late father always taught me that one must uphold the honor of noble blood and accept responsibility as an adult—”

Then…

Why isn’t he looking at me?

Trying to prolong their conversation for as long as possible, Bellona suddenly noticed that Decarno’s gaze was fixed elsewhere.

His silver-gray eyes were directed toward the second floor.

Toward an empty balcony.

For just a brief instant…

An unfamiliar emotion flickered in those cold eyes.

A chill ran down Bellona’s spine.

It was the first time she had ever seen such an expression on his face.