144. under the chandelier (5)

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No matter whether they were great nobles or minor nobles, what the nobles of the royal capital expected from this ball was a sharp confrontation between the royal factions. And through that confrontation, to see who the goddess who protects the kingdom is smiling at. However, as always, their expectations and hopes disappeared like bubbles.

“No, His Highness, the 2nd Prince, is not participating in this banquet? Wasn’t it a banquet that royals were obliged to attend?”

“No, apart from His Highness the 2nd Prince, Count Leon Benning is also not attending this ball. Haven’t you been consistently attending the New Year’s ball?”

“They say they both sent agents. But if they don’t attend, what does this mean?”

“I heard that His Highness, the 2nd Prince, said that he was not feeling well. The Count didn’t attend to take care of him.”

The nobles who attended the ball could not hide their anxiety. The person who attended as a proxy did not say anything throughout the ball, just watching the nobles dancing and chatting among themselves. Even the greetings of the nobles were merely accepted by waving their hands, and they did not approach and greet anyone first.

“What is about to happen… .”

The quick-witted nobles had a hunch that a cataclysm would soon occur in the palace. I just shrugged, hoping that the storm wouldn’t pass as long as this ballroom.

“Still, His Majesty is here too, so he won’t try to cause anything suddenly.”

“Be careful, though. You know very well that a single word from them can determine our life or death.”

The nobles feared their necks would run away. However, it was not that there were no people who saw this as a golden opportunity. Those who were pushed to the edge of the power that Leon Bening gave them courage to approach the king’s aides. Now that the Count and the 2nd Prince are absent, it is a golden opportunity for them to change lines.

“Humans are very cunning animals.”

1Princess Michelle whispered in a very low voice. Louis, not being able to hear her words of denial, nodded in agreement. As she said, people were cunning. It was cunning and opportunistic. Michelle’s face erased the smile she had shown when dealing with nobles.

“Because it’s cunning, you can use it.”

Between the first prince and the first princess, a tall, middle-aged man intervened. Count Ray Argon was the man who had simple manners while watching the first prince and the first princess.

“And if their cunning is to be of any help to us, we should feel free to use it, even if it is embarrassing. It is right for all who become leaders to do so.”

Count Agon had a lot of gray hair mixed with it, and his gray hair was pulled back. When the count appeared, revealing the dignity of a great aristocrat, the people snooping around noticed and moved away from the first prince and the first princess one by one.

1The princess let out a sigh of relief and greeted the count who had come to visit her.

“It took a lot of trouble to come from the east, Count. Are you on your way to see His Majesty?”

Count Agon let out a big laugh.

“Yes. There was a lot of energy in his eyes. And, the hardships were the hardships of God’s subordinates, and the gods did not suffer too much, Your Highness.”

The existence of a great aristocrat named Ray Agon came as another pressure to the aristocrats. Even though it was not comparable to the power of Leon Benning, it is a fact that cannot be ignored that they are a great aristocrat who has strong power that can be counted on one finger in the kingdom and supports the first princess.

“The people who sent them were really great people. Count, thanks to you, I think I was able to get through to the martial arts competition safely like this.”

“God may be a poor old man, but God’s people have been very good at assisting this poor lord. If you serve Your Highness, who is much smarter and wiser than the gods, you will be able to fully demonstrate your capabilities.”

Huh, smiling, Earl Agon eagerly looked at Marion, who was defeating the nobles around the first princess.

“But Marion, I was quite taken aback when that child came forward to assist Her Highness.”

When Michelle heard Marion’s story, her expression brightened and she shook her head.

“Marion is the biggest help to me. It’s okay if you don’t have to worry about her.”

Count Argon raised his eyebrows and nodded, stroking his shaggy chin.

“He was a very diligent child living in our manor, so please take good care of him.”

“Because you have a personality that will be loved wherever you go, Marion.”

A little bit of worry disappeared from Count Agon’s expression.

“Your Highness, Prince 1, looks quite worried.”

Louis sighed at Count Agon’s concern.

“There’s no way I wouldn’t be deeply concerned. This martial arts competition is not the end, it is just the beginning of what will happen in the future.”

“Are you worried about the second prince, Your Highness?”

Count Argon asked Louis in a slightly reproachful tone.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned. I still don’t think Kyle is a complete enemy.”

“majesty… .”

Count Agon’s attempt to say more was blocked by Michelle’s restraint. The Count blinked and, realizing that it had been a mistake, bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, God is old, and I opened my mouth lightly because my body was not in good health.”

“How could I pervert the count’s loyalty? It’s just the fault of my weakness.”

Louise’s eyes shook in the light of the chandelier. Michelle took Louis’s hand, and Louis sighed and tightened their grip.

“It will be fine.”

unrest. Champagne on a tilted tray staggers as if it is about to flow down the rim of the glass. The ball cast light down under the bright chandelier, but at the same time, behind it, it cast longer and longer shadows in ink.

“Michelle, if I… .”

“More than that, please don’t tell me.”

A long sigh escaped Louis’ mouth. Michelle and Louise’s eyes meet. The secret they shared with the king became a ticking time bomb that could explode at any time and was slowly strangling them.

“Don’t say if.”

Lewis nodded with difficulty. Losing evoked anger, but less than perfect victories evoked anxiety. Louis tried to ignore the words whispered to him from the other side of his mind. The end of the prom was approaching. Lewis looked at the table in the banquet hall where his father was sitting.

Obama Mama. A man as mysterious as their enemy, Leon Benning. I never said it out loud, but Louis and Michel were uncomfortable with the king.

“Does His Majesty want us to part?”

Michelle asked Count Agon in a hint.

“… Truly, no one knows what His Majesty desires.”

Did the king really make this board only to protect his throne, or if not, did he plan to correct the problem of the succession and set the royal family right again?

If not, it’s simply a desperate struggle to move forward with your ears closed and your eyes closed, unable to admit the mistakes you’ve committed in the past.

no one knew

—

“Would you like to dance or sing a song together?”

The runner-up of the martial arts competition, Theodora Benning, was staring blankly at such aristocrats. The hand of the male nobleman who invited Theodora to dance was floating in the air. Theodora’s dazed eyes did not seem to reflect the image of a male aristocrat standing obliquely beside her.

To the nobles, Theodora would be one of the most difficult to approach in this ballroom. The daughter of Leon Bening, and the leader of the 2nd Prince’s bodyguard, the Jackdaw Knights. I don’t know what her personal thoughts are, but I couldn’t approach her with selfishness, since the route was already so firmly established.

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Not like a flower on a cliff, but a flame that blooms over a blazing fire. However, the flame was too beautiful to ignore and not approach. And there were bound to be moths that flew to the flames, not knowing that they were destined to be burned to death.

“Me, my lady?”

Perhaps not even watching the martial arts competition, the nobleman who called Theodora by a strange title soon shook his head and left her. How many aristocrats were rejected like that? At first, the nobles, who tried to get her to open their mouths in every way, got tired and circled around her and then disappeared.

“How can someone sit still like that?”

“Is the runner-up so resentful? Truly, he is a model for knights.”

Rather than criticizing her for being rude, compliments such as her strong desire to win and her refusal to act recklessly are pouring in to dry her mouth. Rather than looking at Theodora with jealous eyes, the young ladies looked at them with eyes mixed with fear.

Theodora didn’t even snort at the reaction of the nobles. After the vortex that swept through her mind for a while had subsided, she was slowly organizing the remains.

It was as if the last final had passed like a dream overnight. Maxim was alive. I don’t know if he was looking for himself too. Because I am a sinner to Maxim.

But, alive. It is said that the curse that caused Leon Benning to ruin him through trickery is now unaffected. Theodora sighed and took another sip of champagne.

Our time will never come back.

Theodora saw those who stood beside Maxim. Christine Watson. A person who had been with Maxim long before Theodora first assumed command of the Jackdaw Knights. And the knights of the 1st Guards. Surrounded by them, Maxim was wearing a ring with a blue gem on his ring finger.

The insecure girl who held the engagement ceremony with Maxim became a beautiful young lady who silenced the banquet hall and danced with her fiancé.

He looked happy. Theodora sees Maxim talking to them with a smile as if he couldn’t help it. If I hadn’t met you. If only I hadn’t fallen for Leon Benning’s witchcraft. Did he live like that without suffering for the next three years?

I wanted to get closer. I wanted to talk a little more about their tangled past.

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Not now.

Theodora’s mind could not go any further and was caught in the tangled threads of the past. Between Maksim, who was smiling like that, and the people around him, there was no space he could squeeze into. It was like watching a play from the audience. I want to resent you, but I can’t.

Theodora set the cup in her hand. I didn’t want to drink too much, I didn’t want to get drunk. Alcohol was a medium that reminded him of what had happened in the no man’s land. Even now, he thinks of Maxim pushing him away and leaving the room, and he thinks of himself leaning against the doorway shedding tears.

‘Why did he act like that then?’

Theodora suddenly felt her face heat up. After the king left, the nobles left one by one. Theodora stood up with them. Originally, it was a ball she attended to have a little conversation with Maxim, but there was no opportunity to return to her.

It’s not like there’s no time left.

Theodora told herself that and left the ballroom. The eyes of the nobles who still couldn’t let go of their lingering eyes followed them behind them, but Theodora easily ignored them all. Theodora put on the coat she had left for her. There was no wind, but it was the coldest weather this year. Theodora crouched and walked in the backyard of the ballroom.

“It’s a bit chilly.”

On January 1st, there was only about an hour left. It was time for the fireworks to celebrate the new year to begin soon. It was a night on the royal road that was usually not so quiet, but now it was full of people who were excited about the fireworks display that was about to begin and took to the streets. In contrast, the backyard of the ballroom was deserted and empty.

Theodora sat down in a chair next to a nameless tree with drooping branches. As expected, such a beautiful dress did not suit her very well. Theodora lifted the hem of her dress and looked at it. A blue dress with black decorations. It was a dress I picked out with the help of Rione to show to Maxim. Theodora touched the hem and smiled bitterly.

“I wanted to show you.”

And like in the past, I wanted to playfully ask how you are today. Of course, I knew very well the answer you were about to hear, but I wanted to hear it again from your mouth.

“It got a little funny.”

Theodora closed her eyes. The smell of earth was carried by the wind that blew little by little. A little bit of alcohol left over. Theodora let out a long breath. I didn’t want to take the time to watch the fireworks. Theodora got up and opened her eyes. Then it was fixed in place as if a nail had been driven into it, blinking its eyes.

A man in a black tailcoat decorated with gold thread stood across from him. Theodora looked into the golden eyes of the man who stood with his back to the moonlight. A gentle breeze blew her light brown hair and swayed.

“… hi.”

Mouth open. Theodora answered Maxim’s voice, raising the corners of her mouth involuntarily.

“… hi.”