Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Birthday Commemoration Ball (1)
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“His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday commemoration ball?”
Eora was brushing Carnivela’s hair at the vanity. Her hair had now grown down to her shoulders, requiring proper care. Eora combed through those silky strands with all her heart, as if they were her own.
Ray was reporting to her about the upcoming emperor’s birthday commemoration ball.
“Yes. This ball is to celebrate His Majesty the Emperor’s fiftieth birthday, so it’s expected that nobles from across the continent will flock here.”
“A birthday celebration banquet... I suppose I can’t skip it.”
She found it a hassle. For one, she hated the thought of all those eyes on her. Even though several months had passed since their marriage, Lainen still hadn’t announced her publicly. So in a way, this banquet would be her debut.
But she couldn’t dance properly, and she had no desire to become fodder for gossip among the crowd. They’d surely use her as an excuse to scheme and squabble, and she had no intention of stepping into that battlefield.
On top of that, she didn’t want to steal the spotlight. Just because she was Lainen’s choice didn’t mean she should have to deal with hordes of people—especially not at His Majesty’s birthday celebration. It was a banquet where she wasn’t meant to be the star.
She truly didn’t want any of that.
‘But I’ll have to go, won’t I?’
Attending this emperor’s birthday ball was one of the conditions she had proposed herself. So she had an obligation to follow through.
Knock knock.
At that moment, Lainen opened the door and entered. Eora and Ray stepped out at her command. She immediately rose from the vanity and sat at the tea party table. He sat across from her, holding a few sheets of paper.
“What’s up?”
“You’ve probably already heard, but His Majesty’s birthday commemoration ball is coming up soon. And I’ll be introducing you there.”
“I see.”
The gist was that even though it would be her first public appearance, she didn’t need to worry. No matter that she was Lainen’s spouse, that day was strictly the emperor’s birthday, and everyone’s attention would be on him.
He also mentioned introducing her to the man who would become her foster father.
“A foster father out of nowhere?”
“The noble faction keeps trying to undermine your position by pointing out your unclear origins. But if you gain a proper status like this, no one can claim you’re unqualified. They’d have no grounds for it.”
“...”
“And we need to create a new identity for ‘Lucia’ anyway.”
“I see.”
Only then did she grow curious about the man who would become her foster father. She felt no attachment to her real father anymore, so it didn’t matter who it was. Still, since Lainen was bringing him, she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of person he’d be.
He was Marquis Epsillot. Like the Remiachi family that Casshan belonged to, he was part of one of the empire’s four great meritorious houses, undoubtedly at the center of the crown prince faction’s nobles.
She liked that he was a leader among those with real political influence. Adopting her had already created political burdens for him—proof of which was the noble faction’s eagerness to tear into him.
“I’m sorry. If my situation weren’t like this, I wouldn’t be putting this burden on you.”
“It’s fine. No matter what situation you were in, I would have loved you.”
“How long are you going to keep making me swoon like this?”
She felt grateful for his words. And sorry. Normally, imperial events were prepared by the empress or crown princess— the mistresses of the palace. But she hadn’t yet fully taken over those duties.
Moreover, since she was currently at odds with the empress, the banquet preparations had essentially fallen to Lainen.
“It’s fine. If you’d tried to prepare, the empress would have taken it the wrong way and complained anyway. So it’s much better if I handle it.”
“You’re always so thoughtful toward me. But I can’t return the favor, so I always feel bad.”
She gave a wry smile. He was already so busy, and now even more so because of her—she didn’t know how to apologize enough.
“No, it’s okay. So stop saying you’re sorry all the time. If anything, I’m the one sorry for keeping you cooped up in this unfamiliar place.”
“This is protection. I can endure it just fine. And once we catch the culprit and restore my true identity, we won’t need to do this anymore.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“But... at a ball, don’t you have to dance? I can’t dance.”
“Want me to teach you?”
“You? Aren’t you busy?”
“It’s fine. Preparations are almost done; we just need Father Emperor’s seal.”
And so, in the time it took lightning to crack beans, it was settled that Lainen would teach Carnivela to dance. For a moment, she felt like she’d been tricked somehow, but she brushed it off.
‘It’ll be okay, right?’
Crown princes are busy. They can’t neglect their studies to become emperor, must train in swordsmanship for potential wars to protect the people, attend meetings that decide the empire’s fate, and never put down their paperwork.
Lainen was always busy. She knew that. He was gone with work by the time she woke in the morning, and they only met again at night. Before bed, they’d talk about their days.
Even so, he wanted to spend time with her and planned dates. She already thought he was pushing himself too hard. And now he was offering to teach her to dance.
‘I feel like I’m just piling more on him.’
She sighed. The empire had no shortage of talent, plenty of people who could teach her dance and etiquette. She felt guilty for adding to his packed schedule. But he didn’t mind at all.
“I like teaching you myself—it puts my mind at ease. I’d have to put up with another man holding your hand...”
Dancing inevitably involved contact. There were women trained in men’s dances, but they were few, and time was too short to bring one to the palace. In the end, they’d need a male instructor, but Lainen would rather lose sleep than allow that.
To him, she was precious. He couldn’t permit another’s touch. Not even conversation. She was his. She was the first to be wholly embraced in his arms.
...The first person he’d gained after losing everything. The one permitted only to him. He wanted to monopolize her.
Did she know? That dozens of times a day, he fantasized about running away with her alone, living somewhere with no one else—just the two of them, cut off from the world, spending every day together.
He knew this desire of his was obsession. His deep, intense longing poured toward her day after day.
But did she know?
Unaware that she already vaguely sensed it, he wished she’d accept even this side of him.
“Pfft! If I’d learned from someone else, I wouldn’t be clinging to you like this right now.”
His love for her overflowed, and hers for him did too. With another teacher, she wouldn’t be learning so enthusiastically or extending lessons this long. It was possible only because the dance instructor was Lainen.
He was glad for that. So he diligently taught her imperial dances and ball etiquette. It was consideration for her, isolated due to the incident six years ago. Grateful for his thoughtfulness, she learned diligently.
But dancing wasn’t easy. She was flexible from sword training, yet utterly hopeless at dance. Why did her steps always go wrong, stepping on his feet?
“Sorry. Are you okay?”
She was even wearing shoes. No matter how sturdy the shoes or skin, it had to hurt and leave marks—yet Lainen said nothing about it. It made her anxious.
“I’m fine. Really.”
Instead, he comforted her with a kiss to her forehead. Her face flushed. And she thought:
Kisses are great, but at this rate, his feet won’t survive!
To avoid stepping on him more, she practiced relentlessly. Through trial and error, her dancing improved by leaps and bounds.
‘Your feet feel nice to step on, too.’
She didn’t notice his little desire, though.
* * *
Time flowed on, and the day of the ball arrived. She was adorned by a swarm of maids. They bathed her and applied makeup. Her face transformed into that of a beautiful woman.
‘I’m hungry.’
But she paid little attention to their primping. She just wished it would end quickly. Up since dawn, inhaling powders, her stomach churned.
‘Ugh... can’t breathe.’
The tightly laced corset to accentuate her waist, the sky-blue dress flaring at the bottom, simple yet elegant and expensive diamond earrings and rings, and the overpowering perfume—she felt like vomiting.
‘At least they left this necklace on. Good.’
The ‘Miracle’ necklace from Lainen luckily suited her outfit, so the maids hadn’t touched it. Thanks to it, she could keep her brown hair and eyes.
“Your hair’s too short to tie up, so we’ll use a headband.”
They combed her hair meticulously and fitted a headband adorned with a ruby rose. Gasps of admiration rose from the maids. She was that stunning.
“All done.”
She’d never known “all done” could sound so blissful. Collapsing without even glancing in the mirror, she only relaxed once the maids left.
“Yes, this is freedom.”
Exhausted by the preparations, she didn’t bother with the mirror and flopped onto the bed. What if she messed up her hair? She could comb it later. Finally, she could breathe.
“Whew, I’m beat.”
She had little experience with banquets. As a child, she’d attended a few with her mother. But after the incident, she’d been confined to her room during any event. It all felt awkward and tiring.
Wishing the ball would end quickly, she closed her eyes. And fell asleep right away.
Knock knock.
A soft knock sounded, and Lainen entered. He chuckled softly, admiring her face.
Her pale skin, down-slanted eyes, straight nose, and red lips revealed her beauty even with eyes closed. Everything she wore enhanced it.
Her fresh bloom from girl to woman was so captivating that not looking felt sinful. He couldn’t hide his rapture. Thinking this was the person he’d spend his life with, he felt like walking on clouds.
“...”
“...”
Perhaps because he stared so intently, her eyes fluttered open. His golden eyes met her brown ones.
“Hello?”
He greeted her. He missed her true eye color. Eyes holding a bluer, vaster sky than her dress. So he removed her necklace.
“Ah.”
She let out a small gasp, but it didn’t matter. The moment her blue eyes appeared, he was entranced. He thought he’d never escape the ocean they held.
“I love you.”
She bolted upright from the bed and whispered, arms around his neck.
“I love you too.”
He smiled at her words, wrapped his arms around her waist, and gave a quick kiss to her cheek.
“You’re beautiful.”
She couldn’t resist his sweet words. She pecked his lips. If they started here, they might not stop, so she held back. But it provoked him. He bit her lips like a beast pouncing.
“Ah!”
She parted her lips in surprise. Thirsty, he swiftly slipped his tongue inside. Startled, she clung tighter to his neck. It felt so dreamlike, her legs went weak.
“Mmph!”
She gasped roughly. He pulled back briefly. But seeing her slightly swollen lips, desire surged again. He crashed into her lips fiercely once more.
Their tongues danced in harmony inside her mouth. Saliva mixed wildly, and they savored the pleasure. But he thirsted for more.
More, more, more. I want to feel you.
His reason nearly fled. He wanted all of her. Instead of her waist, he cupped her cheek, kissing harder. Her dress wrinkled. Makeup smeared. But he couldn’t stop.
Shocked by his fervor, she gripped his clothes tightly. The khaki uniform, dressed by valets, crumpled pitifully under her hands. His swept-back hair disheveled. The shoulder sash symbolizing royalty fell to the floor.
Knock knock.
The knock signaled the end of their passionate moment. Casshan entered, gasping at their disheveled state.
“You have to enter soon—how can you do this now!”
Casshan quickly called for help. Maids reapplied her lipstick and makeup, recombed her hair, straightened the headband, smoothed her dress, and checked for fallen jewels.
Lainen’s maids tidied his wrinkled clothes, reattached the shoulder sash, repositioned the imperial brooch, and fixed his hair.
“We’ll enter now.”
The ball was truly about to begin.