Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Eve (3)
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Descending the hill from the villa.
The central palace came into full view.
Especially the nearby ballroom, Kartlie.
It seemed the eve celebration was underway ahead of the main festival.
￣￣￣￣￣￣.
The beautiful strains of a waltz drifted faintly from afar.
Humming along to the tune, I made my way down the stairs.
The Emperor had awakened, and I'd dealt with Hakim, the Crown Prince's first scheme.
I'd also bought off his henchman Ekina and turned Camilla into Irina's instructor.
That should give me some breathing room.
It was about time to start planning my retirement.
As I walked along thinking that,
Two knights ascending from below caught my eye.
*Imperial knights on patrol?*
Two blond knights in immaculate white uniforms.
They looked displeased at having to guard the party tomorrow alongside the other orders.
"His Majesty really plans to upend the knight orders' rankings...?"
"The mood lately makes it hard to doubt."
They spotted me and halted for a moment.
Then, seeing Mark from the Capital Defense Corps—the bottom of the knight orders' rankings—they relaxed.
"Damn, should we line up with the other princesses even now...?"
"No way he'd abandon the heir's knight order. It'll be fine."
The knights brushed past me indifferently.
As if I were a mere shadow.
"But the Radiant Knight Order didn't seem right either?"
"Why would Lady Leah's...?"
I'd been descending without a care until the mention of the Radiant Knight Order made me stop short.
"They're tidying up their forces and planning to leave the Empire..."
"Ah, so that's why she looked upset at the ballroom earlier?"
*'Leave'?*
I furrowed my brow.
Then, I gazed down at the ballroom Kartlie.
A lavish palace built atop a cliff.
It had a wide balcony.
A lone woman stood there, the dance hall's splendor at her back.
The moment I saw her, I knew who she was.
A black silk dress that clung to her sensual figure.
And the potent mana of a master mage centered at her chest.
It marked her as Leah Andalusia.
Having descended the stairs fully, I rested my arms on the railing.
Propping my chin, I observed her intently.
Her beautiful eyes seemed deeper with worry today.
Just as the knights said—like she might whisk away somewhere.
*...*
I tried not to care.
But suddenly, I recalled how the princess had infused me with mana.
From tending to me until I awoke in bed.
To not aggressively recruiting me despite seeing my Grand Aura.
Those memories stabbed at my chest like guilt.
"Haa..."
「――――――.」
Darkened balcony.
Leah gazed down at the radiant capital, hands on the railing.
"Was that guy right after all...?"
Recalling her rejection of the imperial alliance, she murmured alone.
She had planned to declare independence and leave the Empire the moment the Emperor died.
It amounted to abandoning her homeland and fleeing, so with his awakening, she was suddenly a criminal.
"I should have listened to him back then."
The princess stared toward her territory in the capital's west.
Then, with a deep sigh, she turned her head.
"...!"
Leah had been about to return to the boring ballroom.
But in the dark shadows, she locked eyes with me leaning against the wall.
"Veil...?"
"I greet Your Highness."
I offered a light, familiar greeting.
"What brings you here?"
"I was just passing by and stopped in."
Golden long hair swept aside and fixed with ornate accessories.
A black dress accentuating her curves, complete with garter belt stockings.
Silk gloves reaching her elbows.
Truly befitting the Empire's First Imperial Princess.
"How could I not, seeing Your Highness so pale?"
I scowled, making a fearsome face as I spoke.
"Funny. Most others would flee if I made this face."
"It's only proper for a subordinate to inquire and ease a royal's unease."
The princess folded her arms alone.
Then, as if seizing a timely distraction from her loneliness, she spoke.
"So, come to mock the traitor I've suddenly become?"
Leah asked with a hollow smile.
Joy at her father's awakening mingled with fear of being labeled a traitor.
"No, just..."
I straightened from the shadows.
Leaning on the railing beside her, I said,
"Here to offer some comfort and advice."
She stared plainly at me leaning in like a friend.
With a consenting smirk, she said,
"Fine, what's this advice of yours?"
The princess handed me her champagne, untouched at her lips.
I took it and swirled it gently.
"Your Highness must fear His Majesty's interrogation now."
Leah turned her head at my words.
Gazing up at the night sky, she replied,
"Yes. I tried to abandon the Empire, so it's only right I'd face scrutiny and exile."
The princess fiddled with her dress strap.
Then, with serious eyes fixed on me, she continued,
"In the past, even when Father was healthy, there were plotters scheming treason. They were all exposed and executed."
Leah's brows twitched.
As if afraid she might end up like them.
"Those who survived did so by resigning on their own before His Majesty could question them."
She folded her arms again.
A bitter smile crossed her face.
"Of course, what I did wasn't full treason. But as a superior, it was misconduct."
The First Imperial Princess's eyes admitted her fault.
"So... resigning and returning home quietly is the way."
I watched her silently.
Then, in a grave tone, I asked,
"Did Your Highness scheme that just to escape a sinking ship?"
Leah smirked, grasping my intent.
She listened quietly.
"You weren't simply fleeing to save your own interests, were you?"
The princess closed her eyes softly.
Recalling her actions without a shred of shame, she affirmed,
"Yes, it was just to protect those loyal to me and the people."
Leah's blue eyes gleamed in the night sky.
They weren't the eyes of a cowardly deserter.
They were the eyes of a wise ruler willing to humble herself for her limbs.
Seeing her sincerity, I smiled faintly.
Extending my palm, I said,
"Confess that heart to His Majesty honestly. He'll surely listen."
Leah eyed my hand steadily.
With an incredulous look, she asked,
"You look so certain Father will understand. You've never even met him."
*'Of course—I've already defended you to him.'*
That her intent wasn't betrayal of the Empire.
That it was to preserve the loyalists and people if the nation fractured.
His Majesty had heard it all from me already.
So he wouldn't grill her harshly.
"I can tell even without meeting him."
I raised my fist.
Placing it proudly over my heart, I declared,
"You and His Majesty are family. Family hears out the circumstances."
The princess clamped her mouth at "family."
Then murmured softly,
"Family..."
"Yes. If I were His Majesty, I'd do the same."
I drew close to the troubled Leah.
In a relaxed voice, I added,
"Besides, he's far greater than me, so he'll make an even better choice."
Leah glanced at me.
Then, with her former mature, leisurely smile, she said,
"Pfft. You sound like an old man."
"Huh-?"
As I asked, she gently swept her hair behind her ear.
"You remind me of Father in his youth. Both love the word 'family'."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
The princess took a deep breath.
Chin high, she murmured lowly,
"It is."
Inspired by "family," Leah looked at ease.
Her heart seemed lighter.
"Right, this isn't like me. If I get anxious, my subordinates will panic too."
The princess eyed the ballroom entrance.
Golden light poured from within.
"Thanks for the advice. I'll talk to Father directly, as you said."
I nodded.
Together, we watched the dancing couples.
Grand waltz music swelled.
Amid it, a woman in a splendid dress mingled with men.
Leah watched them fondly.
"Doesn't Your Highness dance?"
"I know how. Basic etiquette."
Hands behind her back, she spoke leisurely as before.
"Now that your heart's eased, why not join them?"
"Me?"
The princess pointed at herself.
This must be a first such invitation.
"Yes. The Empire's eldest daughter brooding alone will unsettle those below."
"Ha. A guy who's never led opens his mouth wide."
She snorted at my fluent words.
"Most nobles fear me. Who'd dare dance with me?"
"I see..."
My flat reply drew a glance from Leah.
Eyes saying, *clueless?*
"That's it?"
"Pardon?"
Arms folded regally, she asked with a queenly, sensual gaze,
"In this situation, all you say is 'I see'?"
Leah drew near.
Close enough her collarbone and chest were visible.
I turned my head to keep my gaze from dipping lower.
Then...
"You're dense in these matters too."
Elegantly, the princess extended the back of her hand.
"I'm sorry..."
I stared blankly at her hand, apologizing.
My eyes drifted to her figure again, so I squeezed them shut.
"No, that human side is rather appealing."
Lightly taking my hand, she strode ahead confidently.
"Come. Dance one with me."
The ballroom's burdensome lights enveloped us upon entry.
"How could I dare..."
"Avoiding attention again?"
She smirked at me.
Interlacing our fingers slowly.
"If you came to me and spoke above your station..."
With a queenly, sensual smile, she led me.
"You should've been prepared."
―――.
Dazed, I followed the princess into the ballroom.
Splendid lights poured down, beautiful music filled the air.
High society's men and women danced to the melody.
At Leah's entrance, they bowed and yielded space.
Thus, we two became the center of the Empire's elite.
But the First Imperial Princess paid it no mind.
With confident leisure, she asked me,
"Do you know the waltz?"
In formal royal speech now that we were in public.
I shook my head.
"No."
With deft hands, she clasped both of mine.
Sensually intertwining our fingers.
"Don't worry. The man is just the pillar anyway."
The Empire's First Imperial Princess, face-to-face up close.
Her relaxed voice reassured me.
"The woman does the caressing."
To the violin melody, Leah moved her legs slowly.
I followed her lead.
I stared blankly at her light, lively steps.
If I lagged, she whispered to focus.
Was it my first time with noble dances?
Or was the golden-haired princess simply breathtaking up close?
Forgetting all eyes on us, I surrendered to her and the music.
￣￣￣￣￣￣￣.
Cheers rained down.
Soon, high society had retreated, merely admiring our dance.
The gazes made me smack my lips awkwardly.
*'Waltzes really are kinda boring after all.'*
As I thought that,
For the ripening mood, the orchestra began the next piece.
And that piece...
Was one I knew very well.
Tango.
A familiar tune even street folk like me often danced to.
But as the music shifted, Leah released our interlock.
"You don't know tango?"
"Yes... I'm unfamiliar with trendy songs lately."
The princess looked troubled at the passionate, lively rhythm.
"Then, allow me to teach you."
Bowing politely, I took her fingers.
"What if you err on an unknown dance? You must uphold the eldest daughter's dignity."
Leah voiced concern.
I soothed her leisurely.
"Tango has no mistakes. Tangled steps or slips are all part of the dance."
Her eyes widened in wonder up at me.
"No such thing as mistakes?"
"Yes. How perfect. Compared to your current worries, it's simple."
Always one for meticulous plans, she hesitated at this first impromptu challenge.
"You're facing Father prepared for reprimand anyway, right?"
"Why bring that up now?"
She shot a prim glance.
"Think of this dance as light practice. Like a mock battle."
Mock battle.
Hearing such a crude term in the ballroom, Leah covered her lips, chuckling.
"You're truly entertaining."
Emboldened by her laugh, we returned to the center.
The orchestra hushed accordingly.
They waited silently as we prepared.
"How do I stand?"
To her question, I interlocked one hand.
And...
I wrapped my palm around her exposed back.
"...!"
She jolted in surprise.
Her face flushed—first time a man's hand touched her bare skin.
"You... what is..."
To her flustered voice, I smiled with my eyes.
"This is tango's basic hold."
Music began; I stepped in rhythm.
Far more skillfully than before.
Leah's eyes rounded at the lively beat and steps.
Unlike the waltz, she was stunned by my expert lead.
"Relax and follow. Soon, it'll be tango over waltz."
Once, she had healed my back.
Now, I enveloped hers.