Chapter 266
Chapter 266
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Long-Awaited Party (2)
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“I didn’t expect to arrive first.”
Lea spoke in a stiff, soldierly tone.
Yet her outfit was beautiful enough to rightfully be called that of the empire’s princess.
“I was late because I had to help a friend with her dress for a bit.”
A friend.
At that word, Lea looked down at Mago with the relaxed expression of a queen.
As if she already knew I’d gone with her to the dressing room.
“Is that so? As expected of childhood friends. Taking care of her personally, no less.”
A subtle difference in height.
The princess gazed approvingly at Mago’s beautifully adorned off-shoulder dress.
“You look stunning too, Miss Mago. Your loosely styled hair is particularly elegant.”
The First Imperial Princess, who was always so cold to others.
Her tone softened into that of an affectionate older sister toward Mago standing before her.
“Th-thank you….”
The great witch was clearly gaining confidence in her dolled-up appearance bit by bit.
However, facing the aura of the empire’s golden lioness…
She wilted under the eldest daughter of a nation’s stunning beauty.
“You said this is your first time at a party like this?”
“Yes, I’m incredibly nervous….”
The princess bent her knees slightly to meet Mago’s gaze.
Her voluptuous figure drew a little closer to the great witch’s face.
“Don’t be nervous. Women are the brightest stars at parties.”
Mago instinctively sensed the sweet, ripe fruit fragrance from the nearby woman—the same one she’d felt from Veil.
Her moist lips pressed tightly together.
“Especially you, Miss Mago—you’re exceptionally beautiful. Everyone else struggles desperately to adorn themselves, but you shine just by existing.”
Lea usually gave her subordinates curt, icy replies.
Yet with Mago, she offered warm advice with a motherly gaze.
“So there’s no need to tense up. Have confidence in your own beauty.”
Lea gently wiped a smudge from Mago’s lips, caused by her rushed makeup.
Then, she slowly straightened up and turned away again.
“Well then, see you later. I need to head to the opening ceremony.”
“Until after the ceremony.”
Lea had slipped away mid-conversation with the Hawthorne Kingdom’s commanders and dignitaries.
She returned gracefully to the royal table, as if she’d only paused briefly to greet us.
“Take your time returning—no need to cut off the southern royals so abruptly.”
“…”
Mago watched her go in silence.
Noticing, I stroked her black hair and said.
“What’s wrong? You seemed excited, but now you look deflated.”
“No, it’s just… Lady Lea is so beautiful, I got lost staring.”
I looked over at Lea conversing with the Hawthorne royals.
Her glossy black silk dress gleamed under the chandelier lights.
Even without flashy colors, her curves and radiant golden hair overwhelmed those around her.
That said, Mago wasn’t completely outshone.
I could feel the glances from men sneaking peeks at her.
If she could draw the eyes of discerning nobles, then Mago was plenty beautiful.
Of course, I agreed wholeheartedly.
“Why are you acting so out of character?”
I gripped Mago’s hand firmly.
Her face flushed at the touch, and she hunched her pale shoulders.
“Everyone has their own unique charm.”
But I didn’t stop there.
I intertwined my fingers with her slender ones and raised our joined hands defiantly as I spoke.
“So like the princess said, have some confidence.”
Mago stared up at our tightly clasped hands.
“What’s my charm, then?”
As I pondered my answer, Mago looked up at me with anxious golden eyes.
Finding her adorable, I chuckled and replied confidently.
“Small and lightweight?”
“What…?! You jerk!!”
Offended by my teasing joke, Mago swatted my back with her delicate, reed-like hands.
The smacking sounds were so loud that refined nobles glanced over.
“Aaah, I’m kidding—kidding!!”
“Still, I’m bigger than the Third Imperial Princess!!”
Mago balled her fists like an angry kitten and swung them wildly.
If Mia-senpai was the haughty black senior cat, Mago was the pouting same-age kitten.
“The Third Imperial Princess is super flexible, but you’re stiff as a rock.”
My childhood friend stretched toward my shin demonstratively, bending her body.
Her short dress rode up, so I covered the hem.
“Got it, got it—!!”
Mago’s charm was this approachable, comfortable vibe.
High nobility was great, but her lovable, relaxed atmosphere was her true strength.
“You’re incredibly flexible and charming too.”
I wanted to say it, but I was clumsy with romance, so I couldn’t.
Instead, I just shook our linked hands, pointing toward the opening ceremony.
“Let’s go watch the ceremony now.”
“Sneaky dodge, huh. Fine.”
Numerous VIPs, including us, headed to the stage at the front of the party hall.
Duke Luke and Lord Dyke were already up there.
Opposite them stood Lea and Richard confidently.
They raised wine glasses and kicked off the brief opening ceremony together.
“We thank all who’ve come to the party.”
Duke Luke held an eagle-shaped mask in his hand.
“Today marks a momentous day for both nations, so we’ve prepared an especially grand celebration. Though our princess might find it lacking.”
A few VIPs chuckled at his sly introduction.
It was the leisure befitting the kingdom’s de facto military ruler.
In response, Lea activated an amplification spell.
With a cold, expressionless face, she replied to the duke.
“Well, the chandelier count is low, so the hall does feel a bit drab.”
The VIPs froze at her icy, savage remark.
But they soon had to laugh again at the princess’s words.
“With all these beautiful guests here to brighten it up, did you reduce them on purpose?”
Some in the upper crust burst into laughter at her mature jest.
Satisfied, the duke nodded with a grin.
“Imperials really excel at beating around the bush. Afraid of losing their heads if they don’t?”
Rumors swirled in the south that the Conqueror King was a tyrant.
Born from fear of his overwhelming prowess and territorial conquests.
It was clever wordplay exploiting that.
“When we approach, you flee first—quite the opposite of the action-oriented south.”
The VIPs chuckled at the sweetly vicious banter.
“We’ve lived in such different worlds. Full of prejudices, with vast cultural gaps.”
The duke opened the floor, as if all this had been buildup for the ceremony.
His voice grew more serious than during the jokes.
“That’s why we’ve added a ‘special’ masked ball to tonight’s party.”
Luke shook the eagle-shaped mask in his hand.
A sleek design that covered just the eyes and nose.
“An event prepared so we can feel, without preconceptions between nations, that we’re all simply human.”
Lea nodded, as if forewarned.
She covered her face with her pre-received lion-shaped mask.
“Please enjoy yourselves.”
Even with eyes and nose concealed, the princess’s beauty wasn’t hidden at all.
Her pomegranate-red, fresh lips and the blue eyes gleaming from beneath the mask.
It exuded a mysterious allure that could draw anyone into her ocean depths.
“The night is long.”
Lea’s gaze seemed to drift subtly my way.
Her meaningful words made saliva pool in my mouth in response.
“――――――”
Lea and Duke Luke clinked wine glasses, starting the party.
Mago and I received black cat and fox masks from a waiter.
“What’s with this familiar design….”
It felt like someone had specifically picked fox for me.
Glancing at the golden lioness-masked woman, she gave a light wave.
“Fox.”
Lea signaled playfully with her mouth.
She smiled nobly, as if teasing me, and took a sip of wine.
“Jeez…”
I shook my head, hopeless.
Stern as an emperor usually, but occasionally seductive like Rosanna—the eldest daughter.
“What’s up, Veil?”
“Nothing.”
The petite woman in the cat mask gazed up at me steadily.
I gently rubbed her cheek, smooth and beardless.
――――――
As the party kicked into full swing, beautiful orchestral music filled the hall.
VIPs pairing off to dance to the lovely melody caught my eye.
All masked, they repeatedly asked unfamiliar women for dances.
Some even glanced at Mago.
I shot them a warning with my dull black eyes.
“Shall we dance too?”
“Sure? But I don’t know the waltz…”
Mago scratched her cheek, her long black hair loose.
I grinned widely and urged her on.
“Have we ever known that stuff?”
We’d been doing freestyle dances together since the orphanage days.
Knowing this, Mago finally broke into a fresh laugh.
“Alright.”
She headed to the dance floor with me.
We wove through intimate masked couples stepping in time.
Soon, we claimed a decently spacious spot.
Holding both hands like at Cornell’s tavern, we started riding the rhythm energetically.
――――――
Mago twirled briskly, defying the waltz tempo.
Her dress, hugging her beautiful curves, danced lightly.
“Veil, aren’t your steps too slow?”
The ribbon tied at Mago’s back swayed like a tail.
Even the clear friction of her sharp high heels.
“Slow—slow—you’ve gotten rusty from all that swordplay?”
She’d hesitated when I first suggested dancing.
But once into it, true to form, Mago tried to lead with glee.
“Your personality never changes.”
I chuckled, and Mago flushed, realizing she’d gotten too carried away.
Then she brazenly parted her pink lips again.
“S-since we’re dancing, doing it right is only natural!…”
The nobles eyed our lively steps curiously at first.
But they gradually warmed to the vibe of the black cat enjoying herself on stage.
It lifted moods unexpectedly.
The masked ball’s poetic atmosphere brightened as a result.
With faces hidden, there was no need to uphold decorum.
Imperials and kingdom folk swapped partners freely, dancing joyfully in the refreshing mood.
However, Mago grew passive at partner swaps.
If anyone showed interest, she’d cling to my waist like a wary cat.
Then I’d raise a hand apologetically, boyfriend-style.
“Sorry, she’s my partner.”
She’d been bold as a mercenary captain once.
But as an adult, she stuck even closer to me.
Like a cat riding on a fox’s back.
――――――
How much time passed?
The orchestra shifted tunes, signaling a break.
“Whew… That was fun!! Noble parties aren’t half bad?”
Mago fanned herself, fairly worn out.
I tousled my innocent hometown friend’s disheveled hair and said.
“All thanks to you.”
“Me? I didn’t do anything special.”
“You did. Sometimes one person can transform the whole space.”
Mago tilted her head at my loaded words.
Meanwhile, I scanned the hall for any issues.
‘I wonder if Her Highness is doing alright.’
I glanced at the royal table.
There sat the lioness woman, her face faintly flushed.
She’d downed four glasses of wine by now.
Yet no sign of drunkenness.
Still deep in talk with the duke and vassals about both nations’ futures.
‘Busy as ever.’
I figured she hadn’t spared us a thought.
The stray gaze I’d felt while dancing with Mago wasn’t hers.
“Veil, I’m heading to the restroom quick.”
Mago straightened her slightly rumpled silk dress from dancing.
I nodded, sure.
“Whew…”
With the black cat gone.
Wearing my fox mask, hands behind my back, I left the dance floor alone.
‘Dancing after so long has me parched.’
I followed a passing waiter to a corner.
Rounding it, I asked him.
“Champagne, please?”
“Here you are, sir.”
The sharply dressed man handed over a fizzing glass.
Sipping as I strolled the party corridor, swirling the glass leisurely.
Definitely hot weather.
The stuffy formalwear had me cooling my throat with wine.
But as I turned a corner to drink…
I ran into the one person I thought wouldn’t notice me.
Lea Andalusia, who’d just been discussing state affairs with the southern royals.
“…”
The lioness-masked woman stared up at me intently.
Like a predator spotting prey in an empty space.
“Ah, throat was dry, so I stepped out.”
I smiled at the princess, gesturing to my glass.
But Lea’s lips, visible below her mask, remained impassive.
‘Did I do something wrong…?’
I tilted my head alone.
Then.
“…!”
Lea reached for my glass.
I handed it over, and she took a sip from her own instead.
‘Ah, Her Highness was thirsty too.’
I reached to take it back thoughtlessly.
But the lioness didn’t return the champagne.
Instead…
――――――
She dumped the precious drink on the floor, as if to flaunt it.
Not a drop spared, she callously spilled the wine.
She stared up at my stunned face.
With blue eyes glinting from the mask.
“…”
Lea approached slowly.
Her bountiful, creamy skin pressed against my chest.
She cornered me into shadow, pressing her soft flesh firmly.
Then cupped my cheeks with both hands…
And pressed her red lips to mine.
“Nn….”
Golden champagne pooled heavily in her mouth poured into me.
The lioness fed the liquor straight into my parched throat like a mother.
“Nn….”
Her tongue softly wrapped my dry one.
After savoring fully.
A golden thread of saliva stretched between our lips.
“Haaah…”
Lea wiped it with the back of her hand.
She lifted her mask slightly and murmured.
“That dance…”
The princess’s nose flushed red beneath.
Turns out she’d watched Mago and me dance the whole time.
She licked her lips teasingly with her red tongue.
“You’ve never done that kind with me…”
Golden liquor trickled from her chin to her collarbone.
A pond formed in the valley between her ample curves.