Chapter 43
"Hm. They said she's a fairy hybrid, but she can't even heal properly."
"I guess the Freyja Count family has lost their eye for talent too. Taking in a foster daughter like that."
"Tsk. Being that clueless... what a waste of your healing powers."
Elrior Ra possessed a beauty as holy and radiant as one facet of the sun, yet the moment he opened his mouth, he turned into a dog risen straight from hell—or so he was described.
He was always smiling, but he came off as a black-hearted schemer with hidden motives. Cruel, threatening, and cursed with a hellish yapper.
Still, he was insanely popular.
People are drawn to the unusual, after all, and Elrior stood as one of the twin peaks of popular male leads alongside Kal. Sure, every time he appeared, that yapper of his earned him a barrage of curses, but prickly beauties are a classic trope. His sharp tongue paired with subtly affectionate gestures made him a fan favorite.
The original story got twisted, but... will Elrior still fall for Aria?
The sudden question prompted me to scan the entire hall.
In the original, Rainer and Diego attended this ball and reacted to seeing Aria, but neither showed much response here. And Kal, a male lead himself, seemed to hate her guts, so it looked like the original story's contrived elements didn't exist in this world.
No problems there, then...
I'd resolved not to cling to the original plot, but honestly, I was still a little worried.
Lost in thought as I stared blankly at the crowd, my eyes locked with a pair of gleaming golden ones.
Wait. If I'm not imagining it, those eyes were already fixed on me before I even turned to look.
He widened his eyes slightly in surprise, and his gaze deepened. A golden quagmire. So deep and intense, brimming with emotions too complex to name, it seized my attention.
I flinched but couldn't tear my eyes away.
Rainer Ainheart.
Rainer, who defined his world by the empire's glory and justice, had that very justice redefined by his encounter with Aria. His love for her, dubbed Aria's loyal hound, was so pure and brilliant that back when I read the novel, I even envied her for receiving it.
'Those golden eyes, so indifferent when looking at Aria, would flicker like flames,' or something like that.
Someone once said that when you fall in love, you become someone else entirely. As if proving that point, the stoic and rigid Rainer from the story transformed into a passionate man only in Aria's presence.
But why...?
They said he only looked at her that way, yet right now, Rainer was gazing at me with eyes exactly like the novel's description.
Leaning against a secluded corner wall with his arms crossed, Rainer didn't break eye contact. The golden quagmire ensnared me.
We were far enough that even a greeting would feel awkward, but the thick aura he exuded tickled me regardless of the distance.
...This is weird.
Everything felt off. Just looking into those eyes made my heart clench in a strange way.
Trapped in that incomprehensible gaze, I held Rainer's stare for quite a while until a voice calling my name broke through.
"Lady Kashmir Dorema de Kaiser Crisis and Lady Aria Postel de Kaiser Crisis, please step forward."
...Snap out of it.
I shook my head to clear the stray thoughts and reluctantly pulled my eyes from Rainer. Ignoring the sticky sensation of his gaze on my back, I walked to the center of the hall with Aria.
"Please kneel and show your respects."
A man in pristine white priestly robes stepped before us. Short, sparkling silver hair. Sly, cat-like upturned eyes. Pale lavender irises reminiscent of lilac hues. In color and vibe, he gave off a sacred, youthful beauty.
We knelt on one knee, and he placed his hands over our heads. As we awaited the announced procedure—him channeling holy power and reciting the blessing—he didn't activate it. Instead, he stared at me, eyes twinkling.
"Wow, you're that Kashmir?"
"...Pardon?"
His quiet whisper threw me off, and I blinked in confusion. This wasn't part of the script.
Undeterred by my bewilderment, he beamed like he'd just reunited with a fifty-year-old friend, flashing a saintly priest's smile.
He spoke calmly. "It's truly an honor. I've been dying to meet the one who turns that tyrannical psycho into a sugar-dusted macaron. I was so curious about you, and now that I see you... yeah, I get why that bastard loses his shit."
"...?"
"I thought the prick was picky because his eyes were up in the heavens, but turns out they were even higher—right on your doorstep. You're way too good for that bastard."
"Pardon...?"
"Well, the guy turns into a madman the moment he lays eyes on you."
...It was all incomprehensible nonsense.
Aria, listening beside me, stared up at him with a look that screamed what the hell is this guy babbling about?
Undaunted, he kept chattering away until he suddenly paused. Glancing past us, he smirked and clicked his tongue.
"That little shit, always so damn temperamental... If I keep this up, he'll rip my limbs off while I'm still breathing. Scary, but satisfying. Serves him right for dumping work on his powerless subordinate just to chase his own romance."
Still nonsense. Puzzled, I glanced back slightly.
With the blessing delayed, the murmuring crowd parted, and my eyes met El's. His coldly set lips curved into their usual gentle smile upon seeing me.
"Tsk. That two-faced freak."
The man's eyes gleamed with disgust at El, like he was staring at a cockroach crawling across the ceiling.
"Vice-High Priest, aren't you going to do the blessing?"
While I stood there blankly, unsure how to react, Aria snapped sharply. Her tone and smile were sweet, but her eyes screamed crazy bastard.
"Oh, right! My bad. Of course."
The man, who seemed to be communicating with El through glares, nodded leisurely. He shot me a mischievous grin, like a brat delighted with a new toy.
"I'm Julian, Vice-High Priest of the Sun Temple. If you ever need the temple's help, come find me anytime."
This is definitely our first meeting, but...
His eyes brimmed with inexplicable goodwill. Remembering how El had been affectionate from the start, I wondered if I just had a face that clicked with temple folk.
"I bestow the blessing."
Julian's face turned solemn in an instant as holy power emanated from his hands. Silver radiance bloomed over Aria's and my heads.
Amused by his quick shift yet soothed by the warm, fluffy feel of holy power unique to it, I closed my eyes peacefully.
"As countless suns rise and set, marking the end of another year. In this winter when life rests, may blessing come to the young lives ready to sprout new buds. May the sun light their paths, and as long as it rises and sets, may unfading glory be theirs."
His monotone voice steadily recited the blessing. As sunlight seemed to filter over my head, he withdrew his hands.
"The blessing is complete. I wish peace upon all debutantes for their lifetimes."
Applause erupted.
Before turning to leave, Julian winked at me. "Don't forget. Come to me if you need help."
What the hell?
I furrowed my brow. Was the Sun Temple full of lunatics?
"What was that guy's deal? Do you know him, sis?"
"No."
I denied it flatly. As Aria muttered suspiciously while glaring at Julian's retreating back, the ball's social dance melody filled the hall.
"Guess we have to dance."
Aria whispered softly, her eyes sparkling as she reached for my hand.
"Sis! With me...!"
"Greetings, Lady Crisis!"
The moment the music started, young noblemen swarmed from all sides, surrounding Aria.
She flashed a brief look of disgust before quickly composing herself and smiling sweetly at them.
"What brings you all here?"
"Would you honor me with a dance?"
"Dance with me too!"
"Move aside! Dance with me!"
"Damn... clueless idiots."
Aria's lips twitched as she glared at the bickering young men with murderous eyes. Her faint whisper reached only my ears.
I pretended not to hear.
Aria deserves all the love she gets.
Seeing her engulfed by the crowd left a bitter taste in my mouth, but her popularity also filled me with pride.
As I planned to look into these dance partners' backgrounds, Julian reappeared amid the throng.
"Ah, there you are. Lady Aria, if it's alright, would you dance a song with me?"
For some reason, a fresh bruise bloomed under his right eye, like he'd taken a punch.
No way... He asked me, but his real interest is Aria? That cliché development?
He wasn't in the original, so I hadn't paid much attention, but if Julian was into Aria, that changed things.
The young nobles stirred at the big shot's arrival. I watched the tense standoff between Julian and Aria with keen interest.
"...I never expected the Vice-High Priest to ask me to dance."
Aria smiled softly but didn't hide her bewilderment. Julian, as if anticipating her reaction, chuckled and murmured something to her.
I wonder what they're saying.
A bit curious, but etiquette held me back from using mana to eavesdrop—I just observed quietly.
"...In that case, I won't hold back."
Green light?
I admired how Aria gracefully took Julian's hand. They'd clearly reached some understanding. It made my heart flutter a bit, yet also left me oddly wistful.
In the original, Aria dances with one of the male leads... but with things this twisted, who cares.
Screw the original—I sipped my wine.
Still, I should dance at least once.
The mocking stares piling up as I stood like a statue irked me. Debutantes usually danced at least once, and tradition dictated being asked for the first.
If no one asks, they'll use it as ammo against me.
We hadn't lined up partners beforehand due to lack of time. Aria naturally got swarmed, but no one approached me easily.
Should I ask someone first?
As I scratched my head irritably, two pairs of shoes appeared before my downcast eyes.
"Good to see you, Lady Crisis."
"Greetings, Lady Crisis."
I looked up at the two voices. Two men, each with distinct charms, captured my gaze.
Golden hair sparkling brilliantly under the chandeliers. Deep, ocean-blue eyes gleaming like abyssal depths. Slyly upturned eyes and a soft smile.
Silver-gray locks shimmering as if woven from moonlight. Languid golden eyes like a beast's. Fierce, predatory gaze and a blunt expression.
Holy shit.
Frozen with my mouth agape, both men extended their hands simultaneously.
"Dance with me?"
"Would you dance with me?"
Diego Solatine, crown prince of the empire, and Rainer Ainheart, captain of the Imperial Palace's 2nd Knight Order, had both asked me to dance.