Chapter 177
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 177
The seven-stepped dais looked like a stage for actors, and Klaus, walking out to its center, looked every bit the perfect protagonist.
“I am Klaus Rocheva, descendant of the Great Wolf King, ruler of the Lupinus Kingdom, and the severed tail of His Majesty King Lassen.”
It was a greeting that sounded incredibly strange to the nobles of the Spring Continent.
However, it was just as impactful.
Especially his face.
Some of the ladies were already turning beet-red. I, too, found myself staring, unable to look away.
‘That mutt really is breathtakingly handsome.’
Aside from the illustrations I’d seen while playing the game, this was the first time I’d seen him dressed up like this!
The Klaus I had known until now was…
The Klaus who was beaten to death.
The Klaus covered in blood.
The Klaus crawling on all fours.
The Klaus who was so gaunt he looked like a skeleton.
The Klaus who was like a petty thief, sneaking into my room under the cover of night…
And so on.
Thanks to that, this was practically the first time I had seen him looking like a true prince of a nation, fully decked out with intent.
‘Wow. Why is my throat so dry?’
I quietly nudged the attendant standing stiffly beside me, took a glass, and drank some champagne.
As I slowly moistened my throat, I suddenly felt the gazes of those around me flickering toward me.
‘What is it?’
Did they notice Klaus smiling at me earlier?
With so many people here, just because we locked eyes for a moment and he smiled?
Is everyone’s kinetic vision really that superior?
My wonder was short-lived.
“That brooch Prince Klaus is wearing… strangely enough, it’s a blue diamond. A massive one, just like your necklace?”
Sophia, who had been fanning herself with a feather fan while eyeing the princes with a peculiar gaze, whispered as if muttering to herself.
Only then did I narrow my eyes.
Sophia was right.
Klaus was wearing a brooch on his chest, and its material was remarkably similar to my necklace.
‘Did he always have that much money?’
While I was lost in such thoughts, Sophia’s voice grew thorny.
“People will get the wrong idea if they see this.”
“Really? Since everyone is watching, I suppose everyone will get the wrong idea then?”
“Exactly. So, Tulia, watch your behavior.”
I tilted my head as I looked at Sophia.
“Why should I?”
“What do you mean why? Obviously…”
“Unlike you, I don’t have a fiancé, and this is nothing more than a coincidence. You’re the one who should be careful with your behavior.”
When I spoke meaningfully, Sophia’s complexion turned slightly pale—she clearly had a guilty conscience.
She glared at me with a cold gaze before snapping her head away.
Sophia’s expression hadn’t been great since the moment we entered.
Now, with two statuesque beauties appearing on the scene, she seemed to be lamenting her own situation even more.
‘By the way, why hasn’t Ferdinand arrived yet?’
At this point, is he just not coming? To his own victory banquet?
Surely the Empress didn’t pull something, did she? Just as a faint sense of unease began to settle in…
Empress Carmi opened her mouth with a smile.
“On such a joyous and wonderful occasion, it is a great concern that the Crown Prince is too unwell to attend, Your Majesty.”
She seemed to be offering a worried remark to the Emperor beside her, but it was nothing more than a transparent deception.
At this moment, everyone in the hall was focused on the dais.
‘Good grief.’
Consequently, the nobles nearby heard every word the Empress said, and her comment spread through the hall like a ripple.
‘Honestly. Empress Carmi. She’s wicked, truly wicked.’
Emperor Alexander’s expression stiffened, if only slightly.
It wasn’t that he was offended by Empress Carmi mentioning Ferdinand’s health in a public setting.
“Tsk. Enough. It is not for the Empress to worry about.”
“But…”
“Do not pay it any mind.”
It was because of his dissatisfaction with Ferdinand.
If this hadn’t been a public setting, he probably would have added something like, ‘That useless fellow.’
‘Actually, isn’t he the worst one here? Ferdinand is his own biological son.’
While the Emperor maintained a consistently displeased attitude toward Ferdinand, he was smiling pleasantly as he personally offered seats to Benjamin and Klaus.
The dais was certainly a world of its own, shimmering brilliantly.
Both Klaus and Benjamin.
Though they both wore expressionless faces, their looks were nothing short of formidable.
If a fully grown Ferdinand were to join them up there, people would probably go blind.
‘And if our twins were there too? Oh my, it would be like another sun rising in the world.’
A cunning thought suddenly occurred to me, and I smiled.
“Second Prince Dave.”
“Ahem?”
“Shouldn’t Your Highness be up on the dais as well?”
My plan was to wedge Dave in between those handsome men.
People love to compare.
Especially when it comes to physical appearance—well, there was no need for words.
Dave’s face was decent enough, but among male leads who shone like the sun…
He would be a pebble among diamonds.
A weed among flowers, so to speak.
Dave seemed well aware of this too. He knew that if he went up there, his appearance would only suffer by comparison.
Just as he cleared his throat, trying to change the subject…
“Your Highness is also of noble birth, so you should rightfully be waiting in a high place.”
Dave swallowed his words at my remark, which I threw out as if driving in a nail. He looked momentarily speechless.
“Well, hmmm. Still, His Majesty the Emperor hasn't called for me, so I cannot simply act as I please. I…”
“Now that I hear it, Your Highness is right.”
I cut Dave off with exaggerated fuss.
“Since today is the Crown Prince’s victory banquet. Thank you for making me realize that, Your Highness.”
“…”
“Then please, just stay right here.”
Dave looked bewildered. And as he chewed over my words, he seemed to be getting progressively offended.
Of course, on the surface, there was nothing wrong with what I said, so he couldn't find fault with it.
He just stood there, his face darkening as he felt the sting all on his own.
I just kept smiling, pretending to know nothing, acting like the most foolish person in the world.
‘That’s what you get for using your mother to brazenly ask for the first dance.’
And before long.
“His Majesty the Emperor bestows wine!”
With the Chief Attendant’s thunderous cry, pages moved busily, carrying silver trays laden with numerous crystal glasses. Within the beautifully carved crystal, the golden liquor sparkled enchantingly.
This diverted the attention of the people who had been stealing glances at the dais—or more accurately, those who had been staring blankly at Klaus and Benjamin.
“Come to think of it.”
“Yes?”
“Why are Prince Klaus Rocheva and the Young Lady of Frezier wearing such similar ornaments?”
I didn’t expect the topic to shift to Klaus and me.
“It must be a coincidence.”
“Even if it’s a coincidence, can one obtain such rare blue diamonds at the same time? I don’t understand.”
“Don’t they look like a matching set to anyone who sees them?”
“But I’ve never heard of the Lupinus Kingdom sending a marriage proposal to the Frezier family…”
I didn’t bother turning my head toward the whispering and pretended not to hear.
In fact, I was welcoming it inwardly.
‘Please, talk all you want.’
The reason rumors become scandals?
It’s because the counterpart is ugly.
A scandal with a super-handsome man like Klaus was bound to become a romantic legend.
‘Starting tomorrow, I should make a round of the White Tulip Salons once a day.’
Nobles curious about the relationship between Klaus and me would surely visit the White Tulip Salon.
I’ll intentionally drop hints about my visits to make them come even more often!
And I’ll make them spend money!
Having more money in hand is always a good thing. Since it’ll be Lisian and Leon’s birthdays soon, I can prepare expensive gifts for them.
It was while I was lost in these thoughts, sipping my wine.
“Dave.”
Emperor Alexander’s voice rang out from the dais. In the moment everyone’s gaze, including mine, shifted that way…
“You shall take the Crown Prince’s place and have the first dance with Lady Sophia Frezier.”
Dave’s eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of his head.