Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Stealing What Others Covet. (5)
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"No, I..."
Cain started to protest but ended up following his father as if he couldn't help it.
"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
"Already? Why not stay a bit longer?"
"There's nothing for me to gain by lingering here. I've confirmed Your Majesty's good health, and that's enough."
"What a fine young man!"
Emperor Theodore burst into hearty laughter at Princess Violet's words.
"Very well, then. You're dismissed."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The emperor's gaze toward the politely departing Princess Violet was remarkably warm. It seemed likely that a few boxes of jewels would soon be delivered to her chambers.
The moment Princess Violet turned away from Emperor Theodore,
"...Hmph."
Her face turned icy cold, as if she had never smiled so brightly.
It was the same expression she wore when she first entered the banquet hall. A face that found everything tedious and utterly boring.
Surprisingly, Princess Violet did not leave right away.
"Princess, we should return now."
"They're lords who came from afar. I should at least familiarize myself with their faces."
She began strolling slowly through the banquet hall, brushing off her attendant's words half-heartedly.
The lords whose eyes met hers floundered, unsure whether to bow or not.
But Princess Violet passed them by without a glance, as if they held no interest whatsoever.
"Uh..."
"Um..."
The embarrassed lords could only watch blankly as she walked past.
Princess Violet thus circled the banquet hall, turning the lords into hounds chasing after chickens.
As if she were searching for someone.
In the midst of her walk, Princess Violet spotted Carlo. She tried to pass him by as she had the others, but
"I greet Princess Violet."
Carlo blocked her path first.
"Ah."
Her brow furrowed slightly.
Even that gesture was picture-perfect in its beauty, leaving Cain unconsciously in awe.
"Carlo Sud Ardante."
A hint of irritation laced Princess Violet's voice, implying she wanted him to step aside quickly.
But Carlo was not one to yield to the princess's overt display of emotion.
"I greet Princess Violet."
He extended his hand with a leisurely smile, and there was no convenient excuse to refuse—especially not from a key figure who held sway over the empire.
"Haa."
Princess Violet let out a faint sigh and extended her hand. Carlo briefly kissed the back of it before stepping back.
"I hope you've been well."
"I was, until just now."
Did that mean she wasn't anymore, now that she'd met his father?
Cain was stunned as he interpreted her words. Carlo chuckled heartily and pulled Cain forward.
"You haven't met before, have you? I blocked your path to make introductions."
Various calculations raced through his mind.
First, Cain seemed quite taken with the princess, so he was creating an opportunity.
Second, boasting his connection to her in front of the other lords.
Third, if the princess fell for Cain at first sight, it would be perfect.
"And who might you be?"
Princess Violet asked in a tone that suggested reluctance.
Anyone could tell he was the son, but her attitude made it clear she had no interest in confirming it.
But that didn't matter to Cain. What mattered was that Princess Violet was right in front of him, close enough to feel her breath.
"Greetings."
Cain deployed every ounce of etiquette he had honed. He bowed at the precise angle and speed.
"I am Cain Sud Ardante."
It was a greeting so flawless that not even royalty—or the emperor himself—could find fault with it.
"..."
Two pairs of eyes, different shades yet both tinged with red, met.
In that instant, Cain felt a jolt of electricity course through his body. Just her gaze upon him was enough.
'...Come on, now.'
He waited leisurely for her response.
Her eyes would waver subtly, her cheeks flush, her lips part slowly.
This was something Cain experienced daily, so routinely it was second nature.
Every girl who saw him reacted the same way—one hundred out of one hundred. They fell for his handsome features, impeccable manners, and gentle speech.
But.
"I accept your greeting."
Princess Violet withdrew her hand immediately. Her eyes were cold, devoid of any warmth.
"-!"
Cain felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over him.
Occasionally, some young ladies pretended to be indifferent to catch his attention.
But their eyes always betrayed an unmistakable longing.
Cain thought perhaps the princess was doing the same.
However, seeing her profile as she shifted her body, eager to leave, he realized the truth.
'She's really... not interested?'
Unfeigned indifference radiated from her entire face. It was genuine.
Princess Violet truly had no interest in Cain.
"...!"
The shock was so profound that Cain couldn't even think to hold her back.
This was the first dramatic defeat of his life.
Princess Violet glanced around the hall once and stopped.
"Haa, he's not here."
Her voice carried a sense of deflation.
Carlo, who had watched his son's bitter defeat with pity, stepped forward.
"Are you looking for someone?"
Princess Violet turned to him and sighed.
"In a way... but it seems..."
Her lips paused. Her gaze fixed on something behind Carlo and Cain.
In that moment, Cain forgot his disappointment and jolted in surprise.
He witnessed vivid emotions flicker across Princess Violet's face, which had resembled an expressionless wax doll.
Joy, interest, and a touch of anger.
The princess now breathed with life, more so than when she had greeted her own father, the emperor.
And it made her even more breathtaking. Those nearby held their breath.
'Why on earth...?'
Who had caused her to change like that?
Cain unconsciously turned to follow her gaze.
At the end stood a tall young man with strikingly blue hair.
'Abel Ovest Kindriel?'
Why him?
Cain now called Abel "that bastard" without hesitation, but the label hardly mattered anymore.
Click.
Princess Violet's footsteps turned toward Abel.
Click, click.
Her heels echoed against the hall floor. The lords, who had been stealing glances at her, discreetly made way.
She advanced through the parting crowd like the tide, heading straight for one spot.
Right toward Abel Kindriel.
"Hm?"
Abel, standing beside Mikel, turned this way. He spotted Princess Violet approaching like a queen through the gap in the crowd.
"Oh."
Abel smiled faintly, as if he had anticipated her arrival.
"Princess Violet."
"We greet Princess Violet."
He bowed alongside the lords who hurriedly lowered their heads.
Princess Violet approached, staring fixedly at Abel. At last, she stopped before him.
"..."
Her eyes scanned Abel's face slowly.
Even as she stared silently, Abel met her gaze with a soft smile.
Their odd standoff resembled a staring contest.
Until
"May I have your name?"
Princess Violet extended her hand to Abel, ending it. A wave of bewilderment rippled through the banquet hall.
"What's the princess doing?"
"I've never seen her seek a greeting like that before."
"It looks like she's here for Young Lord Abel, doesn't it?"
The lords exchanged hurried glances, but no one knew the answer.
"I am Abel Ovest Kindriel."
Except for Abel, who wore an overtly amused expression.
He took her hand.
"I greet Princess Violet."
Abel slowly lowered his lips toward the back of her hand.
It was somewhat rougher than Cain's, fulfilling only the bare minimum of etiquette. His greeting lacked the deference expected of nobility toward her.
He even lifted his gaze slightly after kissing it, staring intently at the princess.
"Wh-what!"
"Good heavens."
"Doesn't he know Princess Violet's temper?"
The lords gasped at the unexpected rudeness.
But Abel was utterly unconcerned. Soon, his lips curved into a sly grin.
The smile that settled over it was sweetly honeyed yet dangerously venomous.
Everyone expected Princess Violet to lash out in anger and slap his cheek.
However.
"..."
Far from scolding his impudence, she stood frozen.
"...Huh?"
"Why is the princess just standing there?"
And Cain felt an even greater shock strike him than before.
"-!"
Thanks to his undivided attention on her, he noticed it faster than anyone.
The faint blush creeping across her cheeks.
'...Why?'
It was the emotional response he had so desperately wanted from her—and directed at him.
'...Why him?'
How could she be drawn to that guy instead of him?
Cain could never accept it. No, he refused to.
His breathing grew ragged, his heart pounding fiercely. It stemmed from an emotion he had never felt before.
'Why him, when I'm right here?'
A bitter sense of defeat and deprivation.
As his lips trembled with rage, the murmurs of those around him reached his ears.
"They do make a good pair, though."
"A perfect couple of handsome man and beautiful woman."
Princess Violet, with her porcelain doll-like flawless beauty, and Abel, like a finely sculpted statue, looked perfect even just standing there.
They resembled a pair from a masterpiece painting.
Grind.
A terrifying sound emanated from between Cain's teeth.
❖ ❖ ❖
I glanced sideways at Cain.
'What’s with that expression?'
Right now, Cain was glaring at me with eyes burning like fire.
His gaze was so intense that my cheek felt hot by association.
'Is he jealous?'
Cain alternated between me and the princess, gnawing at his lips. He seemed completely oblivious to his own expression.
'Well, this is an unexpected bonus.'
I smiled inwardly.
It seemed I had handled the casino affair too well.
'I only meant to prevent Princess Violet from becoming Cain's ally.'
True to the original plot where they fell for each other at first sight like flames igniting, Cain had fallen for her again this time.
Well, her beauty was unparalleled.
Her features were so delicately perfect that she seemed an entirely different species from ordinary humans.
Seeing her ignore him completely while approaching me must have set his insides boiling.
'So this is how it turns out.'
Satisfaction made my lips twitch. Beating Cain was always so much fun.