Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Reunion
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About half an hour earlier, Uni was in her room, munching on snacks handed out by the palace's low-ranking officials. She was indulging in the luxury of imperial treats when she heard the door open. Assuming it was Lena, Uni poked her head toward the door.
"You're back earlier than I thought, Young Lady!"
She tossed the snacks aside and rushed over in a panic.
"What on earth happened to you? Ugh, you reek of booze!"
Uni was horrified by Lena's state. Soaked hair, smeared makeup, a stained dress, and the overwhelming stench of alcohol radiating from her entire body. Uni was at a loss for where to even start, her mouth flapping open and shut. Standing before her, Lena spoke calmly.
"I'll explain later. Help me get ready."
"Get ready?"
"To go back out."
The unexpected request left Uni even more bewildered. But Lena remained perfectly composed. That made it all the more ominous. It was the face she made when she was a little angry.
"You're going back to the ballroom?"
Uni asked in confusion. Whatever the situation, that didn't seem like a good idea. She could fix her hair and makeup in a hurry, but changing a dress would take hours. There were ways to cover the stains roughly, but that would look shabby. As Uni fretted, Lena offered a simple solution.
"No time to change into a dress, so get my uniform."
At the word "uniform," Uni's eyes lit up. It was formal attire suitable for a ball. And it was quicker to put on than a dress. No need to redo her makeup entirely, or fluff up her hair. Understanding at once, Uni dashed to the wardrobe. Soon, she returned with the Southern uniform and began helping Lena out of her dress as she asked,
"But how did this happen?"
"The gentleman who sent the invitation turned out to be more of a rascal than I expected."
"It was a man?"
"Yes, a very handsome one."
Lena explained lightly while washing her face with cold water. Uni pitched in with the preparations. She combed out the disheveled hair, tied it into a single ponytail, wiped off the makeup, and reapplied just the bare minimum. Then came the moment for the uniform. The top consisted of a high-collared white shirt and a navy blue corset-style coat that laced at the waist. The coat reached mid-thigh, but to avoid restricting movement, it had long slits at the sides. A matching asymmetrical cape draped over one shoulder. The bottoms were tight-fitting white pants. Black boots rising to the knees neatly accentuated the thighs—a hallmark of this uniform. Each of the four dukes had uniforms of distinct styles, and the South's was reputed to be the most sensual.
"But... is it okay to wear this out now?"
Uni whispered anxiously as she helped with the change. This splendid uniform hadn't been bought by Lena; it was a gift from the Southern Duke. Was it fine to wear something like that whenever she pleased? As Uni worried timidly, Lena smiled as if it were no big deal.
"It's fine. It's mine to wear anyway."
"That's true, but this wasn't part of the plan."
"Things don't always go according to plan."
"Young Lady..."
"Besides, the Southern Duke would hate to see me humiliated like this even more."
Lena added with a smile. Truth be told, she hadn't planned to wear both a dress and uniform on the same night. She'd intended to space them out strategically to maximize her presence, but that little punk Rubid had doused her plans with cold water. She'd withdrawn while maintaining her dignity as best she could, but she'd already become a laughingstock. Showing up in uniform the next day wouldn't earn her respect. She could reveal her worth gradually, but that wasn't her style.
"I messed up from the start. Who fights a stray dog in a dress?"
Having finished changing, Lena draped the cape last.
"Since it's come to this, I'll just show everything tonight."
She repeated to herself, vowing to slit the throat of that wraith—or that damned bastard. And shortly after, Lena made good on that vow.
***
"Urk!"
Rubid, who had been holding out, was dragged off by Lena once more. He stepped wrong with a big stumble but quickly planted his foot and pretended it was just a dance step. Thanks to his desperate efforts, his struggles still passed for dancing. But the nobles' gazes were filling with growing puzzlement.
'Damn it!'
Rubid swallowed a curse and ground his teeth. The music was picking up speed. A sign the piece was ending. What happened when the music stopped? Would he have to keep spinning like an idiot? As Rubid grew frantic, Lena, who had been jerking him around at will, suddenly spoke in a sweet voice.
"How about we make up?"
"What?"
"Fighting like this hurts us both. So let's each give a little ground."
It was a proposal to end this brawl of a dance and return to being gentleman and lady. If Rubid showed her respect now, it would mitigate his earlier insults to some degree. Sure, everyone would question this bizarre reconciliation, but that was Rubid's problem for his eccentric whims—not hers. So Lena decided to forgive the ill-mannered brat here.
"You little..."
But Rubid himself wasn't ready to be forgiven. At her generous offer, he glared at her instead. He didn't curse her outright this time, though. Being dragged around had made him somewhat aware of his predicament. Escaping this monster of a woman was impossible. It wasn't that he was weak. She looked like a slender beauty, but she had considerable strength. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't overpower her. Frustrated, he gnashed his teeth as Lena asked again.
"Don't you want to?"
She didn't just ask—she grabbed both his hands and spun him wide.
'Ugh!?'
Rubid instinctively followed the spin but felt his heel slip. Glancing back in unease, he saw his foot caught at the edge of the champagne pond. Somehow, Lena had maneuvered him right to the pond's brink. She smiled and asked again.
"Yeah?"
The short question carried clear meaning.
'Damn, what the hell...!'
He who sprinkles champagne falls into champagne. Lena planned to shove him into the pond when the music and dance ended. Proof was that they'd been circling near it for a while. Forced into reconciliation, Rubid seethed. It was more rational to bend privately to one person than suffer public humiliation, but his sky-high pride wouldn't allow it. He glared at Lena and growled low.
"Try it if you dare."
"If that's how you want it."
Lena smiled prettily and danced the music's climax with the unrepentant Rubid. The steps accelerated, their spinning bodies gaining centrifugal force, ready to fly off at any moment. Lena spun and spun. And at the music's end, she released his hand.
'Kuh...!'
Flung aside, Rubid slid toward the pond. Too late to recover, he squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the plunge. But his falling body halted abruptly. Then he felt hands catching him at the waist. Halting his fall, Rubid looked up in shock. Lena was holding his waist, smiling. As if to say, *Did you really think I'd drop you?* She gazed at him delightedly, then pulled his leaning body upright. Stepping back, she bowed courteously.
"Thank you for the wonderful dance. It was fun."
Lena saluted with a hand to her chest in military fashion, and the finally freed Rubid touched his wrist in a daze. Red handprints remained on it. He alternated glances between his wrist and Lena's bowed head, then chuckled unwittingly. He laughed for a good while in disbelief, then swung his full force at her cheek. *Slap!* A sharp friction rang out. But what his hand met wasn't Lena's cheek—it was her palm raised beside her face. Having his slap perfectly blocked, Rubid glared daggers at her. The nobles gasped at the sudden violence, and Lena sighed.
"You just don't learn, do you?"
She reached out to him regretfully. Rubid swatted her hand away with a fierce scowl. But the hand was a feint; the real attack was her foot. As he struck her hand, Lena swept her foot low, hooking his ankle. Rubid lost balance in an instant. His body toppled, crashing down—and at last, the long-awaited champagne erupted. Not with a cork, but through the noble prince's body, with a mighty splash. Golden spray shot up with a clamor. The high waves crashed back, boiling with white foam. It evoked the image of glasses raised high in toast. At this unimaginable spectacle, the nobles gaped, jaws dropping. Lena watched Rubid's long platinum hair bubble and sink into the champagne pond, then turned on her heel with a smile. She even bowed neatly to the staring nobles.
"Puhaha!"
A bright laugh rang out with applause. The nobles turned and grew even more flustered. The one applauding Lena was none other than Clavis. He beamed like an audience member after a fine performance. This plunged the nobles into a dilemma. They couldn't leave the cardinal clapping alone like a fool, nor mock the Northern Prince by joining him. As they hesitated, something shot up sharply from the pond's depths—not wind or lightning. A piercing *clang* echoed faintly. Floating petals flew into the air, and without warning, the floor split. The marble cracked like a sliced cake, and champagne gushed from the fissures.
"Eek!"
"Kyaa!"
As the nobles shrieked at the phenomenon, Clavis murmured delightedly.
"Our prince is really pissed now."
Lena glanced back and intoned.
"Throwing a tantrum like that isn't becoming."
She fluttered her eyes coquettishly at the former pond. At her provocation, Rubid's already menacing glare sharpened murderously. His eyes had turned pale blue.
A century ago, the Kingdom Grasha fell. The exact events before and after are unclear. One day, a gate to the abyss opened, and wraiths poured out to assault the living, spreading death. Neither kingdom nor church could halt death's onslaught. The kingdom withered like burning leaves, and its wretched people suffocated in despair. Then a miracle occurred. Nihil Grasha, the last blood of the fallen dynasty, struck back by slaying the dead once more. After fierce battle, the wraiths that devoured the kingdom scattered, and Nihil founded the Grandis Grasha Empire on its ruins. The weapon wielded by that young emperor for victory was neither sword nor bow. It was mercy granted by god to the royal house at the final hour—a divine Authority that cleaved all evil. The chosen emperor saved the world with holy power and shared it with his bloodline. That power formed the empire's foundation, the reason and qualification for Grasha's imperial rule.
"Beg for mercy now."
And Northern Prince Rubid Plenus Grasha was one who inherited that power—a chosen being.
"Or I'll take both your eyes."
Rubid spat as he stepped out of the empty pond. Dripping wet, he growled, an invisible pressure crushing the crowd's shoulders. Merciless slashes, air weighed down heavily. All hallmarks of imperial Authority. Yet Lena didn't flinch, nor lose her smile.
"That's a problem. I only have two."
"Then give me both."
Rubid loomed right before her, glaring murderously. At the savage scene, a lady clung to Clavis.
"Your Highness, this is going to end badly. W-we have to stop them..."
"It's already bad, and does he look like the type to listen?"
But Clavis ignored her breezily. He watched the standoff with shining eyes. Rubid's face was fierce as an angry wildcat, while Lena's gaze, mere arm's lengths away, remained calmly serene. The air crackled; a knife fight could erupt any second. No—a knife fight would be merciful. The nobles knew well how imperial wrath manifested. Terrified, they backed away, and Rubid's lips twisted further. Anything could happen.
"Your Highness, I've come to escort you."
A sudden voice poured cold water on the tension. A calm tone that snapped the strain.
"You must see His Majesty tomorrow. Please retire early tonight."
In the hushed hall, the words rang uncannily clear. The nobles held their breath and turned. A gentleman strode in from the entrance.
"Tch."
Rubid glanced at the man and clicked his tongue. He lost interest in Lena as if bored, and turned away. The nobles gasped in surprise at his abrupt shift. But the most shocked was Lena. She whispered faintly toward the gentleman.
"Father..."
But no one heard—except the passing Marquis Rubel.