An Unexpected Reunion

Bored. So bored I felt like screaming, but I forced myself to hold it in.

Unlike me, who found it tedious, the Empire seemed bustling with activity.

It was unavoidable, given the preparations for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Holy Night Festival. The attendees of the festival weren't just ordinary guests.

From vassals closely tied to the Empire to numerous nobles, royalty from other kingdoms, and even soldiers who had distinguished themselves in service to the Empire—

Not to mention the renowned merchants who had earned the right to attend. These were people the Empire couldn't afford to dismiss lightly. Naturally, the effort put into hosting them was immense.

Of course, I was merely here in disguise, playing the role of Aria's husband.

"You seem bored."

"Am I that obvious? Did I give myself away?"

"If I couldn't tell from that expression of yours, I'd have to be seriously dense."

"Hahaha..."

It seemed my true feelings were written all over my face. Couldn't be helped.

True to its name, the Holy Night Festival wasn't something that ended in a day or two. It was a grand celebration that lasted over a week.

Naturally, since I had no reason to enjoy it, I was just stuck feeling this dull.

"It'll be over soon."

"You do realize you've been saying that for the past two hours, right?"

"Sorry about that. It's been a while since my last visit, so there are quite a few people I need to meet."

"I'm going to step out for some fresh air."

"Try not to cause any trouble."

"What do you take me for?"

"...A lecher?"

"Tch."

I couldn't even deny it.

Stepping outside, a cool breeze brushed past my head, and the boredom seemed to ease slightly.

Below the railing, I could see countless people bustling about. It was somewhat amusing.

I, too, had once been one of those busy figures. Now, I was just comfortably observing.

Then it happened.

For just a brief moment, but I didn't miss it.

Camilla...!

Among the robed figures standing in line, the flash of purple hair could only belong to her.

So the Magic Tower delegation has already arrived, huh.

I had planned to postpone our reunion for a while, but circumstances had changed.

Guess I'll have to seek her out soon.

This would undoubtedly be an unforgettable reunion—for both Camilla and me. For that, I could endure a little more boredom.

And so, the day of the banquet arrived.

Dressed in the lavish noble attire befitting Aria's husband, I stood uncomfortably in the ornate garments. The outfit was stifling, but as they say, clothes make the man—so I had no choice but to endure it.

I wasn't the only one. The grand banquet hall was gradually filling with similarly dressed figures. Already, it seemed hundreds had arrived.

Yet, the hall was spacious enough to accommodate even more.

"His Imperial Majesty has arrived."

The Emperor, the sovereign of the Empire, entered with slow, measured steps. Following him were the most distinguished guests—individuals whose names alone carried weight.

Most were figures whose reputations preceded them. But my gaze wasn't fixed on them. Instead, it lingered on the woman who rose gracefully.

Morgana Whitland—an Archmage revered as one of the greatest sorcerers, and Camilla's mentor. Naturally, the woman walking beside her was Camilla herself.

It would have been considered rude to wear a hat in the Emperor's presence, so her hair was fully exposed.

Even after all this time, she was as beautiful as ever.

"Lady Morgana, thank you for gracing us with your presence."

"How could I refuse His Majesty's invitation?"

Morgana had been granted a noble title solely for being the Master of the Magic Tower. She could have refused, but the prevailing theory was that she accepted to avoid making an enemy of the Empire.

As such, Morgana was soon engaged in a private conversation with the Emperor. Aria, too, was occupied.

Which left me free to enjoy the banquet—or rather, to seek out Camilla. Just as I moved to approach her—

"Lord Western?"

"Hm?"

"Western"—the alias I was using as Aria's husband. Unfamiliar with the name, I couldn't help but falter for a moment.

Turning, I found a man standing there. His expression was strained, as if he were forcing himself to remain composed.

Don't recognize him.

I didn't know every face in the Empire, but I was familiar with the notable ones. Which meant this man before me wasn't one of them.

"Do you know me?"

The man, dressed impeccably, finally bowed his head in greeting.

"Come to think of it, this must be our first meeting. I am Duke Lilback—once indebted to Queen Aria."

Simply being indebted wouldn't warrant such an introduction to me. Which meant only one thing—this man had once held feelings for Aria.

His reason for speaking to me seemed to stem from jealousy toward me as Aria's husband.

"By the way, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lord Western, are you a noble from Rubalu?"

There was a strange sense of wariness in his question.

How pathetic.

It wasn't outright hatred—just petty mind games.

For me, who had been feeling a bit bored, this wasn't such a bad situation.

"I'm not a noble from Rubalu."

"Then...?"

"I don't believe I'm obligated to answer that."

"......"

Duke Lilback's brow furrowed. He seemed to take it as an act of disrespect.

"Then how did you come to meet Queen Aria?"

"...That's also a strange question."

"What part of it is strange?"

"You're acting as though you have an interest in my wife. How exactly should I take that?"

"Excuse me...?"

Lilback looked thoroughly taken aback. It seemed he had only just realized how his questions sounded.

Until now, it had just been petty mind games, but now he had crossed the line into outright harassment of another man's wife.

"That wasn't my intention. I believe there's been a misunderstanding..."

"Right. Of course."

I turned my head away as if to say I didn't want to hear it. Everyone had heard this exchange. There would be no more pointless mind games from him now.

***

It wasn't until nightfall that I was finally able to step out of the banquet hall. It had taken longer than expected.

I had intended to spend some intimate time with Aria, but she had collapsed, utterly exhausted, leaving me with no choice.

In the end, my steps led me to the outer balcony. While it was a place to get some fresh air, my real reason ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for coming here was because I had seen Camilla heading this way earlier.

Where could she be?

It didn't take long for me to spot Camilla. Even from a distance, her striking beauty was unmistakable.

Ah, there she is.

She seemed to be resting, enjoying the breeze. I quietly approached her from behind.

"Miss Camilla?"

My current appearance was quite refined, so I assumed conversation would be easy. But Camilla's demeanor was unexpectedly rigid.

"Who are you?"

Her tone was laced with unmistakable wariness. If she was going to be like this, sticking to my original plan wouldn't be easy. It was better to take a more forceful approach.

"Kim Jin-woo."

"...And what is your relation to him?"

The moment I uttered my name, her reaction was anything but ordinary.

"I'd say I know him very well."

"I... don't know what nonsense you're spouting."

"Nonsense, you say..."

I immediately seized Camilla by the collar. She resisted, her body trembling.

"Let go. If you don't, I'll call for— Mmph!"

Annoyed by her noise, I decided to cover her mouth. I couldn't stand listening to her any longer.

"I didn't think you'd fail to recognize me so easily. But more importantly, why did you flinch when you heard my name? Almost like you have something to hide?"

"Your name? Don't tell me—?"

As expected, she was quick on the uptake. No wonder she was a disciple of the Magic Tower.

"That's right. I'm Kim ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jin-woo. I don't know which one of you it was, but because of someone in your so-called Hero Party, I've had to live my life bearing an undeserved disgrace."

"...For the record, it wasn't me."

"You're saying that without even hearing what it is?"

"Of course it wasn't me. If anyone did something shady, it'd be Beatrice or Bel."

"Sadly, it wasn't Beatrice."

"Then it must've been Bel."

"Not Bel either."

"That can't be..."

Truthfully, I hadn't confronted Bel yet. This was a bluff. But at the same time, Camilla's eyes wavered.

She looked like someone caught hiding something.

"So you did keep something from me. You're definitely hiding something."

"......"

Camilla didn't answer. I got the faint sense that she felt tricked, but I set that aside for now.

Without hesitation, I pinned Camilla down and dragged her behind the balcony.

"Let me go and talk!"

"No. Whether you did it or not doesn't matter at all. I can't forget the humiliation I suffered because of you."

Riiip!

I roughly tore the clothes Camilla was wearing.

"Kyaaaaah!"

"If you scream, I'll cut out your tongue."

"......"

"Keep your mouth shut."

Camilla silently nodded, tears streaming down her face. She was sharp, as expected.

She had realized exactly what I wanted.

"Just... get it over with..."

"Do you really think that's possible?"

I immediately pulled down my pants. The moment she saw the stark difference in size compared to what she remembered, Camilla's eyes widened in shock.

"What the...?"

"How is it? Seeing it again after so long—quite different, isn't it?"

Tonight, Camilla wouldn't be walking back on her own two feet.