TSHNL 82

Chapter 82

The murmurs and stares from the crowd didn’t cease.

Most of them were focused on Killian, who had returned in grandeur, clad in dazzling armor.

I felt proud. Even I had to admit — bringing him out at the Hunting Festival was a brilliant move.

And how remarkable was Callista for attaching such an incredible supporter like Viscount Maede to him?

Still, there was one other person who managed to draw away some of the guests’ attention.

“It’s my first time at an imperial banquet. Thank you for bringing me.”

It was my accidental partner, Seyd.

Aside from his academy years, he’d barely ever left his territory. But on Duke Litra’s advice, who believed in the importance of experience, Seyd decided to attend the banquet — and volunteered to be my escort.

Truthfully, I did need a partner to attend with, so I accepted the offer without much thought.

I didn’t expect him to draw this much attention.

“Senior! I was so worried after losing contact post-graduation! I wrote to you every day…”

Young men around twenty came up, greeting him with eyes full of admiration.

“Seyd! I missed you so much. How could you never visit the capital even once?”

Even noble ladies in glamorous attire approached with voices tinged with reproach.

But most simply watched him from a distance, sighing in awe.

Right. I’d gotten so used to him that I sometimes forgot — Seyd was incredibly handsome.

His features were finer and more delicate than Killian’s, and even lifting a single finger made him look like a noble prince brimming with grace.

Of course he was good-looking.

He was the male version of Callista.

Seyd responded to each person with a gentle, composed smile — but never left my side.

Whenever I ran into someone I knew, he’d step back and quietly wait.

The banquet was going smoothly… until the moment I noticed Oscar Rostian approaching from a distance, preparing to greet me.

“…It’s going to fall.”

A man’s voice, grating and unnecessary, reached my ears.

The eyes that had been focused on Seyd and me now shifted to that man.

Even Oscar Rostian, who had been about to greet me, scratched his head awkwardly.

It was Klein. Klein Bayan. My old enemy, back after a long time.

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

But… didn’t he just say something weird for an enemy?

“…What did you just say?”

I asked, not believing my ears.

“I said, the brilliance of the lady will make even roses blush and drop their petals.”

Klein replied with a smile he probably thought was charming.

Goosebumps ran up my arm.

“I would be honored if you’d share the first dance with me.”

Gross. How could someone be this cheesy?

And those half-lidded eyes — did he really think he was seducing me?

As I stood dumbfounded, trying to recover from the shock, Klein must have thought I was dazed by his charm. He held out his palm, facing up.

“Take it. Until the music ends, you shall be my lady.”

Ugh.

What was that melodramatic vibe?

He seemed to treat the fact that he had a fiancée like some tragic fate, trying to evoke a sorrowful atmosphere.

Had it been that long since we last met?

He never acted like this in my previous life.

When we met, I was only fourteen and not even fully grown — and he’d treated me like a mere tool. When not at war, he had other women he’d meet.

That used to be the only good thing about him.

“Um, Your Highness, might you be mistaken about something… like my age…?”

I carefully asked.

I was barely eighteen. I’d never even started dating. Wasn’t it a bit much for a twenty-six-year-old man with a fiancée to try to start an affair with a teenage girl?

“What do you mean?”

Sadly, Klein didn’t seem to get it.

The nobles our age around us cast furtive glances in our direction.

Some seemed amused, others looked at me with sympathy — and a rare few with jealousy.

“I mean… the age gap and, well… this whole situation is inappropriate.”

I summoned my courage and explained, but Klein’s expression stayed blank.

“A lady at eighteen is plenty beautiful. Don’t worry about useless things — just take my hand.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“That’s not it,” a cold voice interrupted from behind me, “His Highness, who is already twenty-six and has a fiancée, attempting to court a young lady — that’s what’s truly disturbing.”

It was Seyd. His calm brown eyes were just the same, even while facing a prince.

No — to be exact, he looked at Klein as if wondering why this man was being so improper.

Klein’s face flushed red as small chuckles spread through the crowd.

“You—! How dare you speak to me that way?”

“Oh, I see. His Highness still doesn’t understand. The young lady has declined. Because of the age difference and Your Highness’s fiancée. Of course…”

He glanced between me and Klein and added,

“Even if the age matched and Your Highness didn’t have a fiancée — it doesn’t mean the lady would have gladly accepted your dance offer.”

A collective gasp swept the crowd.

It was true.

Completely accurate.

But to say that directly to a prince? That was insane.

As people stared, stunned, Seyd met Klein’s gaze with an expression of innocent confusion, as if he saw nothing wrong.

“…Young Lord Litra. You said it’s your first time in the palace. Are you being rude out of ignorance, or are you deliberately insulting me?”

Klein growled through gritted teeth.

“I was taught that helping a lady in distress is the proper etiquette…”

Seyd calmly finished his sentence, his expression unchanged, seemingly oblivious to the heavy atmosphere.

Klein’s face turned a deeper shade of red. It sharply contrasted with Seyd’s composed expression.

“I knew the Litra family was arrogant, but I didn’t expect it to this extent.”

Klein’s voice lowered dangerously.

“How dare you lecture a prince in the imperial banquet, as if you own the place? Do you think you have the right to interrupt my interest in a woman…?”

“Pardon me.”

Seyd cut in again.

Klein’s face twisted further.

“But I believe the lady Your Highness should be paying attention to is over there.”

“What nonsense is this?!”

As Klein roared, Seyd nodded toward the opposite side of the ballroom.

Klein reflexively followed his gaze.

“Isn’t that Lady Elrose Luseik over there? She seems about to have her first dance with someone else.”

Indeed, Elrose stood there in a rose-colored gown, speaking with a man whose back was to them.

Jet-black hair. Tall frame. Pristine white uniform.

“…Killian?”

Klein’s eyes widened. His clenched fist trembled.

“Well, there’s no rule that says you must have your first dance with your fiancée, is there? Though they don’t seem to be forced into it like someone else here…”

“How dare you!”

Klein exploded in fury. All eyes turned to him again.

“How dare you, in this place!”

His expression — half anger, half disbelief — said it all.

In his mind, he could flirt with other women, but his fiancée couldn’t.

And especially not with Killian, who now stood smiling across from Elrose.

“Hopper. Step out to the garden.”

Then, a low voice spoke behind me.

Smooth, deep — and oddly familiar.

“…Huh?”

When I turned, no one was there.

Either the speaker was hidden in the crowd or had already slipped out the side door.