chapter 3
“Yes… exactly right.”
Celestine, who had been clamping her lips shut like a clam, slowly opened her mouth, staring down the small group of girls.
“This debutante ball, as you said, has been prepared with special care by the Crown Prince for Princess Asha, hasn’t it? So naturally, with all due respect, this could be a huge opportunity for Her Highness.”
She quickly continued.
“Honestly, Princess Asha has never received the treatment she truly deserves, right? And yet, she has never once shown annoyance or displeasure about it. Just like now.”
“Th-That… what do you mean…”
“Look. Even when you young ladies keep spouting endless nonsense, she doesn’t get angry. That’s not because she deserves such treatment—it’s because she has the generosity to forgive it, to quietly let it pass.”
Asha’s gaze flicked toward Celestine for a moment. But Celestine, burdened with the need to keep talking, didn’t notice.
“The reason the Crown Prince wanted to hold such a grand debutante ball is the same. Through this, people will see that Princess Asha is being exceptionally cared for by the future emperor. Naturally, it’s a great opportunity.”
“…….”
“Even though she could enjoy so much, she attends the ball in such modest attire—it’s truly commendable! Meanwhile, peasants and serfs are starving due to a poor harvest, and yet, how can nobles and royals—”
Celestine subtly hid the expensive jeweled bracelet on her wrist behind her back.
“…compete in luxury just for show? Isn’t that right?”
“But Lady Celestine, the empire has had abundant harvests for years. Even passersby and gypsies have more than enough food…”
Damn it.
“W-Well, I mean, that’s just an example. It seems you young ladies don’t quite understand!”
Celestine decided to insist.
“In any case, young ladies should act a little more intelligently. What would the Crown Prince say if he saw this behavior?”
“…….”
“Stop using your sharp tongues to pick on a quiet princess. If you have complaints, speak directly to Crown Prince Devaltin!”
“Ah, yes. That’s a good idea.”
And then—it happened.
A voice she had absolutely not expected.
“I was wondering where you were hiding, and here you are, listening to such nonsense.”
“C-Crown Prince…”
Devaltin’s presence alone felt like a spell had frozen everyone in place. The atmosphere immediately turned cold, and the garden was filled with a leaden silence. The small, chatterbox girls froze, and Celestine did too.
“N-No… I didn’t mean to meet him too…”
She had only planned to defend Asha to avoid the warning popup. And now she was facing Devaltin Bacalar himself?
“This ruins my plan to avoid the main characters…”
His gaze fell on Celestine. Without saying a word, his presence pressed down on her like a massive rock, and she instinctively froze.
If Asha was like a goddess from myth, then Devaltin was like a god.
But not a kind or gentle god—more like a god of war or death.
Devaltin was tall, requiring Celestine to look up. His black hair was slightly tousled, which only made his raw, dangerous charm stronger.
He was undeniably handsome. His features were perfect, and his rare violet eyes added an air of mystery. Even in a fantasy romance setting, he would be considered extraordinarily handsome.
“N-Now is not the time to be judging looks.”
No matter how handsome he was, the problem was that he could kill her. No beauty mattered if her head could be cut off.
“Quite a witty way with words for a bunch of stiff young noble ladies,” he said.
“‘We, stiff young noble ladies, don’t have the abilities of Princess Asha, so we can’t gain much… but she is different,'” he continued, quoting what the girls had been saying.
Where did he even hear that?
…Wait, does that include me? I was only agreeing with her side…
“Speak again.”
“I-I…”
Devaltin strode toward the chattering girls, his tone threatening.
“This is an order.”
“…….”
“If you don’t speak, I will cut your head off here.”
The light in his violet eyes made it clear: this was not an idle threat.
“I knew he was crazy…but I didn’t think he’d go this far…”
The girls went pale, sweating in fear. Celestine understood—they would react exactly as she would in the same situation.
“Last chance,” Devaltin said in a dark voice.
“If you cannot answer while I count to three, I will cut your head off. Your father, mother, your entire family will meet the same fate.”
“C-Crown Prince! I…”
“How dare you defy the Crown Prince? That’s comparable to treason.”
Celestine couldn’t help but make a slightly stunned face. What kind of absurdity was that?
“Devaltin… please stop,” Asha’s small voice cut through the icy silence of the garden.
“I’m fine. These young ladies just wanted to talk to me. Though their method wasn’t right…”
“Asha, what are you saying?”
Devaltin sighed, his voice calm now, nothing like the way he had scolded the girls before.
“Why should you be treated like that? By worthless people… especially on a day like today?”
“Yes… today is special,” Asha said quietly, her voice soft as a mosquito.
“So… I’d like to avoid unnecessary fuss. I’m sorry, brother. I know you’re thinking of me…”
“…Hah.”
Devaltin sighed again. Asha’s words carried weight, even if he still looked slightly angry.
“If you value your life, stay out of my sight today,” he said to the small girls.
“You understand what that means.”
Essentially, he was telling them to leave immediately. They had come to the palace full of anticipation for the ball, but they had only themselves to blame.
The girls nodded in fear, murmuring apologies.
“I sincerely apologize, Princess Asha, and thank you, Crown Prince Devaltin…”
“Leave. Now.”
With Devaltin’s sharp command, they fled the garden without another word.
“Then what about me?”
Celestine had missed her chance to exit alongside them and now awkwardly glanced at Devaltin and Asha.
“I… I should be going too,” she said, avoiding their gaze, staring into empty space.
“Though the situation was a little… tense, it was truly an honor to meet you both. I hope you enjoy the debutante ball! Farewell!”
Speaking almost in a rush, Celestine quickly turned and tried to walk away—like someone being chased.
…Or she would have, if someone hadn’t grabbed her wrist.
“Why! Let go! I didn’t do anything!”
Startled, Celestine turned to see who it was.
