ISVYB 79

Chapter 79

Knock, knock—

“Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”

Julius, who had been touching the wrinkles that had increased recently due to his worries, answered the attendant outside the door.

“Let her in.”

The Empress entered and greeted him with proper etiquette. Her ebony-black hair slipped down smoothly along with her lowered head.

‘She’s beautiful.’

She was a beautiful woman. Perhaps she looked even more beautiful because everything had been resolved. Even so, she truly was beautiful.

‘She was beautiful even when she was young.’

Yes. She had been beautiful since the days when he was nothing more than a prince. Back when she suddenly appeared as the young lady of the Rominaf Marquisate, she had drawn the admiration of many with her beauty.

Of course, Ellea Yusupov, who had now become the Duchess of Yusupov, was praised as being even more beautiful—but she was far too high-spirited. Unlike her beautiful appearance, her lively personality made her somewhat unsuitable as Empress. And… targeting Ellea had been difficult because of Liam’s fierce vigilance. After all, Ellea and Liam had loved each other since back then.

So as a second option, he brought in Sophia Rominaf. Though her position as an illegitimate child made her somewhat… questionable, considering her beautiful appearance and the backing of the Rominaf family, she was quite a suitable woman.

And Julius had loved her beautiful face. That love, however, had not lasted long.

“Your Majesty the Emperor. I came to congratulate you on how everything has been resolved. I heard the Yusupov Knights captured the dark mage and settled everything.”

At those words, Julius could not hide the bitterness he felt in his mouth.

The Empress spoke without knowing the truth, but now that everything had failed, those words grated on his nerves. However, Julius—who did not wish to say harsh things to the Empress who had treated him well until now, nor reveal his true intentions—lightly nodded with a smile.

“Ha ha, thank you. Have you been well, Empress? I’ve had so much to attend to that I haven’t even heard much about you.”
“Yes, I’ve been well. Though… I was quite surprised to hear that a dark mage had been captured in the Imperial Palace.”
“As for that matter, do not worry. I will handle everything.”

At those words, Sophia gave a meaningful smile whose meaning could not be read.

“As expected, Your Majesty is the best.”
“Ha ha, indeed. Hearing such words from the Empress pleases me. Since you’re here, have a cup of tea before you go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At the Emperor’s gesture, the attendant beside him swiftly served tea.

As Sophia quietly stared at the steaming teacup, the words of the Marquis Rominaf, who had visited her recently, replayed in her mind.

‘Your Majesty the Empress. There is something I need your help with.’

How foolish. To ask her for help regarding Hamilton.

Thanks to that, she had been able to visit Hamilton and handle the matter more easily.

Sophia sipped the warm tea and smiled happily. From what she could tell, this foolish Emperor and her foolish older brother seemed to know nothing.

‘It just needs to continue like this.’

It was almost over. The day she would show all those who had ignored her what she was capable of was not far off. The joy of that thought kept the smile from leaving her face.

Unaware of any of this, Julius Belshkin could not take his eyes off Sophia, who was smiling sincerely for the first time in a long while.

‘Was the Empress always capable of smiling like that?’

Her smile had always been beautiful but somehow formal, as though drawing a line. Yet today, it seemed filled with genuine feeling. It was an expression the Emperor felt he had never seen before.

She had never smiled like that when she was with him. It felt as though he was seeing a side of the Empress he had never known.

‘Is that her real smile?’

Such a thought crossed his mind—that she had never shown him a truly honest smile.

“Your Majesty.”
“……”

Julius, who had been staring blankly at Sophia’s smile, came to his senses at her voice calling him.

“Your Majesty.”
“…Ah, did you call me?”
“Yes. Is there something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, it’s just that I think this is the first time I’ve seen you smile like that.”
“……That can’t be. I’ve always smiled like this.”

At Sophia’s words, Julius said nothing more. However, he was certain her words were not true. She did not sound like she was lying, but the expression she wore while looking at him was clearly different from the smile he had just seen.

These days, Asha’s mood was at its peak.

Not only had they returned safely, but now even Young Lady Floe could use divine power. On top of that, Ban had come to stay at the ducal residence, bringing them even closer.

For some reason, Ban was staying comfortably at the ducal estate without revealing the identity that anyone would be curious about.

That was the hardest part to understand, but Asha believed the reason was her own strong insistence.

‘Father! Ban is not a bad person! Even Hayden knows him!’
‘Brother, don’t suspect Ban.’
‘Mother, don’t worry. There aren’t many bad people who look that handsome.’
‘Everyone, stop worrying. It’s absolutely not what you knights are concerned about. Just look at his face! There’s only one bad thing about a face like that. It can cause heart assault and put strain on the heart!’

At Asha’s words—soaked and marinated in extreme lookism—they had all simply nodded with resigned expressions, but Asha believed her argument had been effective enough.

Moreover, the Yusupov Knights had seen how much Ban had contributed on the battlefield, so they kept their mouths shut even more. They assumed he must have some kind of purpose, but since the Duke had not said anything yet, they remained silent.

In truth, aside from the knights, the main members of the ducal family already knew that Ban was Prince Dibalian Belshkin.

“Ban! What are you doing over there!”

Even now, as the gray-haired, dazzlingly handsome young man approached their training grounds, the knights could only suppress their displeased gazes as they watched the Young Lady warmly welcome him.

The Yusupov Knights were mercilessly cold toward outsiders.

But Ban paid no mind to their cold stares. From afar, he was looking only at Asha.

Asha, who had been jumping up and down and waving excitedly, was now running straight toward him.

Her light orange hair fluttered as if in slow motion. Asha smiled with her light green eyes curved into crescents.

It had been worth coming all the way here just to find Asha, who often appeared at the training grounds where the Yusupov Knights trained.

A bright smile spread across Ban’s face—so radiant and refreshing that even the sun behind him seemed to lose its light.

Startled by the refreshing smile of a handsome man, Asha gasped.

“Are you craz—… No, I shouldn’t use that word! But your face makes no sense. If it’s not rude, may I try kissing you just once?”

As usual, Asha grinned slyly and flirted with Ban. Even at her greasy, butter-like words, Ban simply smirked and replied.

“And after that, will you take responsibility?”
“……”
“You’ll have to take responsibility.”
“……Huh……?”

Caught off guard by the sudden words, Asha stammered, unable to respond properly. Her soft, white cheeks gradually turned red.

As even her ears grew hot, her face looked like it was about to burst like a tomato.

Crazy.

Watching from a distance, the Yusupov Knights swallowed the curses they could not voice aloud.

Clang—

With the sound, Lloyd threw off his armor and slumped down onto the training ground floor.

“What’s the use of all these swords? My life without even a single girlfriend.”
“Lloyd, get up.”

Abigail lightly kicked the pathetic Lloyd and spoke.

Lloyd looked up at Abigail with teary eyes—whether he was truly sad or just pretending was unclear.

“Abigail, is my youth going to pass like this…? Without meeting anyone?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“But……”

Lloyd trailed off for a moment, then suddenly brightened as if something had occurred to him. He sprang to his feet and stepped close to Abigail, holding out his hand.

“W-What? Why?”

As the flustered Abigail stepped back, Lloyd suddenly asked,

“Do you want to go out with me?”
“……”
“……”

Silence fell over the knights. An even colder silence than when they had witnessed Asha and Ban earlier.

Thwack—

“Hey, you crazy bastard.”
“Lloyd, that idiot is asking to get beaten.”

The knights’ solid palms struck Lloyd’s head.

Still grinning foolishly, Lloyd picked up the armor he had dropped and shouted,

“I was just joking! I’m lonely!”
“…….”

Not noticing that Abigail was still frozen in place, Lloyd casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders and patted her.

“You know I’m joking, right, Abigail? Come on, let’s go train!”
“…….”

Lloyd left, but Abigail remained standing there blankly. Jamie and Peter, who had been watching her, carefully approached.