~Chapter 43~
I looked at Penny and Nathan, who had stepped back a little.
“Did you hear what Étienne said? Is what Simon said true?”
They exchanged silent glances but shrugged their shoulders as if they hadn’t heard anything. Still, they were holding hands tightly, smiling contentedly as if something wonderful had happened.
Really now? And blushing too. What’s gotten into them?
They sent me a few silent glances. I couldn’t understand what they meant at all.
“Quiet, Simon.”
Earlier, he had been murmuring like a baby, and now he was speaking clearly and distinctly.
I stepped closer to him.
“Did you really mean it? I’m pretty? Really? Say it again. Hmm?”
His eyes wavered, and it seemed his face had turned a little red.
Could it be… he’s embarrassed?
A simple compliment makes him this shy? How does he even survive in society?
Amused by Étienne’s awkwardness, I boldly stepped in front of him.
“If you mean it, say it again. I want to hear it properly. Eh? Hey. Why are people so stingy with compliments? They say a single word can even pay off ten gold in debt!”
“I’ve never heard that before.”
He spun around abruptly. I quickly shifted to stand in front of him again. He looked down at me with a slightly irritated expression.
“Actually, I just made that up. But it’s all based on experience.”
“Too late. Let’s go.”
Étienne muttered curtly and strode into the room.
“Why are you going into the bathroom when you said ‘let’s go’?”
“Ah, wrong way.”
He made a weird sound and swiftly turned back out.
I glanced at Simon.
“Simon, is something wrong with Étienne today? He seems… off.”
“Indeed. I wonder why he seems strange?”
His eyes sparkled brightly, almost unbearably intense.
Is something going on?
But Simon didn’t seem inclined to explain further, and naturally, Étienne escorted me through the doorway.
Once we were in the hallway, Étienne was waiting for me.
The plan had already gone awry, so it wouldn’t hurt if we looked a bit close, right?
I naturally took his hand in mine.
Even on the way to the ballroom, I could feel people’s gazes burning on us.
Yesterday at the banquet, I had practically put on a scene straight out of a tragic romance drama, then stormed out. Now that I had transformed into something so beautiful, it was no wonder all eyes were on me.
I walked gracefully, linking arms with him. The problem was Étienne.
I knew something was off… there’s definitely something broken.
I shifted my gaze down to his legs as he walked with a funny rhythm.
His right leg moved forward, and at the same time, his right arm swung forward. That damned perfectly proportioned body made it less ridiculous, but it was still a bit comical.
I kept smiling and whispered to Étienne like a ventriloquist.
“Étienne, you know… you’re moving strangely.”
He flinched.
“I know. I do it on purpose. I walk like this sometimes for exercise.”
“Exercise? On the way to the banquet? All of a sudden?”
“…….”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me.”
He kept walking straight ahead.
I adjusted his strange gait as we arrived at the ballroom.
We paused just behind the closed doors, waiting for our names to be announced. Music drifted from inside, and my heart raced as if I had downed three cups of coffee in a row.
“I’m a little nervous.”
“You can be nervous?”
His tone was cold, but I sensed a playful undertone. The stiff expression from earlier had softened.
When I smiled silently, he whispered again, softly.
“If you feel like leaving halfway, just tell me. Not everyone will be friendly.”
“Thanks, but don’t worry. I’m not the type to lose anywhere. Especially today, I look particularly pretty, don’t I?”
I smiled and lifted the hem of my dress slightly. The lovely lavender dress, something the old Dalia would never have worn, swayed softly with my touch.
“Yes. Pretty.”
“…Huh?”
I turned to look at him, but before I could fully process his words, the door ahead slowly opened. A magical light spilled across Étienne’s face. Majestic music thundered through the hall.
I kept looking at Étienne, my mouth opening like a fish flung out of water.
Did I hear that wrong? Did he just… call me pretty?
His eyes seemed to curve slightly.
“His Highness Prince Demerov Redona Étienne and Her Highness Princess Dalia Demerov enter!”
Étienne nodded straight ahead.
I turned stiffly toward the ballroom like a robot. My heart pounded as I forced my expression into place.
The ballroom was even more crowded than yesterday. Everyone watched us in silence. Only the music filled the space.
We stepped slowly. Curious eyes followed our movement. Some widened their eyes in astonishment, others whispered to their neighbors.
Étienne placed his hand over mine, which was holding his arm. Only then did I realize how tightly I was gripping him. I exhaled briefly and smiled a little more openly.
We crossed the hall and stopped before the emperor and empress. Their authoritative gaze loomed over us.
“Your Majesties, we greet you.”
“We congratulate Her Majesty the Empress on the day of her birth.”
The emperor and empress were dressed even more regally than when we had met a few days ago.
Étienne and I kissed her hand in turn.
“I’m touched that the prince celebrates my birthday. This should be declared a commemorative day.”
“I shall visit often, if it pleases Your Majesty.”
“Haha, I would never dislike it.”
On the surface, the conversation seemed perfectly ordinary and polite. Both wore ceremonial smiles. Yet, an undercurrent of coldness remained.
The empress turned her gaze to me. Her look was far from gentle. It was different from when I first arrived at the palace.
It must be because of yesterday.
The empress was the one who arranged my marriage to Étienne. She must have assumed I was acting on orders from Vessus.
Now, rumors had spread that Étienne and I were close. How infuriating that must have seemed.
“Dalia, you look truly beautiful today. Honestly, I thought the prince might have brought another woman along earlier.”
The empress’s laughter caused the other nobles to laugh in agreement.
“You flatter me.”
I smiled in response, knowing she was teasing me. The empress glanced down slightly before continuing.
“Seems someone wants to look especially lovely today. Ah, I recall the princess followed our crown prince around persistently when she was young.”
“Empress, let’s not speak of such things about children who got along well.”
The emperor intervened. Still, the nobles’ eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Oh, if I’ve been rude, forgive this old woman. I only speak of the past.”
“Not at all… actually, Your Majesty is right. There is someone I wanted to impress, so I made a special effort today.”
The hall focused on me at my words, flirtatious as they were. Even the empress leaned forward, intrigued.
But why is even he being fooled…
Étienne glared at me as if he’d kill me. One hand held the gloves he had removed, crumpled tightly.
“Of course, Your Majesty. Happy birthday.”
This is what it’s like when you’ve had social experience!
I grinned shamelessly and bowed. There were muffled sighs of disappointment here and there.
Really, what were they expecting? Did they think I’d confess to some scandal here? Ridiculous people!
A relieved breath came from Étienne. Even he… sometimes lacks awareness.
“Hmm, I didn’t know the princess thought of me so. Then I’m even more eager to see the gift you prepared for me.”
The empress smiled meaningfully. By now, others had already presented their gifts.
Those who received her praise were envied by all, while those who incurred her displeasure were subtly humiliated.
Surely, the empress would try to scrutinize my gift and find fault with it too.
A servant brought a long gift box at my nod.
Étienne gazed at me intently.
He had said not to worry about gifts, but this was also a test of noble taste.
Expensive gifts or those with clever thoughtfulness that pleased the empress increased one’s reputation; failing was embarrassing. I couldn’t take it lightly.
The polished wooden box had a subtle sheen. The empress inspected it with keen eyes.
“The color of the wood is not very fine.”
She found fault for no reason. Étienne’s face crumpled. I gently held his wrist before he could speak.
At her command, the box opened wide. The nobles leaned in, curious.
The empress squinted slightly and lifted my gift.
It was a mirror studded with green gemstones.
Light reflected from it spread across the hall as it turned.
“To the Empress, Moon of the Nation, may Your Majesty remain in health and guard the place of the moon for many years.”
The nobles admired its beauty, but not the empress.
“What are these green frog-like stones? So tacky. The princess’s taste is very disappointing.”
Green frogs?! Such radiant frogs don’t exist! And how much did that cost to make?!
