Chapter 54
No sooner had he finished speaking than everyone turned to look at him.
As eyes full of shock and disdain poured onto him, the man looked bewildered.
“Is something wrong with your head?”
“Who would want to marry into the Kraseum family?”
“She wasn’t sold, she was taken. If it were an engagement to the Grand Duke, even an enemy would intervene.”
As the criticism rained down, the man awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
“Is it really that bad?”
Although he feared the Grand Duke, the Kraseum family’s wealth and power were extremely tempting. He thought that if he could profit handsomely from marrying off his daughter, it wasn’t such a bad deal.
“I’ve heard rumors that the Grand Duke kidnapped a noble lady because it’s time for him to marry…”
“That’s a crime!”
The gossip around them spread like fire on straw. In their minds, the Grand Duke of Kraseum had already become absolute evil, and the prospective bride was either mentally unstable or someone who had been sold.
At that moment, grand music echoed from the entrance.
A servant checking the guest list at the door shouted,
“His Grace, the Grand Duke of Kraseum, and Lady Laria Rohan are entering.”
The protagonists had arrived.
Everyone stopped talking and turned to look at the entrance. Many had already prepared to hide in the corners, but curiosity got the better of most, and they peered like meerkats.
Finally, the couple, arms linked, entered the hall.
Click. The sound of polished shoes echoed vividly, and the banquet hall, crowded with people, fell silent. The music that had been playing stopped as well.
The gentle rustle of fabric sounded dreamlike and mystical. Every time she walked, the hem of her pale blue dress swayed like calm waves, then gathered inward.
It was a dress beautiful enough to set trends, yet no one had the chance to admire it. They were too distracted by her face.
The woman, with hair so silver it was nearly white, had half of it braided and the rest flowing freely. She looked like a snowflake. Her entire being was white, yet it didn’t feel dull or faint. Perhaps it was her clear, lake-colored eyes that evoked a serene lakeside on a bright day.
A fairy, maybe?
Those who thought so then noticed the man standing beside her. Gasps spread audibly throughout the hall.
He, too, could not be overlooked. Handsome enough to steal the gaze of anyone, many people gawked at him. His dark uniform fit perfectly, yet it did not conceal the sculpted lines of his body—smooth and graceful, as if painted by a brush.
Though wearing armor over his uniform, eyes were too busy to notice. Beneath his slightly swept-back black hair, golden eyes shone brighter than any light in the hall. His straight nose and firm, sharp jaw left no flaw.
If she was a fairy, then he must be a god from mythology.
While everyone was stunned, someone whispered in disbelief,
“Is that man really the Grand Duke of Kraseum?”
The silence shattered, and a wave of commotion swept through the hall. People exhaled held breaths and spoke all at once.
“I heard he was ugly. How could anyone say such nonsense after seeing that face?”
“And the lady beside him, she must be from the Rohan family, right?”
Shock and admiration mingled. Then those who noticed the gauntlet on his wrist stepped back. No matter how their fear had lessened due to his appearance, the terror his name invoked could not be ignored. Even those openly admiring him lowered their voices and whispered.
“They’re linked arm-in-arm! Did he forcibly prevent her from running away?”
Gripped by instinctive fear, people naturally held their tongues. Everyone present thought the same thing: Zenox had seen a beautiful lady and fallen for her at first sight, so he had ‘kidnapped’ her.
“Wow, I can’t get used to this.”
Laria wanted to disappear somewhere. Before entering, when Zenox had told her that she would be the center of attention at tonight’s banquet, she had scoffed. But now, with all eyes on her, she broke out in a cold sweat.
“How long has it been since I attended a banquet?”
Since returning after being missing, she had only attended fox tribe meetings.
“Maybe I have banquet-phobia.”
Her body tensed from nervousness, and Zenox gently squeezed the linked arm. The warmth jolted her senses. Only then did the daze fade, and she heard the whispers around her. Even muffled, a few words reached her ears.
“They’re overreacting… it’s not like that.”
At her muttered words, Zenox’s lips curved slightly. While everyone else was busy gossiping, Laria alone defended him.
“Shouldn’t we manage the rumors? Just punishing a few of the rumor spreaders might make them cautious.”
Zenox neither affirmed nor denied it. The rumors weren’t entirely false. Part of it was true, and from that seed, the rest had grown, but he was far too busy to respond. Even finding Hayan alone would take a whole day.
“Does it bother you?”
“A little.”
“Why?”
Laria paused, then raised her eyes slightly.
“Well, now we’re in this together, aren’t we?”
“That is indeed inconvenient. I suppose if I drew my sword, they’d shut up.”
Zenox asked with his eyes, “Shall I do that?”
‘Is he crazy?’ Laria thought in horror, and Zenox chuckled.
“Just kidding.”
It was terrifyingly believable as a joke coming from him.
Again, snippets of conversation reached Laria’s ears.
“They’re announcing the engagement tonight, right?”
“Seems they want to declare it in front of everyone.”
“They’re making sure she can’t escape.”
It seemed it was indeed the engagement of Laria and Zenox.
‘What is going on!’
Laria urgently looked at Zenox. When he stared blankly back, she gestured subtly, and when he lowered his head, she whispered into his ear.
“Did you know? The engagement announcement is tonight?”
“…First I’ve heard of it.”
Zenox feigned ignorance.
“Could we postpone the engagement? I told my parents I’d need some time…”
“I’d like to, but judging by the atmosphere, it might be difficult.”
“I guess I’ll have to meet with His Majesty or the Crown Prince to negotiate.”
She refused to simply accept things. Despite her resolve, Zenox’s attitude was lukewarm, but since he didn’t oppose her, she assumed he agreed.
“Whispering in her ear…!”
“What could he possibly be saying?”
Those observing nearby were dying of curiosity.
Soon, some claimed Laria must be mentally unstable.
“She might really have a problem, acting so fearlessly in front of the Grand Duke.”
“Shh. I saw their eyes meet. Look away.”
As the whispers continued, the music changed again—this time announcing the royal family’s entrance.
“The Crown Prince is entering.”
Ishuel descended the steps and immediately spotted Laria and Zenox. When their eyes met, Ishuel gave a small wave. Laria’s expression instantly soured.
It was all the Crown Prince’s fault. He had insisted on controlling even the arranged meetings and wedding dates, and now he had unilaterally scheduled the engagement announcement.
‘I can’t take this anymore.’
As Laria’s eyes blazed with anger, Ishuel flinched. He immediately turned his gaze to Zenox. The look he gave said, Why is that Rohan lady staring at me so combatively? but Zenox didn’t answer.
Instead, seeing Ishuel’s precarious position as an opportunity, Zenox whispered just as Laria had:
“It seems the Crown Prince is the problem.”
Had Ishuel heard it, he would have grabbed his neck.
Descending the stairs, Ishuel’s golden hair shimmered beneath the chandelier. After greeting the nobles politely, he walked straight toward Laria and Zenox. With all eyes already on them, even the hall’s knights and servants looked their way.
“It’s been a while.”
Ishuel greeted warmly, and Laria relaxed slightly and returned the greeting.
“May the supreme light watch over Frandel. Lady Laria Rohan greets His Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“You don’t have to always greet me so formally.”
Ishuel waved off her respect, embarrassed. Laria glanced at Zenox, thinking, He doesn’t even do it himself. But as soon as their eyes met, Ishuel hurriedly looked back at Laria.
“We see each other often, don’t we?”
Laria remained silent. Who decided that we see each other often?
Lowering his voice, Ishuel whispered,
“Zenox was very worried that day.”
“Excuse me?”
“He went into a frenzy trying to find Lady Rohan…”
Ishuel, trying to praise Zenox, teased a little.
“I thought it wasn’t a fox, but that the lady had been kidnapped.”
