Chapter 73
“Mother, what were you discussing with the Commander?”
The lady was at a loss for words and could not answer.
I was curious to see how she would elegantly excuse herself after being caught badmouthing Theodore, but it seemed that even for a noble, such words were impossible to dress up.
Peter, noticing Rayana’s expression, quickly bowed and apologized.
“Commander, please forgive my mother’s rudeness. I will admonish her properly.”
“Peter!”
The lady’s face flushed red with shame, but Peter remained firm.
“You know how many times the Commander has saved my life.”
Come to think of it, the lady had always spoken highly of Rayana. From the moment they met at the entrance, she had been telling those around her that all the feats reported in the newspaper were true.
The lady bit down on her lower lip and trembled.
“…I have been discourteous. I apologize, my lady.”
“My lady? You should address the Commander with proper respect.”
Rayana found Peter’s correction most pleasing.
And she felt grateful for Theodore’s consideration.
If she had appeared in a dress, she would have been trapped in the role of a noble young lady.
Some people still looked at her with prejudice or pity because of her unfortunate family circumstances.
And Rayana found that unpleasant at times.
“My lord, I was thoughtless. I did not consider that far.”
“I don’t mind, but I ask that you no longer spread false rumors concerning my betrothed.”
“Yes, I will bear that in mind.”
The lady and Peter bowed their heads in apology, and everyone gathered at the party watched.
It became clear to all that the new hero cherished her fiancé deeply.
Everyone was moved by the hero’s warm heart.
The one most touched, however, was Theodore. Seeing her display such firmness, he almost embraced Rayana on the spot.
“Your Grace, this is not what you promised.”
Rayana scolded the Duke the moment she returned, finding him looking at her with a satisfied expression.
“What do you mean?”
“You said you would deal with the false rumors spreading in the capital.”
“She’s handling it well on her own—why should I bother?”
“Things would be resolved much faster if Your Grace stepped in!”
Rayana could not understand the Duke’s indifferent attitude.
“I understand, but now go back to your partner. Being alone with you is something I’d really rather avoid.”
The Duke frowned as though fed up, then disappeared into the crowd.
Rayana was fuming at his indifference toward his son when Theodore called from behind.
“Sister.”
Turning around, she saw Theodore wearing the gentlest expression she had ever seen.
Rayana felt foolish.
She had wanted him to let go of his feelings, yet looking into his eyes she saw not restraint, but affection brimming over.
“…I really am a fool.”
How had she failed to notice until now?
She pressed her forehead, feeling even more foolish herself.
Ever since hearing his confession, every word, every action, every look he gave her had been filled with affection, making things difficult for her.
“Please don’t misunderstand.”
“I think I might.”
Theodore whispered, his earlobes reddening with shyness.
Rayana tried to offer a firm denial, but gave up and instead rummaged in her clothes.
She, too, had something for him.
“I also prepared a gift. It’s only a small token in return for the uniform you arranged, so don’t read too much into it.”
It was the first gift she had given him since returning from war. Thirteen years—surely it wasn’t strange to exchange at least one gift in that time.
As she stammered excuses while holding it out, Theodore accepted it with a delighted face.
“Cufflinks, aren’t they? If you had given them earlier, I would’ve worn them today.”
That was exactly why she gave them now.
She wasn’t confident her poor taste had chosen well, nor whether they suited his attire.
Since Theodore had once discovered she didn’t even know about the undergarments nobles wore, it had been hard to stand before him with confidence.
“I like them. They’re beautiful.”
Theodore smiled like a child, holding the gift.
He was so radiant that Rayana—and others nearby—couldn’t help but stare at him.
Rayana quickly steadied her breath and answered,
“I’m glad you like them.”
“I must wear them right away.”
Was that really okay?
Theodore began unfastening the buttons on his cuff to replace them with her gift.
But it seemed tricky alone; his fingers slipped several times, so Rayana reached out.
“Let me help.”
Attaching the tiny button to his cuff was harder than she expected.
After several tries she managed it, lifting her head with a bright smile.
“All done. Fortunately, they suit you well.”
But Theodore’s ears had turned even redder than before.
As if the heat wouldn’t leave him, he brushed a hand over his face.
She regretted stepping in…
Her chest burned, as if his heat had transferred to her. The awkward tension between them made Rayana pull back.
Just then, clear trumpet notes rang across the hall.
Startled by the herald of the Emperor’s arrival, Rayana quickly grabbed Theodore’s hand.
“Sister, what is it?”
Seeing his flushed smile at the contact, Rayana’s face hardened.
The words wouldn’t come out.
“…It’s nothing.”
He broke into laughter.
The boyish expression still lingering on his face made her heart ache all the more.
Rayana bit down hard on her lower lip.
“His Imperial Majesty Aureciad Dea de Vilium Pectra Astel, Sun of the Empire, and Her Imperial Highness Princess Ailia von de Debian Astel, Little Sun, now enter.”
Everyone in the hall offered their respects to the imperial family.
The Emperor, Aureciad, stood in his golden-embroidered uniform, the princess Ailia beside him.
With a congratulatory address, he opened the banquet in celebration of victory.
“In honor of the heroes who achieved great deeds in this war, I shall bestow gifts here and now.”
Heroes. At that word, all eyes turned to Rayana.
She clenched her fists, and Theodore laid his hand gently over them.
“Rayana Chester. Crociad Valencia. Step forward.”
At the Emperor’s summons, Rayana straightened her back and strode forward proudly.
Pushing through the crowd, she felt the gaze of admiration upon her.
She and Crociad knelt like loyal servants before the Emperor.
“Through two wars, Astel has grown stronger. Gelta and Griffin now belong to the Empire, and we have found a way to counter the emergence of new monsters. All thanks to these two heroes and the loyal knights who followed them.”
“We only did our utmost to carry out Your Majesty’s command.”
“As the ones who brought prosperity to Astel, if there is anything you desire, speak it freely.”
Such an offer from the Emperor was rare. Everyone wondered what the Duke and Rayana would ask for.
Wealth and glory? Honors and titles?
The Duke spoke first.
“Your Majesty, I intend soon to pass my title to my son and return to my domain. If you would conduct the succession ceremony with grandeur, I would be most grateful.”
For nobles, a succession ceremony was highly significant, marking the stepping down of the family head and the rise of the new one.
It was an elaborate and difficult occasion to prepare.
The Duke was entrusting this task to the Emperor. If the Emperor himself oversaw it, the event would surely be glorious.
“A succession ceremony, you say.”
The Emperor’s gaze shifted to the Duke’s nephew standing beside him.
“So be it.”
With the Emperor’s consent, Rayana lowered her head even further to hide her face.
“The ancient text has been deciphered.”
She realized it immediately.
There was but one plan shared between the Emperor, the Duke, and herself.
The eradication of the Demon King.
The Duke was not one to hesitate once a goal was set.
As a man who had abandoned the throne himself, it was no surprise he was making preparations to leave the moment the deciphering was complete.
She had known the Duke would depart for his domain, but now that it was certain, the thought of being left alone in the manor with Theodore weighed on her heavily.
She had never expected Theodore to harbor feelings for her.
And beyond that, there was something that puzzled her.
