“Huh, but……”
I suddenly felt embarrassed, didn't know what to do, just stood awkwardly looking down at my feet.
“It's okay, Ren.”
Having said that, Cesar strongly pulled my hand. Pulled by that strength, I staggered and almost tripped but still kept walking. I'm not afraid of falling. Because I know he will catch me if I lose my balance and fall on my face.
“Just hold hands like this.”
He took my hand and began the opening waltz. We have danced together before.
However, this time was different from last time, there were many people looking. Last time there were only Cesar and Delfina in the room, but now…….
“But what if I jump wrong……”
Performing in front of so many people is so embarrassing. Even though the bright lights could hide my burning cheeks, the thought of someone seeing and laughing at my limping gait made me feel dizzy.
“It will be fine.”
Cesar leads my body, dancing to the music. In the end, caught up in that atmosphere, I had no choice but to move my body.
“Eh, eh?”
Soon, we were immersed in the crowd of people dancing and moving spontaneously. I hastily looked around, but their dance style was nothing like formal dance, simply rotating their bodies.
Everyone danced like that, without any rules, without respect, the scene was chaotic. At first I felt strange and shy, but gradually I became more bold. Because everyone was laughing and dancing so chaotically that everyone from afar had to laugh. Immersed in it, no matter how I move, it won't be considered strange.
Among them, there were people who let out teasing words when they saw us.
“Wow, what a beautiful couple!”
“What a match made in heaven!”
The people were drunk, their faces were red, they said rude jokes and laughed at us. That doesn't make me feel uncomfortable.
“Cesar, they say we make a good couple.”
“Yes, they say they are a good couple.”
Blood, he doesn't know what that means. I pouted and secretly looked at him. Feeling of heat on cheeks. Perhaps because of the brilliant firelight shining in, Cesar glowed like a statue cast in gold.
At that moment, Cesar smiled brightly. I also laughed. It might be an illusion, but I feel like time passes very slowly. Because of the hot fire burning nearby, a strange, unrealistic heat was emitted.
It's just gentle circular movements around the fire, but maybe it's a bit too much for me. My breathing was rapid, and my heart was pounding.
At that moment, Cesar suddenly lifted me up and spun me around.
“Creak!”
The hem of my dress fluttered, and everyone clapped and cheered. In the distance, I saw the family doctor and Fortuna also happily dancing together, and many people surrounded Bernadetta, praying or giving her flowers.
Everyone was smiling brightly. The night of the festival passed like that in a profound way.
Queen Cornelia sat comfortably on a golden chair in the Moonstone Palace, looking into the mirror. The mirror was one of the Magic Tools she often used.
“Why is it still the same?”
Her voice was filled with anger. The reason was that ten days had passed since Cornelia enhanced the “Curse of the Crazy Dragon”, but the report said that the First Prince's condition had not changed much compared to before.
She heard reports that Princess Irenea was only injured in obvious places, but that was it.
It should be normal for him to lose control, go crazy and tear everyone around him to pieces with this level of curse enhancement. Just like the previous times.
But no matter how long she waited, she still didn't hear the good news that the Princess was sacrificed at the hands of that monster.
“In the end, what went wrong?”
Never before has something like this happened. So she didn't know why the curse didn't work. What's going on?
“Could it be that that brat discovered something and plotted a plan?”
But that is absurd. That brat didn't know how to use magic, and even though he was interacting with Royal Counselor Richard, she had set up multiple layers of defenses and a very special device, so they couldn't trace it all back on their own.
Surely, that cannot happen.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and a maid entered.
“Your Majesty, Duchess Flores has arrived.”
Cornelia gritted her teeth and, with a venomous look on her face, tapped her fingernails on the armrest of the chair. Not long after, Celestina, Duchess of Flores, entered with a tense expression.
“The glory of the Iron Cross Throne……”
“Does the Duchess think I am in a position to enjoy glory?”
The Queen interrupted the Duchess immediately.
Celestina of Flores, Duchess of Flores, bowed deeply. She is one of the people who understands the Queen's personality better than anyone else.
“I am truly ashamed.”
"Before you are ashamed, you must work. You must use your power again."
Hearing that, Celestina stood still. She knew that it would be extremely difficult for the Queen to give orders.
“……Because recently there have been bad rumors spreading.”
“What rumors?”
"Surely when someone goes missing, something gets talked about. Royal Counselor Richard also discovered something and started investigating the disappearance in the Birch Mascot Forest."
“Isn't it the Duchess's duty to quell those rumors?”
“Your Majesty, please understand that it is a very dangerous job.”
The Queen smirked.
"Duchess Flores, it seems you have mistaken something. You listened to me kindly, do you think this is a request?"
The Queen was extremely angry, but seemed to be trying to control herself. The Duchess, who knew that temperament well, swallowed hard. Queen
tskt
(clicks tongue).
"I told you to be careful. So, when will the next 'preparation' be?"
“I think it's best to wait for things to calm down for at least three months.”
“Three months……”
The queen nervously tapped her nails
tock, tock
onto the armrest of the chair.
"There is no other way. Anyway, I hope everything will be resolved smoothly in three months."
“Yes, I understand.”
Three months was an undesirable period of time, but thanks to the positive answer of the Duchess, the Queen was able to control her emotions that were about to explode.
"Okay, Princess, don't have any unrealistic thoughts. Remember who gave you the power you enjoy."
The queen gestured into the air, and a maid hurriedly brought over a cigar on a silver tray. The Queen took it, and the Duchess quickly lit her. The Queen inhaled a few breaths of smoke, then slowly leaned back in her chair.
"I understand that the burden you have to bear is great. I appreciate you helping me both physically and mentally. But all this..."
“No.”
The Duchess hastily bowed her head. The queen looked up with wide eyes, took a breath of cigar smoke and shook her head in frustration.
“Your daughters are indeed……”
The queen wanted to add something, she pointed her index finger into the air and exclaimed.
“Truly, you have given birth to wonderful daughters.”
At that moment, a grinding sound rang out from between the Duchess's teeth. It's because the Queen touched her weak point.
"Your Majesty, I only have two daughters. Your Royal Highness the Princess was not born to me."
Queen Cornelia chuckled. Her eyes changed, as if she was seeing something very interesting.
“That's why you gave that girl to that monster, right?”
“……”
The Duchess was silent for a moment before the Queen's words. The Queen did not expect an answer anyway. There was a long, terrible silence between the two. The one who broke the silence first was Cornelia.
"Okay. I didn't call you here to talk about this. Well then, let's discuss the next plan now."
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
They talked intimately and privately for a long time, not paying attention to the time.
And the Duchess Celestina boarded the carriage and returned to the Duke's Palace after midnight. The carriage was pulled by four strong horses galloping quickly on the road.
It's especially noisy outside today. Even though it was late, the streets were still well lit and crowded. She felt strange, then the carriage window opened, and the coachman explained the situation apologetically.
"Madam, today is a festival so the streets are very crowded. We will have to take a little detour."
“Just go.”
The loud laughter of the crowd made her feel extremely uncomfortable. She frowned because she didn't like that noisy atmosphere.
By the way, it seems her youngest daughter Bernadetta was out at that festival. Celestina looked out the car window, then quickly closed the curtains. She didn't want to see that festival even a little bit.