Chapter 84

“……What?”

Sabina was left momentarily bewildered.

Only then did Adrian shake off his stray thoughts and tune back into his surroundings.

The young ladies were staring right at him with wide, round eyes. Even the Duke and Duchess were exchanging subtle smiles, looking back and forth between Adrian and Sabina.

‘Wait, so right now…’

Adrian felt his mouth go completely dry.

‘Did I just say that out loud… in front of all these people?’

His mind went instantly blank. Panicking, he began frantically waving his hands.

“No, wait! That’s not what I meant!”

The only problem was that the guests’ gazes grew even more amused and intrigued.

“What on earth could he mean then?”

“Wait, I’m not the only one who felt that, right?”

“Just now, the Second Young Lord said that to Lady Sabina….”

The guests exchanged rapid glances.

Unable to watch the spectacle unfold any longer, Sabina decided to shamelessly brazen it out.

“Thanks. I suppose I am quite pretty, aren’t I?”

She meant to pass it off as a joke.

“Uh, yeah? Right.”

Swept along by Sabina, Adrian nodded absentmindedly.

Yet, something felt… off.

Seeing Sabina draw a firm line like that left him feeling slightly disappointed—almost hurt, somehow….

‘What is this?’

This subtle emotion felt overwhelming. Adrian involuntarily clenched his fist.

In the midst of the lively atmosphere, filled with everyone laughing and celebrating the wedding, there was one person standing alone with a sinister expression.

‘How dare… how dare she to my Lord Adrian!’

It was Rebecca.

The delicate tension flowing between Adrian and Sabina felt almost tangible against her skin. That distinct atmosphere where they seemed aware only of each other—it was thoroughly, utterly infuriating.

‘I’m certain of it.’

Rebecca gritted her teeth.

‘There is… something between those two.’

How could this be happening? What was that lowly girl to him, anyway?!

Her head turned completely white with rage.

***

Meanwhile, there was one more pair of eyes watching the two intently.

‘Hmm.’

A pair of violet eyes narrowed discontentedly.

***

The conclusion of the wedding ceremony was graced by the honor guard, which included Dominic.

When a wedding was presided over at the High Temple, it was customary to include an honor guard alongside the officiant. Dominic was part of that guard because Adrian, worried his friend might be excluded, had specifically asked his older brother to include him. Duke Valencia had readily granted his only brother’s request, allowing Dominic to safely take his place as the ace of the honor guard.

Clack!

Standing side by side on the wedding aisle, the honor guards raised their ornate ceremonial swords in a crisp salute. Dominic then stepped forward to lead the sword demonstration as their representative.

However—

‘Ah.’

In an instant, Dominic went as stiff as a mouse before a snake. A sharp, piercing gaze beat down on him from afar.

It was the Emperor.

Chilly violet eyes stared directly at Dominic—eyes burning with a dark urge to drag him off the stage this instant.

Yet—

‘…I won’t break.’

The boy gritted his teeth firmly.

An uncle who was not content with stealing Dominic’s rightful place, but was now exerting pressure on him as if it were his natural right; a man who forced him to live quietly while systematically stripping away his footing step by step.

Dominic’s grip tightened on the ceremonial sword.

So, Dominic—

‘I refuse to yield any longer.’

The boy snapped his head up, looking straight ahead. His violet eyes no longer trembled.

With elegant strides, Dominic walked forward. After offering a respectful salute to the Duke and Duchess, he began his sword demonstration.

He raised the scabbard-sheathed ceremonial sword at a sharp angle before letting it glide smoothly downward. The weapon spun dazzled in his hands with fluid dexterity. He tossed it high into the air and caught it with effortless grace.

At the dazzling display, exclamations of admiration erupted among the guests.

“Wow, that’s truly remarkable.”

“I heard the honor guard trainees were elites, but…”

“He moves as well as any fully-fledged knight!”

Listening to the praise, there were two people enjoying the moment even more than Dominic himself.

One was Adrian, who cared deeply for Dominic despite acting like he didn’t, and the other was Maybel.

‘Dominic, that’s amazing!’

Maybel’s eyes sparkled brightly as she watched his demonstration. The Duke and Duchess also looked thoroughly pleased.

Just then—

“Tsk.”

A small click of the tongue sounded faintly.

‘What was that?’

Startled, Maybel turned her head.

With narrowed eyes, the Emperor was staring blankly at Dominic with an expressionless face.

“……”

An icy chill ran down Maybel’s spine.

Those glossy, reptile-like eyes—the way he stared so intently at Dominic made it feel as though he wanted to break the boy’s neck right then and there….

“May the blessing of the God Regalis rest upon you both.”

Finally, Dominic placed his arm at a right angle across his chest and bowed to the Duke and Duchess—a flawless display of holy knight etiquette. The sword demonstration had come to a triumphant close.

Clap, clap, clap!

Thunderous applause erupted. The Emperor also clapped with a smiling face, perfectly keeping within the bounds of propriety.

However, to Maybel’s eyes, the Emperor still looked thoroughly displeased.

…Extremely so.

***

Afterward, the outdoor reception got underway.

As darkness began to fall over the garden, orange lanterns lit up one by one like stars. Guests enjoyed rare delicacies and fine liquor while conversing pleasantly.

Duke and Duchess Valencia moved through the crowd, exchanging greetings with the guests.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

“Thank you. Please, enjoy yourselves.”

Even throughout all this, the couple did not let go of each other’s hands for a single moment. Seeing their affectionate dynamic, the guests couldn’t hide their warm smiles.

At that moment, watching the happy couple from a distance, Adrian turned to Sabina beside him.

“So, I just need to do the final check?”

On the garden floor where they stood, a small magic circle was drawn. It was a modified version of the barrier spell Adrian used to set up back when he and Maybel lived alone in the forest.

Sabina nodded.

“Yeah. I took a look at it already, but it’s better if more than one person checks it.”

“Alright.”

Adrian lightly injected aura into the magic circle. Although aura and mana were different forces, he could still power a simple magic spell. The aura flowed smoothly through the circle.

And then—

“Doesn’t look like there are any major blockages.”

“Really? What a relief.”

Sabina smiled brightly, looking up at the night sky to gauge the time. It wasn’t completely dark yet.

“Then we just need to cast the magic when the time comes.”

That was right. The two were currently preparing the highlight of tonight’s reception: what Maybel had named ‘fireworks.’

“Ugh.”

Stretching like a cat, Sabina quietly watched the Duke and Duchess surrounded by guests.

“The Duke and Duchess look so happy.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

Looking at the Duke with a reluctant expression, Adrian shuddered with a look of disgust.

“Honestly, look at my brother smiling like that. He’s so obviously favoring sister-in-law….”

“Why? It’s lovely to see.”

Sabina replied softly. Her red eyes, fixed on the couple, were filled with warmth.

“It just shows how much he loves her.”

Adrian stared at Sabina’s side profile as if entranced. Her pale face stood out against the deep blue twilight.

When had it started? When did he start finding it impossible to tear his eyes away from her?

“Sabina, do you…”

Swallowing hard, Adrian carefully asked:

“…ever think about spending the rest of your life with someone someday?”