Chapter 13

The bustling banquet hall fell silent with the knight’s announcement.

“His Imperial Majesty, Zeras Lundberg, the Sun and Master of the Empire, and Her Imperial Majesty, Celeste Lundberg, the Moon of the Empire, enter.”

The banquet hall doors opened, and the Emperor, with silver hair, green eyes, and a grave aura that overwhelmed the nobles, entered, arm in arm with the Empress, who had black hair, blue eyes, and radiated a look of noble beauty.

I was startled by the Emperor’s appearance. Although he exuded an overwhelming aura, the Emperor’s complexion was beyond pale—it was a sickly white. He was noticeably wrapped in a thick red woolen cloak, as if trying to conceal his hunched back and frail physique. His appearance was in sharp contrast with the Empress, who was adorned in a dress decorated with colorful jewels and numerous ornaments.

The news of the Emperor’s ill health was only revealed towards the very end of the novel. But whether his poor physical condition had persisted since the beginning of the original story was unknown.

Since the original novel’s plot focused primarily on the romance between Nazlee and the Crown Prince, the stories of other characters were not kindly explained.

‘It’s described that the Emperor closes his eyes and the Crown Prince inherits the throne in the final chapters.’

Now, this was reality for me. It was different from a novel that only focused on fragmented parts.

Most nobles seemed to be casting worried glances at the Emperor’s complexion. However, perhaps to quell that concern, the Emperor’s sharp eyes, despite his pale face, were unusual.

“Hah—”

The nobles who saw that look gasped and bowed deeply to pay their respects.

“We greet His Imperial Majesty, the Master of the Empire.”

The silent banquet hall. Only the sound of the Emperor and Empress’s footsteps could be heard until the sound stopped. The Emperor’s grave and deep voice, sitting on the dais, echoed in the banquet hall.

“All of you, raise your heads.”

The Emperor looked down, piercing the nobles with eyes like a well-honed blade.

“My mood is very good today.”

The Emperor’s eyes twinkled as he looked at Ivailo, who was sitting on the side dais.

“I never imagined that the Northern subjugation would be completed successfully so early. All of this is the merit of our Empire’s Crown Prince. Crown Prince, step forward.”

Ivailo slowly rose from his seat and knelt on one knee before the Emperor. The Emperor smiled down at the Ivailo.

“I wish to bestow a reward for the Northern subjugation upon the Crown Prince. Tell me what you desire.”

Ivailo remained silent, maintaining his posture like a wooden statue, and the Emperor asked, puzzled.

“Is there nothing you desire?”

“How could there be nothing I desire?”

“This is a reward for the Crown Prince, so tell me everything you want.”

Ivailo seemed to have something to say and finally parted his lips as if lifting a heavy weight.

“I ask you to withdraw it.”

“Withdraw it? Withdraw what?”

The Emperor looked at Ivailo with a puzzled expression. Ivailo looked up at the Emperor’s face with a resolute expression.

“Please withdraw the words that said all the merit belongs to me, the Crown Prince.”

“You ask me to withdraw my praise…”

The Emperor raised one eyebrow and questioned the Crown Prince.

“Was the Northern subjugation not difficult for the Crown Prince?”

“It would be a lie to say the Northern subjugation was not difficult. I returned after enduring numerous near-death experiences.”

“And yet you ask to withdraw the merit?”

“That is because the successful completion of the Northern subjugation is not solely my merit.”

“Not the Crown Prince’s merit?”

“The successful completion of the Northern subjugation was entirely thanks to the soldiers who fought alongside me. It was a battle fought with countless knights and soldiers. Without their sacrifice… I cannot imagine what would have happened to me.”

Ivailo lowered his eyes, trying to contain the sadness that arose at the thought of the many soldiers who had lost their lives. His eyelashes fluttered as if recalling a terrible memory, and Ivailo tightly clenched his fist.

“I was able to return alive thanks to them. Therefore, I humbly beg you to recognize the merit of those who lost their lives or narrowly survived to protect the Empire, even though it is an impertinence to ask.”

Ivailo bowed his head deeply. The Emperor tapped the armrest of his chair, deep in thought.

“Hmm…”

Ivailo remained looking down, and the Empress, sitting next to him, smiled and interjected.

“How about doing as Ivailo wishes, Your Majesty? It is truly commendable that our Crown Prince thought to attribute all the merit to the soldiers.”

The Emperor’s brow furrowed at the Empress’s words. Soon, the Emperor rubbed the back of his neck as if pondering.

“Since the Empress says so, it would be best to do so…”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Seeing the Emperor agree with her, the Empress covered her emerging smile with her hand. The Emperor gripped the armrest of his chair, rose, and announced to the kneeling Crown Prince.

“I acknowledge the merit of the knights and soldiers who participated in the Northern subjugation, and I shall bestow rewards upon them commensurate with their status.”

Ivailo bowed his head to the Emperor. The Emperor, sitting back heavily in his chair, declared.

“The banquet shall now begin.”

***

“As expected, he has the character to be the male lead.”

I could tell by the Crown Prince’s attitude toward the Emperor. The Crown Prince Ivailo I knew was a flawless person. He prioritized others over himself, and his happiness was derived from the happiness of others, as revealed in the novel.

“That must be why he asked to transfer his merit to his subordinates, right?”

Although I hadn’t lived a long life, I could count on one hand the people I had met who thought and acted like Ivailo.

‘How wonderful would it have been if a person like that were my boss…?’

Seeing him reminded me of the bald Manager Kim from my department, who had acted in the exact opposite manner, and my face wrinkled like a newspaper.

‘He looked like he was in his sixties, but he was really in his forties? That’s ridiculous!’

I shook my head, trying to erase the image of Manager Kim from my mind.

‘He took credit for all my work and got the performance bonus? That bastard.’

No. It’s all in the past, it’s fine. I quelled the rising anger with deep breaths and looked at the Crown Prince kneeling before the Emperor.

He possessed the inherent dignity of a Crown Prince, and his character was equally perfect. I felt guilty about deliberately approaching such a person and apologized to him internally.

‘I’m truly sorry. I know you are a wonderful person, but Freyer is my priority…’

With the Emperor’s proclamation, the banquet began.

I carefully picked up a glass of red wine from a nearby table. To connect Freyer and Nazlee, I had to prevent the Crown Prince from saving Nazlee, as happened in the original story.

My plan was to pour wine on the Crown Prince’s clothes and force him to leave the banquet hall!

‘First, I’ll approach him pretending to ask for a dance and then pour the wine.’

I smiled inwardly, making sure it wasn’t obvious. But there was just one regret.

‘It would have been more perfect if the Crown Prince were wearing a light-colored suit.’

The wine wouldn’t show much on the dark navy uniform. However, it was a flawless plan to make him return to the palace to change clothes because of the wine soaking into his garment. Given the Crown Prince’s character, he might even forgive me with a generous heart if it looked like an accident.

“Should I pour it like this to make it look natural?”

I had practiced roughly at the manor, but now that the real moment was at hand, I felt anxious. I moved the glass back and forth, contemplating how to pour the wine naturally.

“No. What about this way?”

As I was tilting the glass from side to side, several young ladies swiftly passed by where I was standing.

Thump—

Someone bumped my shoulder, and I lost my balance due to my high heels, beginning to tilt backward. The dark-red wine sloshed in the glass, threatening to spill out.

‘Ah… No!’

If I fell like this, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be the one leaving the banquet hall. I would be the one exiting, soaked and stained with wine.

I tried to regain my balance, but perhaps because of the unsteady heels, my body was pulled by gravity, gradually heading downward.

‘Spilling the wine is a problem, but I hope I don’t break my tailbone if I fall…’

I squeezed my eyes shut. The banquet hall floor was paved with hard marble, and a fall would surely result in a fracture.

However, the softness, contrary to my expectation, made me slowly open my eyes. My eyes widened like saucers at the sight of the deep blue eyes right in front of me.

‘The Crown Prince?’

Blinking rapidly, I finally realized that the soft object was the Crown Prince’s thick forearm. I also realized that the reason I didn’t feel any wetness was that the Crown Prince had firmly grasped the hand holding the wine glass.

‘W-Why is the Crown Prince here?’

Unable to figure out why he was holding me, I couldn’t say anything and just stammered. The Crown Prince, whose eyes met mine, curved into a slight smile.

“You must be careful, Miss.”

***

Nazlee, who had been staring at Freyer for a long time, suddenly snapped back to attention with the Crown Prince’s entry announcement.

‘Ah… Miss Lilithia.’

Some things should be remembered, but her mind had gone blank for a moment after seeing the Second Prince. Nazlee lightly hit her head with her hand.

Nazlee was about to turn to leave the banquet hall immediately when she was relieved to see Lilithia entering through the side door.

‘She must be alright.’

Since Miss Lilithia seemed fine, the apology could wait a little longer.

In fact, Nazlee wanted to approach Freyer immediately after the banquet started. She wanted to make the encounter in the busy district a connection, not just a coincidence. Also, she felt that he might remember her.

Upon the Emperor’s declaration that the banquet had begun, Nazlee saw Freyer descending from the dais and quickly approached him to speak.

“Your Highness, the Second Prince! Do you remember me, by any chance?”

Freyer frowned slightly, looking surprised by Nazlee’s approach. Nazlee nervously wiggled her fingers, wondering if he didn’t remember her.

“You saved me in the busy district the other day…”

“Ah… I believe so.”

The low, pleasant voice she had heard in the busy district reached Nazlee’s ears. Nazlee smiled brightly and said to him.

“I didn’t know you were the Prince! My name is Nazlee. Nazlee Idarand.”

Nazlee clasped her hands together and chattered, looking up at him.

“I was so disappointed that I couldn’t thank you that day, so I’m very happy to meet you today. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to repay you…”

“I decline any repayment. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Freyer, who was hastily trying to leave, suddenly stopped in his tracks. Nazlee tilted her head and turned to look where he was staring.

The Crown Prince was holding Miss Lilithia around the waist. It was a pose that clearly showed he had saved the stumbling Lilithia.

“Did His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince help Miss Lilithia?”

Freyer, who was watching them, turned his head toward her. Nazlee flinched at his gaze.

“What did you just say…?”