Chapter 14

Freyer couldn’t take his eyes off one place, even when the Emperor entered and praised the Crown Prince’s merits.

The woman he spent the night with. The person he firmly believed was the only one who could stop his nightmares.

The feeling of wanting to rush over and hug her, regardless of the surrounding circumstances, surged like a tide. But knowing he couldn’t do that right now, Freyer clenched his hands tightly, waiting only for the banquet to begin.

“The banquet shall now begin.”

As the Emperor announced the start of the banquet, Freyer hastily rose from his seat. Freyer, who was moving his feet directly toward the corner where she was, was forced to stop by the woman who suddenly spoke to him.

Standing in front of Freyer was a honey-haired woman, whose appearance was exactly like his mother, smiling brightly as she asked:

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

How could he forget the memory of that day? He had stayed up all night, feeling as if the vivid nightmare had been brought to life in reality.

Even now, he wanted to squeeze his eyes shut, quickly leave this place, and hold the hand of the woman from that night. He felt that if he could just hold her warm hand, the pain he was feeling would melt away.

Freyer tried to bypass the woman who resembled his mother and move on.

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

But the woman named Nazlee didn’t seem to notice his desire to avoid this spot.

“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…”

As Nazlee smiled brightly, the image of his mother closing her eyes while spitting up blood kept flashing before his eyes. The pain of the nightmare was recalled.

Freyer tried to leave with the utmost courtesy, showing no signs of distress.

“I decline any repayment.”

Freyer quickly tried to move past Nazlee and head to where the woman was. But an unexpected person was holding her waist, and Freyer froze.

A certain word Nazlee spoke reached Freyer’s ears, and he had no choice but to narrow his eyes and ask.

“What did you just say…?”

He was sure she said some Miss’s name.

Startled by his sudden focus on her, Nazlee flinched. Anyone could tell Nazlee was a girl bewildered by making eye contact with her crush.

But that wasn’t the important part for Freyer. Freyer asked Nazlee, who was stammering silently, once more.

“Miss Idarand. I asked what you just said.”

Nazlee snapped to attention at Freyer’s call and said.

“Did His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince help her…?”

“Not that. The name of the Miss…”

At his question, Nazlee clapped her hands and said.

“Ah! The lady in front of His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is Miss Lilithia Baimery.”

Nazlee looked at the Crown Prince, who was helping Lilithia up.

“You brothers are very similar, I think. You saved me the other day, and now the Crown Prince is helping Miss Lilithia. It seems both of you are kind and good people.”

No reply came after Nazlee’s words, and she looked at Freyer, tilting her head. Just then, Duke Idarand approached Freyer and spoke.

“Your Highness the Second Prince. My daughter is new to these events, and I apologize if she has inconvenienced you.”

Freyer, whose eyes had been hazy, relaxed his expression at Duke Idarand’s words and said.

“Not at all.”

“Thank you for your generous understanding.”

Duke Idarand looked at Nazlee and said.

“Nazlee. We must go pay our respects to His Imperial Majesty and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress. Follow me.”

Duke Idarand turned around after a brief bow to Freyer. Nazlee looked back and forth between the departing Duke and Freyer, then quickly followed the Duke, calling out to him.

“I’m, I’m sorry. Your Highness, I will come back to speak with you!”

Once Nazlee and the Duke left, Freyer stared blankly at Lilithia, who was embraced in the Crown Prince’s arms.

The overwhelming feeling of elation at seeing the woman he had desperately searched for was momentary. It was as if his happiness was a dream, and he was being forced to face a harsh reality.

“Lilithia Baimery…”

Freyer repeated her name several times.

***

Duke Idarand and Nazlee approached the Emperor and Empress.

“We pay our respects to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress. This is my daughter, Nazlee. Pay your respects.”

At the Duke’s words, Nazlee lifted the hem of her skirt with both hands and bowed according to etiquette.

“I pay my respects to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress. My name is Nazlee Idarand.”

The Emperor seemed about to reply to Nazlee’s greeting but suddenly coughed.

Cough-cough-

The Emperor tried to suppress the cough and speak, but the coughing continued. The Empress next to him asked with a worried expression.

“Your Majesty, I will hold the fort here. It would be best for you to retire for today.”

The Emperor’s face hardened at the Empress’s words. Pretending not to notice the change in expression, the Empress smiled brightly. The Emperor avoided the Empress’s gaze, forced a smile, and spoke to the Duke and Nazlee.

“Yes, it would be best to heed the Empress’s words. I apologize to the Duke and the young lady. I must retire now. We will meet again.”

Nazlee blinked rapidly, watching the Emperor hastily leave. Just then, Nazlee turned her attention to the Empress calling her name.

“Did you say Miss Nazlee? It’s nice to meet you.”

“It is an honor to meet Your Majesty the Empress.”

“I heard the news that Duke Idarand had found the daughter he was desperately searching for, but I didn’t expect to meet you today. And not even at a debutante ball…”

Instead of Nazlee, Duke Idarand calmly replied to the Empress’s words.

“A debutante ball was not important to us. We simply felt that announcing Nazlee’s return to our fold at this opportunity was the priority.”

“As expected, the Duke is a man of deep thought. This return banquet is indeed a good opportunity for the announcement.”

The Empress, who was speaking with the Duke, examined Nazlee with sparkling eyes.

“My, how beautiful she is. Is she so pretty because she resembles the Duke? I’m afraid I won’t be able to match Miss Nazlee’s beauty, as I’ve grown older.”

Due to the sudden compliment, Nazlee’s eyes widened, and she denied it, waving her hands.

“Your Majesty’s beauty is even more stunning. I couldn’t even stand at the Emperor’s heel in terms of beauty. Please withdraw that statement.”

“Oh my. How can she only say such lovely things? She isn’t just beautiful; her heart is kind too?”

The Empress, who had been laughing with her fan covering her mouth, seemed to have a good idea, closed the open fan, and clapped her palm with a sharp sound.

“Miss Nazlee, since this is fate, how about having tea with me at the Imperial Palace sometime?”

“With me…?”

“Yes. I would like to talk more with Miss Nazlee.”

“It would be an honor if you would invite me.”

Nazlee also blushed with pleasure as she replied.

Just then, noticing that the monotonous music playing in the banquet hall had changed, the Empress spoke.

“My. Miss Nazlee should be talking with the young gentlemen, but I seem to have kept you for too long.”

“It was a truly pleasant conversation, Your Majesty.”

“Then, I hope you enjoy the banquet. Miss Nazlee. I will send an invitation to the Duke’s residence after the banquet.”

“I will look forward to it.”

Receiving Nazlee’s farewell, the Empress gave a peculiar smile and spoke to the Duke.

“Duke Idarand, I have something to discuss with you. May we speak?”

Duke Idarand slowly nodded, accepting the Empress’s gaze.

“Then, this way.”

The Empress stood up and walked around to the back area.

The Duke looked at the Empress and quietly whispered to Nazlee.

“Nazlee. Always be cautious of the Empress. She is a woman whose true intentions are unknown.”

***

Ivailo brushed the dust off his knees, which had touched the floor, and rose from his spot. His intensely furrowed brow reflected Ivailo’s emotions.

‘How much longer must I act like this? It’s tiresome.’

He had to continue acting to maintain a kind and gentle image. The thought made Ivailo’s head ache.

Ivailo’s gaze immediately caught Freyer rising from his seat and heading somewhere. He instantly knew where Freyer was going.

In that direction was the woman who was somewhat cornered, seemingly dancing alone with a wine glass, Lilithia Baimery. Ivailo stared at Lilithia with a cold look.

“What is so good about a woman like that that he’s searching for her? I’m truly curious.”

He just had the thought that since she was the woman Freyer was desperately looking for, he should toy with her. Everything from her appearance to her actions was not to his liking.

Just then, he saw Freyer being caught by another woman.

‘What expression will he make if he sees me with that woman first?’

Will he look like he’s lost the world, or will he burn with unnecessary jealousy? He was truly curious about the expression Freyer would make.

Whatever expression he made, the mere imagination made a smile escape him, indicating that it would be hard to hold back his laughter if he actually saw Freyer’s face.

Ivailo suppressed the emerging laughter and approached Lilithia. Young ladies swarmed around him like a human sea due to the Crown Prince’s approach, but Ivailo walked straight toward his target.

Finally, when he reached her vicinity, Lilithia bumped into someone, stumbled with the wine glass, and began to fall backward.

‘The timing is good.’

Ivailo smirked and quickly wrapped his arms around Lilithia’s waist and the wine glass. Lilithia’s violet eyes, sparkling like amethyst, widened in surprise at his sudden appearance.

‘I should pluck those eyes out and display them in my office.’

Hiding his true thoughts, Ivailo smiled brightly at Lilithia.

“You must be careful, Miss.”

Lilithia’s face showed shock at Ivailo’s seemingly worried question.

Normally, he would have scorned touching that woman and thrown his arms off her. But at this moment, a smile formed on Ivailo’s face due to an amusing imagination.

‘I will personally toy with you.’