Chapter 23
“I said I paid special attention to today’s banquet, but I wonder if it was to your liking.”
As the party drew to a close, Princess Daisy and Duke Crowde, key figures of the delegation, were conversing with the Emperor and Grand Duke in a separate lounge in the Sapphire Hall.
Princess Daisy smiled gracefully, watching the Emperor set down his wine glass.
“It was not only to our liking, the banquet exceeded our expectations. Watching this banquet, I truly felt how much His Majesty welcomes our Kingdom of Blyos. Especially the Grand Duke’s sword dance, I don’t think I’ll easily forget it.”
Princess Daisy’s gaze met Havel’s. She looked at him with such unwavering eyes, and yet Havel consistently averted his gaze. Seeing the dynamic between them, the Emperor felt as if the wine he drank caught in his throat.
Good grief. The Emperor, who had inadvertently become the bad guy to both Havel and Princess Daisy, cleared his throat lightly as his mouth felt dry.
“Ahem, thank you for looking favorably upon it, Princess. If there’s anything you need or anywhere you wish to visit in the future, please feel free to tell the Crown Prince at any time.”
“Your Majesty, wasn’t the Grand Duke originally in charge of receiving the delegation? Has it been changed to the Crown Prince?”
The Emperor’s brows furrowed slightly at Duke Crowde’s question. Originally, Havel was supposed to welcome the delegation, but that was no longer possible.
In truth, the Emperor had assigned the task to Havel intending to match him with Princess Daisy.
However, now knowing that Havel’s heart clearly belonged to Lady Ventus, the Emperor knew it would be wrong to push the matter, so he had hastily switched the responsibility to Yuan.
But the delegation hadn’t heard of this fact yet… Especially Duke Crowde, who knew that discussions of marriage between the Grand Duke and the Princess might arise during this visit, naturally felt puzzled.
Just as the Emperor was about to offer an excuse, Havel spoke first.
“I was originally tasked with overseeing the delegation’s welcome, but due to misunderstandings about the underlying intentions, I decided to step down. I will now assist the Crown Prince in diplomatic relations with the delegation from behind the scenes, hoping for more active exchanges with the Kingdom of Blyos. It was a mistake on our part, and I ask for your generous understanding.”
“Yes, that’s how it turned out, haha… Hmm, since my affairs have turned out this way, I will consider increasing trade with the Kingdom of Blyos during this visit.”
At Havel and the Emperor’s words, Crowde glanced at Daisy.
Though expressed indirectly, Havel had just declared his intention not to marry Princess Daisy, and the Emperor was in agreement with Havel’s decision.
Given that it was a marriage between nations, the chances of it failing were higher than succeeding, but now that things had come to this, he worried about Princess Daisy’s feelings.
After all, it wasn’t merely a proposal for political alliance.
Whether she noticed Crowde’s worried gaze or not, Daisy maintained an unperturbed expression, her smile deepening.
“Is that so? I thought our marriage proposal would be a way to further strengthen the relationship between our Kingdom and the Empire. It’s simply regrettable that our intentions didn’t align. I thought that the King had discussed the matter with you since Your Majesty was the first to bring up the subject of marriage to me.”
Daisy spoke directly, without beating around the bush, looking straight at the Emperor. The Emperor flinched, feeling his feet burn under her fiery green gaze.
The Emperor let out a faint cough, averting his gaze slightly. Daisy turned her gaze to Havel.
“May I know the reason, Your Highness? A plausible reason for this sudden cancellation of the marriage. Honestly, given the current situation, isn’t there no reason for Your Highness and my marriage to fall through? I don’t think I’m so lacking as a partner for the Grand Duke, which makes it even harder to understand.”
The Emperor’s gaze returned to Princess Daisy. Even if the Kingdom of Blyos possessed many resources, Havel was the Grand Duke of the Empire and Daisy merely a princess. Moreover, Havel was born of a prestigious imperial lineage, while Daisy was the sister of a queen who rose to power through a coup. Their status was simply not the same.
Yet, seeing Daisy so confidently claiming that she had nothing lacking, the Emperor felt more surprise than offended.
He had seen the Queen of Blyos only once before her coup, and in Daisy’s unwavering stance now, he saw echoes of that bold young queen who had once stood before him seeking support.
What a shame.
Havel would surely have something to say if he heard the Emperor’s thoughts, but honestly, that’s how he felt. As the Emperor leading the Empire, he couldn’t help but feel that Princess Daisy’s dignity and her background were a loss.
While Lady Ventus was exceptionally skilled as a high-level spirit user, the fact that her family had once been on the verge of ruin and that she spent half the year away from home made her less than ideal as a match for Havel.
Setting aside his role as Emperor, as a brother, he worried whether she could stably support Havel if they married.
However, Havel wasn’t the type to listen to his words anyway.
As the Emperor inwardly clicked his tongue in regret, Havel looked directly into Daisy’s eyes and said,
“I have a woman I love.”
“A woman you love…”
Not ‘like,’ nor ‘have feelings for,’ but ‘love.’ Havel’s definitive statement left Daisy speechless. The intense gaze he directed at her seemed to be longing for someone else entirely.
It was the moment Daisy’s expectations and first love shattered.
Daisy bit her lip. She had wondered why he might reject her, but had clung to the hope that this wasn’t the reason.
Though they had only met once, Havel was the man who had instantly captivated her heart. She had come all the way to the Empire dreaming of him, so realizing and accepting that it was merely a one-sided feeling was not easy.
Amidst the brief silence, the Emperor’s laughter broke the somber atmosphere.
“Haha, let’s stop this conversation here, Princess Daisy. As this was caused by my oversight, I will offer a suitable recompense. Oh, and Duke Crowde, regarding that matter you specifically requested, when would be a good time?”
“The sooner, the better, Your Majesty.”
“Alright, then how about tomorrow?”
Duke Crowde was about to respond with delight at the surprisingly quick arrangement, but Havel turned slightly towards the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, tomorrow is impossible. Today’s banquet ended late, and tomorrow is a holiday, isn’t it? It would be disrespectful to Lady Ventus.”
“Ah… yes, you’re right. I acted too hastily.”
The Emperor said this to Havel, who was admonishing him with a piercing gaze, then picked up his wine glass and took a sip.
Everything felt uncomfortable.
He was clearly the person who held the highest position in the room, yet why was he so cautious? The Emperor set down his glass and addressed Duke Crowde.
“Duke, tomorrow is a holiday, so it seems that’s not possible. It would be best to meet after the holiday. I know you’re in a hurry, but please wait a little while you look around the empire during the holiday.”
“Not at all. I am grateful enough for your help with this matter. It is only natural that I accommodate Lady Ventus’s schedule.”
So the lady whose spiritual energy he felt was named Ventus.
Arnold recalled the lady he had seen at the banquet. She looked really lovely in her flowing light blue dress.
He chuckled softly, remembering her startled face as she gazed blankly at him. Then, his eyes met Havel’s.
For some reason, there was caution in Havel’s eyes. Just as Arnold felt bewildered, the Emperor’s voice resonated at that moment.
“Yes, thank you for understanding.”
The Emperor looked at Duke Crowde, then leaned back into the sofa.
Why was he so tired?
He had been in their company for less than an hour, yet he felt more fatigued than when dealing with nobles and state affairs. Moreover, oblivious to his thoughts, the three showed not the slightest interest in him, the master of this place and the Emperor of the Empire.
Watching the three individuals looking in different directions, the Emperor simply finished a bottle of wine alone in his solitude.
* * *
“Havel Precia…”
When was the first time I saw that man?
Ah. It was at the Imperial Palace. Yes, that’s right. On the day I became a spirit user and was granted an audience with the Emperor, I first saw Havel as I left the main palace.
I was twelve years old then.
Though not much older than me, he was a boy who exuded a different aura from the start. He was taller and larger than other boys, but his sharp eyes and firmly closed lips gave him the impression of a solid rock.
Did Havel see me back then? No, he didn’t. I think I was the only one who saw him, walking with the knights.
The first time I saw him, I was purely surprised to see the most handsome man I had ever seen in my life, and when I paid closer attention, I think I felt uncomfortable with the heavy atmosphere he carried.
Someone I didn’t want to get involved with. Yes. Havel was exactly that kind of person to me.
Even after that, I encountered him a few times at dispatch locations, but I never spoke more than three words with Havel. Part of it was me actively avoiding him since he exuded intense energy, but Havel also wasn’t the type to engage in social conversation with others.
So I thought I would never be involved with Havel in my entire life… but then…
To think that I’m attracted to him now.
Where did all that discomfort and subtle fear I felt towards him go?
I asked myself, but there was no answer. My damned mind just kept recalling Havel’s face, the one that had called me beautiful.
“This can’t go on…”
Burying my face in the pillow and screaming silently, I let my arms, which had been pounding the bed, drop powerlessly.
