Chapter 4 Part 5
It was a prohibited magic that required strong and abundant power, so the backlash would be tremendous.
The pain might be incomparably greater than when I collapsed before.
But if it meant looking into the mind of the Cardinal, who was called the real power of the Grand Temple, such risk was worth taking.
Moreover, I needed to check if the Cardinal was the masked man I was looking for.
First, I needed to discover the connection between the Cardinal and Tia.
This was my true purpose for attending the Flore Party today.
While organizing this private plan I hadn’t told Hyle about, the awaited announcement finally came.
“Presenting His Highness Crown Prince Abel de Lascio!”
Shortly after his arrival was announced, a familiar figure appeared between the opening doors.
People tactfully held their breath, and as soon as Abel entered the party venue, he seemed to be searching for someone while scanning the crowd.
“Hyle, I–”
“Yes, I just made eye contact too.”
Upon seeing Hyle and me, Abel began striding directly toward us.
I thought he would pretend not to notice us or approach us later considering the public eye… but seeing him come straight to us, he seemed quite agitated.
“Lady Laté.”
“I greet the Empire’s noble little sun.”
With his snow-white hair neatly swept back, Abel’s deep purple eyes emphasized his striking appearance even more strongly.
Abel silently gazed at me for a moment before slowly speaking.
“You… said you liked me.”
Abel murmured in a low voice with pitiful eyes and placed a brief kiss on the back of my hand.
That subtle action, as if desperately clinging, felt strangely discordant.
More importantly, when did I ever say I liked him?
…Well, I did spout nonsense about being jealous when Tia first appeared to smooth things over, but…
Anyway, that wasn’t saying I liked him!
“Did I say that?”
I tried to withdraw my hand with a slight smile, but Abel held it even more firmly and wouldn’t let go.
“Just recently you told me not to look at other women… Perhaps I’ve done something to disappoint you?”
His expression was so pitiable that observers might think Abel had been abandoned by me.
“Disappointed? Nothing of the sort.”
This was true.
I felt no disappointment toward Abel.
In my past life perhaps, but in this life, Abel was merely an obstacle in my path, nothing more, nothing less.
Abel was gripping my hand so tightly that my finger joints were starting to ache.
As I was beginning to feel troubled since I couldn’t openly use magic in front of so many eyes, just then-
“Rosi.”
…Rosi?
Surprised by the sudden nickname, I turned my head to find Hyle looking down at me with a gentle, caring gaze I’d never seen before.
“Would you grant me the honor of sharing the first dance?”
Moreover, Hyle extended his hand to me with a gentle smile.
Naturally, nobles would use formal speech with each other in public to show respect, no matter how close they were.
Informal speech was something seen between married couples or engaged pairs.
Even Abel and I used formal speech in public places, so when Hyle addressed me informally, an unsettled atmosphere began rippling through the watching nobles.
Plus, that informal speech sounds incredibly natural for his first time using it…!
Watching Hyle act so deliberately intimate made it seem like he really was my fiancé.
I thought Abel was being forward, but he was nothing compared to Hyle!
Hyle was looking at me with an incredibly brazen face, making all my previous worries seem pointless.
It seemed I wasn’t the only one shocked by Hyle’s informal speech, as Abel’s grip on my hand momentarily loosened.
Not missing this opportunity, I slipped from Abel’s grasp and quickly took Hyle’s offered hand.
“Of course.”
When I gladly accepted his dance invitation, Hyle led me to the center of the hall with a graceful smile.
As if it was natural for us to take the center position, everyone made way for us as if by agreement.
Soon, a soft melody began to play.
During the dance, I occasionally glanced toward where Abel was.
Though Abel was smiling kindly at the young ladies clustering around him, I could tell.
That Abel’s mood was quite poor right now.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, Hyle’s hand around my waist tightened.
When I looked up in surprise, Hyle’s green eyes were looking down at me with a somewhat cold gaze.
“Focus on me.”
“…You’re quite good at this, I was worried.”
The tempo of the music gradually quickened.
As the music was beginning to end.
“Rosiel, as I said before, don’t do anything reckless.”
In a moment of closeness, Hyle’s lips brushed against my ear.
His low whisper was heavily laden with warning.
“Reckless? What do you mean?”
“Whatever you’re planning, don’t forget there are many civilians here.”
So… he’s warning me not to use black magic?
He’s surprisingly perceptive, though I don’t think I gave any obvious signs.
“Don’t worry. As per our ‘contract,’ I won’t kill anyone.”
The music ended with my words.
Before Hyle could say more, applause rang out.
With that, nobles who seemed to have many questions began gradually gathering around us.
“Um, what kind of relationship do you two have…”
The questions flooding in were all the same.
All asking about Abel and me, and Hyle and me.
But about Hyle and me… how should I answer that? That we’re bound by a life-or-death demon contract?
“Excuse us. The Lady isn’t feeling well.”
Just as I was troubled, Hyle skillfully made an appropriate excuse and quickly led me through the crowd by the hand.
Only after reaching a secluded terrace at the far end of the party venue, away from people’s gazes, could we finally catch our breath.
“Are your friends okay?”
“…Friends?”
