Chapter 147

“I can’t believe it, it was true. His Highness really designated a partner.”

“So it wasn’t just a baseless rumor?”

“Who is that woman? Sorovien? I’ve never heard of such a place before.”

Since information about her had been deliberately kept limited, everyone had to grasp their confused heads.

Of course, there were some who were quick to get news.

“I heard she’s from a family without pedigree. How on earth did she manage to snare His Highness?”

“Looking at her face, she must have used her body.”

“Sigh… Honestly, until now I thought the Crown Prince’s partner would be…”

Their glances kept darting toward Angelina.

Everyone had thought that the sister cherished by Ante Flaubert, who had close ties with the Empress, would marry the Crown Prince.

But now that assumption had been completely proven wrong.

At any other time, everyone would have pitied her or felt vindicated that the Marquis got what he deserved.

However, because of the Kadenhart Duke standing beside her, no one could think that way.

The Duke, who was considered the Crown Prince’s natural enemy, appeared to have a deep relationship with the Marquis’s sister, while the Crown Prince was holding the hand of a completely unexpected woman.

‘Did the Empress reject their marriage? Is that why the Marquis is doing this out of betrayal?’

‘Is there something so extraordinary about that woman that the Marquis’s wealth was refused?’

‘Are the Empress and the Marquis so close that they don’t need to be bound by an engagement? Or is she a spy sent to the Duke’s family?’

All sorts of hypotheses were flying around.

However, all of that disappeared due to the presence of the next person to enter.

“His Majesty the Emperor, the Empire’s Sun, and his companion, Her Majesty the Empress, are entering! Everyone, show your respect!”

The ballroom instantly fell silent.

And then the doors at the end of the hall opened as the couple entered.

The moment the two came in, Angelina’s brow twitched.

‘…What is that?’

The Emperor’s overwhelming presence, which had always been dominant as the Empire’s number one figure, had become like a candle about to be extinguished.

“…Duke.”

“Yes. It’s strange.”

He didn’t particularly look thinner. Nor did he appear to be in deteriorating health.

He still had a robust physique, and though he looked a bit tired, he didn’t seem ill.

It was just that his aura seemed to have been erased…

“If his impressive presence was originally due to the Sun’s power, it now appears that much of it has disappeared.”

Angelina calmly analyzed the situation.

“Would it be a stretch to think this is related to the Empress?”

“It’s right to consider all possibilities.”

“Brother…”

Angelina was about to ask if he could sense it.

But when she turned her head, her words caught in her throat.

Ante’s face had turned pale.

“Brother…?”

She called out to him cautiously and reached out her hand. He flinched and pulled his hand back.

But after meeting Angelina’s eyes, he seemed to come to his senses and composed his surprised expression.

“Ah, Lina.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I was just surprised.”

He sighed once and smiled, as if his surprised expression from earlier had been fake.

“It’s my first time seeing the Emperor like this.”

“Yeah… that’s right.”

Angelina felt that he wasn’t simply surprised by that.

She had an uneasy feeling, but since she couldn’t press the issue here, she let it go for now.

“…Therefore, I hope everyone thoroughly enjoys the ball!”

Just then, the Emperor’s speech ended, and music started with applause.

“What should we do? Could we learn something if we see him up close?”

As the ball officially began, the Emperor and Empress took their seats. People were free to move around, but most approached to greet the Emperor.

Seeing the long line forming, Angelina let out a groan.

“It looks like we’ll have to wait at least an hour…”

“At that rate, an hour wouldn’t even be close.”

Ante shook his head.

“It’s better to just enjoy ourselves. If we show that we’re anxious, the Empress will only be pleased.”

With his back to the Empress, he extended his hand to Angelina.

“My Lina, it’s your first ball. I can’t bear to see you unable to enjoy it because you’re worrying about such things.”

“That’s right. Let’s move at our own pace.”

Blake extended his hand just like Ante.

“So would you give me the opportunity to match steps with Miss Flaubert?”

“Hey, Duke. Can’t you see my hand here?”

Ante glared at him as if to say, what’s the idea of holding out your hand right next to mine when I extended mine first?

“Isn’t the choice Miss Flaubert’s?”

But Blake didn’t back down easily.

“I’m her partner. It’s natural to have the first dance with your partner.”

“….”

He knew it was true, but he didn’t withdraw his hand.

“Are you trying to make things difficult for Lina? Take your hand away.”

Just as Ante was about to add something, Angelina spoke.

“I’ve heard the palace garden is very beautiful.”

She brought up something a bit out of the blue.

“I’ll have my first dance with my brother, but could I ask the Duke for the first walk?”

She maintained the tradition of the first dance with her partner while also securing time for Blake to spend with her.

“Wait, if that happens…!”

However, that also meant that after the dance, Angelina would leave for the garden with Blake.

Ante opened his mouth to object, but Angelina grabbed his hand and led him to the dance floor.

She glanced back at Blake, who was left alone, and saw him flash a smile. He seemed pleased with her decision.

But her view was quickly blocked by Ante.

“Lina, aren’t you giving that fellow too much attention lately?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“It’s not.”

“Why not?”

“Our innocent Lina doesn’t know what kind of lecherous thoughts that guy is having.”

“Lecherous? There’s probably no one more upright in this empire than the Duke.”

“All men are the same.”

“You too?”

“I’m different.”

“Everyone claims they’re different.”

“I’m Lina’s brother.”

“That doesn’t mean you’re going to date me.”

“W-Wait, Lina! Are you thinking of seriously seeing that guy?!”

“We’re already seeing each other.”

“That shameless scoundrel dares to take our Lina!”

“Stop pretending you’re hearing this for the first time when you already knew. You read all the letters the Duke sent with the flowers.”

“….”

“Reading other people’s letters is a bad habit, brother.”

“Tch.”

Angelina burst into laughter at the sight of Ante pretending to be upset.

She didn’t hear the sighs from others in the ballroom who were watching them.

“Instead of acting like this, you should try dating, too. How long do you plan to leave the Marchioness position vacant?”

“I just need to put a woman with suitable interests in that position. Someone who will adore  Lina.”

Don’t use that as your criterion.

Angelina let out a deep sigh but just smiled and let it go.

All these conversations were just light jokes made to forget that she would be leaving in a year.

“Lina.”

“Yes?”

“How’s your head?”

“My head? You mean the headaches?”

“Yes.”

“They’ve been much better lately. I think it’s thanks to the new medicine you gave me.”

“That’s a relief.”

Ante smiled with satisfaction.

Just then, one song ended.

As people moved on and off the dance floor, Angelina, who was about to step aside, spotted Aiden coming onto the floor with Catherine.

When their eyes met, he shook his head slightly with a troubled expression.

She wondered what he meant, but his gaze briefly touched the Emperor and then fell away.

‘Ah… does he not know either?’

It meant that even he didn’t know why the Sun’s power had disappeared from the Emperor.

‘Then the ones who know are indeed the Emperor himself and…’

Angelina glanced at Ante.

Normally, when she glanced like this, their eyes would meet. After all, he was always watching her, no matter when or where.

But now he was looking at the Emperor and Empress.

‘So there is something going on.’

Angelina pondered for a moment. Would it be right to take him somewhere else and question him now?

‘No. He wouldn’t tell me anything anyway.’

If he had intended to tell her, he would have done so long ago. But seeing how he was acting, there was a high possibility he wouldn’t say anything even if asked.

‘If it were dangerous, he would have warned me in advance.’

And at the very least, Ante wouldn’t do anything that would put his sister in danger.

“Miss Flaubert.”

As they stepped off the floor, Blake, who had been waiting for her, approached.

He must have been held up by others until just now, as a bunch of disappointed people could be seen behind him.

“Tsk. Anyway, he’s really a guy who gives medicine while pretending not to.”

“…?”