Not a Confession, but a Declaration - Chapter 25

The atmosphere hadn’t been this terrible from the very beginning.

When they had first entered the lavish, magnificent banquet hall that showcased the Order’s might, they had drawn plenty of attention, but the atmosphere had not been this cold.

Then again, Abel couldn’t say for certain. He had been paying attention only to Felix.

Today, the banquet hall was filled with everyone from imperial royalty and high-ranking nobles to distinguished figures from the various kingdoms. And at Abel’s side were not only Felix, but also the priests and holy knights who attended him at close range.

However, the reason Felix stood out the most among everyone present was probably not just because Abel was wearing rose-colored glasses.

Ignoring the countless gazes directed at him, Abel spent his time alone, only offering the occasional polite response whenever someone approached him.

Most of those who approached Abel were clergymen. If not, they were nobles who had devoted themselves to the Father for many years.

Abel did not converse with them for very long either, but since everyone knew that this was simply the way he was, nothing seemed particularly unusual at first, aside from the fact that he was attracting more attention than usual.

The situation began to change after the Emperor arrived.

Pope Gregory, who had entered alongside the Emperor, called Abel over, while the Emperor summoned his close confidants, Duke Spencer and his wife. In the end, the four of them inevitably found themselves gathered in one place.

Abel had not forgotten Felix’s request: the Duke and Duchess were people who had nothing to do with Felix.

And so, Abel greeted them no differently than he would any other noble.

“May you receive the Father’s blessings.”

After that, Abel stood beside Gregory and kept silent.

In gatherings like this, Gregory was always the one who did the talking, while Abel merely stood at his side, lending him support through his presence alone.

In fact, the greeting he had offered the Emperor and the Duke and Duchess was the only thing Abel had said since arriving.

Since they had exchanged little more than courtesies, not even five sentences had passed between them.

Had things remained that way, the atmosphere would probably not have turned so frigid. Abel paid no attention to the Emperor, the Duke and Duchess, or even Gregory, letting their words go in one ear and out the other.

The problem was that the only person Abel paid any attention to was Felix.

As the conversation dragged on and grew increasingly tedious, Abel openly turned to look at Felix, who stood only a few steps away.

Since the Emperor and Gregory were too busy engaging in their own power struggle to pay Abel any attention, he had simply tried to relieve his boredom through Felix, just as he had over the past few days.

But when he turned to look at Felix, something seemed off.

No matter how uncomfortable the situation was or how much he disliked it, Felix was skilled at controlling his expression.

In fact, even now, he wore the same gentle smile he always did.

But the color had drained from his lips, and his face had gone pale.

More than anything, his eyes kept trying to lower themselves.

‘He’s watching someone’s reaction.’

Felix was doing that.

‘But why?’

Abel immediately swept his gaze across the surrounding area.

What caught his eye was the Duchess, staring at Felix without even blinking.

Madly in love as he was, Abel opened his mouth without hesitation to resolve the situation.

He hated seeing Felix look so cowed.

“The way you’re looking at my man displeases me. Look elsewhere.”

It was a simple calculation: if that gaze disappeared, perhaps Felix would feel more at ease.

Ordinarily, Abel possessed enough common sense to show at least a minimum level of courtesy toward Felix’s parents. But once again, he had not forgotten Felix’s request.

As always, however, Abel’s efforts seemed to have failed to reach Felix entirely.

Why?

He had stepped in for Felix’s sake, yet Felix looked angry.

Still, there was one silver lining. At least Felix no longer looked as though he were about to shrink into himself, furtively watching others as he had moments earlier.

Abel stared blankly at Felix before turning at the sound of someone calling his name.

“Lord Abel.”