Chapter 7.11
A smile played at her lips, refusing to fade. His gaze held only her, and that alone made her feel like she could fly. But suddenly, Richard’s expression faltered.
“Richard?”
“Judy, it’s best if you don’t turn around.”
The music had stopped, and an eerie stillness fell over the ballroom. So quiet, she could practically hear someone swallowing nervously. The air seemed to grow colder all at once.
“Is it… my father?”
“The Marquis is glaring at me like he wants to kill me.”
Cold sweat trickled down her back. She felt the tension close in around her, suffocating. She turned her head slightly, almost unwillingly — and saw her father, the Marquis of Emers, radiating fury.
For a second, it was as if a dark aura was pouring from him. It had to be her imagination, surely. But it reminded her of the black energy that the Knight Templar Alexander had poured on his sword when slaying demons, and it was now coiling around her father.
“If the Marquis wielded a sword, he’d be quite formidable.”
“You see it too?”
Judy Esther shifted her gaze back and forth, blinking rapidly as she stared at her father. Behind him, that ominous black mana kept billowing and swirling.
“It’s not just me. I think everyone can see it.”
With every step her father took, it was like the sea parting before Moses — a path opening up, people shrinking back. His steps were so precise they reminded her of a knight’s discipline. It felt like someone was going to die.
“Richard…”
After a week of staying out, she had caused quite a scandal with the Crown Prince, causing a stir throughout Adrian. If her father lost his temper and hit Richard, it would be undeniable treason. The look in her father’s eyes left no hope. She thought she’d dodged the death route, but now she feared she might be dragged down by the taint of treason.
“Are you sure you don’t want to run?”
“It’s too late for that.”
She had to admit, it probably was. Judy Esther swallowed hard, forcing herself to think of a way to get out of this mess.
“There’s no avoiding this. We’ll have to face it head-on. We can’t run forever.”
Even so, she was thankful that they’d at least waited until the end of the dance. The Marquess of Emers was now standing in front of them. The Marquess’ wife moved right up next to him, gently fanning him to cool his anger.
“Mum, thank you.”
The Marchioness gave Judy Esther a slight wink—a sign not to worry, though it was hard not to.
Everyone in the hall watched nervously, their eyes shifting between the Marquis and Richard.
“Judy Esther Emers.”
Calling his daughter by her full name was a clear sign of great anger. His displeased gaze shot toward Richard.
She had to stop her family from being ruined for treason. In times like this, brazen cuteness is the best strategy, Judy Esther decided. With her usual bright smile, she fluttered her long eyelashes like butterfly wings and said,
“Dad, isn’t it such a beautiful night~?”
“…”
“…?”
Silence fell. As expected, it didn’t work. Richard tried to suppress a smile, and Judy Esther felt a slight tremor in the hand she was holding. The atmosphere was painfully awkward. Judy Esther raised her eyes and pouted her lips exaggeratedly.
“Marquis Emers, it’s been a while.”
At least Richard, her accomplice, broke the momentary silence and greeted him.
“Yes, Your Highness. It’s been quite a while. Like my daughter, it’s been quite difficult to see you.”
“Well, you’ve seen me now, so that’s settled.”
Richard wore a sly grin and interlaced his fingers with hers, deliberately showing off to the Marquis.
“Are you planning to block my daughter’s marriage prospects?”
“She’s going to live with me, so there’s no need for useless worries.”
The hall murmured in excitement. The kingdom’s top bachelor, the unmarried Crown Prince, had mentioned marriage. Though many had suspected it, hearing it spoken aloud carried a different weight.
“It seems my daughter’s marriage has been decided without my knowledge.”
The Marquis of Emers snorted. His love for his daughter was famous throughout the kingdom. And here was Richard, essentially declaring he’d take her away. No wonder the Marquis was hopping mad. Everyone was intrigued to see how Richard would get past the Marquess’ iron wall of protection.
“I’ve been sending marriage proposals steadily for five years now. You won’t find a man as patient as I am.”
“I understand you’ve been rejected each time.”
“Judy has accepted. And in the end, what matters is her decision.”
Richard was meeting the Marquis gaze without the slightest change in his own expression. It was clear he planned to push through with sheer audacity.
“The right to arrange a marriage lies with the head of the family.”
“So you’d marry her off to just anyone? Someone Judy doesn’t even want?”
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