Chapter 119
Kazhan watched Ysaris and Duke Blake’s couple from a few steps away. Continuous sounds of laughter could be heard as they seemed to be sharing amusing stories.
“It was an impressive dance, Your Majesty.”
“Duke Barilio.”
Though he wanted to join them, he took the position of an observer, knowing it would spoil the atmosphere. It was also entertaining to observe Ysaris feeling comfortable in her new cage.
Kazhan turned his head at the familiar voice. As always, the neatly dressed Jebiken greeted him with proper courtesy.
“Everyone was surprised by Your Majesty’s dancing skills. I’m glad I finally got to see it.”
“What’s the big deal about mere dancing? Don’t you dance?”
“I’m fine. I don’t have anyone suitable to share a dance with.”
Kazhan nodded vaguely. He understood Jebiken’s feelings, as he himself hadn’t danced with anyone except Ysaris until now.
Following Kazhan’s gaze back to Ysaris, Jebiken observed her. Watching her interact amicably with Duke Blake’s couple, he carefully broached the subject.
“The Empress seems to have adapted here faster than expected. Perhaps losing her memories might be a blessing in disguise.”
“Lower your voice. It’s not a particularly welcome topic.”
“Oh my, forgive my rudeness.”
“I forgive you. But I’d like you to be more careful in the future. Even for someone like you, there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Jebiken apologized with a submissive bow. While he appeared to be the perfect loyal subject, his gray eyes, hidden by the angle, gleamed coldly.
This was why he despised Ysaris. He disliked how she held back Tennilath’s awakened abilities, how she lowered his priority as the Emperor, and even her mixed Chernian bloodline.
He should have killed her then, rather than just erasing a day’s worth of memories.
Jebiken glanced at Ysaris, who had completely ruined his perfect picture, before looking away. Though it might be somewhat late to take action now, he believed that as he gathered his cards one by one, the time would come to completely remove her from his sight.
“By the way, I didn’t expect you to still restrict conversations at the welcoming banquet for the Empress and the Prince. It’s quite amusing to see the nobles fidgeting.”
“I don’t want her to learn about the past. Such banquet settings are perfect for loose tongues, aren’t they?”
From the beginning, it was a welcoming banquet in name only, actually closer to a show for display. Its purpose was to officially announce that the Empress’s position was different from before, and along with that, to declare the Prince’s existence.
That’s why several nobles who had previously gotten on Ysaris’s bad side couldn’t approach her and kept watching her reactions. Most of those who had openly mistreated her were swept away during the Emperor’s mad period, but a few survived. There were those who wanted to rebuild their relationships now, fearing what might happen if the Empress regained her memories.
In Kazhan’s words, they weren’t even worth giving the chance.
“Anyway, it’s a joyous day, so shall we have a drink?”
“Yes, it’s a joyous day. Have a drink too, Duke.”
Kazhan and Jebiken took glasses of wine from a passing servant’s tray. After sharing light conversation over drinks, they parted ways shortly after.
Jebiken, who left first after asking for permission, checked his watch. Thirty minutes since the Emperor had been drugged through the wine. Exactly at the planned time, a commotion broke out in the banquet hall.
Crash!
“Eek… I’m, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!! Someone pushed me from behind…!”
“Hah.”
The air froze at the low sound of irritation. The servant’s face turned white as he had spilled the tray he was carrying onto the Emperor when he fell.
“P-please have mercy… It wasn’t intentional, Your Majesty. Really!”
“Is that important? The problem is that you spilled wine on me.”
“Please spare my life, please!!”
The servant, prostrated before Kazhan, trembled pitifully. As he was a tyrant who would draw his sword at the slightest provocation, just as absolute despair was about to engulf him, a worried voice intervened.
“Darling, are you alright? The glass broke, are you hurt?”
“Ysaa.”
Though he didn’t have his sword with him as it was a banquet, Kazhan habitually felt for his waist before turning to look at Ysaris. Thinking he couldn’t let blood be shed at a place meant for her, he shook his head, withdrawing his cruel decision.
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