Chapter 77: Rondor’s Ball – 4

Numerous people were attending the ball.

However, two individuals particularly caught my attention: Count Corrode and Robert Rondor.

As indicated by his title of Count, Count Corrode comes from a lineage that began with the honor bestowed upon loyal subjects to the king. They dedicate themselves to the royal family and have the mission of establishing roots around Loctana to prevent the powerful noble house of Rondor from becoming too strong.

Of course, with such a long history, the Corrode family has long forgotten their sense of purpose, but they were born to compete with the Rondor family from the start, and minor disputes with the Rondor have never ceased.

Issues concerning territorial boundaries, taxes, the people of their domains, debts and interests, and so on…

Count Corrode is one of the people Vivian is most wary of.

It is said that the late Treasurer Brynden was getting close with Count Corrode, and Scholar Crellin is also suspicious.

Anyone who got close to Count Corrode can be assumed to have their names listed in the kill list.

He nodded and greeted Vivian.

Vivian accepted the greeting but not from her heart.

Vivian didn’t want to talk with him and turned her attention

Next, Robert Rondor appeared.

Originally, after the Duchess of Rondor had passed away, and he was the person who was supposed to become the regent.

The retainers of the Rondor family had also been chanting his name, insisting he should be made regent.

The plan only fell apart because of the Duchess of Rondor’s last will.

The Duchess had told me.

“There is no one I can trust in the family.”

Perhaps that’s why the regency was prohibited, fearing that the remaining Vivian would be used and discarded like a puppet.

Thanks to that, Vivian had to walk a thorny path, but now it could be said that she had finally boarded a relatively good course.

Robert Rondor approached.

Around the time Vivian began her confrontation with the retainers, Robert Rondor had also been summoned to the castle and had received much help, so I had encountered him several times on my way there.

“Vivian.”

He greeted her with a friendly smile.

“You’ve done an amazing job decorating this hall so beautifully. Your mother would be proud if she saw it.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

They continued a normal conversation for a long time, inquiring about each other’s well-being—until Robert changed the subject.

“So, what do you think about my previous proposal? Marrying my son…”

What is he talking about?

As I gritted my teeth and looked at Vivian, I could see Vivian clenching her teeth as well.

Vivian replied with a smile.

“I don’t want to marry my cousin, Uncle.”

“Why? My son is a good person with great abilities. He would govern Nerumport after me.”

“As I said, it’s because of our bloodline that I don’t want to.”

“Marrying a cousin isn’t that strange, so why are you rejecting it?”

Vivian responded to Robert’s proposal with silence, and realizing that Vivian was upset, Robert laughed awkwardly to smooth over the situation.

“…Alright, if the person involved doesn’t want it, there’s nothing I can do. It’s such a pity, so I suggested it once more. Don’t make such a scared face already. It’s your 17th birthday, your ball, you should enjoy it.”

“…”

Immediately after, Robert looked at me.

There was still a glimmer of disgust in his eyes.

It resembled the disgust Vivian is used to showing me.

“Alan.”

He called my name as if cursing, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“…I heard it. I heard you protected my niece.”

“That’s something to be grateful for. Without you, it would have been dangerous. I never thought Brynden would do something like that.”

I looked into Robert Rondor’s eyes. …

It was too difficult to discern his sincerity.

I couldn’t tell if he was speaking earnestly.

“Isn’t it strange? You seem like the most likely to be the danger, but you’re the one protecting Vivian.”

Between mocking laughter and amazement, he walked the tightrope and asked.

“…I have one question. As I said, it’s fortunate for us that you’re protecting Vivian… What exactly are you thinking? Why are you acting like that? There’s so much blood flowing between us. If the people in your hometown knew what you were doing, they would curse and shed tears of blood, don’t you think?”

I could feel the people around us waiting for my answer.

Vivian also looked up at me, knowing the correct answer.

I could have spat on his face and avoided answering… but I made a simple promise with Vivian: to not act foolishly and to behave a bit quietly.

In front of everyone, I gave a simple excuse that wasn’t difficult.

I thought it would be better to say it once now so that the same question wouldn’t arise later.

“….It’s because of guilt for the sin.”

“…Are you feeling sorry seeing my niece left alone? Ha, shamelessly knowing it was your father’s doing…”

“If you hate it, help so I don’t have to get involved. Stop trying to find excuses all the time. Marrying cousins… Who’s the barbarian here.”

“…Kailo.”

When I lashed out and criticized Robert, Vivian stopped me.

Both Robert and I sighed in resentment, suppressing our feelings.

There was no need to continue the conversation with words.

Robert also didn’t say anything, only exchanging glances, then slightly bowed his head at Vivian and left.

“….”

And as he left, the sound of laughter came from right next to me.

I turned my head and saw that Vivian had been holding back a burst of laughter for a long time.

Seeing her joyful demeanor quickly calmed my previously raging anger.

Having struggled with laughter for a while, she relaxed her expression with a sigh.

“Please restrain yourself from now on.”

She whispered.

“…And thank you.”

At that moment, the murmur that filled the hall froze.

In that sudden change, Vivian and I both turned around simultaneously.

Two people were walking towards us with straight steps.

Vivian froze upon seeing Princess Reina’s appearance: hair as black as Kailo’s, eyes as dark as Kailo’s, a beautiful appearance, and emanating grace.

Vivian hadn’t met many princesses, but the moment she saw her, the thought that she resembled a princess naturally crossed her mind.

The prince of the Kingdom of Dellem, Prince Thread, who was standing next to her, almost seemed invisible.

They slowly walked toward her with their arms crossed, greeting her.

Prince Thread spoke first.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess Vivian. You are truly as beautiful as the rumors say.”

Then Reina spoke.

“It’s an honor to meet the sun of Rondor.”

With a slight bow, she delivered the perfect greeting.

She didn’t even spare a glance at Kailo.

Vivian, feeling a strange sense of relief, let go of Kailo’s arm and spoke.

“Prince, Princess, welcome to Loctana. I hope your journey wasn’t uncomfortable.”

Prince Thread replied with a bright smile.

“Well, thanks to the knights of Rondor, there were no issues. Of course, our own knights also had a rough time, but Baelor, was it? A fine knight indeed.”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Reina added.

“The scenery was so beautiful that there was no time to feel tired.”

Vivian, who had undergone intense training under Lady Linne, was able to roughly gauge how rigorously a person had been educated.

From that standard, Reina seemed flawless.

She too had been taken as a hostage to a foreign land, much like Kailo, yet despite the hardship, she exuded such dignity—it was impossible not to feel admiration.

There was an air around her that even broke down the defenses Vivian had unknowingly put up.

For a while, they exchanged pleasantries and small talk.

And during that time, Kailo remained silent, standing still.

Prince Thread and Princess Reina didn’t even spare him a glance.

It seemed that the daughters of the Dubois family had spread rumors well, and the prince and princess were likely trying to maintain proper etiquette.

Perhaps neither of them had any interest in Kailo at all.

Then, at last, the prince’s eyes briefly scanned Kailo.

He stretched his neck and said.

“…By the way, Duchess. If you’re here with that man out of obligation for our engagement, you don’t have to stay with him. While we seek peace with the Eastern Kingdom, we expect some resistance.”

“Therefore, there’s no need for you to pretend to get along with our enemies just to save face…”

Vivian responded only with a smile, without saying a word.

“…Ahem.”

Then, the prince stretched his neck again and extended his hand to Kailo.

“I am Prince Thread of Delrum. It’s a pleasure.”

Kailo casually grabbed the prince’s hand and shook it.

There was no greeting.

Vivian almost sighed at his lack of manners, but this time, Princess Reina looked at Kailo.

And in that moment, Vivian realized.

Reina wasn’t indifferent to Kailo.

She had simply waited patiently for the right moment to look at him.

The prince’s greeting had served as a signal to the princess.

“…Kailo.”

Reina whispered warmly.

It was the first time anyone had approached Kailo so casually.

It was the first time someone had called his name so affectionately.

Reina’s graceful expression cracked slightly, and she looked almost wistful, like someone who had just reunited with a long-missed family member.

“…Kailo, it’s been a while.”

Her tone was like someone seeing a friend they had dearly missed.

Kailo, also smiling gently, seemed to comfort her with soft words.

“…Princess, it’s been a while.”

“You’ve really grown… I think you were shorter than me the last time I saw you.”

“I grew late.”

There was no awkwardness in their conversation at all.

Vivian could tell that there had been a depth between them that she hadn’t known about.

In Reina’s tone, there was an undeniable fondness.

It was more than just shared origins—it was something deeper.

Vivian’s heart skipped a beat.

This scene, which shouldn’t have surprised her, made her heart race.

Reina knew things about Kailo’s past that Vivian didn’t.

From the brief exchange, it felt as though they had a closer relationship than she and Kailo had.

“I never thought you’d become such a great knight. Though, to be fair, you always said you didn’t want to be one.”

“You remember that too?”

Kailo’s face was filled with warmth.

This was something Vivian had never seen before.

Whenever he had looked at Serena, Lani Dubois, or Kelsie—any woman, for that matter—he always had a neutral expression.

Sometimes there was even a hint of annoyance or irritation.

But now, what was this?

With a soft expression, one that he had never shown her, he was looking at Reina, someone he had only met as a child.

He loves her, and yet, he was giving Princess Reina a gentler, warmer look than he had ever given her.

Vivian unknowingly clenched her teeth.

‘…Don’t smile at her like that.’

She thought to herself.

‘You’ve never smiled at me that way.’

From the moment they began their conversation, it felt like they had stepped into a world of their own.

As if a curtain had dropped around them, they didn’t glance this way, continuing their private exchange.

Both had black hair.

Both had black eyes.

Both hailed from the northern lands, with their characteristic pale skin.

Princess Reina.

…Kailo’s original master.

If the war hadn’t dragged him away, would Kailo have done everything for Reina that he had done for her?

Would he have cared for her, cherished her, and, like he did for her, fallen for the princess?

Hugged her, shielded her from harm, and kissed her if she asked?

If she hadn’t been there, would it have turned out that way?

Somewhere in the background, a bystander murmured:

“…They really suit each other.”

The words ignited a roaring flame inside Vivian, as if someone had poured oil on a fire.

She knew exactly why.

It was because they truly did look good together.

A knight and princess straight out of a fairy tale stood before her eyes.

For a moment, Vivian couldn’t understand why she felt like the intruder.

It was Reina who had inserted herself into the picture, but it felt as though she had swooped in and stolen Kailo away.

And Vivian didn’t like it one bit.

Kailo was hers, and no one else’s.

‘…He’s mine. Kylo is my possession.’

She thought.

The only thing she had that she could never give away to anyone else.

Vivian knew she couldn’t just let her anger spill out as usual.

She had to suppress it.

The people she was dealing with were not the powerless nobodies she was used to.

They were a prince and a princess.

She couldn’t afford to create powerful enemies.

“For all the joy of meeting an old friend, Princess, you may want to be more mindful of your surroundings.”

Vivian said, forcing a smile.

There’s no one more foolish-looking than a woman giggling with another man next to her future husband.

Reina seemed to come to her senses at that, covering her mouth in surprise before regaining her usual graceful composure.

Now, even that felt like a mask.

Vivian’s unease turned out to be justified.

Reina composed herself and said,

“…Thank you, Lady Vivian. I got too excited seeing an old friend.”

“…An old friend? When Kailo told me, he said you were merely acquaintances.”

The words were meant to provoke, but Reina didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.

She turned back to Kailo and asked,

“Is that true? That’s disappointing.”

“…I thought it would be presumptuous to call us close.”

“You’re always so thoughtful about the strangest things. Kailo, you haven’t changed a bit.”

Vivian subtly gripped Kailo’s arm, pinching him as hard as she clenched her teeth.

But Kailo didn’t even flinch at her attack, forcing Vivian to change the subject.

“Prince Thread, Princess Reina. I think it’s time we wrapped up this conversation. Everyone’s gathered now; it’s time to start the ball.”

Fortunately, Prince Thread nodded.

“Let’s do that.”

Vivian took Kailo’s arm, turning sharply as she signaled the bard.

At that moment, the music changed, and people cleared the center of the hall.

Vivian looked back at Prince Thread and Princess Reina, nodding.

It was a stage prepared for the two, whose marriage was being discussed.

The prince and princess hesitated briefly but, succumbing to the atmosphere, took each other’s hands and began a graceful dance in front of the crowd.

It started as their stage alone.

As the audience became enraptured with their dance, Vivian turned her suppressed anger onto Kailo.

“…You must’ve been thrilled to see someone from home?”

Kailo snorted.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

He didn’t even try to deny it.

“What? You—”

“How long do you think it’s been?”

“Vivian, you keep forgetting… This place is hostile territory for me. No matter who I am, I miss my homeland. Do you really have to be this harsh?”

He wasn’t wrong.

But it didn’t make her heart feel any less uneasy.

Ever since Reina had appeared, her perfect day with Kailo seemed ruined.

Opportunities like this—rare chances to have him all to herself—came so infrequently.

In fact, it had been four and a half years since the last time.

Did it really have to turn out like this?

“…Do you still…”

Vivian murmured without realizing it.

“…Do you still miss home? Do you want to go back?”

Kailo looked down at her with a bewildered expression.

Vivian knew her question wasn’t rational.

But her heart needed to ask Kailo.

Kailo answered.

“Is that even a question? Wouldn’t you—”

Vivian interrupted him.

“Even though I’m here?”

Kailo’s breath hitched for a moment.

The soft music continued to fill the background.

Amid the crowd, they forgot their usual roles and looked only into each other’s eyes.

Seeking confirmation, she asked again.

“Kailo, even though I’m here?”

“… I…”

The words she couldn’t let slip, Vivian swallowed them down.

‘…Because I can’t let you go anymore.’