Chapter 80: Rondor’s Ball – 7

As I pressed my lips against Vivian, I thought to myself:

How did things come to this?

I had intended to decline Reina’s proposal.

After all, Vivian was waiting.

In her eyes, which expressed a desire to dance, there was a purity I hadn’t seen lately, making it hard to refuse.

Although we had a bit of a tussle, such a minor quarrel wouldn’t distance us.

It wasn’t a fight that was wroth ruining Vivian’s 17th birthday.

Moreover, I preferred spending time with Vivian over Reina.

Reina was just pleasant company, nothing more or less.

“I’m sorry, but I…”

At that moment, Reina grabbed my shoulder and whispered in my ear.

“…It’s your father’s business, Kailo. Go along with it.”

Her words made my heart freeze again.

…Father?

Why my father?

Reina and I locked eyes for a moment.

What information does she have that she’s conveying it this way?

Reina wanted to have time alone with me.

Even her sudden dance proposal seemed to stem from this.

I also felt that this might be the last chance.

I would continue to stay with Vivian, and Reina would be with the prince.

“Huh? Kailo, I’ll teach you the dance. Let’s dance together.”

Reina acted as if nothing had happened, but she now looked different.

I looked at Vivian.

She was silently watching me, her mouth tightly closed.

…Yes, after all, it’s just a dance.

What’s the harm in dancing?

I could dance again with Vivian right after, or later on.

“…Let’s dance one song.”

In the end, I suggested dancing with Reina.

Releasing Vivian’s arm that held me, I headed to the stage with Reina.

Vivian seemed only confused, but I ignored it.

Right now, I was more curious about my father’s business.

“…By the way, I can’t dance.”

I said to Reina as we walked.

Reina, who had been tense earlier when mentioning my father, now chuckled as she replied.

“It’s okay.”

She looked at the minstrels and added.

“I like the music.”

I chuckled softly.

“…Vivian had a hard time.”

Reina, placing her hand on my waist, said.

“You seem closer to Duchess Rondor than I thought. Ah, Kailo. Hold my waist tighter.”

“Isn’t this enough? And my relationship with Vivian isn’t… we just spent a lot of time together.”

Reina smiled a bit bitterly, then touched the burn scar on my neck.

“…You even got burned for someone you dislike?”

The story about Vivian’s assassination was always kept hidden.

Some information might have leaked, but it was surprising that Reina knew about my burn scar.

“….How did you know?”

“The Delrum royal family knows a lot, Kailo. Being by the prince’s side, I hear things.”

Reina mockingly laughed at me like looking at a fool, then placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Just follow my steps.”

And then, we began to dance.

Since it was my first time dancing, I mindlessly followed Reina’s steps.

Then I asked the first reason why we started dancing.

“So? Why my father…”

Reina gave another bitter laugh and curtly said.

“Why are you in such a hurry? It’s okay to enjoy a bit. It’s been a while, Kailo. I didn’t think you’d become this cool.”

“…It’s obvious it’s bad news, but I’m in a hurry too.”

“…Is that so?”

Reina easily agreed and pressed her body closer.

Her chest pressed against my body.

I don’t feel bad, but I’m concerned.

I thought it would be nice if she just distanced herself, but Reina proved why she stayed close with an extremely soft whisper.

“…Your father is unwell.”

“…Yes?”

I also whispered back to her.

We were communicating stories into each other’s ears.

“He’s been very unwell, Kailo. Since Mrs. Alan passed away, he’s gotten worse. Including you, he’s been suffering from the guilt of not being able to protect her.”

My head was numb for a while.

My father, who never bowed before any enemy, is ill.

I can’t imagine that.

My mind was tangled with complicated thoughts, and my feet faltered.

The sound of people laughing brought me back to reality.

Reina also pretended for a moment, smiling and soothing everyone so that they could hear.

“It’s okay, come back with me again.”

“Yes, you’re doing so well, Kailo.”

I caught my breath and pressed Reina against my body once more.

“Oh my.”

Reina murmured, slightly surprised.

I asked.

“You said he’s very unwell… What kind of condition is he in? Does he lack consciousness?”

“No. But he’s physically unable to go to war. You know what that means.”

After thinking for a moment, the answer came to me.

The fact that my father can’t go to war means that I’ve lost my support.

It means that if someone holding a grudge against me learns about my father’s condition, they might attack me.

All this news made me laugh.

“…This is really bad.”

I endured the sense of crisis with laughter.

“Ka, Kailo. You stepped on my foot.”

In response to Reina’s words, I lifted my foot and continued dancing.

Reina spoke.

“This news has reached the Delrum royal family. I was trying my best to prevent the news from spreading, but… it’s only a matter of time. Everyone will learn of the downfall of the Unbeatable Knight.”

“Is there no chance of recovery…?”

“The possibility is slim.”

“…Ha. Father…?”

“…Be careful, Kailo. People who are targeting Vivian Rondor might start targeting you as well.”

We danced for a while.

However, Reina did not enter my mind.

Even though I knew it was rude, I still did it.

Am I unable to protect my father until his passing in our land?

…When I was brought as a hostage, I had anticipated that it might turn out like this, but I could never have imagined it would really happen.

And what brought my stunned mind back to focus was the red hair that spun into my view.

In Vivian’s gaze, staring at me from afar, I returned to reality.

Prince Thread was standing beside her, and she was only staring at me.

That person.

Just that girl.

That one person didn’t let me go… and I can’t let go of that one person either.

I keep saying I want to return to my hometown… but, well, was that really my true intention?

If she truly lets me go, could I leave her who is by my side?

That would ultimately mean abandoning her and leaving her to die.

Could I really do that?

…Probably not.

I was already deeply bound to her.

Wishing that she wouldn’t die was an unchanging truth.

“…You have to go home, Kailo.”

“What?”

As if she could read my mind, Reina said.

“If Lord Jade Alan collapses… you have to lead that family. As the eldest son, you must become the head of the Alan family. You have younger siblings, don’t you.”

The second child is now 17 years old, Vivian’s age.

The third is 15.

Both are girls.

The fourth and fifth are boys, aged 10 and 6 respectively.

They are still quite young.

I swallowed my spit.

“…If she won’t let me go, how can I return?”

“Do you think Prince Thread and I are casually exchanging marriage proposals for no reason?”

“…”

“Eastern Kingdom and Delrum have shed blood for too long. At this rate, they will both lead to mutual destruction. To survive, they must hold hands and reconcile appropriately. Then, all the children of the Eastern Kingdom who were held hostage will return to their homeland.”

“Even so, the reason I’m bringing this up is because of Kailo… I’m worried. I fear you might not return to your homeland.”

How much does Reina really know?

How much does the Delrum Kingdom know?

Hiding my true feelings, I chuckled and asked,

“Why do you think that?”

“I saw it today and I’m certain.”

“So, what did you see to be certain?”

“You love Vivian Rondor.”

The words pierced my heart in an instant.

I gasped for air.

Reina wore a sad expression in my brief silence.

“….Haha, you don’t deny it. It must be true, huh?”

“…Well, I anticipated it. Your father said that men from the Alan family have always been blind in love. Your grandfather was the same, and Jade Alan was too. You can tell just by seeing how hard he struggles after losing his wife.”

Could that be it?

Is it in my blood?

Or is it a witch’s curse?

I can’t know.

Reina spun around and spoke firmly,

“Kailo, I’ll open the way for you. When the opportunity comes, leave.”

…Leave?

Vivian?

The image of the lonely crying girl flickers before my eyes.

Leave her behind?

I’ve always thought about it, but now that a real opportunity is visible, it feels unbearably unrealistic.

Why have I always been thinking only of a future with Vivian?

In my silence, Reina continues,

“If that’s difficult, at least start thinking about leaving. What’s left for you if you stay here? Do you think your love will even succeed?”

With her sharp words, I unconsciously squeezed Reina’s hand until it turned red.

“It hurts, Kailo, take it easy.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“…Don’t get angry and listen. Your love cannot be fulfilled.”

To avoid holding Reina’s hand tightly, I trembled uncontrollably.

The relentlessly harsh reality was unbearably painful.

“You know it too. The people of Rondor won’t accept it, and neither will your people. There’s no small amount of blood flowing between your families. You know it best.”

“Right now, you’re just confusing a temporary emotion. Whether you wanted it or not, you’ve grown by relying on each other. But reality will eventually come. You cannot be happy beside Vivian Rondor, and neither can she.”

With a faint light of shallow compassion, Reina asks.

“Kailo, the more you love Vivian Rondor, the more you must leave. If a man comes into her life, can you endure it? When she kiss, share a night, and have adorable children, can you bear all that pain and stay by her side?”

“…Please stop.”

The mere thought of such disgusting imaginations made my teeth grind.

Reina nodded, no longer provoking me.

In truth, her words wouldn’t stray far from reality.

Yet, I must have subconsciously wanted to believe.

At the edge of our unseen future, perhaps I had imagined a picture where she and I become happy.

Embracing each other, whispering “I love you,” sharing a bed together…

But Reina also tells me that it’s a vain dream.

She berates me to face reality.

Vivian, Father.

The Alan family.

My siblings….

“…I will handle it myself.”

I said for the time being.