Ch.111Smoothly (1)

“As I expected, it’s going exactly as I thought. Are you going to be alright?”

“…I’m fine. It’s just the young lady who’s a bit…”

Evan forced a smile at Kaisel’s question.

The banquet. By now, he was quite accustomed to having eyes on him, but Irene seemed to be extremely conscious of it.

Evan smiled bitterly as he noticed her occasionally glancing at the women around them, giving cold smiles to those who made eye contact with her.

“That must be tough.”

Kaisel chuckled and patted Evan on the back. Well, he had expected this from the beginning.

Seeing the relationship between the two, now fully lovers, in the banquet hall made everything feel strangely new.

In the past, he would have ignored such glances, but now he had to be mindful of his lover’s feelings.

Noticing how Evan had changed, Kaisel turned his gaze to survey their surroundings.

Perhaps because the Emperor himself had hosted this banquet, the spacious hall was packed with nobles.

Among them were nobles whose names he’d never even heard of,

as well as Mediv and Kilrog, members of the five great families.

Kaisel noticed some nobles trying to mingle with them, desperately attempting to form connections.

Hatan… As Kaisel searched for Hatan, he eventually frowned.

Is he planning not to show up at all now?

Well, if he’s decided to be hostile, it’s probably easier this way.

Cutting off any remaining goodwill toward Hatan, Kaisel looked at the glass in his hand.

The transparent liquid swirled in the glass, giving off a tangy scent along with the lime garnish.

As the alcohol slid down his throat, he didn’t want to get drunk, but lately, he’d been thinking about getting drunk quite often.

With his father talking to him about succession to the throne,

and the matter of Extinction not being completely resolved…

He felt uncomfortable with having too many things to worry about.

Even trying to forget these thoughts by meeting women only left him feeling empty.

Placing his empty glass on the table, Kaisel patted Evan’s shoulder and spoke.

“I think I’ll look around a bit and then head back. Enjoy your drink… hmm, and take good care of her.”

“I certainly will.”

Evan nodded slightly at Kaisel’s words.

Actually, it would be quite good for Evan if the Crown Prince left early.

After all, he was by the Crown Prince’s side solely because the Emperor had requested it.

Since he would be returning tomorrow, he only needed to worry about whether Scarlet and the Crown Prince would meet today.

That’s why he was enduring Irene’s piercing glares, and the Crown Prince’s decision to leave on his own was welcome news for Evan.

“Sigh.”

Irene sighed as she looked at Evan. The way he was carefully watching the Crown Prince,

how he had been observing him continuously since his private audience with the Emperor—she felt certain there was something going on, but she couldn’t directly ask about it, which was frustrating.

Looking around, she noticed several women shivering at the sight of Evan.

Those who were sending obvious glances despite knowing he was taken.

‘Of all people, they had to choose Evan.’

Irene’s gaze turned icy cold as she watched these women who paid no attention to their own partners but stared at Evan.

She had expected such glances, but… wasn’t this too much when she was right beside him?

In the past, she would have directly expressed her displeasure, but Irene was trying not to repeat her old behaviors.

“Lady Glaskan.”

At Irene’s gesture, one of the women standing behind her approached with a faint smile.

The daughter of Count Glaskan, who had unilaterally taken the magic stone mine before.

When Irene first learned about social etiquette, her first action was to apologize to those she had offended in the past.

Through such apologies, she had formed what could be called a “group.”

“Yes, did you call for me?”

“Could you help clear the area a bit? The stares directed this way are too obvious.”

“Ah, the stares.”

Acid smiled brightly and signaled to the women behind her.

As they were all part of Irene Yuris’s circle, they immediately began moving in unison to divert the attention from Evan.

They started conversations on trivial topics and discreetly led away those who were staring at Evan, placing them where he couldn’t be seen.

After a short while, when several of the obvious starers had disappeared, Irene smiled with satisfaction and bowed her head slightly to Acid.

“Oh my, you don’t need to thank me. It’s just what we should do, isn’t it?”

“Still, I’m grateful. Thank you, Acid.”

Acid smiled broadly at hearing her name after a long time and disappeared back into the crowd.

The women who had been clearing the area also naturally blended into the crowd, waiting for Irene’s next call.

The group Irene had created by focusing on social activities—though not enormous in size, the Yuris name itself carried tremendous power.

There’s a reason for the term “shadow warfare.” While Evan fought on the battlefield,

Irene had started these activities to support him from behind the scenes.

Since concealing her expressions was what she did best, Irene always maintained a smiling face as she gradually built her faction.

Though not the largest, it was a faction that no one could ignore anymore.

At least as long as they had Extinction as a common enemy, this faction would never crumble.

No one viewed Irene as the lonely imperial concubine she once was.

Evan smiled warmly as he watched Irene naturally chatting and having tea with other ladies.

Even at previous tea parties, she had seemed accustomed to being alone, but now she was naturally mingling with others.

“I’m proud of you.”

“…Pardon?”

“Now that you can converse so wonderfully with others, perhaps I’m no longer needed…”

“What are you saying?”

Irene pouted and roughly pulled Evan’s hand.

To say he’s no longer needed, after promising with his own mouth to stay by her side forever.

Though she knew it was a joke, it still felt disappointing.

As Irene glared at him, Evan playfully smiled and interlaced his fingers with hers.

“Would you like to dance?”

“No thanks. You’re doing this on purpose even though you know, aren’t you?”

“Of course.”

At his suggestion to dance when he knew she wasn’t good at it, Irene frowned and lightly tapped Evan’s chest.

Like a cat playing, the gentle touch didn’t hurt at all, and Evan smiled wryly as he pressed his palm against Irene’s cheek.

As her soft cheek bulged out under his palm, Evan embraced her tightly and exhaled.

“Pe-people are watching.”

“It doesn’t matter. They’re always looking this way anyway.”

“St-still…”

“So, do you dislike it?”

Meeting Evan’s gaze from within his embrace, Irene hesitated for a moment,

then slightly shook her head and buried her face in his chest.

How could she say she disliked it? To be honest, Irene was rather enjoying the situation.

If that woman Scarlet was here, she would surely see that Evan definitely had someone.

Amid the murmuring crowd watching the couple, Scarlet was staring intently at Evan holding Irene.

She frowned briefly, but when she felt Irene might have noticed her, she flinched and quickly lowered her gaze.

That cold stare that had been watching her all along—

having never experienced such a gaze before, Scarlet was experiencing fear of another person for the first time in her life.

-You shouldn’t approach Evan Fried carelessly. He is… it would take quite a long time to explain, but he’s not someone worth meeting.

“He doesn’t seem like a bad person though.”

Scarlet frowned as she looked at Evan. How could such a person be not worth meeting?

Just by looking, he seemed kinder than anyone else.

Although his lover was a bit, no, extremely scary.

Recalling what her butler had told her, Scarlet was questioning the statement itself.

“If Evan is a bad person, then there must not be a single good person in the world.”

“Eek!”

“I don’t see why you’re so startled. Is this your first time seeing the Crown Prince?”

Kaisel chuckled as he looked at Scarlet.

She gaped blankly before quickly bowing her head at the mention of “Crown Prince,” repeatedly apologizing.

Hadn’t she been told countless times before coming to the imperial capital that the Crown Prince was the most important person she would meet?

For their first meeting to be like this—

seeing Scarlet’s embarrassed face, Kaisel shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

Brushing back his slightly sweaty black hair,

Kaisel flashed his characteristic smile, his red eyes twinkling as usual.

That smile he showed when dealing with women.

When Scarlet’s cheeks turned slightly red, a momentary gleam appeared in Kaisel’s eyes.

#

“So this is your first time in the imperial capital.”

“Yes, I’ve been living in the territory until now. There’s really nothing to see there.”

“There’s not much to see here either. You get tired of seeing the same things all the time. I’m actually more curious about that countryside place.”

“There’s nothing to see except grass and animals. There are hardly any other races there. Very occasionally elves come down… but relations aren’t very good.”

Seeing Scarlet’s gloomy expression, Kaisel rolled his eyes.

A woman from a rural territory, unlike the noble ladies of the imperial capital, she had a certain innocence that gave him a somewhat different feeling.

A purity without a single stain. A woman who looked at everything in the imperial capital with wonder.

Despite knowing he was the Crown Prince, she didn’t seem particularly concerned about it,

which was enough to capture Kaisel’s interest, even though they had met by chance at first.

How should he converse with such a woman?

She was too innocent to be handled like the imperial capital’s ladies, so after pondering for a moment, Kaisel carefully opened his mouth.

“So, do you dislike banquets like this?”

At Kaisel’s question, Scarlet tilted her head, then eventually smiled faintly and nodded.

She said she preferred reading books to things like this,

and that she wouldn’t have come if the Emperor hadn’t summoned her. Kaisel quietly observed her.

‘How unusual.’

Others would be delighted just to attend such a banquet.

To say she disliked such occasions right in front of him, the Crown Prince.

It didn’t seem like she was saying it deliberately, as she didn’t appear to be considering how he might frown at such an answer.

Truly pure, just as she was.

Did she really prefer quiet and peaceful activities?

As a test, he brought up a few books he knew about,

and Scarlet’s eyes sparkled as she began to talk about books.

She went on for so long that Kaisel almost got bored, but when she noticed his expression darkening, she flinched in surprise.

“Ah, um. I’m sorry. I get too excited when talking about books.”

“…Well, it happens. I can definitely tell you’re different from other women.”

After looking at Scarlet for a moment, Kaisel quietly spoke again.

“…I don’t dislike that.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind if you didn’t hear. I’m thinking about heading back soon.”

“But I’ve barely had a chance to talk with you!”

“There are countless people who live their entire lives without exchanging even a few words with me. Do you know how valuable this brief time is?”

“…How valuable is it?”

At Scarlet’s question about the value, Kaisel burst into laughter.

It was such an open laugh, something he hadn’t experienced in recent times, that even he was surprised.

He stared at Scarlet’s face and then lowered his head.

Was she just stupid, or truly, damnably innocent?

He had the foolish worry that this innocence might be tainted because of him—

Scarlet was a woman unlike any other he had met before.

Where did such a person come from? Looking at Scarlet with an intrigued expression, Kaisel casually brushed back his hair and put down his glass.

“I didn’t expect you to directly ask how valuable it is.”

“Oh, was I not supposed to ask that? I’m sorry…”

“There’s no need to apologize. I was just a bit taken aback.”

Throughout their conversation, Scarlet seemed to be swayed by Kaisel.

She had wanted to converse more naturally, but Kaisel kept making her flustered.

All Scarlet could do was nod and occasionally blurt out odd responses.

But it wasn’t intentional. It was simply what she had seen and learned in the small territory of Terazein.

Those were the innocent answers she could give because of what she knew.

Kaisel felt a strange attraction to Scarlet because of these responses,

and occasionally, he felt as if a corner of his empty heart was being filled.

How long had it been since he had enjoyed a conversation with a woman?

Having secretly admired the stories of Irene and Evan, Kaisel was feeling an unexpected closeness to Scarlet.

But time flows on. As they continued their conversation until the end of the banquet,

Kaisel smiled bitterly when he saw nobles starting to leave one by one.

Hadn’t time passed too quickly? With a somewhat regretful expression, he waved his hand,

and Scarlet smiled back with the same bright smile she had shown when they first met, then disappeared.

“Scarlet.”

As Kaisel spoke, Scarlet, who had been walking toward the door, stopped and looked back at him.

After hesitating for a moment, Kaisel crossed his arms, avoiding Scarlet’s gaze, and continued.

“…If you’re staying in the imperial capital, it might not be bad to meet occasionally.”

“I’d like that too! Where shall we meet?”

“Well, anywhere in the city is fine. When time permits, let’s meet. Is that alright?”

“Yes, it is. Really.”

After waving slightly, Kaisel crossed his arms again, and Scarlet smiled broadly before disappearing into the crowd.

He kept watching her disappear, endlessly, with a somewhat bitter expression. The change in his expression was instantaneous.

“…Sigh.”

Looking quite strained, with a completely different expression from before, Kaisel took out a handkerchief and wiped his lips.

This kind of conversation is a bit distasteful.

At those words that seemed to be criticizing someone, Evan, who had been hiding behind a pillar, peeked out and spoke.

“I was worried you might have fallen for her. I trust that’s not the case.”

“Come on. Do you think I would do that after what my father said? I’m not a fool. I just humored her a bit. But honestly, I don’t think that woman has any connection to Extinction.”

“This is just a verification process for now. Nothing is certain yet. Your role is very important, Your Highness.”

Kaisel glared at Evan after hearing his words.

How could he so brazenly say he was using him?

But since he had accepted it as a friend’s request, he couldn’t refuse now.

He didn’t want to believe that Scarlet had any connection to Extinction, but…

Kaisel knew that all circumstances pointed in that direction.

If that was the case, Kaisel didn’t particularly want to deny it.

He just wanted to deal with it before becoming attached. Seeing Kaisel like this, Evan smiled faintly as always.

A crack was forming. The plot was gradually diverging from the original work, and this moment might be the turning point.

Everything was changing. Quite smoothly.