Ch.19Under the Crystal Palace (3)

“Does it suit me well?”

I frown as I tug at the cravat around my neck.

Unlike my usual clothes, this fitted formal attire feels uncomfortable, but what weighs on my mind more is the fact that once I’m fully dressed, I’ll have to attend the ball.

I wish I could just faint for a day and wake up when it’s all over, but life is never that simple.

As I loosen the uncomfortable collar slightly and look at Rofena, she stares at me with a slightly dazed expression and moves her lips.

“…Who are you?”

“What, do I look strange?”

“No… it’s just that you look so different from the knight I know.”

I wonder what image of me you had in your mind. But I could tell immediately that she didn’t mean it in a bad way.

The look in her dazed eyes was clearly admiration.

Though her slightly flushed cheeks made things a bit awkward, I smiled wryly and stood before Rofena.

“I don’t look strange, do I?”

“Not at all.”

I don’t know how Airin will dress, but I hope she won’t be outshined.

After all, this is a ball with the person I liked most in the novel.

Since this might be my last chance, I wanted to show my best appearance.

I even practiced dancing, just in case.

Rize was so angry, saying how could I be good with a sword but terrible at dancing.

I smile bitterly as my feet still ache from being stepped on by Rize. After adjusting my clothes, Rofena clears her throat and steps away from me.

“How about dressing up more often? You look much better than I expected.”

“I’d die of discomfort if I had to dress like this every day. Besides, it’s not like I’ll wear this after today.”

I feel strangely empty after removing the sword that had always hung at my waist since becoming a guard knight.

To perform the role of a count’s son rather than a guard knight—can I really do well?

After getting fully dressed, I open the door and step out. Everyone waiting outside gasps when they see me.

“Oh my, Evan. Is that really you?”

“…Is it that different?”

“You look fine normally, but dressed up like this, I barely recognize you! It’ll be hard for me to deliver all your letters now. The young ladies’ eyes will be spinning.”

Well, those sticky courtships are already a bit burdensome.

I smile wryly at Rize who looks at me proudly, and she pats my back and speaks.

“This ball is just nominally hosted by the Crown Prince, so don’t feel too pressured. Just do as the young lady tells you and you’ll be fine. Though I’m not sure why she’s taking you along.”

“…Well, I’ll do my best. Don’t worry too much. At least I won’t cause any trouble.”

When I smile faintly telling her not to worry, Rize suddenly flinches and then narrows her eyes.

“Don’t smile at just anyone there. It’s better to keep a straight face, with your lips always horizontal. Remember that firmly. I’m saying this because I’m worried about you. You’ll have a hard time dealing with other women too.”

“I understand. So I just keep my mouth shut tight?”

I don’t know why she’s telling me not to smile, but she was the daughter of a viscount, so she must have been active in social circles even longer than Airin.

I should heed her words. After listening to Rize talk about the ball for quite some time, I raised my head as I sensed a familiar presence from afar.

“What’s wrong?”

“I think the young lady has finished preparing. I should go now.”

The sound I just heard definitely came from the direction of Airin’s room.

When I awkwardly smiled saying I should go now, Rize waved her hand wishing me luck.

“Hmm.”

Why am I so nervous? With each step I take toward Airin’s room, I hear my heartbeat as loud as my footsteps.

A strange tension wraps around my body, making me frown and exhale heavily.

How long has it been since I felt this nervous? I wasn’t this tense even when facing assassins.

When Rofena standing beside me asked if I was okay, I nodded with a faint smile. I couldn’t show an unsightly appearance.

“It seems you’re ready.”

Finally, the voice that reached my ears made me slowly shift my gaze from Rofena to the front.

The coldness in that voice told me that the woman before me was Airin.

When my eyes finally fell on Airin, I couldn’t help but let out a gasp.

Under the chandelier with countless flickering candles, in the brightly lit corridor, there was a light that shone more brilliantly than anything else.

A navy blue dress, without even elaborate accessories, yet she looked as dazzling as a jewel—it must be her innate nature.

Her appearance, which draws admiration no matter what she wears,

The coldness in her deep blue eyes was momentarily forgotten, as her current appearance seemed enough to enchant anyone.

“Why are you staring so blankly?”

“…It suits you well.”

Unable to take my eyes off her, I struggled to speak, and Airin looked at me and calmly replied.

“It suits you well too. You’ve prepared quite a bit.”

“I’ve been preparing for days. Even dance practice—”

“Rofena.”

When I glared at Rofena who was chattering beside me, she chuckled and nodded slightly.

There was no need to mention the dance practice.

But Airin didn’t seem to care much about that, she just passed by me with an expressionless face.

As she passed by, Rofena glanced at her and spoke to me.

“Have a good time. Don’t be too nervous.”

“…Yes, thanks to you, I feel a bit less tense now.”

Phew.

After letting out a sigh, my tight chest seemed to ease a little.

Outside the window, all I could see was pervasive darkness, with stars occasionally shining through. I moved toward Airin.

I wonder if it’s just my imagination that this night seems particularly long.

#

Clatter—

Being used to cars in my previous life, adapting to a medieval carriage was quite difficult.

Especially when the person sitting across from me was someone I was supposed to serve.

Due to poorly maintained roads, occasional stones hitting the wheels, and horses acting up, the carriage shook violently, making my face turn pale long ago.

“…Are you alright?”

How bad must I have looked for even Airin to ask like this?

In that cold gaze, there was a tiny bit of concern, which made me smile bitterly.

Even with a superhuman body enhanced by mana, adapting to this environment was very challenging.

“I’m fine.”

“If you’re really unwell, we can stop the carriage for a moment.”

“Then we’d be late for the ball. Please don’t worry about me.”

When I forced a smile, Airin stared at me for a moment before nodding and turning her gaze away.

There was definitely concern in that look, which felt somewhat awkward.

Have I become close enough to Airin to receive her concern?

It’s been three months since I became her guard knight.

If asked whether I’ve grown closer to her during that time, I would nod, but if asked whether I’ve opened her heart, I could firmly shake my head.

Just when it seemed we were getting closer, she would coldly draw a line—that was Airin.

Whenever I saw her carrying an inexplicable darkness within, my heart naturally became complicated.

When would I hear the story hidden inside her? If I could fully understand her heart, wouldn’t it help prevent the tragedy she would face later?

The reason she was later called a villainess must be because of her irreparably broken heart.

The reason why she, who cared for her territory’s people and was kind to her own people, later destroyed her own family and persecuted the female lead must have been due to her twisted heart.

She’s still fine now, but if time passes without her opening her heart and she faces the tragedy I know…

I probably wouldn’t rest in peace even after death.

Her gaze was directed outside the carriage window.

What could she be looking at in the empty outside with no buildings?

Following her gaze to the window, I saw the scenery passing by as quickly as the horses moved.

Yuris Duchy, as befitting one of the empire’s finest territories, a vast city came into view.

The tallest building among them must be the ducal residence from where we departed.

Despite the thick darkness covering the city, one building stood out, shining brilliantly.

Was she looking at that?

Or was she looking at the sky that remained still despite our rapid movement?

As her mysterious gaze remained fixed outside, I just stared out the window silently.

After a while, something brilliantly shining even in this night began to appear in the distance.

High in the sky, a palace so tall it seemed it might touch the moon.

The palace, shimmering like it was carved from stars, was like a light source itself.

The Crystal Palace. A palace with legends saying the founding emperor of the empire created it by capturing the light of the world.

Its grandeur was incomparable to the ducal residence, so I just stared at the palace in awe.

Below the Crystal Palace, numerous carriages and people standing beside them were already visible. They must be nobles.

But realizing this fact, the tension I had forgotten began to surge.

Having to be among all those people,

The urge to flee this place crept up, making me shake my head to clear my thoughts.

Clatter—

As the vibrations that had been constantly shaking the carriage stopped, I realized we had arrived at the Crystal Palace.

The carriage that had been so uncomfortable to sit in until just now—why did I now feel so reluctant to get out?

As I stepped out of the carriage, countless gazes were directed at me.

The thorny shield emblem engraved on the carriage symbolized only Yuris in this empire.

It felt as if everyone in the world was looking at me.

But as if nothing was wrong, I extended my hand toward Airin who was still sitting in the carriage.

I am her partner now. The determination not to show a ridiculous appearance to her who chose me instead of her fiancé somewhat dispersed my tension.

Very naturally, she lightly grasped my hand and as she finally stepped out of the carriage, the pouring gazes became even sharper.

The one with Yuris’s young mistress, the one escorting her despite not being her fiancé.

The gazes directed at me were sticky, as if licking every corner of my body. Naturally, this situation was just uncomfortable.

Were they displeased that someone unauthorized had come to this Crystal Palace?

There was no goodwill in those gazes directed at me.

Suspicion and vigilance toward the one who came with Airin instead of her fiancé.

As I frowned amid those dozens of pouring gazes, a chilling voice reached my ears.

“Remove those gazes.”

At the frigid tone that seemed to freeze the surroundings, and the thorns clearly mixed in those words, the gazes directed at me disappeared instantly.

And only then did I realize that I had let go of her hand. Perhaps due to unconscious tension, my tightly closed lips trembled slightly.

“Evan.”

Airin looked at me and spoke. There was no longer any coldness or thorns in her voice.

How did my expression appear to her? What showed in her rippling blue eyes was a faint concern for me, so I stared blankly at Airin and moved my lips.

“…I’m sorry. Due to my unconscious tension—”

“You let go of my hand.”

She didn’t ask anything. She didn’t reproach me for the disgrace I showed. She just looked at me with that expressionless face and silently extended her hand.

I stared blankly at the gloved hand in front of me, and then carefully grasped that delicate hand.

It was truly a small hand. So small that it was hidden completely when I gently held it.

But just holding that small hand made all the tension filling my body seem to melt away instantly.

As if waiting for my stiff expression to soften, she stood still, and I quietly smiled at her.