Ch.8181. In the Shadow of the Banquet (3)

The music was slow. Marianne had her eyes narrowed like a cat as she appreciated the music playing. For some reason, she didn’t want to open her eyes wide and look straight ahead. The colorful clothes of people entered her vision as blurry lights. The clothes bloomed fully and then withered, like flower buds rapidly showing their bloom. The sight resembled fireworks.

“They dance well, don’t they?” George said in a casual tone as he stood beside Marianne. He sipped his cocktail from a glass and smacked his lips.

“I’d find it difficult even if my fiancée asked me to dance.”

“I see.”

Marianne nodded. George glanced down at Marianne, who seemed somewhat off, and turned his head toward where her gaze kept drifting. There, Ilroy was dancing with Daphne at a moderate pace. Each time they slowly turned, Daphne’s face showed a silly, loose smile, while Ilroy wore a bitter smile suggesting he didn’t entirely dislike it.

“…Ah. So that’s what you’ve been looking at.”

George grinned. He slightly raised his glass, pointing to where Ilroy was.

“Were you that concerned about those two? Well, they do make a good pair even from a distance. Look, all the noble ladies and gentlemen dancing are glancing at them too. There’s nothing more to say about Ilroy’s face, but Daphne is also outshining all the other ladies around.”

“…I wasn’t looking.”

Marianne turned her head abruptly with a somewhat sulky expression, opening her eyes properly. George chuckled indecorously and emptied his remaining drink in one go.

“Come on. It’s okay to be honest sometimes. Ilroy wouldn’t mind. He might even be pleased, I think? Looking at it, he clearly trusts you and relies on you quite a bit.”

“…I don’t particularly want to dance anyway.”

Marianne grumbled as she picked up a random glass nearby. She brought it to her lips and drank it down as if venting her frustration. George watched the scene in disbelief, then looked back to where Ilroy was dancing.

“…That fellow seems to have many sins. He’s not oblivious, though.”

George shook his head. Marianne seemed determined not to look directly at them. She kept trying to fix her gaze elsewhere.

“He’s going to have a hard time soon.”

Marianne had already emptied one glass. George brought another drink with an intrigued expression. Perhaps the alcohol was starting to affect her, as Marianne put her glass down firmly and left her seat. George clicked his tongue while looking at Ilroy.

“He’ll have to go after her later, I suppose.”

The slow melody that had been playing came to an end. People began to applaud the band.

==

Had she started sobering up midway? Or had she only borrowed the power of alcohol when asking me to dance? At some point, Daphne had transformed into a composed state while holding my hand. Well, to say she looked composed would be somewhat inaccurate, but her eyes were no longer clouded with intoxication.

“You’ve sobered up.”

Daphne’s shoulders flinched at my words. Well, I wasn’t scolding or questioning her.

“…Yes.”

I didn’t ask anything further. Daphne hung her head low as if clinging to me. Is this what satisfies her now? There were several things I wanted to ask Daphne too, but I deliberately didn’t bring them up. Those were words that could wait until after the world didn’t end.

“Aren’t you going to send me back?”

Daphne asked as if lacking confidence. Yet she made no move to stop dancing. I continued stepping in rhythm with a slight smile. Seeing this, Daphne changed her expression and danced along.

“Then let’s dance until the end of this song.”

Daphne whispered near my ear. I nodded. The gazes focused on us had already faded. I deliberately avoided looking toward George and Marianne. Perhaps I thought it would be disrespectful—to them and to Daphne.

“?”

I suddenly looked down at Daphne. She had a questioning look on her face, as if wondering why I was staring at her.

“How is it being a member of the hero’s party?”

Daphne slightly furrowed her brow.

“Why are you asking that now, of all times?”

“Sorry, I’m not good with words and I don’t really pay attention to the atmosphere.”

Daphne chuckled at my response. Then she wore a faint smile. She seemed to be organizing her thoughts as she moved her steps slightly to the flowing music, not answering right away.

“Saving the world is good, but I just like it here.”

Daphne spoke calmly in a faint voice.

“Ilroy, George, Marianne. This is the first place I’ve ever belonged. I could truly fight with everything I have to protect this place. I’m not just saying that—I really mean it.”

Daphne’s words became serious toward the end. I nodded. Her resolve was weighty. Her life was here. I scattered the thoughts emerging in my mind.

“Yeah. Thanks for telling me that.”

Daphne seemed to have expected a different answer. She pressed her lips together as if my response was bland, but didn’t say anything more.

The song ended. People applauded the band and the dancers. Daphne hesitated, then released her grip on me and stepped back.

“Let’s go back. George is watching us as if wondering when we’ll return.”

When I turned my head, George slightly raised his glass to us. As we returned to our seats, George emptied his glass and said in a voice full of amusement:

“Wow, you two stood out the most. Everyone was just staring at you.”

“…I don’t think we were that interesting to look at.”

George pointed at me with a sly smile.

“What can I say when you two were the most eye-catching? You should blame yourselves for standing out, shouldn’t you?”

“Fine. My fault. So, where did she go now?”

I glanced at the empty seat. George shrugged his shoulders while swirling his glass, indicating he didn’t know.

“No idea. She suddenly had a drink and went somewhere. Since she hasn’t returned yet, it’s probably not the bathroom. Maybe she got upset seeing you two having fun together. Don’t you think?”

I frowned deeply, and Daphne looked like she didn’t know what to do. Had Marianne been drinking? I’d never seen her take even a sip at any of our previous gatherings. I looked at the slender glass that Marianne had presumably drunk from, then let out a short sigh.

“I’ll go look for her. Can you wait here for a bit?”

George let out a hearty laugh.

“If you hadn’t said you’d go, I would have hit you, Ilroy.”

“As if, you jerk.”

I gave a hollow laugh and turned to Daphne. I didn’t even need to ask. Daphne nodded at me. Her gaze, full of concern, lingered on Marianne’s seat.

“Come back quickly.”

I left immediately. The palace was vast. I thought she wouldn’t have left the harvest festival venue, but Marianne had an unpredictable side to her. Various dresses caught my eye. People approached to speak with me, but I ignored their greetings and pushed through the crowd.

She was nowhere to be seen. Marianne’s silver hair should be quite noticeable.

“[Try checking the terrace.]”

The Holy Sword abruptly spoke. It wasn’t exactly a welcome voice.

“[I’m only helping this once. Otherwise, problems might arise within the party.]”

“…Thanks.”

I quickly ran toward the outside, where the terrace was located. The terrace was bathed in moonlight. Marianne was standing alone, leaning against the railing. The noise had faded away. She looked as if she didn’t belong in this world. Her silver hair, soaked in moonlight, shone brightly. Wisps of hair had escaped from her neatly tied hairstyle and were becoming disheveled.

“Marianne.”

Marianne turned her head at my call. I expected her to be expressionless as always, but her face was completely flushed red. Her usually cold golden eyes were not emotionless, and her lips were not set firmly.

“…Hero.”

Marianne spoke with a hesitant voice. Her words were slurring. It seemed she wasn’t trying to dispel the intoxication by circulating her magic. I raised my hand and gently stroked her head. It was hot. When her shoulders flinched, I instinctively withdrew my hand, only for it to be caught again by Marianne’s. As if asking me to stroke her head more, Marianne gently pressed her head against my hand.

“…Just a little longer… I want to feel this sensation.”

Marianne’s golden eyes glistened with moisture.

==

Marianne was throwing a tantrum for the first time. The intoxication clouded her consciousness and judgment. She was confused. Marianne was experiencing feelings she had never felt before. It was a sensation she had felt since Ilroy passed the crown’s test. The anxiety that this person might disappear somewhere. She had felt it when she saw the letter Ilroy received, and when she watched Ilroy and Daphne dancing.

Leaving the banquet hall was an impulse. Marianne had never given in to impulses before, but the alcohol she drank for the first time took away some of her reason.

“…Just a little longer…”

So, Marianne needed assurance. Assurance that this person was here. That he wouldn’t go anywhere.

“I want to feel this sensation.”

The clothes Ilroy wore today were black. Honestly, this black formal wear seemed to suit him better than that white hero’s uniform. As Ilroy continued stroking her head, Marianne narrowed her eyes and felt the sensation. She felt the warmth enveloping her head.

Along with satisfaction, her anxiety grew stronger. Marianne still didn’t know why Ilroy had been in a daze. It couldn’t have been because of this harvest festival. He was going through the festival too nonchalantly. That unresolved question was making Marianne feel even stranger.

“Hero.”

It was frustrating that her words were slurring, but she had no intention of dispelling the intoxication. Clearly, once this intoxication disappeared, she would return to being emotionless and cold. Someone who wouldn’t honestly ask Ilroy what was going on, but would just follow his words.

“I…”

Marianne moved closer to Ilroy and raised her head. Under her gray hair were eyes that had the brilliant lights of the banquet hall behind them. They were dark teal eyes, like a deep forest. She couldn’t understand. If Marianne herself couldn’t properly understand, there was no way she could understand Ilroy’s eyes.

“…I don’t know what to say to you.”

Her expression was probably a mess right now. Suddenly conscious of this fact, Marianne buried her head against Ilroy’s chest. Why? She just needed to say those words, but suddenly her speech was blocked. Marianne placed her hand on her chest, which was beating at a strange pace. The reason her face was flushed seemed to be not just because of the alcohol.

“It’s okay.”

Ilroy continued stroking Marianne’s head without stopping. Marianne loved that feeling. But at the same time, she felt like she would miss something if she didn’t speak now. Ilroy stroked Marianne’s head for a while, accepting her tantrum without saying anything.

“Shall we go back now?”

Ilroy spoke as Marianne seemed to have calmed down. Marianne nodded. Ilroy made a soft chuckling sound, just like usual. But, but.

Ilroy started walking. Marianne saw the back of the hero who was one step away from her. Then, impulsively, she lightly grabbed Ilroy’s sleeve. Ilroy stopped at that small resistance and turned around.

“What is it?”

Their eyes met. Deep teal eyes. Golden eyes that, just for now, were trembling and sparkling like topaz. Marianne looked into those eyes as if seeking an answer. But she knew that those eyes wouldn’t give any response unless she spoke first.

“…It’s nothing.”

“…Okay, let’s go back. Everyone is worried.”

Ilroy said that and started walking. Marianne also began to move. Her reason, which was gradually returning, started suppressing many things again.

She couldn’t ask.

A memory hazily surfaced in Marianne’s mind.

The invitation letter to the harvest festival was strewn on the floor as if it wasn’t that important. The back of it was covered with messy scribbles and phrases, as if it had been used as scrap paper.

Among them, Marianne saw that short phrase.

‘Can I do it.’

What that “Can I do it” meant. What Ilroy was trying to do. If that was why he had such a dazed expression. What he was thinking when he wrote those words.

Ilroy’s receding back looked like someone about to leave for somewhere. Marianne could only follow behind Ilroy with quick steps to prevent him from getting further away.