Ch.83Chapter 83 – Karen Lucien Decatro Gelebrio Aurelios (3)

# Imperial Palace Grand Banquet Hall.

In the venue prepared by His Majesty the Emperor to celebrate my elevation to the rank of Count, I was dancing with Karen, following the steps to the music.

“By the way, were banquets originally meant to include balls as well?”

“Traditionally, banquets and balls were separate social gatherings.”

According to Karen’s explanation, banquets traditionally did not include balls, but recently, combining the two had become a trend among young nobles.

So, ordinarily, ball music shouldn’t have been playing in the banquet hall.

However, the imperial family hosting this banquet had apparently tried this trendy culture for the first time in my honor as the newly appointed Count.

“Is that so?”

“How much could you, who has just set foot in the world of nobility, know about the trends among nobles? So don’t worry too much about it. That aside…”

Karen moved in step with the rhythm, and I carefully followed her lead.

“For someone who claims not to know much about trends among young nobles, you dance quite well.”

Karen seemed very surprised by my skill.

Perhaps she found it curious that someone who had just become a noble could perform the social dances commonly used at balls with such proficiency.

“I merely learned a little as part of my education at the Academy, Your Highness.”

I answered Karen’s assessment with sincerity.

Having had plenty of time at Glesius Academy—so much that I could have graduated just by eating and sleeping—I often attended cultural education classes in my spare time.

Since all the professors knew I was an ability user, they recommended several classes to me.

‘Mr. Pathos, as you are destined to become a nobleman, would you like to take some cultural classes designed for prospective nobles who are ability users? It will be of great help in your future life.’

Following the professor’s advice, I began taking classes related to cultural education.

In the process, I attended classes about social gatherings and briefly learned about the dances one must know to attend balls.

“If this is your level after learning just for cultural education, you would become a master if you were to learn from a professional instructor.”

“I am someone who fixes things, not a dancer.”

“Of course I’m joking. Most nobles don’t really dance properly either; they merely step in time with the music. Because…”

Karen pressed herself against me as the tempo of the music increased.

“The purpose is to have private conversations while in such close proximity.”

After pressing against me, Karen moved away again, maintaining a proper distance.

As the music changed, we finished our dance and retreated to the edge of the banquet hall.

“Were you surprised?”

“It would be a lie to say I wasn’t.”

To be honest, I was very surprised.

My heart was still racing.

It wasn’t so much that I was surprised by her beauty, but rather the fact that the daughter of the highest authority had pressed herself against me was extremely overwhelming.

“Hehe. Consider it an honor. You are the first man I’ve ever asked to dance.”

Karen handed me a note with a meaningful smile before disappearing.

On the outside of the note, in beautiful handwriting, were the words “Open when you are alone.”

I put the note Karen had given me in my pocket.

I wonder what message it contained.

I should open it as soon as the banquet ends.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

Karen returned to her seat after dancing with Pathos.

As soon as she sat down, her younger sisters rushed over and bombarded her with questions.

“What’s this, what’s this? Sister, don’t tell me that’s the type of man you prefer?”

“Sister Karen! What did you talk about with that gentleman?”

“Who knows?”

Karen cut off her sisters’ questions with a light chuckle.

“I was just curious about who Father was showing interest in, that’s all.”

Karen simply gave her sisters a vague answer and moved on.

‘How strange. Sister has almost never shown interest in men first. Especially not young noble men…’

Emma was skeptical of Karen’s answer.

What kind of person had Karen been until now, from what she had observed?

She rarely showed interest in men, and when she did, it was only in those who possessed abilities that could be of some use to her.

Unlike her other siblings, Karen had shown great interest in developing her own abilities.

That’s why Emma was so intrigued by Karen’s sudden interest in Pathos.

‘Suspicious. No matter how I look at it, it’s suspicious. My sister showing interest in a man?’

“Karen.”

At that moment, Decatro IV called Karen’s name.

“Yes, Father.”

“Come here for a moment.”

Karen rose from her seat and approached Decatro IV at his summons.

Standing before Decatro IV, Karen seemed somewhat nervous.

“You danced with Count Pathos Severio.”

“He seemed like an outstanding talent who could be of help to the Empire, so I wanted to have a conversation with him.”

“A talent who could be of help to the Empire…”

Hearing Karen’s answer, Decatro IV seemed somewhat displeased with her response.

“Is that truly the only reason?”

Decatro IV didn’t really believe that his daughter had asked Pathos to dance for such a simple reason.

He secretly hoped that Karen had feelings for Pathos.

Now in her early thirties, having passed the prime marriage age of her mid-twenties.

Some of her younger siblings had already found their partners and were engaged, but the fact that she, the eldest daughter, remained unmarried was likely putting pressure on her younger siblings as well.

That’s why Decatro IV was inwardly delighted when he saw Karen ask Pathos to dance.

Finally, Karen is showing interest in a man!

If it had been any of his other daughters showing interest in Pathos, Decatro IV would have jokingly offered to introduce his daughter to him.

But it wasn’t just any daughter—it was Karen, his eldest, showing interest in Pathos?

If Karen truly felt drawn to Pathos and showed interest in him for that reason, he, as a father, was willing to support her in pursuing a serious relationship with Pathos.

He was well aware that Pathos had several women around him, including Eterna, the inquisitor of the Sun Order.

However, most of them didn’t seem to harbor romantic feelings for Pathos.

‘In other words, Count Pathos Severio is available.’

Ordinarily, Karen, as the First Imperial Princess, would have been subject to an arranged marriage, but Decatro IV had no intention of constraining her in such a way.

This was because his own sister had an arranged marriage and wasn’t having a particularly happy married life.

It was an open secret that his sister was living separately from her husband.

So Decatro IV had vowed never to force his children into arranged marriages.

He would rather see the imperial authority weakened slightly than have his children unhappily married for political reasons.

But Karen had been far too indifferent to men.

No matter how good a man approached her, she put up walls, causing Decatro IV much anxiety.

But now, Karen had shown interest in Pathos.

And not just anyone—the very man who had destroyed the demon sword and cured his baldness, someone he was deeply grateful to.

‘Count Pathos Severio would certainly be more than adequate as a husband for my daughter.’

He was confident that he wouldn’t be angry even if Pathos rejected his daughter.

This wasn’t because he undervalued his daughter, but because he understood the tremendous value that Pathos possessed.

So while Decatro IV hoped for things to work out between Karen and Pathos, he also didn’t want Pathos to feel obligated to see Karen just because of him.

He didn’t want either Pathos, who had cured his baldness, or Karen to have a relationship they didn’t truly want.

“This isn’t the first man you’ve shown interest in.”

“Y-yes, but…”

Karen was slightly flustered by Decatro IV’s pointed remark.

‘Oh dear, perhaps I’ve had too little contact with men while training to strengthen imperial authority after my brother’s assassination.’

Karen’s interest in Pathos was only 1% romantic attraction; the rest was due to her curiosity.

Of course, she had developed some personal interest in him while dancing, but most of it was related to her regression.

“I see… Very well. You may go back.”

“Yes, Father.”

Watching Karen return to her seat, Decatro IV inwardly sighed.

‘Ah, when will that child Karen find her match?’

But when have matters of the heart ever progressed under someone’s coercion?

Inevitably, Decatro IV could only earnestly hope in his heart that things would work out well between the two.