Chapter 78: Rondor’s Ball – 5

“Kailo. I… even though I’m here?”

Vivian’s voice trembled, but the desperation within was clear.

Kailo remained silent, as if reflecting on her words.

“…If you’re going to say that.”

His previously stern expression blinked helplessly a few times before slowly crumbling.

Instead of the familiar hatred or anger, deep sorrow permeated his face.

Vivian felt as if her few words had broken through Kailo’s solid exterior.

Or perhaps she had inadvertently touched his most vulnerable part.

Kailo, ignoring the surrounding gazes, tightly grabbed Vivian’s both shoulders.

Even amidst the chaos of the crowded ballroom, the two were isolated like a quiet island.

“…If you’re going to say that, then stop toying with my heart.”

Kailo’s low voice was both a request and almost a plea.

The man who had declared he was leaving was now showing emotions and earnestly yearning.

When Vivian asked again, not believing it, Kailo covered his face with his hand, hiding his expression.

He felt rejected.

He moved his shoulders away and bowed his head, sending deep inner thoughts.

“…You know my heart. It’s already in your hands.”

“If you don’t want me to leave… if it’s that unfair…”

He sighed as if resigning himself and revealed his deep thoughts.

“…I’m telling you to at least act cute. Normally, like everyday, kiss my cheek with your lips. Or stop hiding those great lips and give them to me. Hug me as if you might break me, say you like me… say that you’re so thankful for everything I do… at least try to lie a little.”

Vivian felt that the time spent with him was so unreal.

Even when spending time alone in a closed room, he hadn’t been able to share such deep feelings.

But now, in a hall where everyone could see, with music and noise making her ears dizzy, he was sharing the most hidden of stories.

Vivian couldn’t respond and met his gaze.

As silence flowed, Kailo picked up his cold thorn again.

“…Why, can’t you do that?”

“…Ka, Kailo.”

“Is it hard because I’m so disgusting? Do you hate me that much? But you want me to stay by your side? Because you’re afraid you’ll die without me?”

‘…No…’

She wanted to say no.

Vivian really wanted to.

But two reasons kept her from speaking.

One was the eyes now directed towards her.

Kailo didn’t care about others’ gazes, but Vivian grew up being swayed by those looks.

Did she upset the servants?

What were the maids’ opinions about her?

Was Mrs. Linne angry today as well…?

Just because it was a ball didn’t make that habit disappear.

The second reason was that her psychological walls wouldn’t come down.

If she clearly confronted her feelings for Kailo, could she accept it?

The son of the man who killed her father and brother.

Even her mother started to fall ill after the family left.

The immense flames of hatred born from her family’s death kept throwing embers at Kailo.

Even though she knew it wasn’t Kailo’s fault, Vivian was never free from that emotion.

…Despite being Kailo, if she confronted her feelings towards him, if he became more precious to her here.

If she, as Kailo said, regularly kisses his cheek, acts cute, and hugs him when she wants.

…Then, just by that, wouldn’t she lose Kailo just the same?

Kailo would obviously become a witch’s sacrifice.

“…Stop treating people like tools.”

Kailo finally erased his sad expression and once again showed his hatred.

It was an expression of wanting to hate so much but being unable to, thus being in pain.

Vivian’s chest tightened.

She felt pathetic for not being able to respond adequately.

But even if she was pathetic like this, she couldn’t accept Kailo leaving.

She couldn’t even muster such bravado as to say, ‘If you’re upset, try loving someone else.’

“…Ha.”

Kailo brushed his hair back.

“…Ugh.”

Vivian shrank back at Kailo’s appearance, which made her heart race even in this situation.

It was a terrible emotion.

She wasn’t sure what feelings she had for Kailo, but the emotion was so sticky and blind.

Kailo, calming his emotions with a sigh, slowly let go of Vivian’s arm.

“…Shall I go get some fresh air?”

And with that, he asked weakly.

Vivian could tell it was a gesture of reconciliation.

Therefore, Vivian nodded obediently, suppressing her wavering emotions.

Leaving the noisy ballroom, Vivian went to a familiar place with Kailo—the riverbank next to the castle.

If she added up all the time spent with Kailo here, it would have easily been days.

He was already picking up pebbles from the ground with familiar gestures.

With a short gesture, he threw a stone onto the river, and the sound of splashing echoed in the quiet night air.

At that sound, Vivian’s heart regained peace, if only for a moment.

Vivian sat behind Kailo, wrapping her arms around her knees.

It was a somewhat childish action for a grown woman.

Especially for the head of Rondor, it was even more immature behavior.

She knew Mrs. Linne would nag if she saw this, but at this moment, Vivian wanted to do this.

She wanted to stay as comfortably as possible by Kailo’s side.

In the end, the earlier conversation ended without conclusion.

But the decision was already set in Vivian’s heart.

Kailo cannot leave.

It was an unchanging truth.

If there was a way he could leave… that was only if he won the bet.

Whether loved by everyone in Loctana or Vivian herself shedding tears.

A future where nothing happened.

And if such a future doesn’t come, Vivian didn’t plan to ask Kailo to return to his hometown.

No matter how much he hates her, it doesn’t matter.

After all, they both hated each other.

Even if he hated her more, nothing would change.

So she decided she must hold onto Kailo.

“…You are a prisoner obtained by exchanging the lives of my family.”

Vivian muttered.

Kailo’s gesture also stiffened.

“Father, brother… maybe even mother. With their lives, what I’ve gained is… only you.”

Vivian buried her face in her knees and whispered.

“I can’t let go. No, I won’t let go.”

Kailo’s previously stiff arms moved again.

For a long time, they sat there and spent time.

Vivian kept looking at Kailo’s back, not knowing what he was thinking.

Even though things went so wrong, she still wanted to reconcile.

She couldn’t let the day end like this.

It would be such a waste of time to do that when she had worked so hard for today.

Preparing the food, arranging the music, practicing the dance…

She didn’t want to ruin her 17th birthday like this and end it.

She didn’t want to leave behind the nightmare of having the worst birthday.

But there was an opportunity.

It was Kailo who asked her to come see this river.

He was the one to first extend a hand of reconciliation.

Perhaps, just by saying something to calm his anger, they could quickly return to a good atmosphere.

She remembered Kailo’s words about acting cute.

‘…Just this once today.’

Vivian thought.

Normally, she would never act cute to him, but Vivian had something she wished for.

She had memories she wanted to build with Kailo.

She wanted to see him dance for her, even if clumsily.

“…I’m still…”

Vivian swallowed and spoke out.

“…I still haven’t danced yet.”

At her words, Kailo chuckled, almost as if he was about to throw a stone.

It seemed he quickly realized what Vivian was trying to convey.

Whether he thought she was pretending or found it cute, he continued to laugh softly.

Encouraged by Kailo’s smile, Vivian offered a curt joke.

She made sure to soften her voice so he could clearly tell it was a joke.

“…Yes, you might not know because you haven’t learned proper manners, but, uh, it’s common sense to ask someone you like to dance.”

Kailo looked back at Vivian as if he found it ridiculous.

As expected, his expression was full of smiles.

“I don’t like that person today.”

Kailo also made a similar joke.

The playfulness in his voice made Vivian smile inevitably.

“Ha, but there’s no other chance than today. You might regret it later.”

Her voice sounded somewhat pitiful.

And that fact seemed to further soothe Kailo’s anger.

“You said you wouldn’t let go forever, so it might not just be today’s opportunity.”

“T-the dance at seventeen years old is, oh, it’s the last today, and, uhm, after this, I’ll be busy so I don’t know when the opportunity will come.”

-Charruruk…

Kailo looked at Vivian as he tossed gravel.

“I don’t know how to dance.”

“…I’m telling you to at least try to make an effort.”

“What’s in it for you to show people you’re dancing with me? We’re enemies.”

“Since when did you start worrying so much about what others think?”

“I don’t see it, but it affects you, doesn’t it?”

Even at this moment, he thinks of her.

Even this moment, which was awkward after the fight.

Vivian looked up at Kailo, whose black hair was fluttering.

One person conveys all the immense anger, the grudging hatred, and also… the warmth that could become so intense.

Vivian was curious how this could be possible.

There was no one who shook her as much as Kailo did.

Maybe because he’s Kailo.

Even if someone glares at her now… she wanted to dance just once.

She wanted to leave memories to spend her life with him.

To step into the social scene for the first time and experience their first dance together.

No matter how things go in the future, this memory would become an unchangeable truth.

This was greedy.

It was an irresistible truth.

Since Vivian remained silent, Kailo spoke.

“…Let’s go in, now we’ve had enough rest.”

Vivian nodded again.

She was a bit confused.

Did he say that because he really wanted to go in?

…Or did he say it indirectly to ask her to dance?

She couldn’t know for sure, but she thought it was probably the latter.

Because Kailo always thought of her.

Upon entering the hall, Vivian saw a deeper look of compassion directed at her.

It was a look that assumed Kailo, her enemy, had naturally fought and come back.

In other words, she had no choice but to think that way.

They would think the reason she and Kailo are still together is because of the prince and the princess.

Just as they strive to establish peace, Vivian, whose position is precarious, would also be trying.

Vivian didn’t dislike that misunderstanding.

Because thanks to that misunderstanding, no one approached Kailo.

What kind of idiot would go against Loctana’s lord and approach Kailo?

There’s nothing to gain and much to lose.

After entering the ballroom, Kailo watched the atmosphere for a while.

Unlike what she thought—that he would easily suggest a dance—he was waiting for something.

Was he not pleased with the music or something?

Even though he saw the numerous people dancing, he did not take action.

Still, it was okay.

If she waited, Kailo would come to her.

Vivian also didn’t like the music.

When she signaled the minstrels with her eyes, they noticed it instantly and naturally changed the music.

A soft, slightly sad melody began to flow.

There was a beauty in the slow music.

It was the kind of music where a man and a woman could dance most intimately.

It was the song that Vivian liked most among the ones the minstrels could perform.

They said they call this song “Winter of Loctana.”

Thinking about that, Vivian let out another small laugh.

She thought there was no song better suited for Kailo, who lived in the north where only winter exists, and herself, who lived in Loctana where there is no winter.

It felt like the music was made just for the two of them.

Perhaps because Kailo also liked the music, he finally glanced down at Vivian.

Vivian’s heart pounded at his action, yet she maintained her composure.

There was too much she had prepared for this moment to be trembling or afraid.

She had been envisioning and waiting for this moment for such a long time.

“…Have you swallowed your fear?”

Vivian provoked.

Kailo smiled at her again and spoke softly.

“…I’ll consider it because of your birthday.”

He slowly extended his hand.

It was just before reconciliation.

“Let’s go. How amazing—”

“Duchess.”

At that moment, someone interrupted.

Vivian’s hand, which had reached out to accept Kailo’s hand, froze abruptly in surprise.

The perfect moment was stolen away, and the flow was broken.

Vivian suppressed her rising irritation and thought,

…Who dares to interfere.

When she turned her head, Prince Thread was standing behind her.

His eyes were full of worry.

He looked like someone who still thought she was forcibly tied to Kailo.

“Your Grace, would you like to dance a dance with me?”

Prince Thread made a presumptuous request.

As if he was a gallant prince on a white horse saving a forlorn maiden.

Vivian forcibly suppressed the false smile that was about to escape.

How could someone other than an idiot think to dance with Prince Thread instead of Kailo?

“…Where has Princess Reyna gone?”

Vivian indirectly expressed her refusal.

Prince Thread slightly shook his head and pointed to the side.

Following his signal, Vivian turned her head, and at that moment, her mind went blank.

The prince spoke,

“They say the two are childhood friends… Let them spend some time together.”

In that split second, Princess Reina was pushing her way in and taking her place.

“Kailo, let’s dance.”

With her black hair flowing, she was pulling Kailo towards her.

The princess said,

“Hmm? Quickly.”

Vivian stood there dumbfounded, unable to respond.

The situation was too absurd to react to.

It was too sudden.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

“Ah… um…”

She never thought that someone would force their way into their world.

Kailo’s eyes turned towards Vivian.

Vivian, regaining her senses, looked at Kailo.

She needed to pull herself together.

In fact, there was no reason for Kailo to accept that proposal.

No matter how much of a princess, he wouldn’t take the hint.

Yes, thinking that gave her some relief.

“…Phew, phew…”

If it was Kailo, he would choose her over the princess.

There was plenty of room for an excuse.

Vivian suppressed the anger that was about to burst out and waited for Kailo’s response.

Kailo spoke,

“…I’m sorry, but I…”

At that moment, Reina suddenly grabbed Kailo’s shoulder.

Kailo easily yielded to Reina.

Reina whispered something, and Kailo’s expression gradually hardened.

Reina, detaching herself, said,

“Hmm? Kailo. I’ll teach you how to dance. Let’s dance together.”

Kailo stood frozen for a long time.

His eyes looked for Vivian once again.

-Swish.

With just one gesture from Kailo, Vivian’s heart sank.

“…Huh?”

“…Let’s dance a dance.”

Kailo formally proposed to Reina.

His hand was extended not towards her, but towards Reina.

Vivian’s eyes couldn’t even focus properly.

“…Just a moment.”

Reina, smiling brightly, grabbed his hand tightly and led him to the stage that people had gathered around in a circle.

A pair of men and women with fitting black hair.

As they appeared, people made a wide gap.

During the playing of Winters of Loctana, they boldly walked out in front of the people.

“…Kailo?”

Vivian muttered in disbelief.

She was so stunned, watching Kailo walk away without being able to stop him.

A painfully fearful pain continued in her heart.

…Where are you going?

Vivian’s hand, unable to reconcile, was left lonely.