episode_0008

Episode 8. Let’s celebrate being reborn.

With the ring on Ruby’s finger, the Emperor shouted in a loud voice,

“Starting today, Andreon Berdo and Ruby de Perion will prepare to become soul companions.”

His voice, mixed with mana, flowed throughout the party venue.

All the nobles bowed their heads.

Ruby silently watched them with cold eyes.

Beside Andreon, who was observing her, an attendant whispered softly,

“Your Highness, the flowers…”

“I’ll give them now.”

For some reason, Ruby seemed very uncomfortable, but it was customary for the betrothed man to give a flower arrangement to the betrothed woman behind the Emperor’s gift.

“Your Highness.”

Ruby turned her head slightly at Andreon’s voice.

And he handed her a flowerless pot.

“Let’s take care of each other.”

Andreon smiled faintly.

Yes, they should take care of each other.

“Because you are the most important key in this world.”

They needed to narrow down their relationship first.

As Andreon thought that and smiled, Ruby furrowed her brow.

Her lips twitched.

“…Daisy.”

Of course, she recognized it right away.

“Yes. The daisy may seem small, but I prepared it because its existence, which resembles Your Highness, cannot be ignored.”

Andreon’s words caused a stir around them.

Since none of Andreon’s words resembled anything about Ruby.

From the fact that she, the ultimate villainess, seemed small to the undeniable presence she had.

Until now, she was nothing more and nothing less than a flower of the royal family.

“But Ruby won’t feel bad.”

She felt it was similar from the moment she saw the daisy.

On the day Isaac gave her a daisy as a gift, he asked her.

[“Why a daisy?”

At his words, Ruby’s cheeks flushed at the fact that Isaac spoke to her.

“Because the daisy resembles me.”

Her red eyes narrowed.

“It may seem small, but its existence and efficacy cannot be ignored.”]

She spoke while looking at the small blooming swallowtail flowers: “And this child was always saying what I wanted to say.” She couldn’t know what those words meant since Isaac didn’t ask further.

By the way, I hope she doesn’t fall for Isaac this time.

“Once we become close, that could also be somewhat helpful.”

Around that time, Rubia slowly received a potted plant.

“…Do you know the meaning of the swallowtail flower’s language?”

Andrion blinked at Rubia’s words.

“No?”

The language of flowers?

How many people would actually know that?

However, seeing his reaction, Rubia let out a faint laugh.

“Well then.”

A shadow passed over her eyes, but it was fleeting.

While tightly holding the potted plant, she took a step towards Andrion.

Before he could react, she whispered in his ear.

“I can feel that your tongue is coated with oil once again.”

A soft scent brushed against his nose once more.

“Yeah. Perhaps it’s because I died and came back to life.”

Her cold voice echoed in his ear.

“Let’s celebrate your rebirth.”

Despite her young voice, it was a chilling tone that sent shivers down his spine.

“So be it. Thank you for the praise.”

Having said that, Rubia smiled wryly and stepped back.

“Well then, enjoy the party.”

With the potted plant in her arms, she left the party venue.

“As expected.”

It was a correct prediction that she, who cherished the swallowtail flowers, would personally place them in the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace was a 40-minute round trip on foot from here.

If she took her seat, tidied up her appearance, it would take about an hour.

Andrion glanced at his watch discreetly.

“After the engagement ceremony, something happened.”

Since Rubia had also gone to her room, he had to hurry to the scene of the incident.

Fortunately, as the Duke’s son, he was famous for being incompetent, so there were hardly any people who wanted to line up to see him.

Furthermore, Rubia was also known as a candidate for the next emperor’s consort and a person with an explosive personality, which made her even less popular.

He didn’t gain strength from getting engaged to her, so the only thing that intensified was the complaints of those around him.

At that moment, someone approached and stopped in front of Andrian.

“Who is it?”

When he raised his head, a familiar face appeared.

“Andrian.”

Dark brown hair, dark brown eyes.

His eyes contained a warm energy.

“It’s been a while since you came out. Wasn’t it difficult?”

It was Andrian’s father and the head of the Berdo Duchy, Theo Berdo.

Andrian immediately smiled and replied, “I’m fine.”

“Well, that’s good then.”

Duke Berdo affectionately stroked Andrian’s head and spoke kindly.

“If you find it difficult, take a walk in the garden for a while. Not many people go there.”

Perhaps he said that to consider Andrian, who disliked crowded places.

And Andrian chuckled at those words.

“I’ll do that.”

I was planning to go to the garden anyway.

When he glanced, people had already gathered around the duke.

“It worked out well.”

They probably heard the entire conversation.

“No one would suspect that I deliberately went to the garden.”

As Duke Berdo moved away, Andrian immediately headed for the garden.

Whether it was the royal garden or not, it was certainly beautiful.

The flowers and trees illuminated by the moonlight were splendidly decorated, and there were decorations placed here and there, making it interesting to look at.

However, Andrian didn’t notice such things.

“The fountain that comes out next to the tree swing…”

When Andrian arrived at the tree swing and looked around, a voice was heard.

“Hey, that Rubya girl is nothing special.”

A confident voice echoed.

“Oh, here she is.”

Andrian cautiously walked and peeked behind the tree.

There were about five boys sitting on the fountain.

In the center was a boy with flaming red hair and gray eyes.

“He must be the successor of the Perriu Duchy, as described in the novel.”

It was just as the novel described.

They were the boys who clashed with Isaac and insulted Rubya.

At the center was Joshua Perriu, a member of the imperial family and the son of the Perriu Duke, which is the queen’s family, so Isaac suffered greatly.

Andrion quietly observed the situation from a nearby place.

“Let’s activate the bracelet first.”

As he pressed the beads on the bracelet, it started to operate with a humming sound, and the black gem sparkled.

“She’s all talk, no substance. Useless without her looks,” Joshua said with a chuckle, and the guys around him enthusiastically agreed.

“But she had a pretty face, though.”

“Yeah, she had a presence that made up for her face.”

“She probably used that face to get around a lot, I bet.”

In response to those words, Joshua ran his hand through his hair and retorted.

“Hey, where did your humble blood go?”

He sneered and continued speaking.

“That girl getting engaged to Andrion? That’s laughable in itself.”

Joshua’s words made the surrounding kids wag their tails.

“Yeah, talking about the talentless eldest son of the declining Berdo family.”

“Hehe. Now I can’t tell if Rubia is pitiful or if Andrion is pitiful.”

Watching their reactions, Andrion found himself smiling involuntarily.

“Now the insults are coming my way.”

But he wasn’t particularly angry or upset.

It was true that the Berdo family was declining.

And it was also true that Andrion Berdo, despite being the eldest son, lacked ability.

“But saying it out loud is another matter, even if it’s true.”

Andrion’s eyes grew cold.

“After all, when he shows up, they’ll all be beaten to a pulp.”

Muttering to himself, Andrion continued to observe.

Meanwhile, the others carried on with their conversation.

“Well, they do seem to suit each other, low-born and all.”

“Yeah! That’s right.”

The kids burst into laughter at those words.

Among them, Joshua spoke up.

“But it’s still a shame.”

His eyes glimmered with vulgar desire.

“I wanted to break that arrogant facade once.”

Watching the situation, Andrion clenched his teeth slightly.

“Thank goodness Rubia isn’t here to see this.”

Rubia was still in the princess’s palace.

If she heard these vile insults, even as a villainess, she would be hurt.

“In that case, it’s time for the hero to make an appearance.”

At that moment, a unfamiliar voice was heard.

“I apologize for those words.”

Just hearing the voice felt refreshing.

Andrion quickly turned his gaze.

His hair, shining brightly like golden strands bathed in sunlight.

Bright blue eyes that sparkled vividly against his coppery skin.

It felt as if all the spotlights were pouring onto this boy.

Just by looking at him, Andrion could immediately sense the sacredness.

“As expected…”

The protagonist of this novel, the kindest and most virtuous character.

A fated boy who ultimately met his demise under the manipulation of the gods.

No matter what happened, he never gave up, which is why I admired and respected him the most.

He was Isaac Voss, a 15-year-old.