47. Hot War or Cold War

 Gentlemen wearing similar suits sat one by one on steps that looked like multiple platforms stacked together, smoking cigarettes and engaging in casual conversation.

The smoky carriage house was filled with the pungent smell of wine. In front of it were several gambling tables that looked like they were brought from a casino, along with multiple billiard tables.

‘What date…’

Celestian snorted and tore off the bottom part of the memo to hand it to the chip exchange counter.

In this life, Celestian only attended the minimum required banquets and parties that the king ordered him to attend. This was to prevent accidentally running into Daphne.

‘If I had known she held me in her heart, I wouldn’t have done that.’

His neck tingled, perhaps from regret. Celestian slowly approached the poker table where a familiar man sat.

“Brother.”

Romeo, the only one with a clean face here, waved to Celestian first. His golden eyes were the same color as Daphne’s but gave off a distinctly different impression.

“Hello, little brother.”

He sat across from Romeo as suggested and looked around. The dealer with a straight-trimmed mustache dealt the first cards.

Celestian folded without betting for the first four rounds.

Many men had flushed expressions and were proudly displaying lipstick marks here and there.

Some smoked thick cigars in crooked postures, not bothering to fix their disheveled clothes as if it were something to boast about.

Celestian tapped his cheek, where he could still feel the shape of Daphne’s lips, with his index finger.

A round of crude male gossip followed about passion and coldness between men and women. Celestian just kept his mouth shut, feeling like he needed to wash his ears.

Romeo had taken the victories in all the games so far. After roughly gauging the situation, Celestian checked his cards and bet five black chips.

“Miss Beaucater seems to manage attending the wedding somehow. And accompanied by a traitor at that.”

Celestian’s head turned.

As always, the topic turned to Daphne Beaucater, who was said to be most envied by women and most feared by men. Their courage to gossip about the Crown Prince’s cousin was remarkable.

It was a rule that whatever happened at bachelor parties stayed at bachelor parties — once it ended, everyone would forget the conversations and go home, so such low-quality gossip was perfectly acceptable.

Until last year, the hottest topic had been about the love rivalry between the Marquis’s daughter and Miss Denver.

Today being the Crown Prince’s party, everyone seemed to refrain from mentioning the future Crown Princess.

The current common targets were Daphne, her lover Celestian Teriosa, and Romeo Rodriguez, who would likely be attending his last bachelor party.

“His Highness the Crown Prince must have often seen the villainess cry.”

“Haven’t we all seen it plenty? At parties, by the lake, everywhere. Whenever she appeared, she would cry so well.”

Celestian paused briefly. Muttering “fold,” he looked at the face of the person who had just spoken.

‘Not because of me?’

There was no light in Celestian’s green eyes.

It was common for Daphne’s name to come up in such low-quality conversations. While he hadn’t had the qualification before, now was clearly different.

After all, Celestian was here as her lover.

“It seems like just yesterday she was crying her eyes out because His Highness the Crown Prince wouldn’t accept her love.”

“It’s quite disappointing to think that entertaining spectacle is completely over.”

Romeo chuckled as he brought his glass to his lips. Then he glanced at Celestian. The sunken green eyes met directly with his golden ones.

What are you looking at.

Celestian mouthed. Then he pulled up his lips into a smile. It was clearly imitating Daphne’s manner, which made Romeo raise his eyebrows as well.

Celestian quietly won this round too. The chips he had bet returned to his hand multiplied several times.

“You were with His Highness the Crown Prince this afternoon. What did you discuss?”

“Oh, nothing much.”

Romeo answered casually. This was news to Celestian.

‘Then, the reason for her bad mood wasn’t because of the sunlight.’

Though she had said she wasn’t interested in becoming Crown Princess, Celestian couldn’t fully understand her heart. As always, like one thing leading to another, Daphne always created situations that were variables in themselves.

“Hmm.”

One corner of Celestian’s chest tingled.

“What was she thinking, coming to her rival’s wedding? Is she planning to cause a scene?”

“My, we must admit she’s indeed the craziest woman in the royal palace.”

“Your Highness Grand Duke Teriosa.”

Celestian looked at the person who addressed him. It was a man with a completely exposed forehead who looked like he’d been buttered up.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Wiers.”

More precisely, Count Wiers’s husband.

Though technically a commoner by rank, he didn’t use full honorifics when addressing the Count. A nouveau riche who had an easy life after marrying well.

‘What does he do now again, some third-rate gossip magazine?’

Celestian took a sip of whiskey from the square glass and slightly raised his eyebrows as if asking why he was being called.

“Do you know that Miss Beaucater was originally His Highness the Crown Prince’s fiancée?”

“Ah, I forgot. It was quite the talk. She chased after him with such force last year, how could Miss Beaucater follow her cousin around saying she likes him.” 

 “She’s been famous since childhood. I was afraid she might even follow to the battle in Libian.”

“Fortunately she broke her leg. No, that girl would have crawled there if she had to. Her obsession was terrifying.”

Endawin, a collateral member of the royal family, said.

“Lord Endawin. I know too. Daphne has always been like that. As if a mere leg injury was anything significant. She often tries to turn even her own misfortunes into money. Well, she hasn’t changed at all.”

It was Oscar who chimed in. Celestian’s eyes turned toward him.

‘Should I tear him to pieces……’

Celestian thought languidly while resting his chin on his hand. They flinched at his emotionless green eyes but quickly recovered with smiles and raised hands. The topic changed rapidly.

“It’s all because His Highness the Crown Prince is the most handsome in the continent. My darling gives me such a headache, endlessly praising His Highness’s appearance every time she sees you, Romeo.”

“Ah, perhaps I should start covering my face.”

Romeo chuckled while touching his face with his black-gloved hand.

“That would likely become a trend among the royal palace gentlemen as well.”

“Her temperament matches her hair color, fiery, that Miss Beaucater.”

“I wonder what she’s like in bed.”

Now the gazes finally landed on Celestian. He was still leisurely pushing chips onto the table.

These men who claimed to receive women’s love were enjoying themselves badmouthing women. He wasn’t unaware of such common hypocrisy. It was just disgusting.

Again call, raise, raise, call……

“What’s so appealing about Miss Beaucater? My wife keeps pestering me about wanting to take a lover too.”

“Even then, that villainess…… hmph, she’s clearly just being kept as a substitute.”

Dull-colored eyes glanced at the prince in the light. Celestian merely showed leisure, crossing his legs and rolling the chips in his hand. He was currently memorizing the faces of those who kept running their mouths.

Despite life repeating several times, there seemed to be about fifteen people here who would invariably die by his hands in every situation.

‘How bothersome.’

Right now, exchanging jokes with Daphne was the most enjoyable thing.

“She must be like stockings — wear them once and throw them away.”

“Stockings……”

When one person spoke, even those in the back started laughing.

‘Idiots.’

Celestian scratched his cheek. Romeo too, tired of the endless tedious rally, unnecessarily grabbed his already loosened collar once and shook his head.

Cards easily flipped and chips easily came under his hand. Celestian’s eyes, glowing red under the yellow lighting, fell indifferently onto the green poker table.

Since his first bet, Celestian had been putting various treasures that other wives had wagered under Daphne’s name.

“Teriosa…… ah, should we call you Your Highness Prince?”

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Celestian was monopolizing, having already amassed not just black chips but blue and red chips as well. Despite losing this much, the men here continued to run their mouths as if they had the right to do so. 

 “No. Shouldn’t we call him by the headline name that appears in newspapers?”

“Ah, the Red Villainess’s lover.”

They each laughed crudely.

“It seems even the prince hasn’t seen her cry…… There wouldn’t be enough time to make that vicious woman laugh, let alone cry.”

“One wrong move and it wouldn’t be strange to have your limbs cut off right away.”

“There are rumors you two roll around day and night, how is it? Let’s have an honest talk.”

“Hmm?”

Celestian finally lifted his head slightly to look at the faces of those speaking.

Several faces hardened at his leisurely smile that suggested he either hadn’t heard until now or had been ignoring them well. Romeo hesitated for a moment but soon shook his head, thinking this couldn’t be helped.

“I mean about your love front with Miss Daphne. Whether it’s always cold war or hot war……”

“Ah, my princess.”

A voice just low enough to be pleasant. The men turned to look at the platinum-haired traitor. Celestian, who seemed to be thinking about something, removed the hand supporting his chin and slowly turned over his cards.

“She cries every night saying she likes me.”

Celestian brought his lightly clenched fist near his eyes and pretended to squeeze out tears while slightly pushing out his lower lip.

“When she faints from crying, there isn’t enough time at night left to comfort her.”

He continued to draw out the suspense, weighing whether to speak or not.

Despite clearly being in a position of nothing, it was the leisure that could only come from having already possessed the woman everyone wanted.

“I hardly have time to gauge whether our current state is a hot war or cold war.”