Chapter 6 (Part 9)
The atmosphere in the Emperor’s chamber was tense, as though everyone was dancing on the edge of a well-honed blade.
No one dared to lift their heads, fearing they might lose them. Behind their fans, the faces of noblewomen were slick with cold sweat.
Felipe, scanning the room, smiled in satisfaction.
‘Yes! Fear me even more.’
He was the Emperor of the Caspian Empire, not their friend.
This ball was not only meant to display the power of the Imperial Family but also to warn the nobles.
If any of you dare to commit treason, the outcome will undoubtedly be tragic.
And he had made it clear that even the great Duke Richard was nothing more than a dog under his command.
“Why aren’t they playing music?”
At the Emperor’s command, the frozen musicians began playing again, and only then did a few nobles start approaching him to offer greetings.
“We greet the Sun of the Empire.”
“May the blessings of Goddess Diana be upon you!”
The praise and reverence were far more exaggerated than usual.
‘Yes, show your loyalty properly.’
Felipe, idly playing with his long nails, nodded perfunctorily while observing the nobles reflected in the mirror.
Since ascending as Crown Prince, Felipe had always lived with the fear of rebellion. His older brother, the former Crown Prince, had died in a sudden accident, and the Emperor had also passed away under mysterious circumstances.
He, too, could die at any moment.
The room was filled with people who coveted the Emperor’s throne.
There was one face, in particular, that bothered him. Felipe’s somber gray eyes landed on Duke Richard.
Even after being humiliated in front of everyone, Duke Richard appeared as composed as ever.
‘This isn’t satisfying at all.’
Though many nobles bowed their heads to him, Felipe couldn’t trust them. He had planted spies in noble households and stationed soldiers in the streets to root out traitors.
‘But I still feel uneasy.’
Felipe desired an absolute imperial authority that no one could challenge. He was desperate enough to sell his soul to the devil to achieve it.
“……”
His fingertips began to tremble—it seemed the effects of the drug were wearing off. He would need to sneak away to smoke in a private place soon.
As he rose from his seat, Felipe noticed a woman in a white dress and smirked faintly.
***
After dancing three consecutive songs, Therese returned to her seat with Duke Richard. Her legs ached, and she was out of breath.
‘Besides, His Grace seems a little strange.’
Though he didn’t show it outwardly, his complexion hadn’t been good since returning from the Emperor.
As the Duke wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, he spoke.
“How is it?”
“……”
Therese only gave a faint smile in response to his question.
‘Is he asking if I’m enjoying the ball?’
But Therese had only ever dreamed of balls when she was very young.
Here, she felt like a marionette bowing before the Emperor.
As Therese was about to say something, the Duke continued.
“Doesn’t it remind you of the bazaar?”
Duke Richard, sipping water, gestured with his chin toward a certain direction.
Nearby, two noblewomen were fanning themselves lightly and exchanging greetings.
“Lady Varsila is coming of age this year, isn’t she?”
“I’ve heard Viscount Olaf’s son is in his final year at the Academy.”
Marriage arrangements among nobles were a means to maintain and expand their power. They would never consider accepting someone of a lower status.
“This is called a ball, but it’s really just a marriage market.”
They were bargaining, weighing what would bring the most gain or loss.
‘Mother and I are part of that world too.’
Jeremy Richard, standing at the pinnacle of noble society, could not deny this. He simply expressed his rejection of it by staying away from balls and social gatherings as much as possible.
At that moment, Therese’s voice pulled Jeremy out of his thoughts.
“Your Grace, are you all right?”
At her question, he ran a hand through his hair and smiled.
“I’m fine. It’s just….”
He gazed deeply into Therese’s eyes but trailed off.
His eyes seemed to hold many unspoken words, but someone approached them, interrupting their conversation.
It was a noblewoman wearing a large hat decorated with lilies atop her puffed-up hair.
“Your Grace, Duke Richard! How wonderful it is to see such a dignified presence at the ball.”
“Thank you.”
Starting with her, several nobles and noblewomen came to greet the Duke, but Therese noticed something strange.
‘Why is he acting so oddly?’
The Duke, who was usually confident and unshakable, seemed visibly uncomfortable as he exchanged greetings.
‘Could it be that he doesn’t recognize them after being away at war for so long?’
At that moment, she spotted Baroness Ferdian approaching from afar.
‘Of all people, it would be troublesome if he acted like this with Baroness Ferdian.’
The Baroness was not only known for flattering her mother-in-law but also for her loose tongue.
“Your Grace, Baroness Ferdian is coming this way.”
“……”
Soon, Baroness Ferdian appeared, and this time, Duke Richard managed to greet her properly.
It was such a rare occasion for the Duke to attend a ball that nobles were lining up to exchange greetings with him. Scanning the line, the Duke whispered to Therese.
“Would you like to dance?”
“……Yes.”
Therese nodded vigorously at his suggestion.
‘It’s better than these tedious greetings.’
She never thought she’d be so glad to hear someone ask her to dance. But as soon as the music started, Therese quickly regretted her decision.
‘Why is he looking at me like that?’
The Duke’s gaze was so intense that it made her skin tingle. She tried to avoid his eyes and focus on the dance, but it was hard to escape his presence.
‘Why did I help the Duke?’
Seeing the Duke struggle with the greetings, he had seemed just as out of place at the ball as she often felt. And Therese didn’t like seeing him look so vulnerable.
Duke Richard was meant to be confident and commanding.
One pitiful figure was enough, and that was her. Shaking her head, Therese tried to clear away her muddled thoughts.
‘Let’s just call it repayment for escorting me tonight.’
There was no need to overthink it.
A magical midsummer night like this would never come again.
As she steadied her thoughts, the Duke spoke.
“I could never do it.”
“Do what?”
“Divorce you.”
The Duke, who had somehow placed his hand around her waist, lowered his head and whispered into her ear.
“Don’t do this, Your Grace.”
When Therese shrugged her shoulders, the Duke quickly adjusted his posture and continued dancing as if nothing had happened.
“Tonight, I have something I must tell you.”
“I have nothing to hear from you.”
It had been so long since she’d first brought up divorce, yet the Duke continued to act this way. She understood it was for the sake of the family’s honor, but his words always managed to shake her.
‘I can’t let myself be swayed again.’
When the music stopped, Therese quickly pulled her hand away from his and stammered.
“I-I need to fix my makeup.”
Then, instead of heading to the powder room, she hurried out of the ballroom. If she stayed by the Duke’s side any longer, she feared she might make an irreparable mistake.
“……Hah, hah.”
Walking through the corridor while catching her breath, Therese’s face was filled with turmoil.
She couldn’t shake the image of the Duke’s deep gaze and his tender voice.
‘Is he trying to mock me?’
If that was his intention, then the Duke had succeeded perfectly.
***
Once she stepped outside, she felt like she could finally breathe again.
“……Hah.”
She wandered through the splendid and immaculate garden for a while until she discovered an old wall hidden in the overgrown bushes.
‘No one will come here.’
Pushing through the bushes, she found a neglected corner of the garden with a single crape myrtle tree in full bloom.
“There’s a place like this in the Imperial Palace?”
It seemed completely unmaintained, with weeds growing knee-high over her dress. As she pushed through the weeds and moved forward, a breeze swept through, causing the crape myrtle blossoms to rain down like petals.
“……Wow!”
The dreamy atmosphere was a stark contrast to the noisy Imperial ball, and Therese couldn’t help but close her eyes.
The scent wafting past her nose was like the clean air of a forest after rain. It wasn’t sweet, but it was comforting in its own way.
Thanks to that, her restless thoughts began to settle.
“……Hah.”
Leaning against the tree, she hurriedly took out the medicine from her purse and swallowed it. If she had an attack here, it would be disastrous.
“What am I even doing here?”
She had come to this ball at the Emperor’s command, but she still didn’t understand what she was supposed to be doing.
‘Baron Demori sent word that his ship was delayed and he wouldn’t be able to attend today.’
Recalling the message she had received that morning, Therese’s expression darkened.
The only thing she had wanted tonight was for her father to see her dancing with Duke Richard.
‘Life really doesn’t go the way you want it to.’
The harder she tried, the more things seemed to fall apart.
When she looked up, the star-filled night sky above seemed to pour down on her.
‘They sparkle like someone’s eyes.’
If she stared too long, she might go blind.
Bidding farewell to the beautiful scenery, she lowered her head, and once again, the wind blew. This time, an unfamiliar figure appeared amidst the serene landscape.
“……Your Grace.”