Chapter 3 – Imperial Palace Banquet (Part 3)

Strictly speaking, Bellaruse, who wasn’t invited, should not have been able to enter the imperial palace banquet hall. Bruelin, Tartenon’s aide, had intentionally excluded her when sending out the invitations, not wanting to make his master uncomfortable. But he never imagined that the betrayer who had called off the engagement with his lord and betrayed him would have the audacity to show up.

While the engagement to Bellaruse was forced upon him by imperial pressure, Tartenon still treated her with proper etiquette. It was Bellaruse who occasionally crossed the line, not him. That’s why Bruelin was even more enraged.

“It seems the Grand Duke’s tongue has grown thorns.”

Just as Bruelin was about to respond to Tartenon, Inferno stepped forward. With a deeply furrowed brow, he revealed his discomfort, causing the surrounding nobles to lower their heads. Even if he lacked ability, he was still a member of the imperial family. With his noble bloodline alone, he could stand above the other nobles for life.

“This is not a matter that should concern the Prince. Is it not enough for His Lord’s lady to interfere in the conversation between the ladies? Now, attempting to admonish as well. What kind of etiquette is this?”

Tartenon’s scathing words were directed at Inferno. Inferno did not heed the underlying implication that he was defending a woman who did not even know proper etiquette.

“Since when does one face reprimand for offering advice?”

“Advice?”

“Aren’t I trying to resolve the situation in a good way!”

Inferno exclaimed. The nobles, with their heads bowed, couldn’t suppress their silent laughter at his foolishness. Who exactly was trying to resolve whose situation?

Among the people present, there was no one here of lesser rank than Bellaruse. Yet, Bellaruse had intruded without discerning where she should and should not speak up.

The fact that they hadn’t immediately dismissed her was already a mercy, but now that Inferno had stepped in, they had to determine the rights and wrongs. Otherwise, Tartenon would be accused of persecuting a member of the imperial family for no reason.

“Aren’t you just making the situation worse?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Reubellina stepped in. Tartenon tightened his grip on her hand, trying to stop her, but Reubellina could no longer remain silent.

“Lady Zeraon, how dare you interfere while the ladies are conversing? And to address me so informally as well.”

She could not forgive Bellaruse for addressing her name so casually. Reubellina had no intention of letting her get away with her attempt to insinuate herself and raise her own status by acting friendly.

“I never gave you permission to use my name so casually, did I?”

The cold voice was directed at Bellaruse. She shrank and trembled at Reubellina’s sharp words. To an outside observer, it would appear that Reubellina was oppressing Bellaruse.

Despite Bellaruse’s obvious scheming, Reubellina didn’t back down.

“Don’t try to act familiar with me. The Baron Zeraon and my father, Duke Asillious, are not on speaking terms, and there’s no reason for us to have any in the future.”

“Ugh…! How can you say such things!”

“Reubellina!”

Hearing Bellaruse’s tearful outburst, Inferno rushed to her defense.

“Your Highness, please behave appropriately as well. Do you intend to turn the Duke Asillious into an enemy?”

A chilling warning echoed through the banquet hall. However, no one else stepped forward. Those nobles who were about to interject with comments about daring to threaten the nobility were silenced by Tartenon’s sharp aura, and those who knew the financial power of the Duchy of Asillious didn’t say a word at all.

Meanwhile, Inferno, taken aback by Reubellina’s fierce demeanor that he had never seen before, couldn’t properly counter her.

He was struck with fear. It was clear that the Emperor had commanded him to appease Reubellina and maintain the engagement. If Bellaruse was preferred, he was to take her as a mistress.

However, Inferno had not approached the Duchy of Asillious. How could he go and ask to reinstate the engagement after breaking it off? It would undermine his authority as nobility. And most importantly, he could not bring himself to bow his head to Reubellina, who was far inferior to him.

‘But what’s with that attitude?’

The always demure and obedient Reubellina was nowhere to be seen. If he had known about this side of her, he might not have broken off the engagement. He fell for Bellaruse’s lively charm because Reubellina’s docile nature had been boring.

Inferno tried to hide his flustered state and spoke sternly.

“Are you threatening me now?”

“Threatening? No, it’s more of a piece of advice. As you know, my father dotes on me so much…”

Though she didn’t actually have such intentions, she meant that if Duke Asillious, who cherished her, his daughter, so much, found out, she didn’t know what would happen. Only then did the nobles recall the fearsome figure of Duke Asillious.

They had forgotten that the Duke held the position of chancellor and was the leader of the imperial nobility. Moreover, if there was someone he disliked, he would thoroughly uncover every single weakness and wield them against that person. The only person he spared was Inferno, and that was solely because of Reubellina.

‘But the engagement has already been broken off.’

After pondering over it, Inferno had turned Duke Asillious into an enemy. He, a mere prince, still had some intelligence.

When Inferno remained silent and simply listened to Reubellina’s words, Bellaruse bit her lip. Seeing that, Reubellina smiled and spoke.

“And this advice holds true for Baron Zeraon as well.”

Reubellina had no intention of letting Bellaruse go. If they leave her be, the uninvited intruder, to cause a disturbance here, it is clear what might happen once Reubellina leaves the capital’s social circle.

‘I didn’t care then, but not now.’

She was reluctant to invoke the power of her father, the chancellor, but she had no choice but to restrain the arrogant Bellaruse. The same was true of Inferno.

Reubellina could see the corners of his mouth twitch, as he lacked the status and power of the imperial family.

‘If no one steps up, then I can wrap this up…’

Just as Reubellina was about to speak again, the servant called out in a loud voice.

“The Crown Prince has arrived!”