Chapter 3 – Imperial Palace Banquet (Part 5)
As he exited the banquet hall, the nobles who had been there finally let out a sigh of relief. Inferno did the same.
When Reubellina looked at him with a pitiful gaze, Tartenon stood in front of her, blocking her view. Realizing her mistake, Reubellina showed an awkward smile under Tartenon’ piercing gaze.
Tartenon didn’t say much, but it was clear he had no intention of continuing the banquet. The nobles naturally started to back out towards the entrance of the banquet hall.
That’s when…
“You there.”
Tartenon gestured to someone. His gesture was directed towards Bellaruse.
“Apologize to my fiancée.”
“Why should I…?”
“Since you didn’t properly follow the etiquette of the nobility, you should apologize. Are you now defying me, the Grand Duke?”
“Tartenon!”
“I don’t recall giving you permission to use my name so casually.”
When Bellaruse called out his name, Tartenon tilted his head slightly to the side.
‘How refreshing.’
It turned out that Bellaruse and Tartenon’s engagement was nothing but a political strategy. Reubellina, who felt lighter in heart, held out her hand to Tartenon.
“It’s alright. There’s no use trying to teach someone like that a lesson.”
“But, Lina…”
“I’m grateful for your sentiment, Ren. However, I cannot accept an apology from that lady. If she apologizes, I would have to forgive her, wouldn’t I?”
At Reubellina’s words, Bellaruse’s face flushed red.
She wanted to argue immediately, but couldn’t say anything. Inferno, thinking that he had already lost face, urged them to leave right away. With a distorted smile, Bellaruse and Inferno disappeared.
After watching the defeated ones leave, Reubellina turned her body and smiled brightly.
“Those uninvited guests have ruined the mood of the banquet.”
“Don’t worry, Reubellina. We didn’t think of it that way at all.”
A noble lady from a count’s family approached and comforted her.
“What shameless people. To misbehave without even recognizing their own wrongdoing.”
“Thank you for the comforting words, Aria.”
Reubellina slightly bowed her head in gratitude. Tartenon also gave a slight nod to Aria. Seeing his response, other nobles came forward to offer words of comfort, and Reubellina took the lead in resolving the situation.
“Thank you all so much for coming today. While the uninvited guests disrupted the mood, I hope you all return home safely.”
“Not at all, Reubellina. It’s been a delightful banquet.”
“Please be sure to take the gifts prepared at the entrance of the banquet hall. I put my heart into them.”
Reubellina gracefully bowed to the nobles. Tartenon also stood by her side and saw off the nobles leaving the banquet hall. Once all the nobles had departed, Reubellina and Tartenon also left the imperial banquet hall.
***
Outside the banquet hall, Inferno and Bellaruse took a seat in a secluded garden. Inferno stroked the sobbing Bellaruse’s shoulders, but her crying didn’t stop. In fact, it only grew louder now that they were in a place without people, causing an annoyed expression to appear on Inferno’s face.
“What should we do now? Our love has been denied.”
“That can’t be. Don’t worry, Bellaruse. You will become my princess.”
Bellaruse leaned into the comforting Inferno. She was frustrated with Inferno for not stepping up and taking control of the situation.
Realizing that his reputation as part of the imperial family was just an illusion, Bellaruse gritted her teeth. Staying by Inferno’s side like this, she was likely to end up as a mistress, not a Princess. She had sensed her future in Monterno’s piercing gaze.
‘Inferno won’t be able to protect me.’
Her trust in Inferno had vanished upon seeing him cower before Monterno. She had thought the imperial family had immense wealth and power, but Inferno was only half the man. All the authority in the imperial family belonged to Monterno, and the Emperor had no intention of undermining the Crown Prince’s authority.
‘What does that woman see in this guy that she’s been sticking with him for so long?’
Inferno’s subtle caressing of her waist made her want to sigh. After being so humiliated, he wasn’t even trying to restore her honor but was instead seeking immediate pleasure.
“Inferno!”
Bellaruse shouted angrily, but Inferno disregarded her and tried to lift up her dress.
“Why are you resisting me today?”
“Even after what happened to us at the banquet, are we just going to let it go?”
Bellaruse grabbed the hand trying to lift her dress and placed her own hand on top, caressing it.
“In this empire, the imperial family is at the highest position. But how dare they threaten a prince. Does the Duke of Asillious know of this?”
“I doubt the Duke knows.”
“Then of course we should go and tell him!”
“Tell him? Why?”
“Because the lady of the Duchy had the audacity to threaten the royalty.”
Thinking that she had to act since Inferno remained silent, Bellaruse gave a cunning smile.
However, Inferno’s attitude was quite reluctant. He looked like he was going to run off at any moment, but instead, he sat down next to her. Seeing that he seemed to have something to say, she asked him.
“Why aren’t you going?”
“It won’t do much good even if I go. The Chancellor is a fearsome person, you know.”
“But Inferno, you are of the imperial family. You must uphold your authority as a member of the imperial house.”
“…….”
Inferno gave no response. Frustrated by his silence, Bellaruse forced a smile and whispered.
“Then how about going to His Majesty? If His Majesty learns of this, he won’t stay still.”
“… Does it really have to be that way?”
“It’s a matter of the imperial family’s dignity, Inferno.”
At Bellaruse’s affectionate whisper, he clenched his fist tightly.
“Very well, I’ll go and speak to my Father.”
Inferno abruptly stood up from his seat and planted a kiss on her cheek.
“I’ll muster the courage for you.”
“Oh, Inferno. That’s so touching.”
Inferno kissed her lips again while she smiled coyly, then hurried off, leaving her behind. Bellaruse wiped her lips in annoyance and stood up from her seat.
“What the hell!”
Bellaruse was furious that the man she’d picked and chosen was just a superficial royalty. She hadn’t left her position as the Grand Duke’s fiancée for this; she had rejected Tartenon because she wanted to live in the splendor and beauty of the palace, at least, rather than in the barren North.
She had been taken aback when the imperial family had suddenly asked her to marry the Grand Duke. At that time, she was in the midst of wholeheartedly seducing Inferno.
But after thinking a bit more, it seemed like an opportunity, so she accepted the imperial proposal. If she had distanced herself from Inferno after being close, he would have become more desperate and tried to seek her out.
Bellaruse’s prediction had been spot on. As soon as she appeared in the capital, the still-enamored Inferno came to find her. Wanting to escape the persistent princess who had been tormenting her every time she came to the capital due to her engagement to Tartenon, Bellaruse had broken off the engagement.
‘I should have just put up with her!’
Tartenon, who readily accepted to break off the engagement was a bit strange, but Bellaruse soon erased her doubts, filled with the hope of becoming part of the imperial family.
For the next few days, she was happy. Inferno bought her whatever she desired and supported her in anything she wanted to do.
When Bellaruse, frequenting the Scheh Boutique, heard about the grandest banquet being held in the Imperial Palace, she pestered Inferno. Unable to ignore her demand, Inferno obtained an invitation, and she was humiliated at the event.
For Bellaruse, who had been living arrogantly relying on her pretty face, this was the greatest crisis of her life.
Seeking a way out of this situation, Bellaruse sat in the garden for a long time before leaving. A chilling wind blew through the spot where she had been.
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Nous_Defions
I’m sad that, because of all those years she spent with Inferno (what a damned fitting name), she became weary of the kindness and affection Ren is showing her, because Inferno never once did them for her…
As for the cheatinf basturds… Well, they sure deserve each other… I hope they rot! 😈😈😈