I Was Tricked Into A Fraudulent Marriage By The Obsessive Villain - Chapter 5.7 - Banquet

 Colorful lights filled the banquet hall.

“…….”

Iona felt like she was about to die of embarrassment.

Carvain, standing on one side of the hall, caught her eye.

Shouldn’t she go to his side now?

Her mind was so overwhelmed it felt like it was going to explode.

No, how did the situation get so twisted like this?

Johanna grabbed Iona’s arm as if to say not to have any foolish thoughts.

“It’s too late to turn back now. Are you going to make a fool of your sister?”

“…So why didn’t you ask me about this? Don’t you know how messed up the situation is, sister?”

“It’s not messed up. Anyway, since it’s a marriage that has not even received the emperor’s approval, there’s a good chance of winning the case.”

Well, we did receive the temple’s approval.

It seemed Johanna was even considering a divorce lawsuit. Iona had to try not to frown.

“Sister… please!”

Johanna ignored Iona’s words and started introducing her to the nobles.

“Your Grace, the Duke. It’s been a long time.”

“Count Tera. It’s been a while. This is my sister Iona.”

“Haha. It seems you are Lady Hardin, whom Her Grace cherishes so much that she hesitates to introduce you to the social circles. It is an honor to meet you. I am Count Ainos Tera.”

“Ah, yes, yes……”

“I have been cautious about taking her outside because she has been frail. Now, I think we might accompany each other more often.”

…Excuse me. Frail?

“It’s only right. Should such a beautiful person be hidden away in the mansion for Her Grace alone to admire?”

“Wow. The Hardin family really must be acknowledged. How can all three siblings be so distinguished!”

Iona was quickly surrounded by the nobles.

Being inexperienced in such matters, Iona only adhered to the three things Madam Kalzavas had strictly taught her.

“Ha, haha…… Hello. Yes.”

Even as she chatted with the nobles, Iona felt Carvain’s presence like a grain of sand on her fingertips.

“…….”

Even when she glanced at Carvain, he did not look her way, not even once.

As if he was ignoring her. For some reason, she felt disappointed at that.

…Am I crazy, really?

When  I was so afraid, and now I feel disappointed?

She was disgusted with her ambivalent feelings.

Yet, despite berating herself, she couldn’t control her gaze drifting towards Carvain.

Meanwhile, someone led a group of young ladies towards him.

“……!”

Iona’s pupils widened. She immediately recognized who it was upon seeing that face.

‘ It’s her, it’s her…… the flower garden……! ‘

It was Titia Alonbram, who was engaged to Carvain in the original story.

 “Hoohoo.”

Titia Alonbram walked confidently up to Grand Duke Thanatos. She could not forget the first time she had seen him.

She had come to the palace with her father and saw him there. Titia felt like she was blinded the moment she saw him.

Was this fate?

The moment she first saw him, Titia made a firm decision. She would make that man hers.

A beautiful, unfortunate prince with no power.

‘How would it feel to have him whisper love to me with that face?’

Titia had imagined it every day.

The fact that they hadn’t exchanged a word didn’t bother her at all. He must have fallen in love with her the moment he saw her too.

In her mind, Titia had already named her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

– Titia. The Grand Duke’s seat just happened to be vacant, so why don’t you take it?

– That’s right, he must have been waiting for you, seeing as you’re here alone, without a partner.

– Oh. He must have been too shy to ask you to be his partner. Well, men who’ve only been on the battlefield lack boldness~!

The young ladies surrounding Titia praised her.

They were like tongues in the mouth.

– Go and save that poor man who’s secretly in love! Hurry!

Titia licked her lips and started to pace, pretending she couldn’t hear them.

“Your Highness.”

Titia called out to him in the most tender voice she could muster.

She was confident.

Confident that even if they exchanged just a single word, the man would fall in love with her.

No, from the very first day they met, she knew the man had fallen in love with her just as she had with him.

Because she and the man were destined for each other.

If asked why they were destined, there was only one answer. Because she desired the man.

“Your Highness.”

At Titia’s call, the Grand Duke turned his head towards her.

“I am Titia Alonbram.”

Titia said, simply smiling without any further words.

What need was there for many words between destined partners?

“Ah. Lady Alonbram, the daughter of the Count. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“……!”

The Grand Duke smiled back at her. His smile seemed to take Titia’s breath away.

She took a deep breath and stepped closer to him.

“I’m so glad to see you again, Your Highness. I’m also relieved that you returned safely from the battlefield.”

Titia spoke with a voice as smooth as rolling marbles. Of course, she didn’t forget to blush like a girl in love.

“Again…….”

The Grand Duke tilted his head slightly in response to Titia’s words.

‘I knew it. You were in love with me too.’

Just like she thought, the man was undoubtedly smitten with her, as if by fate.

“A handsome man and a beautiful woman together are a sight for sore eyes.”

“Don’t you think the combination of Lady Titia’s brown hair and Grand Duke Thanatos’s silver hair is splendid? Ho ho.”

Suddenly, Titia’s followers, who had rushed over, began to create an atmosphere around Grand Duke Thanatos and Titia.

“……”

Among them, Grand Duke Thanatos was simply staring intently at Titia without a word.

Titia lifted the corners of her mouth at his gaze. Silence is often seen as consent, isn’t it?

“Your Highness, if you have the time, would you care to visit my family’s villa? It’s famous for its beautifully blooming summer roses.”

Titia laid out the red carpet for the shy man.

There’s a saying in the empire that proposing under the summer roses guarantees a century of happiness.

How beautiful would a man be, proposing to her under the roses of her villa?

“I would love to show it to you, Your Highness… Will you come?”

Titia took another step forward and brushed the Grand Duke’s arm.

The beautiful man simply turned up the corners of his mouth towards her again.

“……”

Crack-.

A crack appeared in the glass that Iona was holding.

“Oh my. Lady Hardin? Are you alright?”

“Ah, I’m fine. There was a crack in the glass.”

Iona, feigning nonchalance, put the glass down.

“Lady, may I invite you to the tea party at our mansion next time? We’ve brought in some precious tea recently imported by the duchy.”

“Ah, yes. Of course, I’ll go……”

Even as she mechanically responded, she couldn’t take her eyes off Carvain.