Innocence, Corruption - CHAPTER 3 - The Most Obscene Banquet in the World - (Part 3)
CHAPTER 3 – The Most Obscene Banquet in the World – (Part 3)
The central hall was filled with dancers. If you didn’t have a partner, you couldn’t join. Right now, this was the only place in the ballroom where she could avoid Cedric.
Felix smoothly led her, whispering gently as they danced.
“Again, I’m telling you so you don’t make another mistake, but it’s the men who request the dance.”
“I know that much.”
“But then why…?”
It was urgent. She was spinning and dancing, but Cedric was still watching her as if she were the sole purpose of his attendance to the ball. Even though there was absolutely no way that could be true.
“It’s a masquerade ball anyway. What will they say behind my back?”
Unless they had a grand spectacle, rumors wouldn’t spread like wildfire. Not many people knew she was Lillian, and even if they did, all sorts of things tended to happen at masked balls.
It really didn’t matter. She would be leaving the capital soon.
“Is Sir Edelgard doing well?”
“Of course. I haven’t seen him for a few days, though.”
Cedric, back in the capital, wasn’t accustomed to mingling with regular knights. He mostly handled his work in his private office.
“Lillian, you’re still only looking for Sir Edelgard.”
“Well, you know… because of the Priest Council. There’s a lot of information to relay from Priest Tyrion.”
“Come to think of it, how long ago was it? I saw him once in front of Priest Johann’s workplace.”
“What?”
“As you know, the trial of the prisoners hasn’t concluded yet. He’s probably there to seek advice…”
‘Could it be…… because of me?’
If she had formally accused herself, it wouldn’t have ended with just shaving his head in repentance. At the very least, it would be a whipping or even torture.
‘As soon as the music stops, I’ll escape to the second floor. Shake off Cedric and leave the ballroom.’
She should have gone home much earlier. Having a few more drinks to cope with the news of his engagement was just… too much.
“Sigh.”
Felix, skillfully leading her, asked,
“Do you have any worries?”
“No, sorry for causing trouble.”
“Trouble? Was there some annoying fellow bothering you?”
“…”
She couldn’t dare to label Cedric as an ‘annoying fellow.’ Even if she briefly put aside her pride, there was no man in this ballroom, or even in the entire capital, comparable to Cedric Edelgard.
Among the selected knights, from his superior height to the rigorously trained body over a decade, he was a masterpiece forged in sweat. His features were as striking as a sculpted statue, and not to mention, his character was impeccable.
Everything was so perfect that it felt almost sinful to desire that man.
“Who is it? Who’s bothering you?”
“No one. There’s no one like that.”
Lillian fidgeted, pretending to concentrate on the dance.
“I heard you applied for a transfer to Turin.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because, Lord Turin is my uncle.”
He grinned proudly. Lillian stiffened immediately. She didn’t want anyone to know she was leaving the capital.
“Please don’t tell anyone.”
“For now, I’m the only one who knows. But why are you going to such a rural place? Are you tired of living in the capital after spending so much time on the battlefield?”
“Well, something like that…”
“Living in the countryside isn’t so bad.”
The waltz had reached its cl*max. Following Felix’s lead, Lillian moved away for a moment and then was embraced again within his arms.
“Have I ever told you?”
“Told me what?”
“You’re truly an amazing woman.”
As if intoxicated by the atmosphere, Felix’s eyes gazed softly at Lillian.
“During those dreadful battlefields, you were the bravest, Reverend Lillian.”
An awkward silence filled the air.
“The way you fought on the front lines left a deep impression on me. There is probably no other woman in the world as bold and wonderful as you.”
Lillian looked away, deliberately avoiding his gaze, her eyes finding Cedric of their own accord.
He was surrounded by noblewomen. With one hand on his hip, he swept a hand through his thick hair, looking quite embarrassed.
Out of the corner of his eye, Cedric glanced back at her. The handsome eyes that had initially shown confusion suddenly sharpened. Lillian looked away quickly, startled by the way he glared at her as if he were looking at a household enemy.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Huh?”
“That you’re the most beautiful girl in the world.”
“What? I can’t hear you.”
“You’re such a beautiful, strong woman, and I’m ashamed to say that I thought you were only pretty in the face, but everything about you is beautiful, from your head to your toes to your soul.”
“…”
“You make me want to become a better man than I am now.”
She seemed to have misled Felix by asking him to dance. Lillian pretended not to hear until the end.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the waltz ended.
“Shall we… go somewhere quiet and talk?”
“No, I’m going home now. Thanks for the dance. I came to the ball and wanted to dance at least once.”
Felix gave her wrist a wistful squeeze, but Lillian turned away just in time for the band to finish playing, and without a backward glance, she hurried up the stairs, blending into the confused crowd.
Fortunately, the second-floor balcony was deserted. As far as she could see from below, there was no one. It was a strange contrast from the chaotic first-floor ballroom.
‘The most beautiful girl in the world, my foot.’
Felix was a typical aristocratic man.
An aristocratic man who believed he could have anything he wanted.
He pretended to be courteous, with his mouth flowing with manners, but it was just a facade he put on in front of women.
She had overheard gossip from the men who gathered around the campfire every night on the battlefield. It wasn’t intentional. Once, she happened to hear her own name as they talked, as she washed the bloody bandages
<If it’s Lillian, she might sleep with you at least once.>
It was a shock to realize that the voice belonged to someone she considered a familiar friend.
<She’s from a poor family, but she’s got a pretty face, and those boobs…… Ugh, my eyes just go naturally to her udders when I see them. They’re so bouncy, you know.>
Then, a long series of whistles from the men.
She had endured countless taunts. However, Felix always acted kindly in front of her. But behind her back…
‘D*sgusting.’
Cedric, on the other hand, treated camp maids as comrades and explicitly forbade mocking or gossiping about them among the comrades.
Cedric was in many ways different from Felix. In front of others, he was gracious, unlike Felix, who made vulgar remarks and offensive comments behind people’s backs. Both being nobles, the two were even more strikingly contrasted.
In the rough battlefield where most were men, friend or foe, if it weren’t for Cedric’s protection, who knows what might have happened.
‘To insult such a person…’
Lillian pulled aside the heavy curtains on the balcony and looked down at the first floor. No matter how hard she searched, Cedric was nowhere to be found. It was impossible to miss a man with a head taller than most others. It seemed he had left early.
Suddenly, she heard a faint moan from beyond the balcony.