Side Story 1: Crown Prince Rui (3)

Clearly, she hadn’t expected Larié to know her name.

With the recent reshuffling of the nobility, many new faces had appeared in the capital’s social circles.

The Shepherdon barony was one of them, having only recently entered the capital.

Still, Larié had memorized the names and faces of everyone who would be attending today.

She also knew every current issue within these social circles.

“I cannot let the words you so carelessly uttered pass unchallenged.”

Coldly, she cast her gaze to several other young ladies.

Some were seated at the table. Others lingered nearby, eavesdropping.

Every one of them quickly avoided her eyes.

All had played a part in goading the Shepherdon baroness.

They had likely pushed the one with the weakest backing to speak first.

Having closely followed the flow of events in the capital, Larié quickly grasped the situation.

Her resolute voice continued.

“Is this not a grave discourtesy on such a joyous day?”

At her declaration, Baroness Shepherdon turned pale.

She clearly hadn’t expected the Empress to respond this strongly.

Their expectations wouldn’t have been unreasonable—

Larié could have simply used this moment to reinforce Rui’s legitimacy and assert the sanctity of her bloodline.

They likely assumed as much, which is why they dared to speak at all.

They had counted on a polite back-and-forth,

a little political pageantry to conclude it all.

But Larié ignored such calculated gains and losses. She pressed on.

“A single drop of water can overflow a lake.

Likewise, a seemingly small word can create a devastating fracture.

Surely, you were not unaware of that.”

“T-that is…”

By using the word “you,” she made it clear:

she knew exactly who had manipulated the baroness.

She also warned that when it came to Rui,

she would tolerate not even the smallest insult.

Most of all, Larié wanted to change the toxic nature of this court society.

That had become her personal principle going forward.

“……Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

The Shepherdon baroness bowed her head at once, pleading for forgiveness—

still too afraid to rise from her seat.

“My lady.”

A firm voice came from behind her.

Larié turned, surprised—she hadn’t realized he was so near.

Their eyes met.

Terian didn’t stop there.

He dipped his head slightly, as if needing to personally confirm she was alright.

“Are you unharmed?”

“Your Majesty…”

“It looked tense, so I came to see for myself.”

In truth, his involvement right now went against the unspoken rules of high society. Terian surely knew that.

Even so, he approached Larié without hesitation. When she cast her gaze far off, the nobles who had been conversing with Terian pretended not to see, out of respect for the emperor’s dignity.

Though the way they kept glancing over made their curiosity obvious.

“I’m all right.”

Larié answered calmly. She could feel Terian studying her complexion, as if gauging the truth of her words.

He was treating her like a child left by the lakeside again. Larié could tell. On the surface, he seemed expressionless, but she knew he was utterly restless.

To think she found that side of him cute—she must truly be a hopeless case.

“Don’t worry. I need to speak with the young ladies for a moment. Would you excuse us?”

Larié smiled faintly and took his arm, then gently stroked up his forearm and met his gaze.

She didn’t dislike his attention, but this time, she wanted to handle it on her own. This was truly something she could resolve herself.

“Understood.”

Terian, who had tensed slightly at her touch, now answered gently.

He glanced once toward the Shepherdon baron’s daughter, then stood. Then, as if he’d never worn that fierce expression, he tenderly kissed Larié’s hair.

It was such a smooth and natural gesture that Larié didn’t find it strange in the slightest. She didn’t even notice the sharp looks from the other young ladies at the table.

Terian soon returned to where he’d been. Once the emperor—more fearsome than a storm—had left, the Shepherdon baron’s daughter unconsciously let out a breath.

The empress’s words had been nothing short of a lifeline. They had signaled she wouldn’t escalate what had just happened.

“There will not be a second time, young lady.”

And yet Larié gave one final, quiet warning.

The daughter of Baron Shepherdon bowed her head at once, trembling visibly.

“I-I am simply grateful for Your Majesty’s mercy.”

But she wasn’t the only one on edge. Those who had encouraged the baron’s daughter to speak up so recklessly also bowed their heads. Now that they had made eye contact with Larié, begging for forgiveness was their only hope.

They remembered well what had happened to the foolish nobles who once signed that petition. The season of grim executions had long since passed, but the might of the imperial family remained as sharp as ever.

Everyone now saw Larié in a new light.

Though she appeared gentle and mysterious, she clearly possessed a resolute side.

“How merciful.”

Just then, the daughter of Viscount Hector spoke up with a surprising remark. At first, some were confused by her words, still shaken with fear. But soon, one by one, the others began to realize what she meant.

If Larié had wished to dominate through fear, she could have punished the Shepherdon girl outright. The current imperial household held more than enough authority to turn even the smallest misstep into a grave offense.

And yet, Larié had chosen instead to shield even the emperor’s presence from the scene.

Her restraint signaled that she would not wield power blindly. The young ladies, realizing this, visibly relaxed.

The atmosphere gradually softened.

“Still, the two of Your Majesties standing together is always such a beautiful sight. It truly feels like glimpsing a scene from myth.”

This comment from Viscount Hector’s daughter sparked a warm, even slightly excited buzz among the group.

The emperor turning away at the empress’s single word had clearly left a lasting impression.

The emperor was known for his unwavering devotion to the empress, but witnessing it up close left the young ladies dazzled and smiling.

To have seen the royal couple’s affection firsthand was a rare privilege—one that would surely make them the talk of every salon they visited.

“Thank you, Lady Hector,” Larié said warmly, expressing her gratitude to the young noblewoman who had so keenly understood her intentions.

At first, Viscount Hector’s daughter had been a bit overwhelming with how easily she approached.

But as time passed, Larié came to understand that she was genuinely kindhearted.

Admittedly, her near-obsessive adoration of mythical beings sometimes left Larié startled—

Just like now.

“Our Empress possesses such mysterious beauty; it’s only natural.”

The young lady, who had been sitting calmly, suddenly leaned in toward Larié.

Their faces were now surprisingly close.

Larié blinked in surprise, but the other girl only smiled more brightly, as if even that reaction pleased her.

Still, having experienced this before, Larié quickly regained her composure—enough to respond with a mildly reproachful tone.

“That’s too generous a compliment, my lady.”

“I don’t think so. My limited vocabulary could never fully express Your Majesty’s mercy and beauty.”

With those words, the viscount’s daughter unfurled her fan and gently waved it.

The feathers on the fan danced softly in the air.

Between them, the fan created a private little space once more.

As Larié looked at the girl’s mischievous smile peeking through, her eyes narrowed slightly.

She soon realized the young lady had been trying to lighten the atmosphere at the table.

It was a kind gesture, but why did she always have to cloak it in such flustering praise?

Feeling slightly exasperated, Larié leaned in first this time and whispered,

“Don’t tease me, my lady.”

“How could I possibly be teasing? My words are always sincere, Your Majesty.”

The girl burst out in bright laughter, clearly enjoying the moment.

Then, snapping her fan shut, she turned back toward the table.

Before speaking again, she glanced at Larié as if to seek permission.

Reading the shift in her expression, Larié gave her a faint nod.

The tension had mostly eased now, so it was safe to steer the conversation elsewhere.

“Hmmm…”

After a brief moment of thought, Viscount Hector’s daughter recalled a rumor she had recently heard.

It was a topic tempting enough for the young ladies who had been sparkling their eyes at the emperor’s appearance.

“The other day, His Majesty gifted ‘Tears of the Nymph,’ didn’t he?”

“Heavens…! That had been asleep in the imperial treasury for nearly a hundred years!”

“It was a necklace with a large emerald cut into a teardrop shape, wasn’t it?”

The reaction was instant. It was a famous treasure they had all only heard about.

But Larie inwardly recoiled at their enthusiastic response.

“Please, grant us the chance to admire the treasure as well.”

“Come to think of it, Your Majesty the Empress is the owner of that treasure! What a fitting name it has.”

She hadn’t known it was such a famous jewel.

“Yes. I hope there will be a suitable occasion soon.”

“Oh my…!”

She managed to keep a calm face, but Larie was honestly quite surprised.

It was true she had no particular interest in such jewelry. But more than that, the real problem was Terian, who had given her the necklace.

He had handed it over as if it were nothing special.

“My lady. I brought this because I thought it would suit you.”

That’s what he said, casually offering her a jewelry box.

He often gave her such gifts. Sometimes a ring with the same jewel as the tiara he once picked out, sometimes a bracelet that matched a dress she had seen before.

“Your eyes came to mind.”

Sometimes, just because she crossed his mind.

Larie accepted all of it. She wasn’t really fond of wearing jewelry—

But she liked that he smiled when she accepted it.

That day, the only thing that remained in her memory was his remark about her eyes. So she had never imagined that the jewel Terian had handed over so casually would be something that could make people this ecstatic…

“Come to think of it, Her Majesty the Empress’s crown is truly a magnificent treasure as well. It will certainly go down in the history of the imperial family.”

The crown Larie was wearing now had been newly made for her enthronement.

The empress’s crown, densely encrusted with blue gemstones, was composed entirely of exceptionally rare jewels. Its overall shape was a more elaborate version of the tiara Terian had first given her.

Suddenly, Larie felt deeply grateful to him.

Listening to those around her made her realize it anew—

Just how often he thought of her in his daily life.

“Thank you, ladies.”

Even after that, the young ladies kept chattering without pause.

As if they wanted to confirm every rumor they’d heard about the emperor’s affection, they asked question after question. Larie, occasionally verifying what was true, spent an unexpectedly pleasant time with them.

Until the music at the ball changed.

“Oh my, it’s already time for the dance.”

The ball was entering its liveliest phase.

And the first dance always belonged to the emperor.

“My lady. May I have the honor of the first dance?”

Terian approached slowly and courteously extended his hand.

Everyone in the ballroom held their breath and fixed their eyes on the two of them.

The stares were almost scorching, yet to Larie, they all felt distant and faint.

Only Terian before her fully captured her attention.

“All right.”

The two walked slowly to the center of the hall.

No matter how many times they saw it, people were always astonished by the emperor’s gaze that never strayed from the empress.

The empress too looked up at him, her cheeks tinged pink.

Especially, that mysterious smile of the empress appeared only when she was with the emperor.

The only moment when she, as ethereal as forest mist, truly seemed to dwell in reality.

“Sigh… Truly, the two of you look perfect together.”

Lady Hecto, who had been staring without blinking, spoke as if sighing.

Others, also mesmerized by the pair, began to voice their thoughts.

“Don’t they look just like characters out of a fairy tale?”

“I feel like their story will one day become a fairy tale itself.”

And just like a fairy tale, the two of them melted beautifully into the music.