“Get close to them by any means. If we can get help in business, our family will be on solid ground.”
The nobles poured out words to their children. The lower nobles, who rely on business as their main source of income, were louder and more noticeable in their actions.
The high nobles did not overtly show their interest, keeping their pride, but the way they quietly spoke to their children was not much different.
‘The taste of power is indeed thrilling.’
Adelia smirked as she drank her wine. When the glass left her lips, her lips drew a beautiful curve again.
She quite liked the sight of the nobles eagerly wanting to make even a shallow connection with her.
Dong-dong- Dong-dong—
The sound announcing the dance music rang out.
After the first dance and the Emperor’s speech, the banquet became a place for freely dancing or exchanging stories.
As the gentle dance music played, people turned their gaze to Adelia.
There was no better way to have a personal conversation than dancing.
The nobles were just waiting for her to come down.
Then someone stood up.
“Eek!”
“Ugh….”
The nobles lurking in front of the stage stepped back and kept their distance.
The one who stood up was neither Adelia nor the Crown Prince, but the Emperor.
As the Emperor, who usually sat bored and left County, stood up, people’s attention gathered on him.
He slightly dusted off his slightly wrinkled clothes and moved his feet.
“Come down. Hold.”
The Emperor extended his hand to Adelia. Because the banquet hall was quiet, everyone there heard the Emperor’s words.
It sounded more like a threat than an invitation to dance.
But to Adelia, it sounded infinitely tender.
“It is an honor.”
Adelia smiled genuinely and happily placed her hand in the Emperor’s hand as she slightly squinted her eyes.
Then Lucian next to her looked puzzled.
“Father…?”
As Lucian looked at the Emperor with wide eyes, he quietly turned his gaze away.
Thanks to Adelia quickly standing up, Lucian had no choice but to swallow his question.
The Emperor carefully held the small hand placed on his. It seemed natural from the outside, but Adelia, being escorted, noticed something awkward about it.
As she was escorted by the Emperor to the center of the banquet hall, Adelia whispered softly,
“Think of it as holding the Princess’s hand.”
The Emperor’s hand tensed strangely.
He had never danced with anyone other than the Empress. He would join in when the young Princess practiced dancing, but escorting someone and dancing at an official event was the first for him since the Empress passed away.
It was his small consideration to Adelia, she knew that.
The escort became more natural as strength entered the Emperor’s hand.
By the time they walked to the center of the banquet hall, the surroundings were empty. Those who had taken positions to dance had moved away from them as though they had agreed beforehand.
For the nobles, their lives were more important than getting close to Adelia.
“Thank you. Father.”
“That title… Let it be. Just keep your promise.”
The Emperor twitched his eyebrow.
Before he knew it, he had grown accustomed to being called Father by Adelia.
— Father~ I’ve brought the documents.
— Ah, Father. I came to recharge your magic power.
— Good evening, Father.
Adelia insisted on calling him Father with a beaming smile.
She enjoyed seeing the Emperor’s flustered face because of it.
“Of course. Father.”
The daughter-in-law playfully smiled, enjoying her father-in-law’s embarrassed face.
As the Emperor and Adelia moved to the music, people sent them incredulous looks. Some had their mouths agape in astonishment, while others were speechless with surprise.
“Am I seeing things? His Majesty is dancing….”
“My eyes have been blurry lately.”
“Both of you seem fine. No wonder she was chosen as the Crown Princess. To be so composed in front of His Majesty.”
Amongst the astonished crowd, the Emperor’s close associates looked at Adelia with respect.
Even the old and experienced nobles sweated coldly in front of the Emperor every day.
They found it hard to get used to his unique, arrogant, and deadly ruler’s aura.
“It seems everyone is surprised that His Majesty is dancing with me. The attention is hot.”
“No one dared to ask me to dance before.”
“Everyone is too scared.”
Adelia wasn’t scared at all; instead, she kept smiling brightly. This made the nobles even more astonished.
“You’re fearless. Do you think it’s common for people to bribe the Emperor to dance?”
“It’s not a bribe; it’s a trade. Father.”
Adelia smirked playfully and closed her blue eyes gently.
Not much was said between them. The Emperor was taciturn, and Adelia did not want to disturb his mood unnecessarily by talking.
When the dance music neared its end, the people hesitantly started approaching again.
They were waiting for the Emperor to leave so they could swoop in like hyenas for Adelia.
Of course, their plans did not come to fruition.
“Would you like to dance with me?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Before others could approach, her hand was already on top of the Prince’s hand.
His gesture of slightly bowing and kissing her hand back was like that of a polite gentleman.
As Lawrence looked up at Adelia after lifting his mouth from her hand, he softly squinted his eyes.
“Actually, this is my first time dancing at a banquet. You have to do well, sister!”
He quickly returned to his usual mischievous self.
Adelia chuckled softly and took her stance with a cute look on her face.
Lawrence said it was his first time, but his dancing skills were flawless.
“Is it okay for me to have Your Highness’s first dance? Didn’t you want to dance with the princess?”
“If it’s someone as splendid as Sister, you would be perfect as my first dance partner. Plus, there’s that gift for Ariana. Besides, if I improve my dancing skills by dancing with Sister, wouldn’t I be able to dance even better with Ariana later?”
“Is that so. You already dance so well.”
“Hehe. Now, whenever I come to a banquet, I should dance with Sister. No matter how I look at it, Sister seems to be the most beautiful here.”
The prince showed a bright smile. With a youthful face similar to Lucian’s, he couldn’t help but look pretty as he smiled so mischievously.
“It’s an honor for me too, to dance with the most handsome man at the banquet.”
“Really?”
“Of course. In my eyes, Your Highness looks more handsome than His Majesty today.”
As Adelia whispered into the prince’s ear, the prince smiled happily.
Unlike before, they continued their conversation in a gentle atmosphere.
“How far had she planned? She’s quite fearless.”
The Emperor, sitting squarely on the throne, spoke in a low voice.
Those who saw him pressing his brow with his arms on the armrest thought the Emperor was in a bad mood and quietly moved away. But Lucian knew his mood well.
“You say that, but you seem to be enjoying this.”
“Who would propose a double… no, triple deal to the imperial family.”
The Emperor lifted his head and smiled arrogantly. His gaze was fixed on the dancing Adelia.
Lucian’s eyelashes fluttered as he watched Adelia. It felt like the puzzle pieces were finally fitting together.
When visiting the prince’s palace and the Emperor’s palace with Ariana, Adelia proposed a secret deal to them.
— Your Majesty. Don’t you think it’s time for a dance? A large pink diamond was found in the guild mine recently, and I thought it would suit the princess well. Would you be my second dance partner?
— Your Highness. A new fabric has arrived from the Eastern Continent, perfect for a summer dress. Would you be my third dance partner?
For the imperial family, who would go through fire and water for matters concerning the princess, there could be no sweeter words. Especially from the Eileen Guild, which even owned an auction house, there were many rare and beautiful items.
“Should I call this smart or cunning?”
The things Adelia proposed were all easily obtainable within her means. No matter how expensive they were, it was just a small expense compared to the guild.
On the other hand, what Adelia gained was not minor.
In her dance with the Emperor, she showed boldness and trustworthiness, turned the notoriously mischievous prince into a gentle lamb, and imprinted on the nobles’ minds that she has a very good relationship with Lucian, who would be her husband.
After her conversation with Conrad, the nobles, who were pondering how to make a good impression on her, now had eyes full of conviction.
‘We must look good in front of the Crown Princess!’
* * *
The person who took Adelia’s hand after the prince was Conrad. It was a sequence to firmly imprint her friendship with the guild.
“Did you see? The thrill when I brought out the artifact! It was my first time seeing nobles who pretend to be so refined being so surprised.”
“Of course. I’ve been hiding it all this time just to see this.”
“And when we talk, you should see how the nobles’ eyes wander. Just Countier, there was a noble asking what kind of relationship we have. I brushed it off as you suggested, and they couldn’t ask further; I could practically hear them scratching their heads.”
“Yeah. What they wanted wasn’t just an important person from the guild but a clear relationship.”
They chatted about today’s gains without forgetting to block out sound so words wouldn’t leak.
“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard? You look tired.”
“I danced one after another, so it can’t be helped. At times like this, even white magic is of no use.”
- ianthe
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