Chapter 5 (Part 6)

“Father.”

Cloud kissed Ian, who called out to him while being held in his arms, on the forehead and also kissed Monica on the cheek. After all, it seemed like only family stayed by one’s side.

Cloud’s speech began.

“On the occasion of Crown Prince Ian’s third birthday…”

Contrary to people’s hopes for a short speech, the Emperor’s speech turned out to be quite lengthy. After the speech, envoys from other empires began to present congratulatory gifts and greet Cloud and Crown Prince Ian.

After greetings from various empires, the Emperor and Empress stepped forward to open the ball with the first dance. With a light waltz playing, Monica and Cloud pulled each other in and pushed away gracefully.

When their waltz ended, couples holding hands came out to the center of the banquet hall and began to dance.

“May I have this dance?”

Anthus couldn’t stay still. He extended one hand to Yuliana, placed the other on his waist, and bowed slightly.

“Of course.”

Yuliana also smiled and placed her hand on Anthus’s extended hand. The two stood facing each other in the center of the banquet hall. They danced fluidly to the slow tempo of the music.

Anthus led gracefully, placing his hand on Yuliana’s waist and stepping naturally. After one song ended, they faced each other and bowed elegantly.

“Shall we go to the terrace?”

“Sure.”

The two held hands and headed to the terrace. The joyful music and the sounds of many people talking could be heard from the banquet hall.

Anthus looked only at Yuliana, and Yuliana, after glancing at Anthus, turned her eyes slightly to the night sky.

“The night air is cool, and the starlight is beautiful.”

“Lia, you are more beautiful.”

“But… It’s really just a rumor, right? The marriage with Princess Ophelia.”

Although Anthus had said it was a baseless rumor, she felt the need to confirm it, so the question slipped out.

“Are you jealous, Lia?”

“I wasn’t jealous.”

Anthus’s eyes moved slowly and fixed on Yuliana intensely.

Anthus’s lips curled into a wide smile. Embarrassed by his smile, Yuliana bit her lip.

“I clearly said it was a rumor. Yet you’re asking again, which makes it seem like you’re jealous.”

Unable to speak, Yuliana hesitated, swallowed once, and opened her mouth.

“Honestly, it didn’t feel good.”

“I belong to you, Lia.”

“I know.”

“Don’t be swayed by baseless rumors. The jealous you is cute, but I don’t want to see you upset.”

Anthus’s hands brushed Yuliana’s shoulder and neck before holding her face and making her look at him. Yuliana blinked as she looked at Anthus, who had suddenly come close.

“Since we decided to take responsibility for each other, there is nothing but marriage in our future.”

Yuliana, feeling shy under Anthus’s persistent gaze, turned her eyes away. Her heart pounded, and her hands were sweaty.

“It’s true that I was jealous and felt bad when I heard the false rumor about you marrying Princess Ophelia. It was uncomfortable. So I thought, if you ever married the princess, I wouldn’t be able to stay still.”

“What do you mean by not staying still?”

“I mean I wouldn’t let it happen.”

Anthus’s eyes showed a profound and intense delight. He hadn’t realized how good it would feel to see her possessiveness and jealousy.

“I wouldn’t be able to forgive any man who approaches you, Lia.”

Yuliana placed her hand on Anthus’s hand, which was caressing her face, signaling him. His lips slowly descended to hers.

In Anthus’s arms, Yuliana struggled as if to tell him to stop. Anthus, pulling away briefly, looked at her with a wounded, gentle gaze.

“Stop. We should go back to the banquet hall.”

At those words, Anthus lowered his head.

“Can’t we stay a little longer?”

Anthus whined softly, rubbing Yuliana’s hand against his cheek.

Yuliana swallowed dryly and tensed up. As she inhaled, Anthus glanced at her and started kissing her again.

Yuliana desperately tried to hold onto her reason. Every time Anthus’s hands caressed her back and moved up, she felt breathless. Anthus, wrapping one hand around Yuliana’s waist, kissed her and gently bit her earlobe.

“Yan, stop.”

“Do you really want me to stop?”

Anthus asked in the most innocent tone.

“Lia, just one more time.”

Holding Yuliana, who was trembling because of him, Anthus found it hard to let go and whined a little.

“Just once.”

Anthus smiled contentedly, looking at Yuliana.

* * *

Coming out from the terrace, Anthus felt gloomy at the reality of having to be apart from Yuliana for a while due to Cloud’s order.

“Phew.”

He sighed involuntarily.

“I’ll be back soon, Lia.”

“Yes, I’ll also go talk to the ladies.”

Yuliana, looking for Selenia, didn’t notice a group approaching and slightly bumped shoulders.

“Eek.”

As a result, the red wine the other person was holding spilled directly onto her dress.

“Oh no.”

The small scream immediately drew everyone’s attention.

“Oh dear. Lady Loengrin’s dress is ruined.”

Said the lady who spilled the wine.

“You should have watched where you’re going.”

“Exactly.”

“Walking around as if you’re already the Duchess of Rockbellion… It’s no wonder you bumped into someone.”

The words, full of malice, were directed at Yuliana. She was taken aback.

The ladies, giggling and looking mischievous, seemed to be contemplating how to torment Yuliana further.

Yuliana sighed to herself as she realized how much they wanted to fight and tear her down. She needs to go to the lounge room to change her dress, but the group of hyena-like ladies before her didn’t seem willing to let her pass.

“Apologize quickly. You bumped into someone and didn’t even apologize.”

Yuliana quietly called for Undine. She picked up an empty glass from the table and waved it. People watched her curiously.

Yuliana silently asked Undine.

‘Undine, please transfer the wine stain from my dress to this glass.’

[Got it, Yuli.]

The stain on Yuliana’s dress gradually disappeared, forming water droplets in the air and filling the empty glass she held. People watched in amazement.

“Like the Duchess of Rockbellion, huh… According to you, does the Duchess of Rockbellion bump into people?”

Placing the filled wine glass back on the table, Yuliana spoke. The ladies, who had been trying to provoke her with barbed words, began to close their mouths one by one.

“This dress is a precious gift from my lover.”

Everyone knew that her lover was Duke Anthus Rockbellion.

“Bumping shoulders can be a mutual mistake, but spilling wine on me seemed quite intentional, Lady Zenrukanas.”

“It wasn’t intentional; it was an accident!”

Zenrukanas bit her lower lip and trembled.

“Hoho. Then since it was a mutual mistake, there’s no need for apologies, Lady Loengrin.”

“Goodbye.”

In social circles, one must never appear weak. Yuliana watched the group of retreating ladies and called for the wind spirit, Sylph.

[Yuli, do you have something for me to do?]

‘Sylph, do you see the group of ladies in the blue dress, green dress, and the ones with blonde and brown hair?’

[Yes, those five girls?]

Sylph flew around the girls Yuliana pointed at, confirming.

‘Yes, those five.’

[What should I do?]

‘Make them fall.’

Make a mess of them.

[Okay!]

At Sylph’s response, the ladies who had picked a fight with Yuliana slipped and fell over.

People laughed out loud at the sight of the ladies who had fallen in a heap. The ladies, humiliated, couldn’t get up properly out of embarrassment. Even when they did manage to stand, they fled the banquet hall with their heads down. Two of them burst into tears on the spot.

“Hahaha. Look at that! It’s her, the one we saw at the tea house last time.”

“Your Holiness Rybid, please restrain your laughter. Everyone is watching.”

Rybid G. Agathaine, the Pope of the Holy Kingdom with jet-black hair and golden eyes, couldn’t hold back his laughter as he watched Yuliana and the ladies.

“Aens, did you see that? She turned the wine stain on her dress into droplets and put it in a cup on the table!”

“Your Holiness… Please mind your manners.”

“That lady must be Lady Yuliana Loengrin, right?”

“Yes, Your Holiness. They say the only lady with blonde hair and golden eyes in the Sirius Empire is Lady Yuliana of the Loengrin family.”

“I recognized her as the daughter of a saint at a glance on the street.”

“But it’s strange, Your Holiness. I don’t sense any divine power from her.”

“Although it’s surprising she has no divine power, it’s clear she’s Saint Rosaline’s bloodline. And look at those beautiful golden eyes and golden hair. They shine more beautifully than any jewel. She would be perfect as my partner.”

“Your Holiness Rybid, shh. Someone might hear you!”

Aens said urgently, stomping his feet.

“It’s not like I’m saying anything wrong… I’ll go see her for a moment.”

Rybid handed his wine glass to Aens and approached Yuliana.