Chapter 10

Even after hearing that Prince Kallian had entered the palace, Eileen did not leave Ruby Palace. Adrian’s chief attendant had invited her to dine with the prince, but Eileen, sulking, refused, claiming she was unwell.

Even after Kallian’s arrival, nothing changed in Ruby Palace. All attendants were still banned, and only female knights guarded the palace. This meant Eileen still hadn’t seen Leios again.

“You look wonderful today, Princess. Ah, you’ve always been beautiful, but today is truly special.”

“It’s your first time trying a slightly revealing dress, and it’s perfect. Not only all the men, but even the prince will fall for you at first sight, Princess.”

But no matter how she resisted, the day of the grand banquet to welcome Kallian came without delay. The maids admired Eileen as she finished dressing that morning. The new dress for the banquet was made of finer, lighter fabric than usual. Unlike her previous stiff, elegant dresses, this one fluttered like butterfly wings with every movement, making her look even more like a fairy.

Eileen, who had always preferred high-necked lace dresses, chose for the first time a heart-shaped neckline that revealed her cleavage, adding sensual charm to her pure, innocent face.

“……I really don’t want to go.”

“Princess.”

“They set the date and notified me without even asking. Does that make sense?”

“You knew this would happen.”

Eileen couldn’t hide her sulky face. No matter how much the maids praised her beauty, she couldn’t hear it.

What’s the point of dressing up? She’d have to dance her first dance with that stranger she hadn’t even seen.

“Can’t I at least dance the first dance with Brother?”

“……The engagement is already confirmed by both countries. If you act too withdrawn, the prince will be uncomfortable.”

“You’ll do well, Princess. It’s just one dance.”

The maids chattered, but Eileen closed her eyes tightly.

Just one dance? That’s not it. In the end, she’d wear a white dress, stand before the archbishop, and accept him as her husband. Then she’d share a bed with him, get pregnant, and bear a child.

“……Let’s go.”

Everything annoyed her. Eileen knew she had to accept all this. From the moment she made her brother infertile, she’d been brainwashed to take responsibility by marrying the match he chose and bearing a healthy heir.

But now, there was someone who made her want to forget all that responsibility.

‘Leios.’

‘What kind of person are you escorting to the banquet tonight?’

‘Why, after returning to the capital, have you not reached out to me even once?’

Eileen barely managed to suppress the words swirling in her chest from bursting out, and with a hardened expression, she stepped outside Ruby Palace. The coachman waiting to escort her opened the door. Seeing the carriage, larger and more ornate than usual, Eileen boarded with a pale face.

There was no surprise. She hadn’t expected Leios to suddenly appear in her room, but now that things had come to this, her emotions felt as fragile as petals tossed by the wind.

* * *

The hem of her soft, shimmering blue dress fluttered anxiously at the entrance to the banquet hall. The morning had been bright, but by late afternoon, the sky was heavy with clouds, as if it might rain at any moment.

The stuffy weather only added to Eileen’s suffocating mood, and she found herself blaming it all on the presence of Prince Kallian.

“Smile, Eileen.”

“I will smile, Your Majesty, whether you say so or not.”

“……Are you still angry with me?”

Adrian, who escorted Eileen into the hall, was in his formal attire for the first time in a while, showing off his handsome looks. Eileen secretly felt proud of her brother’s appearance.

Being pretty or handsome isn’t everything, but the praise for their distinguished royal family did boost her pride.

But today, even Adrian’s face failed to move her.

“Angry? I’ve never been angry.”

“Eileen.”

“I simply couldn’t attend the events you notified me of as if they were orders, due to a lady’s circumstances. I trust you understand.”

Her words were gentle, but there was a hidden edge. It wasn’t the time to bring it up, but Eileen hadn’t expected to be matched and married off without a single discussion.

And now, just a month later, she found herself being dragged out like an animal to the sl*ughter, her wrist gripped tightly.

“……But you still won’t meet my eyes.”

“You deliberately kept Leios from entering the palace, didn’t you?”

This was the real reason Eileen was upset. Leios was the master of one of only three Dukedoms in the kingdom and the loyal Royal Knight Captain. She knew he had suffered at the border for a month, escorting the prince to the capital.

‘……The reason he hasn’t contacted me or come to see me.’

She had only just learned that Adrian had given Leios a “vacation” when Prince Kallian arrived, which was really an order to stay away from the palace. Eileen heard this from Dane, her escorting knight, on the way to the banquet, and her face hardened, resembling Queen Edna so much that Adrian paused.

“Are you still hung up on Leios? Today is practically your engagement ceremony with the prince. Yet you speak another man’s name… Eileen.”

“So, are you planning to do something more to Leios?”

“Eileen!”

“Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty, but I said I would marry the prince, not that I would give my heart to him.”

“……”

“So please stop tormenting the Duke of the kingdom with baseless excuses. Unless you want me to refuse food and postpone the wedding indefinitely.”

Eileen’s words were a warning that she would do whatever it took if Adrian interfered with her and Leios. Adrian frowned, as if struck.

His sister had never defied him before. Though they’d squabbled as children, he had always cherished Eileen. Seeing her stand up to him for a man—especially one she wasn’t even marrying—left him flustered and, secretly, a little angry. What had Leios done to his precious Eileen?

“Your Majesty, it’s time to enter.”

Their brief argument was cut short by the chief attendant, who whispered that the waltz had already played three times inside.

“……Let’s go in.”

At Adrian’s words, the attendant bowed and opened the door wide, announcing their entrance with a firm voice.

“His Majesty Adrian Derrick von Staerfix, and Princess Eileen von Staerfix are entering!”

As they walked in, Eileen noticed two men staring intently at her from below the royal platform.

One, leaning against a pillar with a champagne glass, was Leios Dreikan.

The other, surrounded by noble ladies and wearing a mischievous smile…

‘That man.’

His silver hair sparkled under the chandelier, and his icy blue eyes marked him as a rare beauty. He winked playfully at her.