Chapter 34

34. Don’t be angry

It’s the second day of the delegation’s visit. The mood at breakfast was not good. Callion, to be precise, was the problem.

Adelaide, in place of Callion, who hardly spoke throughout the meal except for necessary words, engaged in conversation with Prince Klaus.

“Did something happen to you and His Grace?”

“What happened?”

“He seemed to be in a bad mood.”

“Maybe there’s a problem with the tribute negotiations?”

Margaret and Zatia interjected as they helped her dress. Adelaide frowned and scolded them sternly.

“I told you not to speak carelessly. With so many guests present, who knows who might overhear such talk?”

“That’s not it… I apologize, my lady.”

Zatia bowed her head deeply. Adelaide added, glancing at Margaret to make sure Adelaide’s anger was not directed at her.

“One more flippant remark, and I’ll have you thrown into the laundry room.”

“Yes…….”

Margaret shut her mouth and resumed her makeup.

Frivolity is frivolity, and it was certainly a problem that Callion was not feeling well enough for the maids to notice.

Prince Klaus didn’t seem to pay much attention to it, but Callion’s demeanour, both during and after the meal, was unsettling.

‘Is it because of that conversation yesterday…….’

It was rude, but he wasn’t wrong.

Adelaide smiled bitterly at her reflection in the mirror.

“Doesn’t Your Grace look pretty?”

“What?”

“If I were you, I’d have mirrors in my pockets so I could look at myself anytime.”

“Again, stop talking nonsense.”

Margaret glanced sympathetically at Adelaide, trying not to provoke her. Zatia, securing Adelaide’s loose dress with pins, chimed in.

“It’s true. When I saw Your Grace and His Grace, I thought all imperial people were as beautiful and handsome as you two.”

“Why are you girls so talkative today?”

She scolded them to stop, but she didn’t mind listening. Smiling broadly, Margaret pinned on her headdress.

She added the earrings and bracelet she’d chosen to match her blue dress, and when she reached for the necklace, Adelaide waved her hand away.

“I don’t need the necklace.”

“Aren’t you afraid it’ll look incomplete?”

“It’s okay.”

After finishing her makeup, Adelaide checked the time. It was almost time for the banquet.

“Zatia, ask Jensen if he needs anything, and Margaret, you go find out where the Duke is.”

“Yes.”

After sending the two off, Adelaide retrieved a necklace she had tucked away deep in a drawer. It was a sapphire necklace given to her by Callion.

Her mind replayed the words she’d overheard last night. It tickled her heart, but she couldn’t muster up the courage.

Adelaide put the necklace in her pocket and tucked it inside her dress.

“My lady, His Grace is waiting for you in front of the banquet hall.”

Upon Margaret’s report, Adelaide left the dressing room. Callion was waiting for her in front of the ballroom.

Dressed in his banqueting attire, he looked different than usual. Not as colorful as Elkius, but his clean, masculine lines were something Elkius dared not duplicate.

Adelaide bent her knees.

“Your Grace.”

“Let’s go in.”

His brief response, without customary compliments about her beauty or suitability, left her feeling a little disappointed.

Adelaide lowered her gaze and took his hand, leading him into the ballroom. Those seated around the table rose in unison.

Callion escorted her to the centre of the table. Prince Klaus, who had arrived earlier, spoke softly.

“The Duchess has been very considerate. I admire your meticulous attention.”

“That’s because the Eighth Prince helped me a lot. If you need anything, please feel free to ask.”

“There is nothing lacking.”

Siegfried, standing besides her, interrupted with a shrug.

She smiled sheepishly.

Callion raised his glass high and spoke.

“Prince Klaus, you and your envoys from the Helenia Kingdom have traveled a long way, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. May the friendship between our two nations be everlasting.”

The short and elegant toast was met with cheers. Callion drained his glass in one swift motion, and the drinking began in earnest.

Unlike the noisy atmosphere, the table was quiet. At breakfast, Callion said little.

It was Prince Klaus who mostly dominated the conversation, and Adelaide was busy entertaining him while keeping an eye on Callion.

“I’m going to take a look around the table.”

Finally, unable to stand the awkward air, she excused herself and left.

What was wrong with him, really?

Prince Klaus seemed to be in good spirits, and the tribute negotiations had resumed this morning.

Adelaide scanned the ballroom, glancing at Callion, who continued to drink.

When she returned to her seat after attending to her guests, Prince Klaus turned to Callion.

“Your Grace, may I ask the duchess to dance?”

At his words, Callion looked at her and replied.

“That would require the duchess’s permission.”

Prince Klaus looked at Adelaide with a questioning look on his face. She was reluctant, given last night’s events, but she can’t embarrass the head of the delegation.

‘I can’t help it because I’m the only woman.’

She nodded reluctantly.

“If you’ll excuse me, then.”

Klaus took her hand and led her out to the center of the hall.

Adelaide had never been much of a dancer, but she knew the basic steps by heart. But she was no match for Prince Klaus.

Oops. The heel of her shoe snapped slightly as she misjudged the timing of her hand grip. Her sprained ankle winced, but she bit her lip to keep from showing her pain.

Embarrassed by the mistake, she hurriedly finished the dance and curtsied, receiving applause.

“It was an honor.”

“My pleasure.”

Before I could catch my breath, Siegfried stepped forward and held out his hand, as if taking turns with his brother.

“Dance with me too.”

“The Eighth Prince knows how to dance?”

“It’s a basic skill for royalty.”

She accepted his invitation, delighted to see him strutting his stuff and pretending to be a prince.

Just as the slow song was about to end, a third partner appeared.

“Would you also grant me the honor of dancing with you, Your Grace?”

“Of course, Lucid.”

Lucid was more skilled at dancing than either prince. His relaxed rhythm, in contrast to his grave expression, made Adelaide feel at ease.

Afterwards, several more knights asked her to dance. She figured it couldn’t hurt to build rapport, so she accepted all of them.

Only when Adelaide and the musicians were exhausted did the requests stop coming in.

But Callion never asked for a dance.

The atmosphere in the ballroom had grown ripe.

When no one was drunk enough to care about anyone else anymore, Adelaide quietly slipped out onto the terrace.

“Hah…….”

The drunkenness had set in. She’d tried to drink in moderation, but she couldn’t resist the offer, so she drank too much.

The cold breeze sobers her up a bit. Her legs were so shaky from dancing that she could barely stand. Her sprained ankle throbbed.

“Well, this should be fine.”

The tribute negotiation went off without a hitch, and they’ve gained Prince Klaus as an ally, so it’s been a success compared to what she feared.

Her only concern is Callion. Even at the banquet, he hadn’t loosened his stony expression.

He’s not the kind of man who can’t distinguish between public and private affairs.

His unhappy mood was obvious, and it worried her.

‘I wonder if he’s angry with me and not Prince Klaus.’

Despite trying to connect her thoughts, she couldn’t understand why he was behaving like this.

After much inconclusive pondering, she decided to ask him directly, but as she started to walk away, her vision pinged and spun.

As she sat there, catching her breath, the patio curtains opened.

“Are you okay?”

“Your Grace?”

Adelaide jerked up at the unexpected intruder.

“Why are you out here?”

“Ah…… I got drunk and thought I’d go inside for some air. Why did you come out, My Lord?”

“I’m here for the same reason as you.”

Leaning against the railing, Callion exhaled heavily. His exhaled breath reeked of alcohol.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

“……?”

Callion, who had been staring off into the distance, spoke up.

“I didn’t realize you liked dancing so much.”

“I-I don’t enjoy it, but in such situations, I can’t refuse… “

“Even so, you were laughing so intimately with my subordinate knights.”

“I can’t cry …… can I?”

Adelaide replied bluntly, raising an eyebrow.

“That is the duty of a duchess.”

“What a wonderful position that is.”

Callion muttered in a barbed tone. Adelaide’s mouth opened and closed.

He hadn’t even asked her to dance.

She felt a twinge of resentment at being treated like an ordinary woman.

“If you were so jealous, you should have asked me to dance.”

“…….”

A wordless look pierced through Adelaide. As the distance slowly narrowed, she unconsciously took a step back.

After a few steps, her back touched the railing. Just as she was about to close her eyes, with nowhere else to turn, Callion knelt down and lifted her dress.

“What do you think you’re doing…… ah!”

“I knew it.”

With strength, he firmly secured her twisted ankle and chided, “You can’t dance with a twisted ankle like this.”

Muttering under his breath, Callion pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped the ankle tightly.

“Take it easy and get back to your room.”

“…….”

“You’ve done enough. I’ll take care of the rest from here.”

Unlike in the banquet hall, Callion’s voice was gentle, and her bitterness melted away at his kind words.

She opened her mouth cautiously.

“Your Grace.”