“It seems there are more people here than at the last banquet.”
“It does seem so.”
“Kaern is… Oh, right. I shouldn’t call you Kaern here.”
Realizing my mistake, I bit my lip slightly and looked up at him. Suddenly, Kaern stopped walking and gently caressed my lip with his thumb.
“You might bleed from your lip.”
“……Ah.”
At that moment, a collective gasp from the surrounding people reached my ears.
“It’s, it’s okay!”
I reflexively took a step back.
“Just a light bite, really, it’s okay!”
Trying to hide my embarrassment, I repeatedly assured him that I was fine.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Let’s, let’s go inside.”
Nodding vigorously, I hurriedly led him into the banquet hall.
Despite my mind being in a whirl due to his unexpected gesture, I knew what needed to be done immediately. We had to escape this spot and blend into the crowd. There was no better way at the moment.
Soon, we stood before the grand doors of the banquet hall. The doorkeeper, noticing Kaern and me, opened the door and announced our arrival.
“Duke Kaern Ravelion and Lady Helena Rosentia are entering.”
As before, everyone in the banquet hall turned their eyes towards us. I maintained the widest smile I could manage and entered with Kaern.
Many people gathered around him to greet and engage in brief conversations. I joined in, exchanging pleasantries with the attendees.
Later, the Emperor, Empress, and other royals entered, and a ceremonial speech began, offering encouragement to those departing for war.
After the Emperor’s speech, it was time to dance. Couples gathered in the center of the hall.
I watched without much thought. Dancing with Kaern? I had never seen him dance at such events before.
Then, unexpectedly, Kaern stood before me, extending his hand.
Looking up at him in surprise, he spoke words I never imagined hearing.
“Lady Helena Rosentia, may I have this dance?”
With a gentlemanly gesture, he invited me to dance.
Kaern’s sudden move stirred a commotion in the banquet hall. But I could no longer hear anything else.
It felt as if, in this large banquet hall, it was just Kaern and me.
“Helena.”
He whispered softly, audible only to us.
“Yes? Ah…”
Snapping back to reality, I realized this was not a dream.
Kaern had genuinely asked me to dance. Not someone else, but Kaern Ravelion.
“Alright.”
Almost instinctively, I agreed and placed my hand in his. Gently, he grasped it and led me to the center of the hall.
As we moved, people stepped aside, creating a path for us. When the beautiful melody began, we started dancing together.
He led the dance effortlessly, guiding me with ease.
“Kaern, you dance well.”
Hearing my admiring tone, Kaern let out a soft laugh.
‘Wow, he laughed again.’
What a day. Twice in one day, I saw him smile.
“You’re good too.”
“Really? I’m glad it seems that way. Honestly, I don’t have much talent for dancing.”
I wasn’t lying. During my time at the academy, I barely managed to score above average in dance classes.
“Not at all.”
“I think it’s thanks to Kaern leading me well.”
Until now, I hadn’t stepped on Kaern’s feet once – proof of his excellent guidance.
Reflecting on how I often stepped on my partner’s feet during class lessons, I realized just how well Kaern must dance.
For the first time, I could dance comfortably without fearing mistakes.
In that moment, the gazes of those around us didn’t bother me at all.
Even though my heart pounded as if it would burst, I didn’t avoid his gaze.
He, too, kept his eyes on me as we danced.
Immersed in each other, we danced together like that.
After a while, as the music changed and people started switching partners, I wondered, ‘Should I switch too?’
The thought of dancing with someone other than Kaern wasn’t very appealing.
But Kaern might have wanted to dance with another lady. I should step aside if he intended to.
It felt bittersweet to imagine the man I liked dancing with someone else, but I scolded myself for such thoughts.
‘I decided to break off the engagement with Kaern… I shouldn’t be selfish now.’
I had to stick to my initial resolve.
No matter how kindly he treated me or how close we seemed, expecting more was just my greed.
‘Pull yourself together.’
With that in mind, I firmly resolved once again and called him.
“Kaern. I think I should step back now. So…”
As I tried to step away, he didn’t let go of me. Ignoring the expectations of those who hoped to dance with him, Kaern took me away from the spot.
“You’re not going to dance anymore?”
“You’re the only partner for me. I don’t plan to dance with others.”
“Ah…….”
Hearing that, I couldn’t help but feel my mood lift, despite knowing it shouldn’t.
I laughed at my fickleness, but it was something beyond my control.
We returned to where we were before and watched others dance.
“Kaern. Oh, I made a mistake again. I kept calling you by name while dancing.”
“Why not just call me whatever you’re comfortable with?”
“No, we must adhere to propriety in official settings.”
My uncharacteristically firm response made Kaern nod in agreement.
“Do as you wish then. I’ll do the same.”
His declaration felt like a challenge, and I pondered over his words, feeling a slight tension.
However, the unease residing within me dissipated as I focused on him.
Time passed, and the banquet reached its midpoint.
Aside from our dance, people constantly approached Kaern.
During one of these interactions, the Emperor’s attendant approached us.
“Duke Ravelion, His Majesty requests your presence.”
“Go ahead, Duke.”
Like before, I encouraged him to go to the Emperor.
Kaern looked at me curiously.
“Why do you ask?”
“Did His Majesty request only me?”
Instead of answering me, Kaern questioned the attendant.
“No? There was no such instruction.”
“Then let’s go together.”
“Me too?”
“Yes, come.”
Without waiting for my response, Kaern guided me towards where the Emperor was.
I followed him, slightly bewildered. I hadn’t anticipated meeting the Emperor directly, given my rank.
Facing the Emperor unexpectedly like this left my mind blank, but I focused on not committing any faux pas.
After all, I was still officially Kaern’s fiancée.
Considering Kaern, I couldn’t afford to look foolish or act foolishly in front of the Emperor.
“Duke…”
I called him in a whisper, audible only to Kaern.
“Is it really appropriate for me to go? I’ve never had a private audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”
“It’s okay.”
But it really wasn’t okay for me.
Despite a faint hope that I might be excused from this, Kaern was resolute.
“You can be as comfortable as you are with me.”
Being comfortable in front of the Emperor seemed unlikely, but Kaern’s words did offer some reassurance.
As we conversed, we soon found ourselves in front of the Emperor, with the Empress beside him.
“I greet His Royal Majesty Benedict Royden, the radiant sun of the Royden Empire, and Her Highness Monica Royden, the noble moon.”
I followed Kaern’s lead and respectfully greeted the Emperor and Empress.
“Rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
With the Emperor’s command, I cautiously straightened up and observed the Emperor and Empress.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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