If You Want To Possess Me - Chapter 54

“What on earth could be the reason?”

Seiard tilted his head at Kisa’s question.

“Well…”

“The princess’s demeanor clearly changed from the moment she confirmed the contents of the invitation. Was there something wrong with the invitation? Does Seiard have any guesses?”

After closing his eyes and remaining silent for a moment as if pondering, he soon shook his head.

“I really don’t know.”

Nevertheless, Kisa continued speaking out of fear and worry.

“I thought Seiard knew something and that’s why you told me to just throw the invitation and come out.”

“That’s not it. I just said that because I thought there would be nothing good for you to stay there for long.”

“…I guess that’s true.”

It was a reasonable fact that even a three-year-old walking down the street could guess that Princess Arta did not have good feelings towards Kisa, and there was nothing particularly special about Seiard’s advice.

Above all, Kisa, who had read the invitation several times, knew best that there wasn’t much content in it.

“Then why did the princess suddenly change her attitude? Moreover, saying she’ll attend the engagement ceremony.”

Although invited out of courtesy, she never dreamed that the princess would actually say she would attend.

At least, the princess Kisa had observed for several years had a very proud personality.

‘Would such a person come to congratulate the engagement of a man she lost?’

It seemed more plausible to speculate that she was coming to ruin the engagement ceremony.

Of course, considering the relationship between the royal family and the Hillan ducal family, she wouldn’t commit blatant rudeness, but still.

“Why on earth… Why…”

“Kisa, I’m sorry, but why don’t you put that worry aside for now?”

Seiard placed his hand on Kisa’s shoulder and gently turned her around.

“Isn’t this what you should be thinking about prioritizing over other things right now?”

What finally filled Kisa’s view was the sight of people busily coming and going inside a large banquet hall.

For reference, this banquet hall where the two are currently standing is where various events of the Hillan ducal family have been held for generations, and the people are the servants of the ducal family.

Looking at them tending to the interior of the banquet hall with deft hands, Kisa answered the question Seiard had just asked.

“…I suppose that’s right.”

The main purpose of Kisa’s visit to Hillan’s town house today was to prepare for the engagement ceremony.

The engagement ceremony of Kisa and Seiard was now just three days away.

“Well, when I say preparation, it’s already perfect so there’s nothing for me to do.”

Walking side by side with Seiard inside the banquet hall, Kisa muttered in a somewhat weak tone.

Indeed, the great Hillan family. She had noticed from the moment such a large banquet hall was attached to the town house in the capital, not even the main castle in the territory…

‘Even the servants seem somewhat different.’

The interior of the banquet hall, which was almost fully decorated, boasted an ideally elegant and graceful appearance, neither excessive nor lacking.

All that remained were the fresh flower decorations, which were the lifeblood, and the food to be served to the guests?

Embarrassingly, Kisa had hardly made any effort until the engagement preparations were carried out so smoothly.

At most, she had diligently answered when Seiard asked about her intentions regarding the engagement ceremony.

In fact, even if she wanted to take the initiative, she didn’t have the proper ability.

Kisa had never experienced hosting a large-scale banquet before.

Since the countess was absent, it was Kisa’s responsibility to manage the banquets of the Vanspelt county, but how many large banquets would the frugal count hold?

For Kisa, she had only hosted a few small-scale events.

Even today, she came here at Seiard’s suggestion to take a final look at the engagement preparations, but in reality, Kisa was just sightseeing.

Until just a while ago, Seiard had personally guided her around the garden for Kisa’s first visit to the Hillan ducal residence.

‘At a glance, it looked at least five times larger than our home’s garden, and I couldn’t close my mouth.’

She suddenly realized how grand a family she was about to marry into.

The question of whether she could fulfill the role of mistress of such a family well made her shoulders feel heavy.

Noticing that Kisa had become dejected, Seiard tried to encourage her.

“It can’t be helped this time. It’s still too early for you to be deeply involved in Hillan’s affairs.”

Well, it would look strange for a fiancée-to-be, not even an official fiancée, to take the lead in organizing things.

“At least until the wedding, leave the work to others and take it easy, Kisa.”

“Hmm, should I?”

Feeling embarrassed that her mood improved so quickly just because he comforted her a little, Kisa laughed awkwardly.

At that moment, she noticed a person in a corner of the banquet hall who exuded an atmosphere different from the servants.

“Hello?”

The man bowed politely upon seeing the two people walking towards him in response to Kisa’s greeting.

“Hello, both of you.”

The person standing in front of the music stand arranging sheet music was none other than Gabriel Williams.

He was the genius violinist who was practically the star of the concert held at the Darion ducal residence.

“Is the practice going well?”

“Yes, all thanks to you, Your Grace.”

Gabriel expressed his gratitude with a face that seemed to feel a sense of responsibility when questioned by Seiard.

“To give me the opportunity to perform at such an important occasion, I will not disappoint you.”

That’s right. He was given the role of adding beautiful melodies to the couple’s engagement ceremony.

The story goes back to a few days ago.

The day after the quartet concert at the Darion ducal residence, Seiard first proposed to Kisa. He suggested inviting Gabriel as a guest performer for their engagement ceremony.

Since it wasn’t that unusual to include a performance in the middle of a banquet, and she had been greatly impressed by Gabriel’s performance before, she gladly accepted Seiard’s proposal.

In fact, she felt good that he seemed to have remembered and considered how engrossed she had been in Gabriel’s performance during the concert.

Anyway, that was how Gabriel came to be here today.

Apparently, Gabriel’s side had requested to come to the venue in advance to rehearse and perform as a trial run.

‘Moreover…’

At that moment, Seiard suddenly spoke to the performer as if he had just thought of something.

“We’ll be having dinner with my fiancée later, would you like to join us?”

“Me too? Is that alright?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? I might add, my lady very much enjoys your performance. Almost to the point where I’m a bit jealous.”

“Oh, Seiard!”

Kisa unconsciously slapped the arm of the person standing next to her.

Until recently, such an attitude would have been unimaginable, but it had become quite commonplace in just a few days.

After fending off Lady Welf’s persistent questioning with their affectionate act during the quartet concert, Seiard often played these embarrassing jokes.

Gabriel answered with an awkward expression.

“If you’re inviting me, it would be an honor.”

“It’s decided then. Please come to the dining room in the evening. If you’re not sure where it is, just ask any servant.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Come to think of it, does the food here suit your taste?”

“Of course. Everything is excellent.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I hope you’ll be comfortable during your stay at this mansion.”

Ah, and Gabriel is currently staying in a guest room at the Hillan ducal residence.

I’m not sure of the exact reason, but it seems that when he was unable to stay where he was originally due to unavoidable circumstances, Seiard happened to propose the role of performer.

Fortunately, things worked out well, and Gabriel ended up as a guest at the Hillan ducal family before and after the engagement ceremony.

Gabriel, perhaps wanting to repay Seiard’s kindness, asked with a caring attitude.

“I’m planning to practice the pieces I’ll perform at the engagement ceremony from now. Would you like to listen?”

As there was no particular reason to refuse, Kisa and Seiard sat on chairs placed nearby and appreciated Gabriel’s performance.

It was still a beautiful and powerful melody capable of moving one’s soul.

Although there was one small thing that bothered me.

That evening, as promised, the three of them had dinner together.

As Gabriel had said, the food at the Hillan ducal family was all exquisite without exception.

With delicious food accompanied by alcohol, we were able to hear various stories from Gabriel, who didn’t seem to be particularly sociable.

“Oh, so Gabriel, are you going back to study abroad after our engagement ceremony is over?”

To Kisa’s question, the young musician answered with a slightly slurred pronunciation.

“Yes, thanks to His Grace the Duke of Hillan, who has agreed to help me in a way that I could never repay even if I spent my whole life trying.”

“It’s not to that extent.”

Seiard said so with an embarrassed expression, but from what we heard, Gabriel’s expression wasn’t much of an exaggeration.

According to Gabriel, he had studied music in the capital of the neighboring country, Octava, famous as the home of music, until a few years ago.

Unfortunately, due to a woman falling for him, he incurred the misunderstanding and hatred of a powerful Octavan nobleman who was her lover.

Due to that man’s influence, Gabriel could no longer stay in Octava and had no choice but to return to his homeland.

“If it weren’t for the Duke, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of studying music there again.”

So Seiard, who had done various things to allow Gabriel to stay in Octava, was no less than a benefactor to him.

‘He really is kind.’

After hearing Gabriel’s circumstances and doing so much for him, Kisa looked at Seiard with fond eyes.

Seiard is truly a good person.

‘Huh?’

But suddenly, she realized something strange.

Somehow her heart seemed to be beating faster. Could it be due to the effects of alcohol?