The Price is Everything of Yours (76 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 201

The carriage carrying the Grand Duke and his wife drew attention even before it reached the entrance of the Imperial Palace.

Though the Imperial Court held gatherings nearly every day, grand banquets attended by truly important figures were rare—precisely because those who felt no need to impress others preferred gathering only among themselves.

Today was precisely such a day—an exclusive occasion when even the most aloof high nobles deigned to personally attend and breathe the same air as lower-ranking nobles they usually deemed unworthy. After all, it was a banquet personally hosted by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince himself.

Only an event of this caliber could possibly secure the attendance of the Duke and Duchess of Maindlant, who routinely ignored invitations without even sending a reply. Lower nobles, who had long yearned for a chance to make an impression on the Grand Duke’s couple but never had the opportunity, now gleamed with excitement.

The Grand Duke, clad in a black uniform and draped in a black cloak, stepped out of the carriage first. Though his attire lacked any trace of spring’s festivity, his exceptional looks made him radiate brilliance nonetheless.

In stark contrast, the Grand Duchess alighted from the carriage on her husband’s arm, her delicate platinum-blonde hair and finely chiseled features giving her the fragile yet vivacious aura of a spring sprout. She wore a violet gown so stunning it left onlookers agape, adorned with purple jewels matching the color of her eyes. Though the gown’s cut differed slightly from the current Imperial Court formal wear, it suited her all the more for that very reason.

Both were extraordinary beauties—already at the pinnacle of wealth and power at a young age, and perfectly matched to each other. Envious whispers spread swiftly among the guests entering the palace.

Abelus, standing by a second-floor window, watched them below with an indifferent expression.

Frankly, everything lately felt dull. His parents nagged him about getting engaged; his elder sister eagerly added her own pressure; and Nelusion, who used to humor him well enough, had returned to his domain. Even the thrill of romance had lost its former appeal.

Today’s banquet had been arranged under his father’s firm insistence that he partner with Natasha before their official engagement, to publicly reaffirm the strength of their relationship. He’d complied—but Abelus found such a display utterly clownish and distasteful.

Everyone already knew he and Natasha were together. Was it truly necessary to go so far as to reassure her publicly before their engagement? He was the exalted Crown Prince, yet too many treated him as though he were some mute ceremonial figure incapable of expressing his own will. And they’d even gone so far as to invite Cledwin Maindlant.

Abelus’s sapphire-blue eyes narrowed as they fixed on the Grand Duke and Duchess, who had just entered the palace with dignified confidence.

How Cledwin dared live so freely was utterly baffling. He wasn’t that handsome, nor was his talent truly exceptional—though, admittedly, his swordsmanship wasn’t terrible. But then again, in nobility, any child could earn praise merely by holding a sword properly, so the rumors surely exaggerated his skill.

Fine, suppose his skill truly matched those rumors. Even so, wasn’t that insufferable fellow a complete piece of trash? Hadn’t he executed his own retainers merely for disagreeing with him in that infamous incident just a few years ago?

Yet that madman lived as outrageously as ever—shutting himself in his lands whenever he pleased, marrying whomever he desired.

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