55. Royal Banquet (4)
‘That’s unlikely.’
But isn’t jealousy something that could arise even if you like the other person?
He had heard that it occasionally happened even among friends….
Was Lucia the kind of person who could do that?
‘…I’m not sure.’
Depending on how you looked at it, it seemed possible, yet at the same time, it seemed impossible.
While having obsession and possessiveness, she didn’t seem like the type to put that much effort into jealousy, as she also easily grew tired of things.
“I’m not sure either.”
Lucia herself didn’t seem to understand it well, narrowing her eyes only without bringing up any further discussions.
Since Owen couldn’t provide a precise answer, he simply moved on.
It was just adding the final touch to the fading melody.
“Owen.”
As the song ended, Lucia and Owen left the dance floor.
Heading back to their original table, they saw Kyle looking perplexed as he dealt with the nobles.
“Would you like to stay with Topju for a while? I have somewhere to go.”
“Somewhere to go?”
“Since it’s a banquet, I should also talk to the young ladies. And, that young lady from earlier seems curious too.”
If that young lady from earlier was undoubtedly referring to the one who seemed to be hosting a debutante ball.
She had pierced Owen with her gaze.
“…Yeah. I’ll be back.”
Honestly, I was a bit worried, but I decided it would be okay.
What Lucia did three years ago was briefly mentioned in ＜The Flower of the Empire＞.
Still, knowing she wasn’t someone who would resort to violence helplessly, I knew there wouldn’t be a big issue.
“Yeah.”
As Lucia moved away, Owen approached Kyle.
The nobles surrounding Kyle naturally made way as Owen stepped closer.
“Count Verdine.”
“Your Grace, it’s been a while.”
He was someone they could welcome, so it was only appropriate.
The people surrounding Kyle were mostly those who wanted to buy magical items, engage in businesses related to them, or hire a mage.
Excluding them, the rest gathered around him just because of his appearance.
Even if Owen had to build connections for business or for the family’s benefit.
It would be good to foster friendships for personal gain as well.
“Kyle.”
After casually acknowledging the nobles’ greetings, Owen immediately called out to Kyle.
In response, Kyle seemed fed up with the attention.
“Oh, you’re back?”
Seeing Kyle barely hanging on, Owen smiled faintly and urged Kyle to come with him.
“Come with me.”
It seemed like Kyle might collapse if he stayed surrounded by people, so Owen decided to pull him out from the crowd.
“Where are we going?”
Wanting to escape the noisy crowd, Kyle followed Owen, albeit with a puzzled expression.
There was no way to leave the event throughout the evening.
Owen and Kyle were invited to the Summer Royal Gala for that purpose.
“I don’t want to keep dealing with people.”
“Of course. I’m already tired.”
Kyle sighed wearily.
“I don’t like crowded places like this….”
Perhaps Kyle’s obsession with magic at the tower was one reason he avoided social gatherings, but there might have been other reasons for his aversion to socializing.
“It’s annoying to keep talking, and you can’t be casual with nobles.”
While it was necessary to converse with fellow mages at the tower, the situation there was different from here.
In the tower, social status was irrelevant.
Power was absolute there.
On a tower spanning a hundred floors, the mages on the upper levels were powerful, and accordingly, they were respected and wielded authority.
Rebelling against Kyle, the tower owner at the very top, meant non-existence in the tower.
“Aren’t you tired?”
For Kyle, who only interacted with people as needed, such excessive attention was burdensome.
Seeing the weary looks directed at him, Owen seemed to think the same way.
“I am tired.”
Indeed, Owen nodded as he was indeed tired.
Although he was slightly more sociable than Kyle, it was still exhausting.
Just standing in a crowded place was a stressor in itself.
“Am I the only one feeling this way? But why are others so lively?”
Kyle, sighing, pointed to the nobles filling the gala hall.
Those dancing on the floor, engaged in conversations at tables, or standing in groups.
The sight of many people together was indeed social.
“Maybe socializing feels this way to them naturally. Some might enjoy it.”
“Enjoy it? This…?”
Kyle looked incredulous at Owen’s response.
“Isn’t it weird to enjoy mingling with people while making polite conversation?”
Finding it incomprehensible, Kyle continued to express his doubts, to which Owen simply chuckled.
“Each person is different.”
“Even so….”
Kyle, unable to understand till the end, shook his head in disbelief.
Fortunately, the nobles who had followed them weren’t there yet, probably because they had purposely distanced themselves from the table where Kyle was originally seated.
The nobles who had been at Kyle’s table seemed to have dispersed to different places or started new conversations among themselves.
“Oh, that young lady is attending the gala for the first time this year, right?”
“Yes. She seemed to be having her debutante ball.”
“Ah…, so that’s it.”
“They say there’s a territory at the southernmost tip of the empire. Seems like they haven’t heard much news from the capital.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
The conversation between some young nobles and ladies nearby could be heard.
As Owen guessed who the young noble in their conversation might be, his gaze turned towards them.
And he easily spotted where their gazes landed.
As expected, there stood the young noble facing Lucia.
Perhaps due to the distance, it was hard to discern the expressions on Lucia and the young noble.
However, it was clear that Lucia, as always, was beaming brightly.
“But still, that young noble seemed to be just an observer. Princess Edelt won’t make a big deal out of it.”
“It will probably end with a warning today.”
Three years ago.
It was the first time Lucia faced Owen.
-Oh, I’m sorry.
Familiar memories like a panorama came to mind.
A very familiar voice was heard.
It was the voice of someone he liked.
-There’s no need to apologize.
Owen replied in a cold voice.
It was the same cold and emotionless response he gave every day back then, but it left an impression on Lucia.
-It seems like a mistake.
A moment of greed flashed in her trembling red eyes.
That day was when she decided she had to have Owen.
With her fiery red hair and dress as red as crimson, Lucia belatedly asked,
“Would you dance with me?”
-….
She reached out her hand and asked with a smile, but all she received was silence.
“Although it may be an apology, I did step on Your Excellency’s foot.”
-As you say.
-…Pardon?
-Asking to dance as an apology seems odd.
The composed Owen turned away.
“Hey.”
Kyle’s call pierced his ears.
The memory that had come to mind with him scattered.
“Is the Lady Saint coming this way?”
The image of the ballroom from three years ago vanished, replaced by today’s ballroom.
As Kyle mentioned, Bella was walking towards them.
By her side were young nobles and ladies they had met today.
Watching Bella in her white dress approaching, Owen recalled the memory from earlier.
Lucia, in her red dress, asking me to dance.
‘Was there a scene like that in the original?’
He knew that Lucia had put an end to those who had been chasing Owen three years ago.
It was mentioned in the original text.
Initially through warnings, then threats, and finally by making sure they couldn’t step foot in the capital’s social circles, that was Lucia’s method.
For someone like her, who was at the center of society, such things were simple.
By asking the young nobles and ladies who associated with her to not provide social invitations, isolating them like that left the other party with no options.
As things got more complicated, they started to retreat one by one, and those who were after Owen superficially disappeared.
Except for those debuting at the summer ball, of course.
Exceptions were made for knights and businessmen, who required a bit more complex measures.
‘No matter how much I think about it…’
However, there was no mention in “The Flower of the Empire” about Lucia and Owen’s first meeting three years ago.
It was natural.
There was no need to unnecessarily describe the day when the antagonist Lucia and the protagonist Owen first met.
‘This must be a memory too.’
So, this memory was surely etched into his mind.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well? It’s the first time since we met at Matop.”
“Oh, right. Last time, the Saint came to Matop to visit.”
Bella greeted, and Kyle acknowledged her words.
Although it seemed like Bella brought up the story belatedly, her words were enough.
The restless reactions of Yeong-ae and Yeong-sik who came with her must have been what Bella desired.
“Yes, we met back then. How was the gift?”
“I received it well. It was a gem imbued with blessings.”
“Yes, that’s right. It was a gift prepared directly by His Majesty.”
Their expressions weren’t initially pleasant.
It was understandable, for the relationship between the temple and Matop wasn’t good.
It was clear they wouldn’t get along well, just like the Saint and the Tower Lord.
In reality, it was different.
From Noble mtl dot com
The Saint meeting Owen wasn’t a pleasant thing either.
Owen was rumored to be lovers with Lucia, and the nobles accompanying Bella were those who didn’t get along with Lucia.
Especially Princess Daisy Le Freyon and Lady Hanna, the Countess of Sélid, were prominent.
Daisy used to be a noblewoman from a Marquis family before becoming a princess.
Perhaps due to her status, she envied Lucia, who was the only lady of the two Marquis families.
‘Although it’s based on the original setting, we can’t know for sure.’
In fact, I only knew it from the original setting since I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.
That was the setting the author of ＜Empire’s Flower＞ came up with.
Daisy harbored inferiority towards Lucia, and Hanna claimed that Lucia’s relationship with her older brother soured after the divorce.
There were even times when she openly disrespected the Count of Sélid.
“Finish the story and come back.”
Since they weren’t subjects of much interest to either side, Owen chose to leave the place instead.
One thing was certain: if I stayed with Bella, Lucia would definitely dislike it.
Luckily, Kyle and Bella would continue their conversation.
I planned to leave them to spend time together.
“If you-.”
“I hope the Saint enjoys the banquet.”
Kyle tried urgently to stop Owen, but Owen ignored him.
Owen bid farewell to Bella and promptly left.
“Well, wait a moment. Your Highness…!”
A voice calling me from behind faintly reached my ears.
However, Owen didn’t turn back.
It was because his gaze met the red eyes that had been watching me.