Episode 103
escape journey (5)
Seeing the scene unfolding in the center of the banquet hall, Fernando cautiously moved inside.
My heart beats to the classical rhythm of the bouncing beat that I hear in my ears.
As the beat accelerated, the sound of my heart beating quickly rang in my ears.
“Princess, would you like to dance a song with me?”
Ivan’s voice resounded profoundly in the large banquet hall.
It is said that the growl of a beast belonging to the beasts makes the listener’s five joints pickle.
Is it because he is an Ain mixed with a human? Or is it because the target is Isabel? His voice was sweet and greasy at the same time, as if honey would drip, which did not match his appearance at all.
‘Is Count Ivan crazy?’
‘No matter how beastly he is, he openly ignores his surroundings in a place like this?’
‘This is absurd! His Highness is also watching, so there’s no way that’s possible!’
‘The party has just started, but in the princess’s heart, have you already decided on the other party? … ?’
Isabel cautiously placed her hand on top of Ivan’s hand in a blue tailcoat, blushing in embarrassment.
Could it be that Isabel’s fine hands are being crushed?
What if Ivan’s sharp fingernails hurt her skin?
The worries in Fernando’s head soon disappeared.
Cats and beasts can hide their claws.
Ivan cleverly uses that to control his sharp nails.
In addition, he holds her hand more delicately and softly than ever, as if touching a young quail.
Fernando remembered the first time he saw Ivan.
It was he who appeared overwhelming the surroundings with a huge body.
Generally, if you show up late, it’s fortunate that you don’t get any attention, let alone stinging eyes.
But he wasn’t.
The rhythm and timbre that people have become accustomed to, shattering and breaking the calmly repeated background sound, took the attention of the surroundings at once.
Utilizing his unique appearance and tribal characteristics, he imprinted his existence while giving a sense of intimidation to those around him.
He knew how to use his voice.
The low, heavy bass with a large resonance was enough to erode the entire quiet hall.
What people look at becomes the person in power.
If the eyes are focused, the speaker’s remarks can exert that much influence.
The old adage holds true.
As soon as all eyes were on him, the king finally summoned him and heard the story himself.
In addition, in a duel with Count Alfonso, who is said to be the kingdom’s first sword, he finally won.
In addition to attention, he also took honor.
Now that I think about it, couldn’t he have appeared late as part of it even though he knew everything?
It’s not the iris of a normal human being, it’s a thought that came to my mind when I saw his sharp-slit pupil.
Like those of a serpent, the wickedly shining eyes were far from the bravery of a lion.
Sucked into torn pupils as if looking through an ever-expanding kaleidoscope.
if… … , What if all of this was Ivan’s plan?
Goosebumps welled up on his back.
Cold sweat on the nape of the neck.
Even though he knew all about Alfonso’s plan, it means that he was attacked as part of it.
Considering Ivan’s appearance, it was quite understandable.
A character who would be buried as a mediocre Count Ain due to his late appearance quickly turned into a victim of racial discrimination.
In addition, in the process of characterizing the perpetrator, he moved as if he already knew everything.
It seems to be one of the devices to bring out the enemy you already know, even one line and one movement of turning your body.
If this is true… … .
The duel with Count Alfonso may have already been calculated.
He competed against Count Alfonso on a stage where aristocrats who could be called talented people from all over the country gathered.
Assuming his arrogant and proud personality, he craftily created an arena where he could not use magic and imprisoned him.
As a result, Ivan became the victor against the first sword and obtained the honor.
He dedicated the victory to Isabel and succeeded in winning her favor.
My palms are already covered with sweat when I open them in the sticky discomfort.
If you think that Ivan’s everything is politically calculated movements and actions, the front and back fit perfectly.
If that’s the case, the action now must also have meaning.
I calmly looked around at myself.
All eyes are on Ivan and Isabelle.
This was taken for granted now, so it was excluded.
Because there was nothing he could gain by concentrating his gaze.
His appearance yesterday was so unconventional.
Is the purpose to intimidate?
I quickly looked around my son-in-law and found no.
The nobles around him, including himself, were not afraid of anyone while watching him.
Then his real intention is… … ?
While I was looking around, there was a person who was strangely caught, so I turned my gaze back to that.
The old king is looking at the two.
He strokes his beard and sees the two of them together, as if judging something.
Was the king’s gaze the purpose?!
While looking at the king and Isabel alternately, he could see his own hand caught in the middle.
The spread fingertips tremble ‘daldal’.
It’s clear that his body sensed something was wrong and was responding, but he had no idea what his goal was.
Through the cracks between the fingers, Isabel and Ivan can be seen beginning to dance.
His hairy hand rests on her slender waist.
The hands that were clasped together were only raised to her shoulder height, perhaps out of consideration for Isabelle.
It was Ivan who moved his feet first.
He took the lead, cutting his movements in half to match Isabel’s stride, which made it easier for her to move.
The old king looks at the two dancing with his arms crossed, as if he has no intention of stopping it.
His twinkling eyes must have been calculating something quickly, and he nodded his head in agreement.
still can’t figure it out
A headache came over him, and he ran his outstretched hand over his forehead.
I hoped that the cramped feeling would disappear from my head along with the brushed hair, but nothing changed.
On the contrary, only the sticky, tangled hair is caught in the hand, and it is to the point of irritation.
The two dances, which started lightly, began to move faster and faster.
Was the slow tempo at first to get a feel for it, or was it to see the liver around them?
As if it didn’t matter now, they didn’t care about the eyes of the people around them and started to perform their own stage.
‘Finally, the count is really crazy… … .’
‘Isn’t the princess who responds to that more savage than the count?’
‘It doesn’t matter what. We are now a bag of barley borrowed… … .’
The reaction of the surroundings and the king’s nod do not leave Fernando’s mind.
ah… … .
Was it like that?
The dance of the two is not aimed at the people around them.
It was an act to show it to only one person and get permission.
Even us, who moved around the two of us holding hands and spinning round and round, were not part of his purpose in the first place.
Isabel’s fluttering dress unfolds by centrifugal force and embroiders the air.
Ivan’s torn eyes stare at Isabelle as if licking them. And his gaze briefly crossed with the king.
Ivan said to the king.
Can I take the princess?
There is nothing less than others.
You humans can do any number of arts.
His status is also not lowly.
Lastly, the princess has a heart for me too.
The lower body killed its own footwork a little to match Isabel’s stride.
However, the upper body is more exaggerated than usual.
I feel caring and showing off at the same time.
The anger around him was not a stumbling block for him. No, rather, the twisted corners of Ivan’s mouth seemed to be ravenous for the emotions around him.
As long as he could see the king’s reaction, he could endure that much.
Frowning, Fernando suddenly found himself among the people around him.
At first, I thought I was ahead of everyone else, but that was my own misunderstanding.
The stone that had been lodged was being kicked by the rolling stone and was falling pathetically toward the bottom of the abyss. It was only now that I realized that I was the only one who didn’t know about it.
The place that received the bright spotlight was the center, not the border of the periphery where he was located.
I could now understand why I felt Ivan was a snake yesterday.
Every action was a calculated move, and nothing was meaningless.
Thinking so made me feel shabby as I gazed at the two shining brightly in the dark.
Although he lacks other talents than his two older brothers, he was considered politically superior… … .
Looking at Ivan, it seemed that he would no longer be able to use his strengths.
Because she danced with a bright smile to match his hand and stride, and looked relieved as if she had taken off a layer of clothing.
Isabelle… … .
you… … .
I couldn’t bear to speak. Even if you say it inside, it doesn’t come out behind your back.
Politics is the field I was most confident in. defeated in politics.
I looked down on him wearing the mask of a beast, but Isabel’s hand and waist were taken away without a single resistance.
-dump… … .
Knees bow down
The people around him didn’t even pay attention to him.
Because it was a brilliant light that I could see well in the dark. There was no way he could see Fernando in the same shadow.
I want to hold on to the irresistibly falling heart.
I tried to catch my breath, but I couldn’t.
I hate myself for not being able to do even a light movement as I wish because my body didn’t listen.
Everything is marked by Ivan’s overwhelming superiority.
What did you mean by waiting all night yesterday?
Are the feelings she felt when she left Ivan’s quarters related to what she feels now?
ah… … .
there was.
It was clear what he felt as one of the crowds around him blaming Ivan.
anger.
A hot thing that boils in your chest.
Then what should I do?
All that remains of him now is the right of succession to the throne of Aragorn and the troops he has followed to escort him… … .
The moment Isabelle passed over to Ivan, they thought they were useless, but she remembered a way to use them.
Diplomatically, it would be the worst choice, but that was fine.
Although he may be pointed at by the people, their support is irrelevant to him who has already obtained the right to succeed.
No, rather, the nobles would add their support to him.
The nobles of their country, Aragon.
He will be remembered by the people as an idiot-like prince who starts a war because of a woman.
However, that’s just the finger pointing of those who have nothing.
The judgment of nobles who truly have power and power must be different.
Those who lost due to competition with Adria’s merchants will tremble with joy.
Military purveyors will kiss his instep, and nobles will chant Fernando’s name, thinking of expanding their territory.
Obama will applaud if he wins the war, because he will gain a page to add to his epic later in life.
All the stigma will be on Fernando.
After the banquet, Fernando, returning to his lodgings, immediately called Count Armada.
one goal.
to kidnap Isabelle. There was no need to hesitate.
The end of politics is war. Love is sometimes used as one of the means to make war attractive.
Only those who have experienced it will know the truth.