About half an hour ago, Yuni was eating cookies given by the palace junior officials in the room. She could hear the door open as she was enjoying the luxury of the Imperial Palace.
Yuni, of course, thought Lena came, leaned her head toward the door.
“You came earlier than I thought—oh! Miss!”
Then she threw the cookies and rushed toward Lena.
“No, what the hell is this? Ugh, the smell of alcohol!”
Yuni was shocked by Lena’s appearance. Wet hair, smeared makeup, stained dress, and even the smell of alcohol that vibrated throughout her body. She just closed her mouth because she didn’t know where to start.
Then, Lena said calmly in front of her.
“I will explain later. Please help me get ready.”
“Get ready?”
“Get ready to go out again.”
Yuni’s eyes became more shaken by the unexpected order.
However, Lena remained calm. That’s why it was more unusual. It’s Lena’s face when she was a little upset.
“You’re going back to the ballroom?”
Yuni was puzzled. She didn’t know what was going on, but she knew it wasn’t very good.
Even though the hair and makeup could be quickly fixed, it took a few hours to change the dress. There was a way to hide the flaw, but it would look ugly.
When Yuni was puzzled, Lena simply provided the answer.
“I don’t have time to change my dress, so please take out my uniform.”
Yuni’s eyes flashed at the word ‘uniform’.
Uniforms were also suitable for a ball. Moreover, you could change quickly rather than a dress. You didn’t have to wear make-up again, and you didn’t have to get your hair done.
Realized the meaning of the order, Yuni rushed to the closet. Soon after, Yuni brought the Southern uniform, she asked Lena when she took off her dress, “But how did you end up like this?”
“The gentleman who sent the invitation was more naughty than I thought.”
“It’s a man?”
“Yes, very handsome.”
Lena explained lightly and washed her face with cold water. Yuni also helped her prepared. The disheveled hair was well combed and tied together, and she wiped her makeup clean and applied a minimal amount of it.
After that, she wore the great Southern uniform.
The uniform top consisted of a white shirt with a collar up to the neck and a royal blue corset-style coat on the waist. The coat descended to her thigh, but because it wrapped her body tightly, the side of the thigh is long stretched so as not to interfere with her movement. There was an asymmetric cape on the shoulders, the same color as the coat.
The bottoms were white pants that fit tightly to her legs. The uniform was characterized by a thigh-high black boot and a clear emphasis on the thigh.
The four Dukes wore different types of uniforms. And the southern uniform was considered the most sensual among them.
“But, is it okay to wear this now?” Yuni asked as she helped Lena.
This great uniform wasn’t purchased by Lena, but by the Southern Duke. Could she go to the ballroom in this uniform?
When Yuni was so worried, Lena smiled as if she was okay, “That’s okay. I’m going to wear it anyway.”
“That’s true, but it’s not in the plan.”
“People’s work doesn’t always go as planned.”
“Miss….”
“Besides, the Duke Arles would hate to see me humiliated like this,” Lena added with a smile.
In fact, Lena didn’t intend to wear a dress and uniform all at once. Originally, it was planned to be used to enhance her presence, but the plan was changed because of a baby named Ruvid.
She had to step down with dignity, but she was already a laughingstock. But could she be respected if she showed up in uniform the next day?
There’s also a way to slowly reveal her true value, but it wasn’t Lena’s preferred method.
“From the beginning, I was wrong. Wore a dress to fight a wild dog.”
Lena finally wore her cape.
“This is the only way to show everything today.”2
Lena committed the same thing, pledging to rob a gnat by the collar. Then a moment later Lena put the commitments into effect.
🍃🍃🍃
“Ukh!”
Ruvid was taken away by Lena once again. He took a big step and stepped straight on the floor. Thanks to her efforts, Ruvid’s struggle was still seemed to be a dance.
The eyes of the aristocrats, however, gradually grew curious.
‘Damn it!’
Ruvid swallowed the curse and inevitably clenched his teeth. The dance was getting faster. It was a sign that the song was about to end.
What happened when the song ends? Should he go round like an idiot after the music stopped?
It was when Ruvid thought nervously. Lena, who shook him with unruly sway, spoke suddenly in a friendly voice.
“How about reconciliation?”
“What?”
“It’s a loss for both of us. So yield one step at a time.”
It meant to end the fight like this and went back as the gentleman and the lady again.
If Ruvid respected Lena now, the previous insult would be settled to some extent. Of course, everyone would question their strange relationship improvement, but it’s Ruvid’s responsibility, who had been foolish and capricious, and it wasn’t Lena’s business.
So, at this point, Lena decided to forgive this kid, who had no manners.
“You…”
But indeed, Ruvid wasn’t prepared to be forgiven.
Lena’s generous offer made Ruvid looked away. However, he didn’t swear openly as he did before. It was because he was dragged around and was aware of his situation to some extent.
It was impossible to escape from this monstrous woman. Not because Ruvid was weak. He was a slender beauty, but also had a considerable level of strength.
However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t beat Lena. It was a bit annoying and Lena asked again, “You don’t like it?”
She wasn’t just asking, but she held both Ruvid’s hands and made a wide circle.
‘Ugh!?’
Ruvid, who involuntarily followed, felt his heel slippery. He looked behind with discomfort, his feet were spread over the edge of the lake of champagne.
Then Lena, who had pushed Ruvid to the lake, smiled and asked again, “Hm?”
The short question was obvious.
‘Damn, what the hell…!’
He was at the edge of the lake.
Lena intended to push Ruvid into the lake after the music ended. As proof, he was being circled only around the lake.1
Ruvid, who was forced to reconcile, was forced to beg for mercy. It would be more reasonable to sneak up on a person instead of being humiliated in front of people, but his sky-stabbing pride didn’t tolerate it.
So Ruvid snared Lena and snarled lower.
“Try it.”
“If you insist.”
Lena smiled beautifully and ended up at the peak of the music with Ruvid, who never replied to it.
The steps were getting faster and the rounded body became so centrifugal that it wouldn’t be strange to throw it off anytime.
Lena turned again and again. And at the end of the music, Ruvid’s hand was released.
‘Keukh…!’
With the feeling of being thrown out, Ruvid slipped toward the lake. Too late to get in position, he anticipated with his eyes closed tight.
However, the falling body suddenly stopped. Then, he felt a touch on his back. He looked in surprise. Lena was smiling as she supported Ruvid’s waist. He really thought she’d miss him.
Lena looked at Ruvid joyfully and pulled his body back and helped him stood up straight. Then she stepped back and greeted him politely.
“Thank you for the wonderful dance. I enjoyed it.”
Lena greeted him with her hands on her chest like a knight, and Ruvid, who was released, rubbed his wrists with trembling eyes. A red handprint remained on his wrist.
When Ruvid looked at his wrist and Lena’s bowed head, he smiled secretly.
He smiled for a long time as if he had no excuse, and with all his strength, he tried to hit Lena’s face.
PAK!1
A fierce rubbing sound rang.
But it wasn’t Lena’s cheek that Ruvid hit. It was Lena’s palm that was raised to the side of her face that bumped into his hand. Ruvid, who tried to get his pride back, bit his lips. The aristocrats swallowed in vain by the unexpected violence.
Then, Lena sighed.
“You never reflect on yourself until the end.”
Lena reached out to Ruvid, as if it was a pity. Ruvid pulled his hand with a nasty face. But the hand was a trick, the real was the foot.1
When Ruvid tried to reach Lena’s foot, Lena kicked his ankle by moving her foot like sweeping the floor.
Ruvid quickly lost his balance. His body went tumbling down, and soon after, the champagne lake, everyone was looking forward to, burst. The prince fell into the lake with the sound of a splash.4
🍃🍃🍃
A golden splash of water rose with a loud noise. As the high waves rose again, the white foam boiled over. The sight was reminiscent of a wine glass that was lifted up hard.
At the unimaginable sight, the aristocrats’ eyes shook and their jaws dropped.
Lena turned around as she watched Ruvid’s long blonde hair under the champagne lake. Then, she greeted the aristocrats who looked at her with a proper greeting.
“Pfft, ha ha ha!”
Applause rang with a cheerful laugh. The nobles turned their heads and became more embarrassed. It was none other than Klavis who applauded Lena.
He rejoiced like an audience who saw a great performance. Because of this, the aristocrats were in serious conflict. They couldn’t let the Imperial Cardinal clapped himself like a fool, nor could they laughed at the Prince of the North.
It was the time when nobles could neither do this nor do that.
It was neither wind nor a lightning strike, soaring sharply from the bottom of the lake. There was heard a crash sound.
Subsequently, the flowers floating on the lake bounced into the air, and the floor cracked without any sign. The marble floor was split in all directions like a cut cake and the gap filled the lake with champagne.
“Aaaah!”
“Kyaaa!”
When the nobles were frightened by the phenomenon, Klavis muttered happily.
“Our Prince must be really angry.”
Lena looked back too.
“Well, if you want to do it that way.”
Then, she glanced at the pool, which was a lake. Lena’s provocation made Ruvid’s eyes grew darker.
His eyes were pale blue.
100 years ago, the kingdom Grascha was destroyed. It’s not clear what happened before and after that. One day, the door of the abyss opened, and the dead who came out to the ground attacked the living and spread death.
Neither the kingdom nor the church prevented the death. The kingdom fell like a burning fallen leaf, and poor royals were choked to death in despair.
Then, a miracle happened.
The last bloodline from the fallen dynasty, Niheal Grascha, killed the dead and launched a counterattack.
After a fierce battle, the dead, that devoured the kingdom, were scattered all over the place, and Niheal built the Imperial Grandis Grascha on the ruins of the kingdom.
It was neither the sword nor the bow that the young Empress wielded for victory. It was the mercy of God to the Imperial family at the last moment, the power to divide all wickedness.1
The chosen Empress saved the world with divine power and gave power to her bloodline. That power was the backbone of the Empire and was the reason and qualification of the Grascha family.
“Pray now.”
And Prince Ruvid Flanus Grascha of the North was chosen to inherit the power.
“Or I’ll take one of your eyes.”3
Ruvid stepped on the empty lake and muttered.
When the soaked Ruvid growled, an invisible sense of pressure crushed the people’s shoulders. Merciless and the power crush the air heavily. It was royal powers.
However, Lena remained unmoved and smiled.
“I’m in trouble. I have two eyes.”
“Then I’ll pull them both out.”
Ruvid stood right in front of Lena and stared at her like he was going to kill her.
At that bloody sight, a lady clung to Klavis.
“Your Highness, this would be a big deal. You have to stop it….”
“The big deal is already here, is he the one who would hear the word ‘stop’?”
But Klavis naturally ignored her. Then, he glanced at the confrontation between Lena and Ruvid.
Ruvid’s face was so angry, and Lena’s eyes, which were three or four inches from him were still intact.
It was an atmosphere that wouldn’t be strange even if a knife fight broke out. No, he’d rather it to be a sword fight. The noblemen knew that the anger of the Imperial family was expressed in many ways.
The terrified nobles backed away, and Ruvid’s lips became more and more distorted. It was a strange situation no matter what happened.
“Prince, I’m here to pick you up.”
The voice heard suddenly poured cold water. It was a calm voice that broke the tension.
“I have to see Her Majesty tomorrow. You have to move early, so let’s go back today.”
The voice was strangely sharp as the room was silent. The nobles held their breath and turned their heads. A man was walking through the entrance of the venue.
“Ck.”
Ruvid looked at the man and clicked his tongue. Then, he lost interest in Lena and turned away. The nobles were amazed and sighed at the sight.
But the most surprised person was Lena. She whispered faintly at the gentleman.
“Father…”2
But no one heard it.
Except for Marquis Rubel who passed by.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, so I’m getting confused now and you may also. Because in this chapter I used Marquis Rubel, not Count Rubel like what I used in previous chapters.
It may be a spoiler but I don’t care, if you don’t want to read it, just skip this. I just want to prevent some misunderstandings, between us and the Writer hahahaha….
I’ve read some chapters ahead and I come to the conclusion that Lena’s father, that Rubel man, was a Viscount at first, and when he sold Lena, his title raised to Count, aaand six years later, I don’t know the time exactly, his title raised to Marquis.1
So if you find it hard to understand, please just read it at ease, because I will edit them out when the Writer explains it in a certain chapter.