There’s nothing to feel good about, it can’t be good, but I began to like it. I let my guard down.
Without a doubt.
The petty god who wouldn’t let her be happy sent a sign.
“T-The Imperial Crown Prince…!”
A rushing servant’s shout bellowed. At the same time, the door of the banquet hall clicked open, and a falsely-filled sense of expectation escaped Kathia.
How pathetic, Kathia. You should’ve paid more attention in times like this. You got excited over nothing like an idiot.
It was because both her ears were always open, even though she was essentially isolated in that detached palace.
On that note, Kathia heard of unexciting rumors countless times, those such as the Imperial Empress was in a coma-like state for seventeen years without any signs of improvements and the First and Second Imperial Consorts were butting heads.
She especially heard a lot of rumors about the Imperial Crown Prince, a scumbag.
Although she didn’t want to listen, it was so rowdy, even the cautious Madam Murphy herself deemed the Imperial Crown Prince unworthy of the emperor title.
Kathia had to deal with the rumors spread by the previous Second Consort seven years ago, so she decided to not judge people by rumors, but then she really thought that if the Imperial Crown Prince becomes the emperor, that he would be beyond saving if the rumors surrounding him were all true.
“Good evening. You thought you would have so much fun without me, huh?”
As expected, the tyrant-to-be didn’t disappoint us.
With a giggling face and messy dark blonde hair, elegance nowhere to be found, I couldn’t tell if he was the Imperial Crown Prince or some scumbag.
“Prince, how dare you…”
“Long time no see, Father. You’re like a living dead, holding onto your last breath… Haha! The Empire’s great joy! This Prince is quite happy!”
The Imperial Crown Prince was being sarcastic while gently scratching his father. He seemed as if he was keeping dozens of poisonous vipers inside his smooth shell.
Lightly dismissing the emperor who gave him the evil eye, the Imperial Crown Prince staggered around.
“So, let’s see. Where can our precious mother and sister be… Oh!”
His eyes suddenly brightened after scanning the room; the startled aristocrats shuffled away, exposing Hannah and Kathia.
The Imperial Crown Prince pounced recklessly at them like a hyena that has found its prey. Kathia wrinkled her eyes at the strong stench of alcohol coming from him as he approached.
At least the rumor of him always being drunk was true.
“Huh… This is quite appetizing.”
His sleazy eyes stared directly at the two. It was the look of an animal. How revolting.
The Imperial Prince’s hand suddenly lurched towards Kathia, who was filled with only hatred for him.
“Please stay back.”
That happened instantly when Hannah stood in front of Kathia, who had stayed quiet throughout the entire banquet. The Imperial Crown Prince then spoke with a smirk.
“No need to keep your guard up, Mother. I’m not trying to harm my only sister. As a brother, shouldn’t I at least share a dance with my sister who just became of age?”
Listening to the sordid voice, Kathia bit her red lips, which the maids paid a lot of attention to when putting lipstick on.
At the debutante ball, the first dance usually happened with the father, brother, or fiancé. For Kathia, she had no appropriate reason to decline his offer to dance.
“…It’ll be an honor.”
After all, he’s the one who’ll become the sun of the empire after the emperor passes.
Keeping hatred aside, he is certainly among one of the people that Kathia needed to impress.
After taking a deep breath, Kathia soothed Hannah and held the clammy hand of the Imperial Crown Prince.
As the aristocrats quickly cleared, some bright melody started to play from somewhere.
The Imperial Crown Prince’s lead was rough and unpredictable. Suddenly turning after a step, then moving in an unexpected direction.
Only taught the basics of ballroom dance, Kathia tried her hardest to not get dragged by that unforgiving hand.
As the hardship almost ended, the Imperial Crown Prince roughly grabbed Kathia’s waist and then spoke.
“Don’t get too upset about other family members not attending today, Sis. To my mother and younger siblings, they have unavoidable prior engagements. Mm, perhaps.”
“Is that so?”
Kathia smiled even to his nonsensical remark, better left unsaid.