As we stood side by side and made formal greetings to one another. Calix’s sharp gaze was onto me the whole time, but I just kept my head down pretending not to notice his unwanted attention.
In fact, he wasn’t the only one staring at me. All the way back to the guided table after giving greetings, James Camnell’s hazy drunken eyes were also glued to me. It was such an unpleasant stare that gave me goosebumps.
If I could, I would have immediately run out of this place. However, we were in the presence of not just anyone, but the Divine Lady who was also called God’s representative, that’s why I couldn’t just do as I please. And I know it would be the same even if I came here as Laure Ecrée.
“Haha! It’s a good thing that you’ve decided to stay!”
Lord Canelo said in an excited voice. Then I and Alice bowed our heads in gratitude. The Lord seemed to be extremely pleased that the Divine Lady and the Grand Duke decided to come to visit Canelo. His clear intentions to build connections using this opportunity was remarkably apparent.
‘I guess he doesn’t plan to stay as a simple Lord in this faraway border forever.’
Even though Canelo was a relatively wealthy port city, it was not a very notable background for any aristocrats who want to rise into power. Even the previous lord who ruled over the city for the longest time only stayed for 20 years. And the current lord has already completed his 12th year of service this year.
‘Viscount Camnell is a greedy man, he would want his career to advance somehow. However······ This method wouldn’t work for Calix.’
I furtively glanced at the seat of honor. Sitting with his arms crossed, Calix looked awfully irritated. And I didn’t realize earlier, but Amelia, the Lord’s daughter, was stuck closely beside him.
Seeing it, I was a little surprised. Because it was not in Amelia’s character to do something like this, she extremely dislikes those persons who try to curry favor with those in higher positions.
The reason I knew this was because of Alice. While working at his lordship, Alice had several interactions with Amelia, and during those times she seemed to have learned one thing or another.
And as I heard it, it seemed that Amelia extremely hates her family.
‘······I’m sure the Lord ordered her to stay next to Calix.’
That must’ve probably what happened. Because even though Amelia has a smile plastered on her face at the moment, the glint in her eyes was very cold.
‘She’s such a great person.’
I was impressed as I watched the woman. She didn’t cower and still looked amazing even in front of the high-profile guests.
Though, of course, the lord with a sly smile on his face and his son who’s also a high-ranking noble looked great in their own way as well.
I dropped my eyes back to the table. It was because I was afraid I would make eye contact with Calix if I kept on glancing their way. And even if I didn’t, he’s been keeping an eye on me anyway.
The blue glare that was stuck on me unceasingly was scathing.
Alice and I were seated at the far end of the long table. Nevertheless, the banquet table was luxurious. It seemed that the Lord was determined to spend some money.
Honey pickled seasonal fruits, barrel-roasted boar cut into bite-size pieces, chicken stew boiled with wine, and even freshly caught seafood.
They were all sumptuous delicacies. However, I didn’t feel like eating anything at the moment. I feel like I might get indigestion if I eat it right now.
I could only keep on sipping water like a thirsty cat. When will this banquet ever end? I wonder how Letty was doing. I think Calix’s still staring at me······. As all kinds of thoughts passed by, the band entered the banquet hall.
Dressed in colorful eye-catching clothes, they greeted exaggeratedly and soon began to perform a dance piece.
The melody that started as cheerful gradually changed into a calming rhythm. It was the ceremonial music that was usually played for the first dance of such a banquet like this. Every time this song rang out in the past, Calix and I would naturally partner up and begin to dance.
My first dance was always with Calix. And he would always leave no room for others to step in.
However, dancing was a kind of social activity, so I used to dance with others sometimes. Because it was not polite to refuse all requests.
But in the end, I always go back to Calix’s side. The beginning and the end of all my dances were always his.
-Calix, you look uncomfortable.
-Is that so?
–Yes. A lot.
Calix hated it when I dance with another nobleman. All the young men who danced with me ever since had to receive a glare from Calix.
Every time. I have to take Calix to the balcony to cheer him up.
And when the two of us were finally alone again, he would become like a gentle domesticated beast, so docile that it would seem that he didn’t just have growled at the man I danced with at the dance floor.
Listening to this dance piece after a long time reminded me of the past. Maybe that’s why. A little dazed, I unintentionally looked at Calix, and my eyes met with his immediately.
His intense blue eyes held my gaze. Then he rose slowly from his seat without taking his eyes off me. And slowly approached this way.
My heart pounded with every step he took. No, it’s not what I’m thinking, right? A feeling of uneasiness lingered for a while, and before I knew it, Calix was already in front of me and reaching out his hand.
“······.”
Not a single word was said, but the meaning of his action was significantly clear. He’s asking me to dance. Like a long time ago······.
I hesitated and surreptitiously looked around us. The knights who attended the banquet and the vassals were all whispering while glancing over our direction.
I moved my gaze a little more and stealthily looked at the seat of honor, the astonished Lord and his son, Amelia with an excited look on her face, and······.
In a fleeting moment, I saw Sia with a nefarious look on her face.
‘It looks like she wants to tie me up and throw me into the sea······.’
It was a very fierce expression like she would not think twice about killing me anytime. This was the first time Sia had openly expressed her hostility towards me. All this time she hides her ill feelings behind a smiling mask.
‘She must’ve hated me because I’m Calix’s ex-fiancé, right?’
I’m quite sure that was the case, however, it felt like there was more reason for it than beyond that grounds. Although it’s a baseless intuition······.
‘It’s also not possible to ask her directly why she hates me.’
If I ask her that, she might only counter it with a pretentious smile and say, ‘What do you mean I hate Laure?’ and rather guise me as a bad person.
It was just my hunch, but I think that she’s the kind of person who smiles when she’s in front of you and blows a knife once she’s behind. That woman.
‘I should just smile in front of her too.’
I think It’d be better not to reveal my feelings in front of her. She’s a Divine Lady, that’s why she would be reluctant to just recklessly do things anyway.
‘Oh, and by the way, What about the dance?’
I looked again at Calix. He was still waiting patiently, with his hands out. His blue eyes were peacefully calm, and it made me feel a sense of guilt.
Was it a feeling of guilt for that last time?
“······.”
I sat still and stared at him.
One second, two seconds······ That’s how a minute passed. The longer I dragged on, the louder people chattered.
I breathed a sigh. I don’t have a choice anyway. I dressed up as a commoner, I can’t dare refuse the Grand Duke’s request.
I got up from my seat and took Calix’s hand. Then he gently wrapped my hand around his. He guided me around the table, came out to the center of the hall, and then he pulled me close. A faint smile was plastered all over his pale lips.
As if recalling old memories, his blue eyes momentarily deepened.
Our bodies moved according to the song that resonated gently. The clamor that mingled here and there created dissonance.
“Who’s that young lady? It’ll be big news that the Grand Duke asked someone to dance first. When I went to the capital last time······”
“What ‘young lady’? She’s Rose Winterwood. She’s just a single mother who suddenly appeared here in our town seven years ago, pregnant. She was married to Osborne, the magic merchant, but no one knows if they were really married······.”
“A single mother?”
“Why would the Grand Duke, to such woman······.”
“Come to think of it, seven years ago······.”
“The reason why the Grand Duke came to such a periphery······.”
“······I heard he’s crazy for his missing fiancée······.”
“Sir Brahms, watch your words! Everyone can hear you!”
There was a loud chatter going on around us, but Calix wears a languid expression as if he didn’t care at all. He would just glance across a few tables with an irritated look. But collectively, he was relatively calm.
To be precise, his attention was altogether focused on me.
“Calix.”
I quietly called his name. Then Calix smiled, like a black-and-white painting suddenly covered with a total natural color.
Or a smile that seems to be breathed into a lifeless statue. It was a smile filled with affection that was created only for me.
We looked into each other’s eyes.
I could see myself reflected in his beautiful blue eyes, and I’m sure it was the same as mine.
The people’s voice and the sound of music gradually fade away, I had the illusion of being wrapped up in a warm cozy silence. Where it seemed that both of us were the only ones left alone in this world.
At least at this moment, I felt like I could get away from reality and do anything. I thought I could reveal any secret. A complete peacefulness without fear of anything.
But soon, the fantasy was broken, and the music that was gently falling died down.
Clap clap clap!
Ceremonious applause suddenly burst out of the auditorium.
That was a great dance. How about dancing to a song with my daughter next? For a moment, the sound of the lord’s flattery was heard, when someone suddenly came up our way.
I turned my head. And the person who finally stopped before us was none other than Sia, it was her.
Sia gave a sidelong scowl at me and smiled softly at Calix.
“Calix. I didn’t know you were such a good dancer. You always danced roughly when you were with me. You’re so unfair.”
The moment I heard those words, my heart sank.
‘Calix danced with Sia······.’
They probably have. Since Sia is the divine lady, it would have been difficult to refuse her request.
I understand that in my head, however·······.
‘He must have felt the same way too when he had to watch me dancing with some nobleman.’
My heart felt stuffy and bitter. Up to this time, I believed that Sia was his destiny, and every time I have to face her like this, it will be painful for me.
Sia pushed me away and stuck firmly beside Calix. Because of that, I unknowingly stumbled and stepped back.
Calix instantly grabbed my waist tightly and drew me close to him. Then he distanced himself from Sia and glared at the woman.
Either way, Sia didn’t budge a bit. She smiled enchantingly and said.
“Why don’t you dance with me this time? Calix.”
Calix laughed openly, and then tilted his head and struck back.
“And why should I do that?”
Sia answered in a perfectly natural voice.
“You’re not asking because you don’t really know that, are you? I’m God’s representative, and you’re the head of the family that supports the empire. It’s a banquet held after defeating the evil spirits, so shouldn’t we set an example?”
Calix’s eyebrows wriggled. Judging from his reaction and Sia’s words, some unknown circumstances were seemed to be hidden from the public.
What is going on in the capital right now? No matter how powerful the temple is, Sia’s reckless demeanor seemed abnormally excessive.
Has the power of the temple become much stronger than it was before?
‘Is it related to the appearance of the monsters in Canelo?’
No matter how much I think about it, something was definitely strange.
Sia said she received a revelation that monsters would appear in Canelo, however······ Why does it have to be Canelo? Why did the monsters suddenly appear here?
In the city where I’m hiding from the fate of the original story, even at a perfect time when Calix visited me. It was extremely bizarre to be just a coincidence.
‘If this is really God’s will, it is as if God is telling me to die.’
That night, as I think about it again, it was strange that the monster ran specifically for me. Wouldn’t there be a reason for the monster to pick me up and attack me even if I was among so many people? Such a question suddenly came to my mind.
‘At that time, I was so distracted that I couldn’t dwell about the matter properly······.’
As I struggle with my restless emotions, I suddenly heard Calix’s sharp voice.
“I’ve already performed my obligations just by attending this banquet. What more do you want me to do? Furthermore······.”
Calix suddenly grabbed me and held me in his arms. I opened my eyes widely and looked up at him.
“As for dancing with the Divine Lady, there will never be such a thing again. I have only one person in the world to dance.”