'That's amazing.'
The palace banquet was well-planned, so it was large in scale, and the interior was splendid and colorful enough to dazzle the eyes. Various colored curtains and tapestries made of luxurious silk and lace decorated the walls, windows, and terraces in an antique and unified manner. On the high ceiling, splendidly shining jewels and expensive chandeliers hung like stars in the sky, and expensive magic-engraved luminous stones were placed at regular intervals around them, brightly illuminating the inside of the banquet hall. The carefully arranged pure white tables and chairs were each splendidly decorated with colorful flowers in full bloom. The nobles who attended the banquet also showed off their own style, wearing clothes that suited the splendidly decorated banquet hall. The noble ladies and young ladies wore dresses of various colors made of high-quality fabrics, sparkling beaded lace, and chiffon with embroidery and patterns individually woven by experts, and wore various luxurious accessories on top of them.
The noblemen and young ladies were no different. They were wearing well-tailored suits made of softly puffed suede, and they were adorned with expensive belts, cuffs, pin ties, and other accessories to show off their style. Karina entered the banquet hall, linking arms with Jeremiah...
"The Grand Duke and Duchess of Colesberg are entering!"
The loud voice of the attendant standing at the entrance echoed throughout the banquet hall. As the two entered, all the nobles' attention turned to them.
"Oh!"
"Oh!"
Exclamations escaped their lips. Many people looked back at them with their eyes flashing or pretended not to notice, hiding their excitement with their fans. They quickly glanced at Karina and Jeremiah, whispering among themselves.
"His Highness the Grand Duke is still handsome."
"The banquet dress he's wearing today is really cool. It's hard for just anyone to pull off an outfit like that."
"What can I say? I know how much he trains his muscles regularly."
"I really envy the Grand Duchess. Not only his face, but I will be able to see that firm and perfect body covered by the banquet dress every day without any regrets."
"Did she just watch? There was a rumor that they had to check their sleeping habits in front of the servants every night."
"Oh my! Now that I think about it."
"How secure and ecstatic it would be to be held by that firm-looking, broad chest."
Karina's eyebrows furrowed at the sound of their laughter as if they were talking about something that was considered shameful.
'What are they talking about now?'
Karina's eyebrows twitched as she maintained a smiling expression.
"Oh my, but where did you get the dress that the Grand Duchess is wearing tailored? It looks very luxurious at first glance."
"The fabric is great, and the way the clothes draw elegant and calm curves... It's definitely a top-quality product as if it was made by a craftsman."
"If you look closely, the delicate lace on the shoulders, sleeves, and hem of the dress is a special lace that can only be used at the Fairies' Costume Shop!"
"Really? But wasn't the Fairies' costume shop only for the royal family?"
"Oh my goodness! Then how did the Grand Duchess get that dress tailored?"
"I heard that Fairies Costume Shop makes imperial costumes, but they also accept a very limited number of non-imperial orders."
"Even so, I heard that placing an order is like trying to reach a star in the sky"
"The price is also extremely high. They say that the cost of operating a small estate for a year is ridiculous just to make one dress."
"Even if you have money, you wouldn't take just any order, right?"
"That's right. They're known for being extremely picky, from the person ordering the costume to who will wear it once it's finished!"
As their conversation continued, the eyes of the nobles around them became busy examining Karina's dress. Their eyes were filled with jealousy and envy.
'The annual operating expenses of a decent estate...? This is the first time I've heard of such a thing.'
On the other hand, Karina was a little flustered when she heard the words she had never heard before. However, she hid her surprise and embarrassment without showing it and received the gaze with a blank expression.
"And look at the necklace the Grand Duchess is wearing!"
"Even when matched with a gorgeous dress with lace and embroidery, it harmoniously stands out without being overpowering or flashy."
"The brilliance is extraordinary. It's the first time I've seen an emerald shine so transparently."
"Whenever the light reflects off of it, it shines in such a brilliant variety of colors. It looks like it was crafted by a famous craftsman..."
One of the young ladies, who had been trailing off, started to fuss as if she remembered something.
"Oh my! Oh my! Surely that's not 'that'?"
"That thing?"
"I'm talking about the masterpiece of the much-rumored jeweler, Paulo!"
"Ah! By the way, they said it was an accessory made from the highest-grade emerald."
"You don't know how frustrating it was for me not to be able to see it at that time."
"I was so surprised that something so expensive sold out so quickly before it was even released...!"
"Did the Grand Duchess buy it?"
"Hmm. I heard the buyer was a man."
"Then, is it possible that it was not the Grand Duchess but His Highness the Grand Duke who bought it and gave it to the Grand Duchess?"
"I think that might be possible."
"Oh my, so romantic."
"Preparing such hard-to-find items just for one person..."
"I'm jealous. It's so cool to even imagine."
Their whispering could be heard without any filter. When Karina and Jeremiah reached the center of the banquet hall, they approached her with a friendly smile on their face, pretending to be kind.
"Your Highness! You look so beautiful today."
"How have you been? Your dress is so pretty. Did you get it tailored at the Fairies' costume shop?"
"Your necklace is really beautiful. Did you receive it as a gift from His Highness the Grand Duke?"
An endless stream of questions, disguised as greetings, poured out of their mouths.
"Your Highness the Grand Duke is still very tall."
"I heard the news. As expected, His Highness the Grand Duke is the only one who can deal with the monsters!"
"Is Your Highness Grand Duchess feeling better now?"
Even the nobles who had been watching for an appropriate moment gathered around them. Karina felt tired already thinking about dealing with them. However, it was a little different than usual.
"It's been a while."
"I see."
"I don't know."
"I guess we can talk about that later."
Jeremiah, who was next to her, automatically struck down those who approached her.
"My wife is still recovering. I don't want to overwork her, so please excuse me."
While the nobles were approaching like a sword, the music in the banquet hall changed and a dance song began to flow. Jeremiah, taking this as an opportunity, pushed through the crowd and led her to the center of the floor. He politely extended his hand and made a request.
"Give me the honor of sharing your first dance with me."
Karina's eyes lit up. It was an effective way to keep people away. At the same time, it made Karina's heart flutter. She felt good because she felt that he cared about her.
"Great."
Karina nodded slightly and accepted his request. The two people held hands as they took their first step and their dance line continued smoothly.
"Aren't you tired?"
Jeremiah asked her with a worried expression. Seeing him, she couldn't help but chuckle. Karina swallowed her laughter and answered.
"Thanks to you, I'm okay."
She answered him with gratitude for saving him from being harassed by people.
Jeremiah's expression softened as if he knew her intention. Even though the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, his atmosphere seemed very relaxed and warm. Karina's vision came into view of his perfectly handsome face, his manly thick neck, and his solid chest.
"..."
Was it because she heard the noble ladies. gossiping earlier? Even though it was hidden by the banquet attire, his chest looked as broad as the ocean and as solid as a rock.
'I feel a little embarrassed!'
Her face flushed slightly. Karina tried not to waver, trying to keep her gaze lifted to his chest.
'Let's focus on dancing.'
She felt like she was going to miss the beat and step on his foot.
'I can't make that mistake.'
Karina bit her lips and pulled herself together. But looking at his face instead of his chest didn't calm her down. Fortunately, the dance they were dancing right now wasn't a difficult one. And...
"It's okay if you're misstep."
Jeremiah whispered so that only she could hear as if he thought she was paying attention to his dance moves. Then he naturally pulled her closer by the waist and hugged her, leading the dance.
"!"
Karina swallowed her breath as they became closer and closer than before. Didn't he know that this made people tremble and become more nervous? The nobles around them also looked at the two dancing as if they were possessed and admired them. She barely managed to finish dancing without losing her soul under his affectionate gaze and consideration. As the performance ended, the two's elegant and beautiful dance also ended smoothly.
'Phew. It's over.'
The moment of relief that she had finally made it. He gently kissed the back of Karina's hand with a heart of reverence.
"...!"
Her face flushed as she recalled the warm, soft sensation and the events that had occurred in the charnel house. At that time.
"Grand Duchess!"
A familiar voice called her.
'His Highness the Crown Prince?'
When she turned her head, David was coming towards her.
"It's nice to finally see your face. Did you have a good day?"
David asked with a big smile.
"Yes, it went in fine."
Come to think of it, today was the first time they met since the circus performance accident.
"I was very worried. I tried to check on you every day after that day, but I couldn't see you for a long time."
"Yes?"
Her eyes widened. It was the first time she had heard of it.
"You kept coming to me?"
"Yes. Every time I went, the Grand Duchess was always asleep because she was sick, so I always ended up wasting my time."
"Ah."
Perhaps Jeremiah had sent him away with an iron fist.
"I'm sorry. I guess I caused you trouble."
She couldn't admit that it was a lie, so she answered like that and tried to cover it up.
"Thank you for your concern. I'm okay now."
He tried to hide his surprised expression and smiled gently as if nothing had happened. However, he got an unexpected reaction.
"I can't believe it."
"Yes?"
"I couldn't sleep every night because I thought about the Grand Duchess and was worried."
"Uh..."
It was embarrassing. Then Jeremiah came between the two with an uncomfortable expression.
"I am taking good care of my wife. Your Highness, don't worry about her."
The tone was so hostile that it made the surrounding nobles flinch.
"Can't I worry about what I want?"
"There is absolutely no need for Your Highness the Crown Prince to worry."
A tense war of nerves was brewing between the two.
"Ah... over there..."
Karina quickly spoke up, thinking she should change the subject before the atmosphere got weird.
"But when will His Majesty arrive?"
The Emperor and the Marquis did not show themselves until the middle of the banquet.
'You're late.'
To be honest, Karina was glad that they didn't show up, but this time she was planning to just say hello to the Emperor and go back. She didn't like the fact that they didn't show up until late.
"His Majesty said that he had some business to attend to before attending the banquet, but I am not sure."
David shrugged. Then, suddenly, there was a commotion at the entrance.
"Ugh!"
"Gyaaaah!!"
A shrill scream erupted from one side, a scream completely out of place in the magnificent banquet hall.
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