The one entering the banquet hall was definitely Roxanne.
He crossed the carpet with measured steps.
The white robe with gold decorations made his tall height and sturdy body stand out even more.
Unlike his usual bangs, today his black hair that used to fall just above his eyebrows was pulled back, revealing his forehead.
Sepia almost got up from her seat.
'Roxanne was the Duke of Leopold?'
But the Duke's name was Claude.
The moment she thought that she realized it.
She only heard the red-haired knight calling Roxanne, but he had never revealed his own name.
Sepia was confused. Roxanne arrived at the stage and looked up.
He knelt on one knee right in front of the stairs.
This was the first time they had ever met as an Empress and a Duke. Was it a mistake?
The Great Temple was deep in the sea and connected to an island beyond the eastern coastline. There was only one reason why things from the sea came up to the land.
It was to convey the will of the goddess.
However, despite the sarcastic answer, the Duke was calm.
“Anyone who holds the star of Ishtar is like a Saint of the empire. Therefore, Her Majesty the Empress is more than qualified to grant me a blessing. If you further add a blessing, it will be a greater power to me than the divine power conveyed by the great priest.”
The Emperor’s expression distorted fiercely at the end of the Duke’s words.
However, Demios had no reason to refuse the Duke’s request.
Rather, it was right to draw the line here before the Duke made excessive demands. However, his twisted mood showed no signs of improving.
The silence was soon affirmation.
Now, only Sepia’s permission remained.
After a short silence, Sepia opened her mouth.
“Let’s do that.”
She accepted Roxanne’s request and stood up from the Empress’s seat. She was already tense, even though she was only stepping on the stairs to get down from the podium.
Even more so because she had never blessed anyone before.
Sepia recalled her past memories.
When she had just arrived in the Beastkin Empire, the High Priest of the Sea had blessed her.
The feeling of a gentle light enveloped her entire body.
It felt like she was underwater, or like a fetus swimming in amniotic fluid.
It was a mysterious experience that she had never experienced before.
That was the first and last time she had received someone’s blessing.
‘So I guess I can at least imitate it.’
There were only a few stairs down, but they felt particularly long.
The reason for that was because of the constant gazes that met her. Because his radiant golden eyes captured every single step she took.
Sepia came down from the platform and stood on the same floor as him.
Since Roxanne was on one knee, Sepia naturally looked down at him.
‘Was the reason he hid his identity because of his relationship with Demios?’
If he had approached Sepia for the sake of the punitive force.
However, he had never mentioned the standby order or anything related to it.
So it was even more confusing.
However, the blessing came first.
If she showed signs of hesitation in front of everyone, there was no way to know what kind of gossip would come out of it.
Sepia put her hand on his shoulder.
“As the star of Ishtar, I bless Duke Leopold.”
Since she had no divine power, there was no special effect.
However, she sincerely wanted to bless him.
Unlike Roxanne who had kept a secret from her, the time he had sacrificed for the empire and the pain he had experienced were real.
‘May you be compensated for your pain even now.’
Next, there was a blessing left.
When she was contemplating what to say, she remembered what he had said at the lake.
“May you escape from loneliness and find your place in life.”
Only Sepia’s voice resonated in the quiet hall.
Roxanne’s pupils shook after the blessing. Soon, a bright smile appeared on his face.
“Shining light to the Beastkin Empire.”
Sepia took her hand off his shoulder in surprise.
Although it was clearly a statement for the empire, it seemed like it was dedicated to Sepia.
Roxanne’s hand wrapped around hers.
The white lace gloves that wrapped Sepia’s hands were so thin that she could feel his body temperature.
It was different from bare skin touching.
His lips touched the back of Sepia’s hand along with the heterogeneous texture of the lace.
It was okay to think of it as a fleeting moment. And yet.
‘Hot.’
The place where his lips had rested beneath the gloves that left no traces felt faint.
Like a trace that was invisible but would not be erased.
The blessing was over.
It was the moment when the first chapter of the victory ceremony began.
The ball followed the celebration of the Duke’s achievements.
It was customary for the Emperor and Empress to have the first dance at such a large banquet.
Sepia stood in the center of the hall escorted by Demios.
As the two stood facing each other, the imperial orchestra began to play.
The rich orchestra surrounded them. Sepia and Demios stepped.
It was a familiar song. So it was natural that there was no break in their breathing as they continued.
Demios was just awkward and uncomfortable.
'It wasn't to this extent.'
Even before the government appeared, there was awkwardness with him.
But this was the first time she felt this uncomfortable.
While Sepia was trying hard to hide her feelings, he opened his mouth.
“Is he here?”
“Yes?”
Maybe because the music was loud, she must have misheard.
When Sepia asked, she was met with a cold gaze.
“The Empress’s government.”
Again.
He was criticizing Sepia by talking about a government that didn’t even exist.
Her heart, which she thought was finally getting better, started to hurt again.
He crossed the carpet with measured steps.
The white robe with gold decorations made his tall height and sturdy body stand out even more.
Unlike his usual bangs, today his black hair that used to fall just above his eyebrows was pulled back, revealing his forehead.
Sepia almost got up from her seat.
'Roxanne was the Duke of Leopold?'
But the Duke's name was Claude.
The moment she thought that she realized it.
She only heard the red-haired knight calling Roxanne, but he had never revealed his own name.
Sepia was confused. Roxanne arrived at the stage and looked up.
He knelt on one knee right in front of the stairs.
This was the first time they had ever met as an Empress and a Duke. Was it a mistake?
Roxanne's lips were loose. That fleeting smile felt like a signal that only Sepia could detect. Soon, he returned to his previous expression and reported to the Emperor.
“Claude Leopold. I have returned after completing the subjugation of the barbarians.”
The Duke, who had been away on the battlefield for a long time, was finally able to return after all the imperial thrones had changed. The banquet was basically a place of power, but many people attended this victory ceremony to see the Duke’s face. Most of the old nobles were seeing his face for the first time. He had left for the land of the barbarians right after receiving the title of Duke.
Roxanne and Demios’s eyes met in the air. It was a time when all the beastmen held their breath in a battle of wits that could never mix like water and oil.
“Welcome back.”
Demios greeted them politely. Everyone knew that the Emperor had ordered the subjugation force to stand by. However, hadn’t the castle gates been opened a week before the victory ceremony began?
The nobles were guessing that there must have been some kind of deal between the Emperor and the Duke while the standby order continued.
“We are exploring the magic stone mines in the territory of the barbarians. Currently, six have been discovered, and areas unknown to the map are being developed.”
The land of the barbarians consisted of a large jungle cluster. This land, where ancient life breathed, was filled with old magic energy, creating rare magic stones everywhere. Wizards were those who could manipulate magic. All the magic they handled came from magic stones. If they discovered just one magic stone mine, they could earn astronomical amounts of money. But now, there were six mines discovered. The land of the barbarians was a goose that laid golden eggs, no, it was more than that.
Although they knew this fact, it was an area that had not been developed until now because of the rampaging barbarians. In addition to the magic stones, the value of the land was limitless. Didn’t they stabilize the western region, which had been a lawless zone due to the long invasions of the barbarians?
The Duke achieved an achievement that everyone coveted but was impossible. The nobles looked at him with admiration.
“...You did well. I congratulate the Duke on your achievements.”
It was a victory that even the Emperor could not ignore. Demios looked down at the Duke with his chin resting on his hand and asked.
“What do you want as a reward for your victory?”
The Duke had the right to demand anything for the glory he had brought to the empire. Everyone was paying attention to what he wanted. Some of the authority over the magic stone mines and the development area had already been given to the Duke. Could he be demanding full authority over the lands of the barbarians? Or the golden lands in the west that had not been developed due to the invasion?
However, amidst the envious gazes, the Duke’s request was unexpected.
“I want to be blessed by the Empress.”
Sepia’s eyes widened at the sudden mention. The gazes of those who had been waiting for the Duke’s answer also gathered at the Empress.
‘May I bless him?’
Since blessings and congratulatory words were given by priests, they should have divine power. Even if Sepia had become the Empress of the Beastkin empire through an oracle, she did not possess divine power.
Demios’ eyebrows twitched. He barely suppressed his displeasure and replied.
“...Ask that to the High Priest. If the hero of the empire wants it, he may come straight to land.”
The Great Ocean. The embrace of the goddess, where even imperial power is vaguely out of reach. The beastmen of the sea are all those who serve only the goddess, and only those who have received a special baptism can become priests.
The Great Temple was deep in the sea and connected to an island beyond the eastern coastline. There was only one reason why things from the sea came up to the land.
It was to convey the will of the goddess.
However, despite the sarcastic answer, the Duke was calm.
“Anyone who holds the star of Ishtar is like a Saint of the empire. Therefore, Her Majesty the Empress is more than qualified to grant me a blessing. If you further add a blessing, it will be a greater power to me than the divine power conveyed by the great priest.”
The Emperor’s expression distorted fiercely at the end of the Duke’s words.
However, Demios had no reason to refuse the Duke’s request.
Rather, it was right to draw the line here before the Duke made excessive demands. However, his twisted mood showed no signs of improving.
The silence was soon affirmation.
Now, only Sepia’s permission remained.
After a short silence, Sepia opened her mouth.
“Let’s do that.”
She accepted Roxanne’s request and stood up from the Empress’s seat. She was already tense, even though she was only stepping on the stairs to get down from the podium.
Even more so because she had never blessed anyone before.
Sepia recalled her past memories.
When she had just arrived in the Beastkin Empire, the High Priest of the Sea had blessed her.
The feeling of a gentle light enveloped her entire body.
It felt like she was underwater, or like a fetus swimming in amniotic fluid.
It was a mysterious experience that she had never experienced before.
That was the first and last time she had received someone’s blessing.
‘So I guess I can at least imitate it.’
There were only a few stairs down, but they felt particularly long.
The reason for that was because of the constant gazes that met her. Because his radiant golden eyes captured every single step she took.
Sepia came down from the platform and stood on the same floor as him.
Since Roxanne was on one knee, Sepia naturally looked down at him.
‘Was the reason he hid his identity because of his relationship with Demios?’
If he had approached Sepia for the sake of the punitive force.
However, he had never mentioned the standby order or anything related to it.
So it was even more confusing.
However, the blessing came first.
If she showed signs of hesitation in front of everyone, there was no way to know what kind of gossip would come out of it.
Sepia put her hand on his shoulder.
“As the star of Ishtar, I bless Duke Leopold.”
Since she had no divine power, there was no special effect.
However, she sincerely wanted to bless him.
Unlike Roxanne who had kept a secret from her, the time he had sacrificed for the empire and the pain he had experienced were real.
‘May you be compensated for your pain even now.’
Next, there was a blessing left.
When she was contemplating what to say, she remembered what he had said at the lake.
“May you escape from loneliness and find your place in life.”
Only Sepia’s voice resonated in the quiet hall.
Roxanne’s pupils shook after the blessing. Soon, a bright smile appeared on his face.
“Shining light to the Beastkin Empire.”
Sepia took her hand off his shoulder in surprise.
Although it was clearly a statement for the empire, it seemed like it was dedicated to Sepia.
Roxanne’s hand wrapped around hers.
The white lace gloves that wrapped Sepia’s hands were so thin that she could feel his body temperature.
It was different from bare skin touching.
His lips touched the back of Sepia’s hand along with the heterogeneous texture of the lace.
It was okay to think of it as a fleeting moment. And yet.
‘Hot.’
The place where his lips had rested beneath the gloves that left no traces felt faint.
Like a trace that was invisible but would not be erased.
The blessing was over.
It was the moment when the first chapter of the victory ceremony began.
The ball followed the celebration of the Duke’s achievements.
It was customary for the Emperor and Empress to have the first dance at such a large banquet.
Sepia stood in the center of the hall escorted by Demios.
As the two stood facing each other, the imperial orchestra began to play.
The rich orchestra surrounded them. Sepia and Demios stepped.
It was a familiar song. So it was natural that there was no break in their breathing as they continued.
Demios was just awkward and uncomfortable.
'It wasn't to this extent.'
Even before the government appeared, there was awkwardness with him.
But this was the first time she felt this uncomfortable.
While Sepia was trying hard to hide her feelings, he opened his mouth.
“Is he here?”
“Yes?”
Maybe because the music was loud, she must have misheard.
When Sepia asked, she was met with a cold gaze.
“The Empress’s government.”
Again.
He was criticizing Sepia by talking about a government that didn’t even exist.
Her heart, which she thought was finally getting better, started to hurt again.
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