(140) What happened at Little Lord's party (2)
There was a loud commotion inside the banquet hall.
Everyone stared at the door, their eyes wide at the unexpected name. Even the orchestra, supposed to be playing at this moment, waited with their mouths open for the door to open.
The Northern Lord came to the party.
This fact was more shocking than the appearance of the Emperor or Empress.
Although the Northern Lord often visited the empire, he rarely attended parties. The Crown Prince's wedding celebration was almost always the first and last time he attended.
Although some people in the room knew the Northern Lord had arrived in the empire, no one expected to see him. The Northern Lord was never one to show up, no matter how many times he was invited to a party or pleaded.
The doors opened on both sides while everyone held their breath.
The moment Cyrus appeared, exclamations of “Ah!” rang out here and there.
Clad in a black uniform embroidered with red, Cyrus looked like a true god of the night and the moon. His silver hair shone even more brilliantly against the black garment, and his deep, intense red eyes nestled beneath a straight forehead. His perfectly chiseled features, his tall stature, and his surprisingly broad shoulders.
No one could take their eyes off Cyrus, who strode in with an arrogant gait.
“Northern Lord. I didn’t know you would actually come.”
Only when Geor stepped forward to greet Cyrus did the people come to their senses, and the music that had stopped playing began again.
"I received an invitation from the Little Lord, so of course I should come. Aren't we close neighbors?"
No one noticed the subtle energy flowing between Geor and Cyrus. They simply thought the sight of two tall, handsome men standing face to face was a beautiful piece of art.
The Empress and the Princess came to visit shortly after Cyrus's arrival, but they did not cause as much surprise as Cyrus.
Because there had already been a rumor going around that the Empress and the Princess might come to the party.
Princess Charlotte smiled brightly at Cyrus, but he averted his gaze. Several people noticed Charlotte's expression darkening.
“By the way, I don’t see the star of this party.”
Geor quickly answered the Empress's words.
“I think my younger sibling was very nervous because it was her first time attending a big party.”
“The Princess seems to be sensitive. The Eastern Lord must be very worried.”
The Empress's tone of voice was not sharp at all, so the nobles who were listening closely were secretly surprised.
How could the Empress be so generous to the Princess who made her wait?
They heard that Ariana had met the Empress, and it seemed she'd won her favor even more than they expected. So, a few people who had overheard the Empress and Geor's conversation decided to change their attitudes toward Ariana.
'I have to show it off. It wouldn't be good to be at odds with the Princess of the East, who is even favored by the Empress.'
A few others thought.
"It's too bad for the Princess. She's coming after the Northern Lord, the Empress, and the Princess. Everyone was curious about her until just now, but now no one cares about her."
Women were captivated by the Northern Lord, and men by the Empress. Married men and women were anxious about how to exchange even a single word with the Empress.
It was then that the attendant announced Ariana's arrival.
“Princess Ariana White is here.”
The door to the banquet hall opened.
People who had been looking away indifferently held their breath when they saw the person standing before them.
Ariana's hair was a very pale sky blue, giving her a delicate feeling. Her skin was translucent enough to show the veins, and her small face was imbued with a fresh beauty. Her eyes were as clear as dew, and her lips were as luscious as ripe fruit.
But the dress she wore wasn't like that.
The dress with gold embroidery on purple could easily look old-fashioned if worn incorrectly, but when paired with Ariana's sky-blue hair, it exuded a strong, arrogant maturity.
She walked in with a dignified and elegant bearing like the queen of the forest, stood before the Empress, and bowed her head.
“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Her greeting, gently lifting her skirt, was flawless. A smile appeared on the Empress's lips.
“You are beautiful, Princess.”
“You are too kind.”
"It seems like you're the star today. Everyone's mouths are wide open as they look at you."
Only then did the people realize they had been staring at Ariana with their mouths open, and they quickly collected their expressions.
The Princess approached.
"Princess, you look so different from the last time I saw you. The purple dress really suits you."
“Thank you, Princess. You look even more radiant than the last time I saw you. I feel like I’m going blind.”
Charlotte blushed at Ariana's compliment.
“The Princess speaks very beautifully. But... is that child the Princess’s maid?”
Next to Ariana stood Shini, dressed in a black dress, somewhat shyly.
“Yes, she is my personal maid. Her name is Shini.”
Shini bowed deeply towards the Empress and Princess.
Several people who had seen Shini's golden eyes gasped and muttered among themselves. However, the Empress and Princess didn't pay much attention to that.
The two women did not know that Ariana had rescued a slave with golden eyes, and they were not interested in the rumor on the street that golden eyes bring bad luck.
So the Empress spoke rather favorably.
“They say that women in the East are warriors too, so it’s fortunate that the Princess’s maid looks strong.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
"I'd love to enjoy the party a little longer, but I'll make everyone nervous if I'm there, so I guess I'll have to go now. This is the Princess's first party in the empire, so I hope you enjoy it."
It was rare for someone of the rank of Emperor or Empress to stay long at a party. Normally, the Princess would have returned with the Empress, but this time she stayed. Cyrus was present.
While Ariana was dealing with the ladies and gentlemen approaching with interest, Charlotte quietly approached Cyrus.
“I didn’t know the Northern Lord would come to a party like this.”
At Charlotte's words, Cyrus glanced at Geor and said.
“Because I fought alongside the Little Lord on the battlefield.”
"Oh, that's right. I heard from my brother that the Emperor has decided to bestow a great reward on the Northern Lord. He'll grant you anything you ask for."
“That’s right.”
“What would you like to ask for?”
“Well, I’m thinking about it.”
Charlotte wished Cyrus would ask her to marry him, but she knew that wouldn't happen.
When Charlotte spoke to him, Cyrus would usually respond briefly and then coldly walk away. But today, for some reason, he just fidgeted with his glass and refused to leave.
Charlotte, who now had little free time, cherished this opportunity to talk alone with him. So, she resolved to seize the opportunity today and express her feelings subtly.
“Aren’t you anxious because the position of the Northern Lord’s wife has been vacant for so long?”
“The people of the Northern Territory are not weak-minded, so they are not anxious about the vacancy of the position of the Lord consort.”
“Ah... But still, isn’t it time to talk about it? My brother has been getting marriage proposals from all over since before he even turned 20.”
“It’s different with the Crown Prince.”
“But you have to get married someday.”
Cyrus shifted his gaze from his glass to look straight at Charlotte.
“Princess, I will take care of my own marriage.”
“Well, of course that would be the case, but...”
“It’s none of the Princess’s business. Just as I don’t care about the Princess’s marriage.”
Charlotte's heart sank at the words that clearly drew a line.
'Cyrus knows how much I love him... how much I love him.'
His icy red eyes were fiercely rejecting Charlotte. Cyrus had always treated Charlotte coldly, but this was the first time he had pushed her away so firmly.
“Do you... hate me?”
“There is nothing to dislike or like.”
It means he doesn't care. Indifference is more frightening than hatred.
“Princess.”
Cyrus said in a slightly softened voice.
"Just as I carry a heavy burden, so too will the Princess. The empire may appear peaceful, but if the royal family isn't strong, even a small sliver of it will surely cause bloodshed and strife."
“So... you mean, marry someone you don’t want? Marry someone who will be of help to the empire?”
“If you don’t like it, run away.”
Charlotte bit her lower lip.
"But you must know this, Princess. Even if the imperial family is tarnished and shaken by the Princess's atrocities, even if those who seek the empire gain an opening to subvert it, even if the Cameria Empire collapses because of it, there will be no one to comfort the Princess who has fled. You must endure it all alone."
Charlotte swallowed back the tears that were about to fall.
"What does that have to do with the position of Northern Mistress? Wouldn't it actually be beneficial to the imperial family if I became Northern Mistress?"
“It would certainly be helpful to the royal family. But.”
Cyrus paused for a moment, then spoke firmly.
“I don’t think so.”
Charlotte's eyes fluttered. The tears she had barely held back flowed down her cheeks.
Many eyes were watching. If she cried while talking to Cyrus, everyone would think it was strange. She knew what they would think when they saw the Princess shedding tears during a private conversation with the Northern Lord at a party.
But she didn't have the luxury of caring about that.
Cyrus didn't wipe Charlotte's tears. He knew Charlotte would do the same. Knowing that, she felt resentful, knowing that, she felt hurt.
"I am..."
She should've never confessed. She should've just lived her life filled with empty dreams until she married someone.
The pain of knowing he didn't love her and the pain of being rejected so clearly that her heart was torn in half were two different things.
“I have to go.”
“That would be nice.”
Hearing the ruthless reply, Charlotte fled from the banquet hall. The nearby nobles followed the Princess's footsteps with their eyes.
Cyrus sighed as he looked at Charlotte, and his eyes met Ariana's, who happened to be watching. Ariana narrowed her eyes in embarrassment, but then returned to her conversation with the ladies as if nothing had happened.
'You must be embarrassed that something like this happened at your party.'
Cyrus didn't think so either.
But since Charlotte, who was becoming impatient, had made her feelings known so openly, it was better to firmly reject her. Frankly, it was a little annoying. He didn't want to bother with any woman other than Ariana.
'I should also consider the possibility that the Princess might become hostile towards Ariana.'
There was a loud commotion inside the banquet hall.
Everyone stared at the door, their eyes wide at the unexpected name. Even the orchestra, supposed to be playing at this moment, waited with their mouths open for the door to open.
The Northern Lord came to the party.
This fact was more shocking than the appearance of the Emperor or Empress.
Although the Northern Lord often visited the empire, he rarely attended parties. The Crown Prince's wedding celebration was almost always the first and last time he attended.
Although some people in the room knew the Northern Lord had arrived in the empire, no one expected to see him. The Northern Lord was never one to show up, no matter how many times he was invited to a party or pleaded.
The doors opened on both sides while everyone held their breath.
The moment Cyrus appeared, exclamations of “Ah!” rang out here and there.
Clad in a black uniform embroidered with red, Cyrus looked like a true god of the night and the moon. His silver hair shone even more brilliantly against the black garment, and his deep, intense red eyes nestled beneath a straight forehead. His perfectly chiseled features, his tall stature, and his surprisingly broad shoulders.
No one could take their eyes off Cyrus, who strode in with an arrogant gait.
“Northern Lord. I didn’t know you would actually come.”
Only when Geor stepped forward to greet Cyrus did the people come to their senses, and the music that had stopped playing began again.
"I received an invitation from the Little Lord, so of course I should come. Aren't we close neighbors?"
No one noticed the subtle energy flowing between Geor and Cyrus. They simply thought the sight of two tall, handsome men standing face to face was a beautiful piece of art.
The Empress and the Princess came to visit shortly after Cyrus's arrival, but they did not cause as much surprise as Cyrus.
Because there had already been a rumor going around that the Empress and the Princess might come to the party.
Princess Charlotte smiled brightly at Cyrus, but he averted his gaze. Several people noticed Charlotte's expression darkening.
“By the way, I don’t see the star of this party.”
Geor quickly answered the Empress's words.
“I think my younger sibling was very nervous because it was her first time attending a big party.”
“The Princess seems to be sensitive. The Eastern Lord must be very worried.”
The Empress's tone of voice was not sharp at all, so the nobles who were listening closely were secretly surprised.
How could the Empress be so generous to the Princess who made her wait?
They heard that Ariana had met the Empress, and it seemed she'd won her favor even more than they expected. So, a few people who had overheard the Empress and Geor's conversation decided to change their attitudes toward Ariana.
'I have to show it off. It wouldn't be good to be at odds with the Princess of the East, who is even favored by the Empress.'
A few others thought.
"It's too bad for the Princess. She's coming after the Northern Lord, the Empress, and the Princess. Everyone was curious about her until just now, but now no one cares about her."
Women were captivated by the Northern Lord, and men by the Empress. Married men and women were anxious about how to exchange even a single word with the Empress.
It was then that the attendant announced Ariana's arrival.
“Princess Ariana White is here.”
The door to the banquet hall opened.
People who had been looking away indifferently held their breath when they saw the person standing before them.
Ariana's hair was a very pale sky blue, giving her a delicate feeling. Her skin was translucent enough to show the veins, and her small face was imbued with a fresh beauty. Her eyes were as clear as dew, and her lips were as luscious as ripe fruit.
But the dress she wore wasn't like that.
The dress with gold embroidery on purple could easily look old-fashioned if worn incorrectly, but when paired with Ariana's sky-blue hair, it exuded a strong, arrogant maturity.
She walked in with a dignified and elegant bearing like the queen of the forest, stood before the Empress, and bowed her head.
“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Her greeting, gently lifting her skirt, was flawless. A smile appeared on the Empress's lips.
“You are beautiful, Princess.”
“You are too kind.”
"It seems like you're the star today. Everyone's mouths are wide open as they look at you."
Only then did the people realize they had been staring at Ariana with their mouths open, and they quickly collected their expressions.
The Princess approached.
"Princess, you look so different from the last time I saw you. The purple dress really suits you."
“Thank you, Princess. You look even more radiant than the last time I saw you. I feel like I’m going blind.”
Charlotte blushed at Ariana's compliment.
“The Princess speaks very beautifully. But... is that child the Princess’s maid?”
Next to Ariana stood Shini, dressed in a black dress, somewhat shyly.
“Yes, she is my personal maid. Her name is Shini.”
Shini bowed deeply towards the Empress and Princess.
Several people who had seen Shini's golden eyes gasped and muttered among themselves. However, the Empress and Princess didn't pay much attention to that.
The two women did not know that Ariana had rescued a slave with golden eyes, and they were not interested in the rumor on the street that golden eyes bring bad luck.
So the Empress spoke rather favorably.
“They say that women in the East are warriors too, so it’s fortunate that the Princess’s maid looks strong.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
"I'd love to enjoy the party a little longer, but I'll make everyone nervous if I'm there, so I guess I'll have to go now. This is the Princess's first party in the empire, so I hope you enjoy it."
It was rare for someone of the rank of Emperor or Empress to stay long at a party. Normally, the Princess would have returned with the Empress, but this time she stayed. Cyrus was present.
While Ariana was dealing with the ladies and gentlemen approaching with interest, Charlotte quietly approached Cyrus.
“I didn’t know the Northern Lord would come to a party like this.”
At Charlotte's words, Cyrus glanced at Geor and said.
“Because I fought alongside the Little Lord on the battlefield.”
"Oh, that's right. I heard from my brother that the Emperor has decided to bestow a great reward on the Northern Lord. He'll grant you anything you ask for."
“That’s right.”
“What would you like to ask for?”
“Well, I’m thinking about it.”
Charlotte wished Cyrus would ask her to marry him, but she knew that wouldn't happen.
When Charlotte spoke to him, Cyrus would usually respond briefly and then coldly walk away. But today, for some reason, he just fidgeted with his glass and refused to leave.
Charlotte, who now had little free time, cherished this opportunity to talk alone with him. So, she resolved to seize the opportunity today and express her feelings subtly.
“Aren’t you anxious because the position of the Northern Lord’s wife has been vacant for so long?”
“The people of the Northern Territory are not weak-minded, so they are not anxious about the vacancy of the position of the Lord consort.”
“Ah... But still, isn’t it time to talk about it? My brother has been getting marriage proposals from all over since before he even turned 20.”
“It’s different with the Crown Prince.”
“But you have to get married someday.”
Cyrus shifted his gaze from his glass to look straight at Charlotte.
“Princess, I will take care of my own marriage.”
“Well, of course that would be the case, but...”
“It’s none of the Princess’s business. Just as I don’t care about the Princess’s marriage.”
Charlotte's heart sank at the words that clearly drew a line.
'Cyrus knows how much I love him... how much I love him.'
His icy red eyes were fiercely rejecting Charlotte. Cyrus had always treated Charlotte coldly, but this was the first time he had pushed her away so firmly.
“Do you... hate me?”
“There is nothing to dislike or like.”
It means he doesn't care. Indifference is more frightening than hatred.
“Princess.”
Cyrus said in a slightly softened voice.
"Just as I carry a heavy burden, so too will the Princess. The empire may appear peaceful, but if the royal family isn't strong, even a small sliver of it will surely cause bloodshed and strife."
“So... you mean, marry someone you don’t want? Marry someone who will be of help to the empire?”
“If you don’t like it, run away.”
Charlotte bit her lower lip.
"But you must know this, Princess. Even if the imperial family is tarnished and shaken by the Princess's atrocities, even if those who seek the empire gain an opening to subvert it, even if the Cameria Empire collapses because of it, there will be no one to comfort the Princess who has fled. You must endure it all alone."
Charlotte swallowed back the tears that were about to fall.
"What does that have to do with the position of Northern Mistress? Wouldn't it actually be beneficial to the imperial family if I became Northern Mistress?"
“It would certainly be helpful to the royal family. But.”
Cyrus paused for a moment, then spoke firmly.
“I don’t think so.”
Charlotte's eyes fluttered. The tears she had barely held back flowed down her cheeks.
Many eyes were watching. If she cried while talking to Cyrus, everyone would think it was strange. She knew what they would think when they saw the Princess shedding tears during a private conversation with the Northern Lord at a party.
But she didn't have the luxury of caring about that.
Cyrus didn't wipe Charlotte's tears. He knew Charlotte would do the same. Knowing that, she felt resentful, knowing that, she felt hurt.
"I am..."
She should've never confessed. She should've just lived her life filled with empty dreams until she married someone.
The pain of knowing he didn't love her and the pain of being rejected so clearly that her heart was torn in half were two different things.
“I have to go.”
“That would be nice.”
Hearing the ruthless reply, Charlotte fled from the banquet hall. The nearby nobles followed the Princess's footsteps with their eyes.
Cyrus sighed as he looked at Charlotte, and his eyes met Ariana's, who happened to be watching. Ariana narrowed her eyes in embarrassment, but then returned to her conversation with the ladies as if nothing had happened.
'You must be embarrassed that something like this happened at your party.'
Cyrus didn't think so either.
But since Charlotte, who was becoming impatient, had made her feelings known so openly, it was better to firmly reject her. Frankly, it was a little annoying. He didn't want to bother with any woman other than Ariana.
'I should also consider the possibility that the Princess might become hostile towards Ariana.'
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