Amid’s eyes unconsciously scanned the crowd, desperately seeking Duke Leon. As their gazes locked, Duke Leon nodded discreetly, a silent command for Amid to withdraw.
“Oh… I see. I must have been oblivious to the rumors,” Amid murmured. The name Biflten… Suddenly, an unsettling realization dawned upon him. No matter how secluded Duke Biflten remained in his domain, it was impossible for him to be ignorant of the rumors if he had indeed entered into marriage.
With the public announcement of bride recruitment, whispers had circulated, suggesting that even the fearsome Duke would eventually succumb to matrimony. The monstrous Duke… Amid’s countenance turned rigid, as the overwhelming tide of gossip flooded back to him.
“Then, it’s you,” Amid averted his gaze from Aden’s eyes. Despite their earlier encounter, he couldn’t meet Aden’s gaze directly, haunted by the specter of those rumors.
Wasn’t it said that meeting the gaze of Duke Biflten would leave one frozen in place?
Yet no one had frozen…
Rumors have a way of magnifying, don’t they? An air of unease permeated among the nobility, as the partially truthful rumors continued to spread.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Aden de Biflten,” Duke Aden introduced himself, one of the two esteemed dukes of the empire. There was no need for him to lower his head before Amid. However, Amid promptly offered an apology.
“I… I have been impolite.”
Amid’s doubts lingered even as he spoke, his gaze lowered in contemplation. The bride recruitment orchestrated by Duke Biflten had created quite a stir. Even before the chosen bride made her appearance, there was already a prevailing sentiment of sympathy towards her.
According to the laws of the empire, noble marriages necessitated the emperor’s approval. This meant that the bride would have to travel to the Biflten region, return to the capital to seek the emperor’s consent, and then journey back once again. A grueling schedule, to say the least.
Not to mention the hardships she would endure along the way—the biting cold and the lurking monsters. The woman who stood before Amid had somehow managed to overcome those challenges.
Or had she truly conquered them? No matter how much Amid pondered, his suspicions refused to dissipate. If she had indeed obtained the Emperor’s permission, rumors would have undoubtedly made their way from the Imperial court to his ears—the rumors of Duke Biflten’s impending marriage.
Yet, such rumors were conspicuously absent. In other words, it indicated that this union had not received the Emperor’s blessing.
“…I had no idea you had such a demanding itinerary,” Amid remarked, deciding to retreat for the time being. Ilyin comprehended his intent but wore a sly smile in response.
“Thank you for your understanding,” Ilyin replied, tilting her head slightly. It was not merely a courteous gesture expected from a noble of higher standing than Amid, but rather the demeanor befitting a duchess who held greater authority than him.
“Well then,” Amid turned abruptly. Despite maintaining a composed expression, Ilyin’s heart remained undeterred.
Ilyin pursed her lips tightly, satisfied with herself. Well done, Ilyin. Ever since the servant opened the majestic doors to the banquet hall, her mind had been consumed by relentless contemplation.
No longer was she a captive under Arlen’s control. No longer must she endure the plight of a helpless prisoner, hiding behind the facade of an abandoned daughter from a forbidden lineage, bereft of love and a sense of belonging.
At her side, she has winter, and in its presence stands its master. Delrose, her unwavering ally, remains steadfastly behind her, surpassing the loyalty and dependability of any knight in any realm. With their safeguarding, it falls upon her to protect their reputations and honor as their esteemed hostess.
It was an unyielding determination—a resolve to cultivate strength within herself. Ilyin clutched Aden’s hand tightly, her grasp resolute and unwavering.
***
Fortuitously, the occasion of this lavish banquet happened to coincide with Amid’s birthday celebration. As the host, he couldn’t afford to be absent, and thus, he found himself aimlessly navigating through the throngs of guests in the crowded party hall. llyin paid little attention to his presence, while Aden occasionally cast fleeting glances in his direction.
Meanwhile, the nobles who observed Aden grew bolder in their actions, though their gazes were far more cautious compared to when they observed others.
“She is the daughter of Viscount Arlen, is she not?”
“Ah, I heard she has yet to make her debut in the social circle…”
It was not only Aden who became the topic of discussion. llyin was not particularly surprised by the attention, as she had anticipated it. However, the scrutiny extended beyond the two of them to include the people serving them.
With no need to maintain an air of superiority, Etra and Aegis dutifully escorted the two without hesitation. Etra occupied the position of the knight escorting llyin, while Eli, dressed formally but not as extravagantly as llyin, followed closely behind.
“Their movements are rather different from the usual trained demeanor,” muttered one observer, noting the subtle deviation. Although the star of this grand banquet was Amid von Leon, in truth, the spotlight seemed to be shared between two individuals.
No, perhaps the focus was even more concentrated on Biflten. Realizing this, Amid’s expression soured with displeasure. Nevertheless, he refrained from voicing his complaints. He was well aware of the situation.
If he had handled things more skillfully, he could have boasted that his birthday celebration had served as the debut stage for the Duchess of Biflten, thereby earning greater honor. Amid, contrary to that expectation, belatedly entertained the notion that he had been too hasty in his approach.
What could he do now? His gaze settled upon llyin’s figure.
llyin found herself surrounded by noblewomen, engaging in exchanges of greetings and conversations.
How could he obtain that woman’s foresight ability? The task was considerably more challenging since the woman in question was none other than the Duchess of Biflten. The best and easiest solution would be to personally sever the ties between the Biflten Duchess and that woman…
“!”
Amid recoiled, startled by a sudden icy gaze that bore into him.
At the other end of that piercing gaze stood the duchess. It could be interpreted as an elegant glance, so natural was her expression.
Yet Amid felt it keenly. It was as if an instinctual fear, akin to that of a herbivorous creature confronting a predator, engulfed his entire being. In that moment, he unmistakably sensed the presence of danger.
Do not approach. It was as if he could hear those words.
Amid swiftly turned his body, as if fleeing from an imminent threat.
Amid’s eyes unconsciously scanned the crowd, desperately seeking Duke Leon. As their gazes locked, Duke Leon nodded discreetly, a silent command for Amid to withdraw.
“Oh… I see. I must have been oblivious to the rumors,” Amid murmured. The name Biflten… Suddenly, an unsettling realization dawned upon him. No matter how secluded Duke Biflten remained in his domain, it was impossible for him to be ignorant of the rumors if he had indeed entered into marriage.
With the public announcement of bride recruitment, whispers had circulated, suggesting that even the fearsome Duke would eventually succumb to matrimony. The monstrous Duke… Amid’s countenance turned rigid, as the overwhelming tide of gossip flooded back to him.
“Then, it’s you,” Amid averted his gaze from Aden’s eyes. Despite their earlier encounter, he couldn’t meet Aden’s gaze directly, haunted by the specter of those rumors.
Wasn’t it said that meeting the gaze of Duke Biflten would leave one frozen in place?
Yet no one had frozen…
Rumors have a way of magnifying, don’t they? An air of unease permeated among the nobility, as the partially truthful rumors continued to spread.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Aden de Biflten,” Duke Aden introduced himself, one of the two esteemed dukes of the empire. There was no need for him to lower his head before Amid. However, Amid promptly offered an apology.
“I… I have been impolite.”
Amid’s doubts lingered even as he spoke, his gaze lowered in contemplation. The bride recruitment orchestrated by Duke Biflten had created quite a stir. Even before the chosen bride made her appearance, there was already a prevailing sentiment of sympathy towards her.
According to the laws of the empire, noble marriages necessitated the emperor’s approval. This meant that the bride would have to travel to the Biflten region, return to the capital to seek the emperor’s consent, and then journey back once again. A grueling schedule, to say the least.
Not to mention the hardships she would endure along the way—the biting cold and the lurking monsters. The woman who stood before Amid had somehow managed to overcome those challenges.
Or had she truly conquered them? No matter how much Amid pondered, his suspicions refused to dissipate. If she had indeed obtained the Emperor’s permission, rumors would have undoubtedly made their way from the Imperial court to his ears—the rumors of Duke Biflten’s impending marriage.
Yet, such rumors were conspicuously absent. In other words, it indicated that this union had not received the Emperor’s blessing.
“…I had no idea you had such a demanding itinerary,” Amid remarked, deciding to retreat for the time being. Ilyin comprehended his intent but wore a sly smile in response.
“Thank you for your understanding,” Ilyin replied, tilting her head slightly. It was not merely a courteous gesture expected from a noble of higher standing than Amid, but rather the demeanor befitting a duchess who held greater authority than him.
“Well then,” Amid turned abruptly. Despite maintaining a composed expression, Ilyin’s heart remained undeterred.
Ilyin pursed her lips tightly, satisfied with herself. Well done, Ilyin. Ever since the servant opened the majestic doors to the banquet hall, her mind had been consumed by relentless contemplation.
No longer was she a captive under Arlen’s control. No longer must she endure the plight of a helpless prisoner, hiding behind the facade of an abandoned daughter from a forbidden lineage, bereft of love and a sense of belonging.
At her side, she has winter, and in its presence stands its master. Delrose, her unwavering ally, remains steadfastly behind her, surpassing the loyalty and dependability of any knight in any realm. With their safeguarding, it falls upon her to protect their reputations and honor as their esteemed hostess.
It was an unyielding determination—a resolve to cultivate strength within herself. Ilyin clutched Aden’s hand tightly, her grasp resolute and unwavering.
***
Fortuitously, the occasion of this lavish banquet happened to coincide with Amid’s birthday celebration. As the host, he couldn’t afford to be absent, and thus, he found himself aimlessly navigating through the throngs of guests in the crowded party hall. llyin paid little attention to his presence, while Aden occasionally cast fleeting glances in his direction.
Meanwhile, the nobles who observed Aden grew bolder in their actions, though their gazes were far more cautious compared to when they observed others.
“She is the daughter of Viscount Arlen, is she not?”
“Ah, I heard she has yet to make her debut in the social circle…”
It was not only Aden who became the topic of discussion. llyin was not particularly surprised by the attention, as she had anticipated it. However, the scrutiny extended beyond the two of them to include the people serving them.
With no need to maintain an air of superiority, Etra and Aegis dutifully escorted the two without hesitation. Etra occupied the position of the knight escorting llyin, while Eli, dressed formally but not as extravagantly as llyin, followed closely behind.
“Their movements are rather different from the usual trained demeanor,” muttered one observer, noting the subtle deviation. Although the star of this grand banquet was Amid von Leon, in truth, the spotlight seemed to be shared between two individuals.
No, perhaps the focus was even more concentrated on Biflten. Realizing this, Amid’s expression soured with displeasure. Nevertheless, he refrained from voicing his complaints. He was well aware of the situation.
If he had handled things more skillfully, he could have boasted that his birthday celebration had served as the debut stage for the Duchess of Biflten, thereby earning greater honor. Amid, contrary to that expectation, belatedly entertained the notion that he had been too hasty in his approach.
What could he do now? His gaze settled upon llyin’s figure.
llyin found herself surrounded by noblewomen, engaging in exchanges of greetings and conversations.
How could he obtain that woman’s foresight ability? The task was considerably more challenging since the woman in question was none other than the Duchess of Biflten. The best and easiest solution would be to personally sever the ties between the Biflten Duchess and that woman…
“!”
Amid recoiled, startled by a sudden icy gaze that bore into him.
At the other end of that piercing gaze stood the duchess. It could be interpreted as an elegant glance, so natural was her expression.
Yet Amid felt it keenly. It was as if an instinctual fear, akin to that of a herbivorous creature confronting a predator, engulfed his entire being. In that moment, he unmistakably sensed the presence of danger.
Do not approach. It was as if he could hear those words.
Amid swiftly turned his body, as if fleeing from an imminent threat.
