Chapter 3
----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Diva Chapter: 3 Chapter Title: The Banquet's Shadows -----------------------------------------------------------------
The brothers hadn't arrived yet, it seemed. Gares, the empire's crown prince and her half-brother, always stood like an emperor at the center of the banquet hall or on the second-floor seat overlooking the entire hall.
And Aila stood by his side with unmatched grace and elegance.
"But tonight, we might not get to see Aila Roem Guirta after all."
She picked up the silver goblet from the small round table and let out a soft chuckle.
The memory of Aila collapsing in the middle of the banquet hall just a few weeks ago, her face drained of color, brought a cruel sense of satisfaction surging in her chest. The way she'd vomited wine onto the marble floor looked just like she was spilling out her heart.
It would have been nice if she really could have made it that way.
Talia scraped the surface of the goblet with her sharply manicured nails, producing a shrill screech.
She didn't know how many times she'd prayed inwardly while watching her half-sister writhe on the floor in convulsions.
Just die like that, Aila. Please, never open your eyes again.
"Your Highness."
Talia, lost in her dark thoughts, turned her head at the voice coming from right beside her.
A man neatly dressed in a deep green formal coat stood straight with one hand over his chest. It was a familiar face.
It took her a moment to recall that he was someone who often appeared at banquets hosted by her mother.
She couldn't remember his name. She vaguely recalled her mother calling him Count Serian.
"It's been a while, Your Highness. You grow more beautiful with each passing day."
The man, gazing down at her with admiring eyes, bent at the waist and pressed his lips to the back of her hand. A disgusting sensation washed over her, like a slimy caterpillar had touched her skin. But Talia forced a smile.
"Did Mother ask you to keep me company?"
"Her Majesty the Empress is always worried about Your Highness."
The man indirectly affirmed it.
"But even without Her Majesty's request, I couldn't have resisted speaking to you. Just look around."
He leaned in close to her ear, as if sharing a grand secret.
"Every man here is staring at Your Highness. Like me, they all want to approach you, kiss that beautiful hand, and shower you with fervent praise—but they're holding back their desires. They don't want to fall out of favor with Crown Prince Highness."
"But you're not holding back?"
"I've already earned his enmity long ago."
He flashed a roguish smile.
"Thanks to that, I've been given the honor of attending to Your Highness tonight. A blessing in disguise."
Talia didn't like men who clung to her with excessive interest. No, she despised them.
But it was better than enduring hundreds of piercing gazes alone. A decent shield seemed useful.
Talia accepted his escort with the air of someone bestowing charity.
"What did Mother say? Something about rescuing the poor eldest daughter wandering like a black sheep?"
"Her Majesty commanded me to ensure Your Highness could fully enjoy the banquet."
Talia swallowed a scoff.
The man led her toward the stage in front of the balcony as he spoke.
"And to do my utmost to make Your Highness stand out more than anyone else at the banquet."
The dancers, who had been moving to the melody of lyres, lutes, and organs, awkwardly stepped back, shooting them sharp glares. But the count paid them no mind and boldly bowed to her.
"Might I have the honor of dancing with Your Highness?"
Talia eyed his slender hand, unmarked by calluses, with distaste.
She had no desire whatsoever to touch a man she barely knew. But the people's sharp stares and whispering voices stirred her defiance.
They all want me gone from here. Or at least tucked away in a corner, quiet and unobtrusive.
But no. Not like that.
Talia took the man's hand. As if he'd been waiting, he wrapped an arm around her waist and began gliding across the stage with expert skill.
Even Talia, who loathed physical contact with others, couldn't help but admire the man's exceptional dancing. Count Serian moved in perfect harmony with the music and had the talent to make his partner shine in the most exquisite ways.
Talia had always enjoyed dancing, but never had her movements felt this graceful. And it seemed she wasn't the only one who thought so.
Over the count's shoulder, as he skillfully spun her body, she scanned the room. Hundreds of eyes followed her every move in perfect unison. They couldn't tear their gazes away from the imperial bastard they'd always scorned.
Talia felt a surge of triumphant pride. Even before, when she'd appeared at official events, people would pretend not to notice while stealing glances at her every action. But that had only been expressions of contempt and wariness.
This time was different. They were looking at her the way they looked at her mother. She could feel gazes filled with fear and fascination tangling around her like a knotted ball of thread.
It was as if she'd become Senevia. The most powerful, dangerous, and beautiful being in the world.
But the sweet taste of victory was fleeting. Suddenly, the music cut off, and the true stars of the banquet made their entrance.
"The great crown prince of the empire, Crown Prince Gares Roem Guirta, and the empire's First Princess Aila Roem Guirta enter!"
With the herald's booming announcement, the two imperial siblings strode majestically through the banquet hall entrance and down the marble stairs. In an instant, Talia was pushed out of the spotlight.
Count Serian gave a wry smile and led her toward the terrace laden with drinks and food.
"Such a shame our enjoyable time was interrupted."
The count tried to lighten her stiff expression with jokes, but not a single word registered properly.
Talia stared daggers at Aila in her pristine white dress. It was as if the humiliation she'd suffered in front of everyone weeks ago had been completely erased from her mind.
Seeing that pretty face smiling elegantly beside her younger sibling made Talia's stomach burn with rage.
Talia scrutinized their dark hair, emerald eyes, and faces sculpted like ivory carvings with relentless intensity.
They exuded the dignity and poise befitting royalty—something neither Senevia nor she could ever possess, no matter how hard they tried.
Senevia was the viper who had dragged the young emperor, once hailed as the Holy Emperor, into the mire of sordid adultery. And she was the filth born from that viper's belly. Even if Senevia bore dozens more sons for the emperor, that fact would never change.
Talia quietly glared at her half-siblings surrounded by fervent attention, then turned toward a table with wine glasses. That's when she noticed people who had been gazing enviously at the princess and prince now glancing at her and exchanging subtle looks.
Every nerve in her body tensed. She wanted to gouge out all their eyes.
Don't compare me to them.
Suppressing the urge to scream it out, she desperately feigned indifference when the man whispered obliviously in her ear.
"It seems those two intend to ignore Your Highness's presence. What will you do? Shall we go greet them first?"
She shot him a venomous glare.
He tugged at the corner of his mouth as if amused.
"Isn't that why you came here?"
Talia bit her lip.
He was right. She'd shown up precisely to ruin her siblings' moods. To sow discord at the celebration where they received adoration from all. And Senevia would be hoping for exactly that.
Finally steeling herself, Talia gripped a wine glass tightly and turned toward her half-siblings. She stepped boldly through the crowd.
At that moment, Barkas Raedgo Sheerkhan appeared at the banquet hall entrance.
Talia froze in place. Her heart pounded as if she'd been ambushed.