Chapter 16
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Translator: Diva
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: They Say a NNN-Year Age Gap Means No Compatibility
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Should I call it fortunate?
Or should I consider it unexpected?
The emperor, brimming with greed and vanity, didn't seem like such a formidable figure.
[Relying solely on your senses is dangerous, Ser. People sometimes do utterly unexpected things.]
Mikhail—the only one who knew I could detect mana scents—had warned me of that.
'Still, compared to the emperor...'
My gaze shifted to the crown prince standing behind him.
'The crown prince is definitely far more dangerous.'
Unlike the emperor, the crown prince... his true nature was elusive.
Was he good or evil?
What were his fundamental desires?
That very uncertainty heightened my wariness.
"Then, please enjoy yourselves to your heart's content."
The emperor raised his glass, then returned to his seat on the dais, and the orchestra's music resumed where it had left off.
'So this is a victory celebration banquet.'
I had no idea whose idea it was to invite hostages here.
Were they trying to show off, implying that we'd end up submitting just like them?
As the orchestra shifted to a dance melody, the second prince and his fiancée stepped into the center of the hall.
One by one, others joined the dance line behind them, and the banquet hall's atmosphere began to heat up.
That's when a servant quietly approached our side.
"Prince, His Majesty requests your presence."
What could this be about?
I glanced toward the dais where the emperor sat.
The empress was whispering something to the emperor, who lounged leisurely on his jade throne.
The crown prince, seated on the opposite side, smiled as he watched the dancers.
'He wouldn't try anything right at the start of the banquet, would he?'
"I'll be right back."
Elhart took the champagne glass from my hand, downed it in one gulp, and said,
"Just hang in there, even if your throat's dry."
He was underestimating my tolerance.
I could chug a whole barrel of this champagne and be fine.
But when our eyes met, I couldn't bring myself to say no.
"Okay, got it."
Once he left, the solid arm that had been around mine felt strangely absent.
My dress felt a bit thin, too.
'Should've worn a shawl.'
I rubbed my arms lightly and turned away.
I'd sensed hostile intent drawing closer the moment Elhart stepped away.
'Is it that girl?'
A young woman who looked just out of her teens was circling along the wall toward me.
She wasn't one of the key figures from major houses whose names and faces I'd memorized.
But since she'd been standing near them, she was likely part of the crown prince's faction.
'Let's see what she tries.'
Purposefully turning my back to her, I pretended to watch the dancers.
'Is this the kind of dance that's popular these days?'
As I watched their slow, stately movements, her presence drew nearer.
'A knife?'
Something in the woman's hand caught the chandelier's light.
The distance closed rapidly, and I could hear her excited breathing.
"How dare you... how dare..."
Gritting her teeth, she muttered and swung what she held.
Or rather, she tried to—at the exact moment, I grabbed her wrist.
A palm-sized paper knife clattered to the floor.
'You can't kill anyone with that.'
Not unless you're a mid-level knight who can wield mana freely.
"Let go... let go of me right now...!"
Even after I spotted her weapon and seized her wrist, she didn't panic—instead, she reached out with her other hand.
"Why are you wearing my sister's dress, you wretch...!"
'Huh? Dress? Her sister's?'
Come to think of it, her eyes had been fixed on my dress the whole time.
'As expected...'
Several clues flashed through my mind.
The room in the crown prince's palace filled with dresses. The maids' anxious reactions.
If this dress belonged to someone, the owner was obvious.
My guess that it was the late crown princess's dress—and a trap—had been spot on.
'Then this girl... is the crown princess's sister?'
The circumstances pointed that way.
That explained the paper knife—she'd come to ruin the dress, not to kill me.
Whatever her goal, it didn't matter.
"Shh, keep it down."
To keep anyone from noticing, I pushed her toward the wall.
We were already in a corner, and I'd subdued her so quickly that, fortunately, no one paid attention.
"Choose. Do you want to make a public scene in front of the royals, or talk quietly—just you and me?"
The girl, glaring at me fiercely with tears welling up, moved her lips.
"...Just us."
"Good. Lead me to the west corridor."
Interrogating her would reveal why the crown prince had given me this dress.
I moved swiftly before anyone could notice and interfere.
While I was at it, I'd check out that west corridor the crown prince planned to seal off. I had her lead the way out of the banquet hall.
'No one's here yet.'
It was early in the banquet, so the corridor was empty, as expected.
'They plan to close this off.'
I took in the layout.
After passing a few public lounges anyone could enter, the corridor ended at a small door leading outside.
"Where does that door lead?"
"...Why should I tell you?"
"Because I plan to drag you out there with me."
"No!"
She startled and shouted.
"If you want to die, die alone!"
So, death awaited outside.
Why?
"Is it off-limits?"
"Yes, the imperial garden. Enter without permission, and you're dead."
She must've thought I'd drag her there forcibly since I wasn't explaining properly.
Well, I had intended to act like I would.
"Fine. We'll talk in the lounge, then."
She stared at me like I was insane, then opened the door to the nearest lounge—closest to the banquet hall—and went in.
Still unwilling to give up, she lunged at me again as I followed and closed the door.
"Take it off! Take it off now!"
Honestly, it was a bit baffling.
'Why are kids these days so reckless?'
No trace of mana no matter how closely I checked, attacking unarmed in an empty room with no backup?
"If you won't, I'll rip it to shreds!"
She'd crumple against the wall with the slightest push.
"Enough."
I had no desire to deal with a corpse for no gain, so I subdued her again and tossed her onto the sofa.
"If I take this off, I'll be wandering the palace in my undergarments. If you want me to endure that humiliation, shouldn't you explain why first?"
I folded my arms and watched her flail on the sofa, dazed from the impact.
I was being lenient—there had to be a story behind it, and she didn't seem truly malicious.
'Consider yourself lucky. In the old days, no way.'
Since she'd tried to strip me, I'd have stripped her bare and tossed her outside.
A moment later, she finally sat up—and burst into sudden tears.
"Sis... Sis...!"
Wailing her sister's name.
"...My patience is wearing thin. Should I just dump you in that garden outside?"
She finally stopped crying.
"Good. Now that you're calm, answer me. This dress belonged to the late crown princess, right? Your sister?"
Her eyes red-rimmed, she glared resentfully but nodded.
"Lots of people recognized it, so it must hold some significance."
She nodded again and murmured softly.
"It was her engagement dress..."
"What...?"
"The dress Sis wore the day she got engaged to His Highness the crown prince!"
Wow, this was...
A bit much?