Emperor's Alternate - Chapter 30
Why would Lecan…
“…”
Suddenly, I had a flash of recognition. I had a similar feeling when I heard that he had suddenly volunteered to be an examiner for the Persi Academy admission tests. My mind raced as I put the puzzle pieces together
Lecan is more powerful than the Emperor, yet he remains unmarried well into his thirties. His influence was even more coveted among the nobility than Teiles II. Apparently, Lecan had insisted on attending, and the other nobles seemed to rally to see him. Typically, a ball to welcome an emissary from another country would not have attracted this many aristocrats. I was familiar with Lecan’s ability to draw people in, but it was odd, having once been his fiancée. With the increasing scrutiny, it seemed the Empress was particularly attentive to me. Officially, I am her distant relative.
“…Why?”
“Yes?”
I muttered quietly, returning the list to the maid. If these were indeed the circumstances, I couldn’t dress up. Although I am not yet suspect, I do strongly resemble my late mother. If I were to dress up as a sophisticated, aristocratic young lady, I might give away my identity.
Besides…I wasn’t certain how much Lecan had discerned about my true identity. If he was already suspicious, I shouldn’t give him any more clues. The Empress would let me off if I convinced her later.
Even as I thought this, I found myself staring at the dress, feeling strangely conflicted. I slowly turned my head away.
***
It was a dazzling ball, just as the Empress Regent had described. The reality exceeded what I had envisioned from books. It was bustling with people, everyone adorned beautifully. As a child, I only used to watch my mother’s tea parties from afar. It was fascinating. Perhaps this was the life I had lost.
Looking at the elegantly dressed noble ladies, a sudden thought crossed my mind. I wondered if I would have been friends with them if the House of Rotea hadn’t fallen.
“Surely, I took special care with your attire.”
“Your intentions are appreciated,Your Majesty. I will explain in due course.”
The Empress clicked her tongue, but she soon smiled as the emissaries of the Abel Empire approached. Despite not wearing the dress or jewelry provided by the Empress, I reluctantly spent four hours getting dressed as the attendants insisted that makeup was non-negotiable.
Time passed too quickly. I had been so focused on my work that I would fall asleep on the table in the middle of the day, exhausted, and when I awoke in the evening, the maids had moved me to a bed with a blanket over me.
Maintaining basic cleanliness, filling my stomach with bread when hunger struck while working, occasionally delving into a book, only to tire and doze off – it was always a continuous cycle of work. As a result, despite having ascended to the throne not too long ago, Teiles II had a favorable reputation among the people.
He had filed for temporary leave from Persi Academy. After all, once his image was well-established, he could always graduate later on. I sporadically developed new theories for the attending mages. Immersing oneself solely in research was challenging enough, but juggling politics alongside it left me with barely enough time.
‘The light. The sun is so bright.’
Even though the magic devices adjusted the temperature, it felt like midsummer outside. The sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows was unusually bright. The ceiling was impossibly high, with a vast feast on one side and the imperial musicians playing instruments in the corner. Large baskets of ice were filled with bottles of liquor.
It was challenging to adapt. The cacophony of people’s voices in the bustling air was mentally exhausting. I wasn’t interested in the gossip of the nobles. After all, everyone in this ballroom couldn’t maintain their positions without my consent.
I simply remained by the Empress’s side and faithfully fulfilled my role in attending to her. I didn’t have to try to figure out where Lecan was. In the center of the crowd, that’s where he was.
However, I tried my best to not even glance in his direction. He was one of the only one who guessed the extent of my power.
“Leyesha.”
“…Yes.”
“This is a drink I have prepared for you. It’s a precious liquor made from fruit harvested in 918, a particularly bountiful year.”
As the Empress personally handed me the wine bottle, I couldn’t help but take the glass with both hands. I didn’t have to be a drinker to recognize a strong brew. The drink the Empress had prepared for me was a strong one, the kind of drink only enjoyed in the frozen north.
“Will you refuse even this?”
Her words had a bite to them. There was an underlying tone that suggested she wouldn’t tolerate any more resistance. After all, I had not worn the dress or the jewelry she had wished for me to wear to this ball. Moreover, didn’t she ask me to attend in the first place because she wanted to see me drink?
“Absolutely not. I wouldn’t dare refuse Her Majesty the Empress’s favor.”
I had hardly any experience with drinking alcohol. I avoided coffee that made my heart race and had never tasted the addictive bitterness of tobacco. So, alcohol was out of the question. However, the Empress’s gaze was piercing. Eventually, I tipped the glass back, feeling like my throat was on fire. It was so bitter that it made my head spin, being such strong liquor for a novice. I struggled to maintain my composure and stand up straight.
But was I just imagining things?
‘…?’
As I raised my head, of all the places, my eyes met Lecan’s. Despite the considerable distance between him and me, his gaze pierced right through me. His red eyes seemed to confirm, “Yes, I’m looking at you.”
