I Became a Barbarian's Bride - Chapter 70
It was supposed to be a noble banquet, but the calm atmosphere she expected was nowhere to be found.
There was a band, but instead of playing soft music, the tempo was incredibly fast, as if everyone was ready to rush out at any moment.
Startled by the welcoming voices from all around her, Nisha barely managed to force a smile.
Kagan finished one cup of wine in one gulp and approached her, taking her cup and downing it in one go as well.
“Ah…”
“Ooooh, impressive! Kagan!”
“My woman, I’ll protect her!! Just like Kashan!!”
Was this really a royal banquet, or had she somehow ended up at a fan signing event for a celebrity?
Is this how subjects should behave toward their king?
Nisha seriously pondered.
They were too familiar, too close.
She had felt something similar during the banquets in Roshan, but… this felt even more extreme.
“Shut up and just have fun.”
With a casual wave of his hand, Kagan replied cynically and then plopped down next to Nisha.
“We should greet them properly, but maybe we can do it a little later? Princess.”
He whispered in a quiet voice, close enough that only she could hear.
Even amidst the festivities, she could feel eyes still fixed on them.
‘…How should I look right now?’
After all, Nisha was the wife chosen by divine prophecy, so it seemed necessary to emphasize that she was approachable.
She also needed to show that she was friendly.
After a moment of deliberation, Nisha turned her body slightly, close enough to appear intimate without actually touching him. She brought her face close to his ear and softly whispered,
“I’m fine with it anytime.”
When she flashed him the brightest smile she could manage, Kagan suddenly froze, then bobbed his head and turned away.
‘…Ah.’
Seeing him let out a brief sigh, Nisha hesitated and quickly pulled back her hand.
She clenched and unclenched her fists, taking a deep breath with a tense expression.
Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
One wrong move, and all the eyes around her would condemn her.
She had no one to lean on except this man, who was at least somewhat friendly and wielded power. Every little action Kagan made either reassured or terrified her.
She almost blurted out an apology, but thinking better of it, she simply smiled and looked ahead. It was better not to reveal her anxiety.
All she had to do was avoid making the same mistake twice. Don’t approach unless he beckons. Don’t touch him unless he reaches out first.
Aside from when treating him, touching him was clearly something unpleasant for him.
“After the banquet progresses a little, it would be better to start receiving them one by one. You should enjoy it a little too, Princess.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Though she had no idea what exactly she should enjoy, she nodded anyway.
After a long time had passed, he finally beckoned with a flick of his fingers, granting her permission for the audience.
***
The people of Xieman are all certainly extroverted.
By the time she had dealt with about ten people, Nisha felt as if all her energy had been drained. She forced a trembling smile as she thought this.
Responding to compliments is manageable the first few times, but after hearing praise about her appearance and the glorification of abilities she had never demonstrated ten times over, all she could do was quietly maintain a smile.
“Shall we take a break?”
Upon hearing the voice, Nisha quickly smoothed her expression and shook her head.
She didn’t want to bother him any further.
“The next one is… the Kingdom of Goren.”
“The Kingdom of Goren…?”
“Yes. The Crown Prince and the Princess should be attending. It’s a country we’ve been trading with for a long time.”
“Ah, food supplies.”
Recalling that Xieman, with its barren land, had been trading with a few allied nations, Nisha’s response made Kagan smirk.
“That’s right, you remember.”
“Yes.”
“The royal family of Goren and I have had quite a long-standing relationship. We’re friends.”
The mention of a princess brought a certain name to Nisha’s mind.
Since Xieman was such a closed-off nation, the number of foreign emissaries invited here must have been very few. The princess would likely be one of a very select group.
“Would it happen to be Princess Rose?”
