A Blend of Romance and Fantasy - Chapter 40

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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40.
Three hours later, I underwent another floral transformation for the banquet.
My personal handmaidens were arriving as reinforcements, so Blake’s handmaidens adorned me from head to toe in Blake’s style.
I had mentally prepared myself for the classic Romance Fantasy Novel scenario where a handmaiden might try to intimidate me.
Fortunately, the Blake Imperial Palace seemed to lack such foolish individuals, and the entire process proceeded smoothly.
“All finished, Your Highness.”
“Thank you. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
It wasn’t mere flattery—the woman in the mirror truly was beautiful.
Unlike Sincester’s style, which emphasized elegance and femininity, Blake’s dress featured bold, striking patterns.
Yet there were almost no jewels, and the dress itself had minimal lace embellishments to allow for ease of movement.
“You look completely like a Blake Empire citizen now.”
“Of course, you’ll soon become one in truth. Among the princes’ brides, you’ll be praised as the most beautiful.”
“Charlotte, I’ve finished dressing….”
Leonard had also completed his preparations and had just entered my room.
But the moment he saw me, he froze in place.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s just…. I’m feeling something strange.”
Leonard leaned against the doorframe at an angle and rubbed the back of his neck roughly.
“It really feels like you belong to Blake now.”
“Then I’m in Blake right now—where else would I be?”
“What I mean is….”
Leonard, whose lips had been moving uncertainly, soon straightened himself away from the doorframe.
“Never mind. Let’s go.”
He approached and extended his hand. I placed my hand upon his, and together we made our way toward the Banquet Hall where everyone awaited us.
“Your Majesty, Princess Charlotte Sincester and the Sixth Prince have arrived.”
“Ah, show them in.”
The Blake Empire’s method of arranging seating in the banquet hall was remarkably transparent.
The most powerful person, the Emperor, sat at the head, with two or three favored concubines to his left and the Empress to his right.
Below them, the Empresses and their descendants took their places in order of their families’ influence.
The moment we were seated at the Blackwood House’s table, I turned my gaze toward where Demian should have been sitting.
He wasn’t there.
The Emperor noticed this too and spoke to the Empress.
“Empress, why hasn’t Demian arrived?”
“An avalanche occurred in Blueheart. We received word that he’ll be delayed while managing the situation.”
The Empress, having briefly explained the situation, let out a laugh and turned her gaze toward Leonard.
“The Prince works day and night for his frozen territory. He’s so devoted he can’t even attend such an important banquet.”
“My elder brother must be working very hard.”
When Leonard replied indifferently, the Empress’s eyes narrowed.
Apparently deciding she couldn’t land a blow there, her target swiftly shifted from Leonard to me.
“Does the Princess find this banquet to your liking?”
“Of course.”
“Without mana or divine power, it must be difficult to endure in the Blake Imperial Palace, no? Please don’t strain yourself—you may withdraw whenever you wish.”
A pitying tone paired with an expression that contradicted it. How amusing that all the antagonists in this story shared the same tired repertoire.
But now that I had mastered the Brain-Clearing Technique, I felt no fear whatsoever.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty the Empress! But I shall manage. It seems the barrier level in the Blake Imperial Palace is rather low!”
“!?”
In that instant, the Empress’s lips pressed together tightly.
“I meant that a prolonged banquet would be taxing for a delicate princess. The barrier level has nothing to do with it.”
“My, how kind of you to call me delicate. In Sincester, I’ve only ever heard that I’m spirited.”
“….”
The Empress seemed unaware of just how formidable the Brain-Clearing Technique characters truly were. She lifted her chin again, searching for another opening.
“Since the women of Sincester cannot learn martial arts or magic, I suppose they’re unfamiliar with proper etiquette and decorum? Come to the Empress’s Palace starting tomorrow. I shall teach you as a mother would.”
“Oh my, then you’re asking me to behave like a daughter? How wonderful that I needn’t observe the duties and propriety of a daughter-in-law!”
“…!?”
“Prince Demian’s future wife must be so fortunate. To have such a considerate Empress as her mother-in-law!”
Awkward coughs echoed from both sides, and the Empress’s fan fell still.
“Are you mocking me, Princess?”
“Mocking? Whatever do you mean?”
I tilted my head innocently.
“Your light tone and choice of words—it certainly seems like mockery to me.”
“That cannot be. Aren’t you simply being oversensitive?”
“Oversensitive?”
“Yes. Over. Sensitive.”
I enunciated each syllable deliberately, and the Empress’s face flushed visibly.
“Princess. Right now—”
Then a great laugh rang out.
“Hahahaha!!”
It was Emperor Yukal. At his hearty laughter, everyone—myself included—turned to stare at him in surprise.
Whether he found it genuinely amusing or wished to prevent further sparring between us, I could not say, but he smiled broadly as he raised his goblet.
“Now then, a toast is best at times like these.”
“Your Majesty…!”
“Empress, let go of your anger, will you? Your lovely makeup will crack. The orchestra is arriving as well.”
The Emperor then extended a goblet toward me and made his proposal.
“Princess, would you offer a toast for us?”
“…A toast?”
“Yes. This banquet is held to celebrate your arrival and the alliance between Blake and Sincester.”
“….”
I glanced toward the Empress.
The Emperor’s words had silenced her, yet her gaze remained sharp and menacing.
‘What should I do?’
It wouldn’t be entirely unpleasant to deliver a toast while looking down at the Empress with such dignity, but….
I need to make Leonard the Emperor. Here, it’s only right that I make him shine.
“I’m happy to yield the toast to my future husband. That’s acceptable, isn’t it, Leonard?”
Leonard’s expression flickered with surprise for a moment, but he soon nodded and rose from his seat.
He picked up not the Imperial goblet, but a jet-black one.
It was a chalice bearing the crest of the Blackwood House.
It was almost certainly intentional. The Empress’s expression twisted the moment she saw the emblem.
‘Should I pick up that goblet too?’
I was lost in thought.
His other hand gently wove between my fingers and clasped them.
My heart leaped from its depths, and in that moment, his voice reached my ears.
“Would everyone please raise their glasses?”
His low, steady tone settled deep within my ears. My heart trembled as if a stone had been cast into a still lake.
Even as I trembled so intensely, somehow I found the composure to lift my gaze.
When I looked up, the tips of his ears were faintly flushed, and for some reason I felt laughter bubbling up, so I quickly reached for my goblet with my other hand.
“To the unshakeable alliance between Blake and Sincester.”
* * *
Even after releasing my hand, my heart showed no signs of settling for some time.
My heart, which had tightened with a chill countless times, finally grew calm around the time the dancers began performing an exquisite sword dance.
“What a mesmerizing performance.”
“Yes, sword dances are quite famous in Blake.”
“Oh?!”
“Greetings, Your Highness. I am Hilda Flans of House Flans.”
The woman who had appeared beside me had purple hair and wore a black military uniform.
“Since the Sixth Prince seems unwilling to introduce me, I shall introduce myself. I serve in the Third Division of the Blackwood Knights, so you may call me Commander Hilda.”
“Commander Hilda. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
After bowing to me, Hilda turned her body to greet Leonard.
“Your Highness, it’s been a long time.”
However, Leonard slightly furrowed his brows and spoke.
“Why didn’t you wait a moment? I didn’t think you were the impatient type.”
“I sensed your presence from behind and thought you would notice, but after the toast, you both seemed frozen in place.”
“Ahem, ahem!!”
“I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to inform you of an important matter if things continued this way, so I took the liberty of approaching you.”
Leonard furrowed his brow several times before asking.
“Very well. What is it?”
“…His Majesty said he would make an announcement toward the end of the banquet.”
Leonard’s face hardened in an instant.
“I see.”
Unable to follow the conversation between the two, I asked urgently.
“What announcement?”
“Charlotte, today the Emperor will announce the Crown Prince. And that Crown Prince is a ‘discarded piece.'”
Crown Prince.
A discarded piece.
My racing heart turned cold in an instant, as though it had never beaten at all.
In that moment, I remembered why I had come here.
“You may enter first if you wish.”
“No. I want to see this for myself. What this grand struggle for the Blake throne truly looks like.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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