I’m Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Chapter 238

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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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Side Story 23
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Hint sat at a Cafe Terrace overlooking the Central Square of the Capital Beneton in a single glance.
Most of the Nobility had monopolized seats at hotels, restaurants, and cafes with views of the Central Square by paying premium prices.
“How much longer until the lighting ceremony?”
“About an hour.”
“A Noble Lady who isn’t even a specialist is going to light the flame? Can she really do it?”
“Right? It’s Lady Flone, after all. Even if she’s changed since the Alea incident, I can’t imagine how she’ll climb that tall Spire and ignite the fire.”
Hearing the whispers of the Young Ladies, Hint looked up at the tall bell tower rising high in the Central Square.
Just as they said, she would need to light the flame from the very top of that towering structure, and it was simply unbelievable that a Noble Lady would undertake such a dangerous task.
“She can’t use matches, right?”
“That would violate tradition.”
“Goodness. So she has to use a flint striker? Lady Flone isn’t a specialist—how could she possibly do that?”
The table of girls stirred with renewed gossip. Hint’s own thoughts aligned closely with theirs.
“Could this be the Crown Prince’s intention?”
“What intention?”
“Everyone in the Empire knows the Crown Prince has long despised and abhorred Lady Flone, don’t they?”
“That’s true.”
“But then the Alea incident changed things.”
“Exactly. It was truly unexpected.”
“Perhaps his infatuation has finally worn off? The expiration date on his love has passed. Maybe he’s trying to humiliate Lady Flone to drive a wedge between them?”
Hearing one Young Lady’s words, everyone nodded in agreement. Hint found herself quite sympathetic to this theory as well.
Of course, her agreement extended only to the opinion that Enoch’s love for Margaret had been temporary.
Enoch was not the sort of man who would sabotage an important national ceremony just to humiliate a single Noble Lady.
“Honestly, if Lady Flone hadn’t been so peculiar, many of us would have had chances to catch the Crown Prince’s eye.”
“That’s right. If I remember correctly, both Hint and Richmond harbored unrequited feelings for the Crown Prince.”
At another Young Lady’s words, everyone turned to look at Hint. She flustered and fanned herself with her fan.
“How sudden… But surely all of you have admired the Crown Prince at some point?”
From here and there came the sound of fans fluttering with embarrassment. Hint’s words were not wrong.
Enoch was the sort of man that any Noble Lady who debuted in society would have harbored unrequited feelings for at least once.
And no wonder—his visage was so strikingly handsome that it drew admiration, and dignity overflowed from his very being.
Beyond that, as a war hero, his mere presence commanded an overwhelming aura, and his broad shoulders, towering height, muscles sculpted like a masterwork by a master craftsman, and measured gait captivated the eye in an instant.
His jet-black hair, reminiscent of a dark night sky, emanated an intimidating atmosphere like a demon from the depths of hell, while his sharp, chiseled features—as if carved from ice—created an overall impression of cold detachment.
With such an appearance combined with knightly courtesy and gentleness, it was only natural that countless women found their hearts stirred by the contrast.
Above all, what could be more captivating than the title of Crown Prince with no rival, a handsome war hero beloved by the people?
Yet in the end, it was merely the one-sided gaze of women looking upon Enoch.
“Do you all believe you would have had a chance to approach him if it weren’t for Lady Flone?”
Hint absolutely did not think so. Subtly, all the Young Ladies present would know this truth.
Enoch was kind and courteous, yet cold like his appearance suggested. An invisible wall and a firmly drawn line allowed these two contradictions to coexist.
He held no interest in any woman whatsoever. None, save for Margaret Rose Flone alone.
Though he spoke of contempt and disgust, Margaret Rose Flone was the only woman who could draw genuine emotion from him in response. That remained true even now.
And Hint drove the wedge deeper.
“Surely everyone has heard the rumors that Your Highness Crown Prince intends to propose to Lady Flone at this festival? All of this seems like jealousy to me.”
“My, jealousy? Hint, that’s quite an overstatement.”
Uncomfortable reactions rippled through the crowd.
Then someone came to Hint’s defense.
“It is jealousy, what else? Honestly, is there anyone here confident enough to say their beauty surpasses Lady Flone’s?”
Everyone fell silent.
Margaret Rose Flone’s beauty was renowned as the finest in the entire Empire. It had simply been obscured until now by her scoundrel-like personality.
“That’s right. H-honestly, I wanted to befriend Lady Flone. She’s so beautiful.”
“I was curious what fragrance Lady Flone uses and wanted to ask her.”
“Now that I think about it, no one is as perfectly suited to be Empress as Lady Flone. Now that she’s even gained the people’s affection, she has the legitimacy as well.”
“We were too intimidated to approach her before, but she seems to have become more composed since the Alea incident, hasn’t she?”
“Should we send her an invitation next time?”
The Young Ladies’ eyes gleamed as though they had never spoken ill of Margaret Rose Flone at all, revealing their true feelings. In reality, they had all wanted to build a connection with her.
Though no one said it aloud, rumors of how passionately Crown Prince Enoch loved Margaret Rose Flone had already spread throughout the Langrid Imperial Palace.
There was even said to be a gallery dedicated to her within the Palace—that said everything.
Then it happened.
Margaret Rose Flone finally appeared at the very top of the Spire.
“It seems we’re finally about to begin. But what if she only brings shame?”
“The Langrid Fireworks Festival draws people from across the entire Continent every year. If this fails, it will truly be a national embarrassment.”
“Just prepare yourselves mentally. Regardless of Lady Flone’s talents, this simply cannot succeed.”
Most of the crowd watched the Spire with skeptical expressions.
* * *
The Spire in the Central Square of the Capital Beneton.
James, Enoch’s chief Aide, gripped the railing of the Spire with trembling hands. The height was considerable.
Climbing the circular Stairs—about seven stories high—led to the observation deck of the Spire, where they now stood.
The platform could accommodate about ten adult men, and would soon be occupied by journalists from various nations, Enoch, James, festival officials, and several Knights of the Guard.
Margaret Rose Flone alone would have to climb a ladder even higher. That place could only accommodate one person.
James withdrew his pocket watch to check the time. The moment to ignite the fireworks was nearly upon them.
‘It’s hot.’
He returned the watch and pulled out a handkerchief, wiping the sweat from his forehead and the back of his neck.
It was a sweltering summer night.
‘She hasn’t shed a single drop of sweat.’
Enoch, who was conversing with Margaret Rose Flone, seemed almost immune to the heat.
The same was true for Margaret Rose Flone. She had adapted to weather far hotter than this, as if this were nothing at all.
“I believe it would be best if you ascended to the very top of the Spire now.”
The ceremony director spoke to Margaret Rose Flone at that moment.
Once she reached the peak and shot Fire toward the Sky, the festival would begin.
“A Noble Lady climbing that ladder? And she has to ignite the Fire with flint? I’d be relieved if she doesn’t cry.”
“Ah. That scoundrel Young Lady famous throughout the Langrid Empire? I remember because the nickname attached to that Noble Lady was hardly refined.”
“The rumors changed ages ago. Why are you still going on about the scoundrel business?”
The whispers of foreign newspaper reporters reached James’s ears. They seemed to be speaking quietly among themselves, but because James was nearby, he caught their conversation.
Fortunately, Enoch and Margaret appeared lost in their own world and hadn’t heard the journalists’ exchange.
James caught sight of the two of them kissing and hastily turned his head away.
No matter how strikingly beautiful the couple was, watching his superior’s display of affection wasn’t exactly a scene he wished to witness.
It was while he was shaking his head like this.
“What’s she doing over there?”
The journalists’ whispers reached James again, and he lifted his head.
There, Margaret in riding attire was tying a knot with a Rope around her waist.
She was remarkably skilled and natural about it. She pointed to the Stairs while conversing with Enoch, and as she did so, she secured the Rope stably around her thighs and waist.
Then, noticing that all eyes were upon her, she smiled and spoke.
“I might fall, after all.”
While everyone struggled to grasp the situation and stared at her, she began climbing the Stairs.
Cheers erupted from people who spotted her below the Spire.
“She seems like no ordinary Young Lady.”
“B-but surely it won’t be difficult to light the Fire, right? It looks hard enough just to maintain balance at that height.”
However, their prediction proved accurate as an unexpected situation unfolded.
Suddenly, the Stairs she had been climbing shattered.
“Damn it! The Stairs…?!”
Just this morning, hadn’t James confirmed with the festival organizers that the Stairs were sturdy and even run simulations?!
James looked around in shock, searching for Enoch, but he was nowhere to be seen.
‘No, what matters now is saving Lady Flone…!’
But what came next was even more astonishing.
Margaret showed no panic whatsoever. Calmly, she threw the Rope to the top and secured the line.
A hook was attached to the end of the Rope, and it caught stably on the railing at the top of the Spire.
She then began climbing without the Stairs, hanging from the Rope.
James suddenly recalled how Margaret had been conversing with Enoch about the Stairs just moments before, and had begun wrapping the Rope around her body.
‘Could she have anticipated this situation…?’
A brief Silence fell over the noisy observation deck.
“…Who exactly is that person? Is she really a Noble Lady?”
Breaking through the Silence, someone’s murmur was heard.
It was the same question James had asked Enoch days ago.

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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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