Newlywed Life Begins with a Mistake - Chapter 88

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

Chapter 88

The hall quickly stirred at Casian’s actions.

“My goodness! Did Count Heteus just ask the Northern Witch—no, the young lady of Seldian—to dance?”

Though he had danced out of obligation when pressed by Christina and his retainers, this was the first time he had stepped forward to ask for a dance himself.

At this unfamiliar sight, all eyes in the hall focused on Evelyn and Casian.

Evelyn furrowed her brow at the sudden concentrated attention.

She was about to coldly refuse, but.

“If you don’t dance with me, you’ll end up dancing with the Emperor.”

A chilling warning struck her ears.

Having no real choice, Evelyn sighed and gently placed her hand on Casian’s.

“Fine.”

As her calm permission fell, Casian carefully took her hand and led her to the center of the stage.

A lively waltz began to flow.

Both their feet moved simultaneously to the melody.

Under the sparkling chandelier, Casian, who was leading Evelyn, spoke first.

“I apologize for the inconvenience, my lady.”

“It’s fine. The hostility pouring from all directions isn’t exactly new, after all.”

Evelyn replied casually as she spun in a circle.

The hem of her white dress, reflecting sunlight, emitted a mystical shimmer following her movements.

Gasps of admiration erupted from various places.

“I thought you were close friends with His Majesty. I guess not anymore.”

Evelyn, lightly ignoring the gazes pouring from all directions, spoke sarcastically to Casian.

“Yes. We can’t say we’re the same as before. But this too will get better with time.”

Casian readily acknowledged her words.

As Casian raised Evelyn’s hand up, Evelyn turned accordingly.

“That’s impressive in a different way. Once a relationship is broken, it’s hard to repair. Seeing this, you’re like a Queen, Count.”

“A Queen? How unexpected that it’s not a Knight.”

Realizing she had compared him to a chess piece, Casian tightened his grip on the hand holding Evelyn’s waist.

The music gradually quickened. The movements of the nobles dancing in the dance hall also gradually accelerated.

In the process, several couples became confused due to tangled steps.

The couple dancing next to them was no exception. The woman couldn’t keep up with the man’s pace and ended up swaying.

“Be careful.”

As the woman’s body tilted toward Evelyn, Casian quickly pulled Evelyn toward himself.

While doing so, he twisted his body to naturally rotate and change direction.

“Please maintain proper distance.”

Evelyn, who had hesitated for a moment, frowned at the suddenly shortened distance and created space again.

“Isn’t it better to rely on me than to fall and make a spectacle in the middle of the stage?”

“I wonder. Considering the humiliation I’ve endured, falling here might be nothing in comparison.”

When Casian made a joke, Evelyn let out a scoff.

At her rather pointed remark, Casian was momentarily unable to continue speaking.

“Anyway. Why do you think I’m a Queen?”

“Because you do anything for the King. Isn’t that right?”

Aren’t you in a position where you’re dragged around even knowing you’ll be abandoned by the Emperor?

A fierce attack with that meaning flew at him.

Casian, who had been supporting Evelyn’s waist with one hand, lightly lifted her, spun, and gently set her down.

“If that’s how it appears in your eyes, my lady, then it must be true.”

The music had reached its climax.

Having finished his answer, Casian pulled Evelyn into his arms and spoke in a whisper.

“Would you prefer I serve a different king?”

As the cool woody scent brushed past her nose, Evelyn’s breath caught for a moment.

But as if nothing had happened, she composed her expression and answered coolly.

“No. There’s no need. I’ll become a piece that moves according to my own will.”

Sometimes as a pawn, sometimes as a rook, sometimes as a king.

She would change freely according to the situation, but if there was something she wanted, she would seize it herself. That was what she meant.

“…I see.”

At the unexpected answer, Casian fell into silence.

Soon only the final movement remained.

The two, who had been moving their bodies flawlessly to the melody, finally decorated a powerful finale as the song ended.

* * *

“I already knew the Princess’s dancing skills, but I never dreamed you could dance this well!”

Glenn, sitting at the high table overlooking the hall, muttered as if recalling the recent events.

“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”

“If only they weren’t rebel forces, I would have arranged a match long ago. It’s truly regrettable.”

Are you aware of your current position?

Glenn fixed his gaze on Casian, subtly conveying such intentions.

Despite the sharp hostility, Casian answered nonchalantly and filled Glenn’s glass with liquor.

“I merely follow His Majesty’s will in all things. So please enjoy yourself comfortably today.”

“Indeed, it’s a good day, so enjoying it is what matters.”

Glenn burst into laughter and clinked his glass against Casian’s.

“Drop the formalities now.”

“This is an official occasion.”

“Must we be so particular about such things between us?”

Glenn, who had just been pressing him down with authority moments ago, answered naturally and turned his gaze away.

“Come to think of it, I don’t see the Princess.”

After the dance ended, Evelyn had disappeared like a ghost.

He had wanted to take out on Evelyn the humiliation he suffered from Ian.

But Evelyn, who had keenly noticed, quickly hid herself.

“How about we start dining now? A special course meal has been prepared today.”

At Casian’s suggestion, Glenn readily nodded and ordered the food to be brought.

“This is Caesar salad topped with fresh vegetables, edible flowers, cheese, and croutons.”

“This is beef steak made from sirloin with mashed potato puree, asparagus, and tomatoes. The sauce is made by reducing red wine.”

“This is red wine made by blending Cabernet with Merlot.”

Appetizing food was placed before Glenn along with gentle melodies.

“Excellent.”

Glenn’s lips curved upward in satisfaction with the meal.

The other nobles were also busy eating while expressing their admiration.

It was when Glenn, who had been continuously using his utensils without rest, was waiting for the last dish.

Suddenly, the string instruments that had been playing soft music began creaking and plucking out notes one by one.

“They seem to be out of sync.”

Making the smooth performance from just moments ago seem meaningless, grating noise continued to be heard.

Since Casian had left his seat to fulfill his role as host, Glenn tried to have someone else stop the performance.

But then.

“This is alligator pie.”

An unexpected person appeared before him.

“…How surprising that the Princess would bring it personally.”

Wariness flashed in Glenn’s eyes at Evelyn’s sudden appearance.

“I don’t know about other things, but this is a pie I made myself.”

“Ah, so you were the winner of the Heteus Banquet competition.”

Glenn, belatedly recalling the banquet competition, nodded as if he finally understood.

However, unable to shake off his suspicion, Glenn watched Evelyn while lost in thought.

‘What could her intention be?’

Evelyn, who had suddenly vanished as soon as the dance ended, was now suddenly revealing herself.

“If it’s alright, may I taste it first?”

“If you permit it, I’ll check to make sure there’s nothing wrong with it.”

When Glenn pointed to the pie placed before him, Evelyn cut the alligator pie and took a bite.

“It seems I was being unnecessarily suspicious.”

“Not at all. His Majesty’s well-being comes first, so it’s only natural.”

When Evelyn swallowed the pie and looked at Glenn with a calm face, Glenn finally smiled.

“Thank you for understanding. I was flustered because the Princess appeared so suddenly.”

“I apologize if I startled you.”

Contrary to expectations, Evelyn showed a compliant attitude. This made Glenn’s suspicion deepen even more.

An uneasy sensation crawled up his spine, but Glenn dismissed it as being due to the continuing discordant performance.

Shaking off his distracting thoughts, Glenn continued to probe her reactions to understand Evelyn’s intentions.

But Evelyn showed the same reaction without a hint of wavering.

Only then did Glenn judge that Evelyn was acting this way out of fear and felt relieved.

“Perhaps it’s because the Princess made the pie herself. The taste is absolutely excellent.”

The sweet yet savory flavors stimulated his tongue.

The combination of layered pastry, butter, and Pican was truly wonderful.

The pie’s surface even appeared golden whenever it caught the light.

Glenn, who had devoured the pie in an instant, wiped his lips with a napkin and offered praise.

“Thank you. The taste improved greatly thanks to the ingredients Your Majesty brought.”

“It improved thanks to ingredients I brought?”

“Yes. Would you like me to show you if you’re curious?”

Evelyn smiled brightly and called for a maid.

When the maid brought a tray with a silver platter on it, Evelyn received it and placed the platter before Glenn.

“Please open it, Your Majesty.”

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