That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 180

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 180

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“Crown Prince. I’m so glad your body has recovered like this.”

 

Both Ferdinand’s and my gaze turned to the side simultaneously. Carmi, who had been sitting regally on the platform, was now standing beside us.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

I bowed properly, while Ferdinand only gave a light nod.

 

“Rise, Lady Tulia Frazier.”

 

Her voice was affectionate.

 

“You’re even wearing the tiara I gave you, and you look truly beautiful.”

 

At those words, I could hear the nobles murmuring again. I smiled nonchalantly.

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

“But…”

 

Empress Carmi looked at Ferdinand and smiled.

 

“Since you’ve safely attended the victory banquet like this, shouldn’t you dance with Lady Sophia Frazier in the proper order? You two are engaged, after all.”

 

The Empress looked at Sophia and asked.

 

“Isn’t that right, Lady Sophia Frazier?”

 

Sophia, who had been standing half-unconscious, or rather like a completely fainted doll, hastily came to her senses.

 

“I-I will follow Her Majesty the Empress’s wishes.”

 

‘Well, look at that.’

 

I chuckled inwardly.

 

‘Right. You’re a woman too, after all.’

 

You’re surprised that the Crown Prince suddenly appeared as such a magnificent handsome man, aren’t you? Are your eyes spinning?

 

And on the other hand…

 

You must feel like you’re going crazy, right?

 

“As expected, being the granddaughter of the prestigious Frazier family, your manners are very proper and good.”

 

Carmi spoke with a satisfied expression.

 

“Dave, quickly escort Lady Sophia to Ferdinand…”

 

“No.”

 

Carmi’s words were cut off sharply.

 

“It’s not necessary.”

 

In an instant, both Carmi’s and Sophia’s faces turned pale in unison. Ferdinand spoke with his characteristic cold gaze.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

“…Speak, Crown Prince.”

 

“Earlier, His Majesty the Emperor personally paired Dave with Lady Sophia, so where in this empire would there be anyone who would defy an imperial command?”

 

“…Paired is too strong a word. He only told them to have the first dance. Crown Prince.”

 

Carmi forced a smile.

 

“Besides, since they’re engaged, according to imperial etiquette, shouldn’t the engaged couple have the first dance?”

 

Ferdinand stared down at Carmi quietly before speaking.

 

“Engagement.”

 

His cold eyes glanced at Sophia, who was still frozen. That indifferent gaze was emotionless and uninterested, as if looking at a stone rolling on the street.

 

Enough to make Sophia unconsciously tremble.

 

“I have decided to break off my engagement with Lady Sophia Frazier.”

 

“…!”

 

“…!”

 

“…!”

 

In an instant, a massive stir swept through the banquet hall.

 

Panic quickly spread across the faces of the nobles who had been holding their breath and listening to the conversation between Carmi and Ferdinand.

 

Breaking off the engagement?

 

Breaking off the engagement?

 

But Ferdinand seemed to have no interest whatsoever in the surrounding reactions.

 

He simply stared at Carmi with merciless eyes.

 

‘Ah. Now that the Cupid syndrome is gone, he won’t wait for the Emperor’s sacred decree?’

 

In such an official setting, enough to personally mention breaking off the engagement himself?

 

While everyone was staring at Ferdinand in a daze, I glanced up at the platform.

 

Emperor Alessandro’s expression wasn’t very good. But it didn’t seem like he would severely scold him either.

 

In short, this situation seemed like he would tacitly approve of Ferdinand’s unilateral decision.

 

‘Certainly, the Cupid syndrome was an enormous obstacle for Ferdinand.’

 

Then.

 

Ferdinand, who was still gazing at Carmi with a cold stare, continued speaking.

 

“It seems His Imperial Majesty didn’t inform Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

“…!”

 

Carmi’s face instantly turned white.

 

I was actually surprised inwardly too.

 

‘He’s also an imperial family member, after all.’

 

Due to Ferdinand’s single statement just now, all the nobles would be thinking similar thoughts.

 

That Emperor Alessandro, who was rumored to dote on Carmi extremely, no longer shares all secrets with her.

 

‘Though that’s probably not true.’

 

There were still no major problems in the romantic front between that adulterous couple, the Emperor and Empress.

 

Moreover, the Crown Prince’s marriage was originally something the head of the inner palace should have some jurisdiction over.

 

Empress Carmi would already know that Ferdinand and Sophia were going to break off their engagement.

 

But now she couldn’t say ‘What? I knew about it.’

 

She had just personally said with her own mouth in front of many people that ‘it’s proper etiquette for an engaged couple to have the first dance.’

 

If she changed her words now, Empress Carmi’s dignity and face would be greatly damaged.

 

I was newly impressed by Ferdinand.

 

‘He really shut her up with one sentence.’

 

Palace intrigue wasn’t only done by the Empress.

 

Empress Carmi seemed to quickly realize that she had been completely defeated this time.

 

Because she soon smiled and took my hand.

 

“Then we’ll have two pairs of beautiful men and women dancing. The Fraziers are truly blessed.”

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

“Th-thank you, Your Majesty the Empress…”

 

Sophia’s voice trembled uncontrollably.

 

But Carmi seemed to have no interest in her at all. She just showed a smile at the corners of her mouth and returned to the platform.

 

‘Wait. But then am I really having the first dance with him?’

 

Or not?

 

Just as I briefly wondered if Ferdinand had also spoken in the heat of the moment.

 

As if refuting my momentary doubt, a hand with countless traces of holding a sword was boldly extended toward me.

 

“Lady Tulia Frazier.”

 

…It was Ferdinand’s hand.

 

“Your answer?”

 

People were quick to read the situation. They had already headed toward the walls with their partners or in groups.

 

Dave dragged Sophia away with a stiff face.

 

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

I took Ferdinand’s hand for now and spoke.

 

“Your Highness is listed for the fourth slot on my dance card.”

 

The dance cards of high society were more powerful than one might think, and even those of high status couldn’t simply steal someone’s turn.

 

What Ferdinand was doing now was actually… bad manners, no, close to tyranny.

 

Of course, being a commoner at heart, I couldn’t bring myself to say that.

 

When Ferdinand heard my words, he unexpectedly smiled.

 

“But my lady, you’re holding my hand right now.”

 

I was so shocked by the fact that Ferdinand had smiled that his words didn’t register properly.

 

Why are you smiling?

 

You only smile at Coriko when your affection level gets really high.

 

Don’t tell me your affection level toward me?!

 

Has gotten that high?!

 

What on earth did we even do together?

 

Did I give him one worn-out handkerchief when he was little?

 

Did he hear gossip about Sophia in front of me and drag me around saying he’d change marriage partners?

 

The more I thought back, the more trivial our memories seemed.

 

At least by my standards.

 

‘Ugh. I really want to check his affection level. But I need to check Benjamin’s too, and Klaus’s as well.’

 

So busy, this damn possessed life…!

 

This damn cooldown, isn’t there a way to remove it?

 

I spoke diplomatically for now.

 

“I’m sorry, Your Highness the Crown Prince. As a mere noble, I couldn’t possibly push Your Highness away in front of so many people, could I?”

 

“So you’re saying it’s my fault?”

 

Then whose fault is it?

 

I wanted to snap back, but…

 

I was still afraid of the Crown Prince.

 

Maybe it was because I was a noble of the Briyang Empire.

 

Ferdinand wasn’t as easy-going as Klaus, nor did he give off that strangely painful feeling like Benjamin.

 

He was just scary, like a direct supervisor.

 

If only Grandfather or Father were here, I would have said ‘Honestly, isn’t this your fault…’ and run away.

 

‘I need to humor him.’

 

Because he’s scary.

 

While I was thinking about how to grovel, Ferdinand’s voice pierced my ears.

 

“Yes, it’s my fault.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I acted selfishly because I wanted to dance with you.”

 

‘Is he really sick or something?’

 

While I was stammering and following along.

 

Ferdinand released my hand and bowed lightly but respectfully. It was the etiquette a gentleman showed a lady just before dancing.

 

A sweet melody followed.

 

Ferdinand’s voice, now encircling my waist, reached me quietly.

 

“It’s my triumph ceremony, so I should get at least this much compensation.”

 

Those words were so quiet that only I could hear them.

 

Those words sounded strange to me.

 

As if Ferdinand, this boy,

 

had endured so long on that blood-soaked battlefield for this moment.

 

As if he had endured all that time just for one dance with me.

 

But the person everyone would be envying wasn’t him, but me.

 

This was Ferdinand’s triumph ceremony.

 

A tremendously splendid banquet held under direct imperial command.

 

Having even overcome Divine Power Excess Syndrome, he no longer had any weaknesses to be found.

 

It was the first dance with the now-perfect Crown Prince.

 

So why did he seem to be the one who was happy?

 

My heart raced back and forth with incomprehensible pulse and emotions.

 

Was this repayment for the kindness of giving him a simple handkerchief during our young and crude first meeting?

 

If not that…

 

I couldn’t help but stare at Ferdinand as if enchanted throughout our entire dance.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

“Should I kill him?”

 

Words that shouldn’t be heard came from the platform.

 

It was Klaus muttering, sitting in a relaxed posture on the splendid chair the Emperor had specially prepared for the two distinguished guests.

 

Fortunately, the platform was wide, and the imperial throne where Emperor Alessandro and Empress Carmi sat was positioned higher than theirs.

 

So only one person heard Klaus’s quiet muttering.

 

“Your Highness, Your Highness. Your horns are about to show.”

 

It was Rowan, one of Klaus’s subordinates.

 

Once, in the cave where they fought heretics.

 

Rowan, who was so loyal to Klaus that he would crawl on all fours without complaint when their benefactor Tulia told him to, was now anxious.

 

Because Klaus’s condition was far from normal.

 

It was because Klaus’s condition was not normal.

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