Published at 22nd of December 2019 12:24:09 AM
Chapter 1
1 . Vincenzo
(T/N: This is not from the perspective of the main character and is more of like an ‘ooh this is what the mc is like in the future from the eyes of someone else,’ introduction to the story . Like an epilogue in a prologue . )
Duke Tiahev’s dining table .
Candlesticks were lined up and only the sound of forks and knives moving could be heard in the silence . The father, mother, brother and sister gathered together in one place, were quiet . The family was silent, but I noticed it already .
They are looking at me, telling me that I needed to watch my standing .
Well, it wasn’t that hard to guess . These days, whenever my elder brother would come back, there would be news about my standing .
The skin of a large slice of turkey is peeled off with a fork, Elder Brother Leon finishes his meal and scratches his head, carefully opening his mouth .
“Have you been to the Imperial Palace today?”
I nodded slightly . “Yes, elder brother . ”
“It must be nice having a connection inside of the Imperial Palace… Isn’t it the best being acquainted with the empress?”
Again, this nonsense . It’s not amusing .
What’s the deal with relationships?
Celestia and I remained in a balanced relationship, we never even danced together . To be exact, there were quite a few chances for us to do so, but there would always be people there to interrupt us in the middle of it, so we were forced to stay at a certain stage in our relationship .
Anyway, in the reign of His Majesty, concerning the Empress, isn’t it a violation to run your mouth when you’ve just become a noble man who could never surpass them?
Besides .
“If you make such a joke about the Queen, who has a fetus in her midst, it will become a matter about the guillotine, elder brother . ”
He smiled bitterly, pulling out several pieces of paper from his waist . The contents of those precious pieces of paper brought to the table–it was obvious even if I could not see what was drawn on it .
I wasn’t interested, but I had no choice but to put my fork down . The gazes of my mother and father were not the kind that I could bear .
There were a few portraits of women whom I recognized from banquets with descriptions about their lives and statuses . They were pretty good and proper–not bad .
They were portraits of potential marriage candidates .
I just cherished the life I lived these past few years–it wasn’t bad . I think I lived well .
It was obvious that my elder brother was chosen to become the next Duke Tiahev, so I should go my own way without being a burden . I was in a hurry to graduate while I was a student at the academy and even a bit eager to do my part as an adult, but those weren’t necessarily my thoughts these days .
Maybe because of the process of growing up? It was fun to attend every charity banquet held in the name of the royal family, and it was entertaining talking about the change of the world with Celestia who became the empress . I just wanted my life to be more like that .
I don’t know how they misunderstood, I am not delaying getting married because I have feelings for Celestia but because I am satisfied with my life as it is now .
Just, it was fun seeing a person shine, there was a time when I too strove toward something that made my heart pound . But I was okay now .
“Won’t your standing drop?”
“Elder brother……”
“To be given a portrait, shouldn’t you think about your standing? Vincenzo . It is impolite to just refuse like this . ”
“That——–
But I never won when my brother was stubborn . I have only ever been encouraged lightly, but this time they came at me with strong determination .
I would like to shrug my shoulders and avoid the topic, but was forced to agree to dress up and prepare my face .
Such made it unable for me to attend Celestia’s fundraiser next week . As it appears .
I returned to my room and opened my drawer .
An invitation to the Imperial Palace’s banquet scheduled to happen in two days time was found in the first drawer of the flat wooden desk .
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It was a banquet that also served as a diplomatic event . The leaders of many nations were invited to sign an agreement that would abolish slavery .
I usually met with Celestia often, but I thought about not attending because it was a little embarrassing to be invited to such a grand place simply because I was her friend . It was honestly not my place to be .
Plus, there were some older men who were suspicious of our close relationship with each other as Elder brother Leon had said .
One had to be careful to only have a little chat with Celestia when at public banquets and when hanging out with people from the Academy .
Besides, going to a banquet was not bothersome for people of marriageable ages . Everybody there paid close attention to finding their ideal partner……
But I just wanted to go all of a sudden because I felt like it .
Telling someone to decline, what if it was an invitation directly from the empress telling you to come? Knowing how much adoration there is for her majesty, I was most likely going to be in the spotlight .
I decided to get up after fiddling with the invitation for a while . If it was for standing, my parents wouldn’t blame me for going to the palace again .
The banquet began in the late afternoon . Was it in consideration for the time difference of the leaders who were coming from different countries? I was stuck in a row of carriages but managed to arrive at the right time, neither early nor late .
Carriages would often make way, but the emblem of Duke Tiahev did not exert much power in the clutches of carriages from different countries .
When I stepped down from the carriage’s entrance, my breath was taken away . The palace was only neatly decorated the last time I saw it, but the newly casted lighting magic sparkled against the setting sun’s gentle glow .
The lamplights surrounded with rose bushes were sparkling pure gold . Seeing a scene like this in an open area was common–it was a gorgeous but neat kind of beauty .
I am a child of a duke who prides himself in living in splendor and luxury . But events hosted by the royal family were different . Including luxury, it was a place that called in leaders from other countries .
He smiled slightly at the thought of Celestia behaving elegantly . The emperor would build several gold statues .
Passing through the beautiful fountain garden where the afterglow shone and into the entrance of the banquet hall…
There was a familiar sight . A swarm of people were present while a string instrument played in the background .
Most being on the intermediate landing of the second floor…There were also a swarm of ladies and gentlemen wearing colorful attire beside the balustrade hovering above the second floor . I was able to find a bunch of familiar faces, and waved once towards them .
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In my ear, when I grabbed something from the servants to moisten my throat with, I heard whispering in a foreign language .
“What’s their name? Celestia? The empress of this country has a long name . ”
“I heard about the slavery situation? Hoho, how vulgar . ”
Who would’ve thought that there would be a conversation like this in the imperial court? I looked behind me in astonishment; the two terrible women didn’t seem to know that I could understand their conversation .
I made eye contact with one of them but just proceeded to smile and put a bit of distance between us .
They weren’t wrong for speaking comfortably, because they spoke in ‘Luperan’ which was one of the languages that were rarely found in our country .
But they picked the wrong opponent . It wasn’t as great a feat like how Celestia graduated early, but I graduated at the top of my class .
Most people could understand the languages used in the bordering countries but this wasn’t the case for the more remote regions .
I wanted to listen more so I thought carefully and drank my glass of water before perking my ears up again .
The two resumed their conversation . “I don’t know how others view the slave treaty, but it’s impossible to close a deal with such a vulgar empress . ”
“It’s not like we’re in a hurry though?”
“I noticed that they wanted to exchange medical knowledge with us of the French Empire, but it’s uncertain . ”
“So . Even if it is with us, considering how high our queen is, there’s no way we can make a deal that hands over our precious skills to those without history . ”
That was enough to make a guess . I unconsciously clicked my tongue .
In summary, a Luperan delegation was in progress . They were told to stay for a week or so and decide on matters relating to the treaty .
But judging by their rude behavior, it was wrong to think that things would go well .
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I was dying to interrupt them the whole time they were babbling .
Whatever the situation, wasn’t it rude to talk about the ruler of the country you are a guest in?
The moment I ground my teeth, the string orchestra stopped playing . A long trumpet sound was played shortly after, and a high pitched voice thundered out along with the rings of bells .
“Your majesty the emperor, your majesty the empress, are all here!”
All the commotion abated in an instant, the two rulers of the Burg Empire descended through the middle of the second floor’s staircase, side by side .
The shortness of breath I felt at the entrance of the palace was nothing compared to my feelings now . I was really suffocating this time .
Never afraid of standing before a crowd of many, his majesty Van, who was always at the forefront of the battlefield, was more proud and radiant than anyone else . With a crown laced with gold and a head of black hair…
He wore a purple and black cloak on his broad shoulders .
And next to him was Celestia, who really had the appearance of a goddess . Red hair and crimson eyes were an ominous symbol at first—I was told that it wasn’t far off from vulgar .
But those rumors have all dissipated . Bright cheeks and rosy red lips matched the color of her hair and eyes well .
Celestia looked elegant and charismatic wearing a gold and purple dress .
As if she had noticed me from afar, the eyes that looked around the banquet hall for a while, landed on me .
A faint smile accompanied it .
“Well, it’s dazzling on the outside . ”
“If I didn’t know any better, I would think it was warm . ”
The two rows of people beside me were far apart, the whole place started screaming when Celestia went down the stairs and disappeared from view .
But the familiar face of Baroness Claire hits me on the shoulder with a fan before I could say anything .
It was so obvious what the fox-like noble lady would say to me but I couldn’t ignore it .