Chapter 16
The Luferen Duchy was extremely wealthy.
There was no family in the Empire that could rival Luferen in wealth—not even the royal family.
Therefore, the banquet was extravagant. Whether it was a grand event like the Duke’s birthday party or a smaller one like Callista’s graduation celebration with only vassals and distant relatives, it made no difference.
Money was the answer to everything. That was the principle of this family. And the guests followed that principle to the letter, not sparing any expense on their attire.
The banquet hall painted in golden hues, chandeliers studded with diamonds, and amidst the finest food and musicians, the young ladies of various vassal families were all dressed in their most luxurious outfits, mingling together.
“The main house is on another level. Look at those men, they’re so refined. You can’t even compare them to our land’s men.”
One of the young ladies spoke, and the other girls nodded in agreement.
“Of course. Didn’t you see the First Knight Order passing by? How can each of them look so brave?”
“Oh, Lady Selina, so you like the strong types? I prefer the intellectual, handsome ones, like Lord Theon Arpen.”
A young lady in a crimson dress cut in, speaking dreamily.
“Right, Theon is so handsome. Did you see the pale blue tailcoat he wore today?”
“His manners and intellect, perfect. A scholar who graduated top of his class from the Imperial Academy. He’s only twenty, isn’t he?”
Before she could finish, the young ladies around nodded enthusiastically and chimed in.
“Well, Rosa, you’re right. A man should know how to wield a sword and protect the woman he loves. The most handsome here is definitely Aramis Müller, don’t you think?”
The girl named Selina, in the crimson dress, wrinkled her nose as if the comment bothered her.
“Right. That height! Those shoulders! His red hair like blood!”
“He looks like a painting when he swings his sword. Like a picture tearing through paper and dancing with swords.”
Several young ladies nodded energetically in agreement with Selina. Rosa, in the crimson dress, frowned.
“A man should be beautiful, of course! I want someone who can do the dangerous work without lifting a finger. A handsome man who makes my heart ache just by looking at him!”
Selina didn’t back down and fired back.
“No! A man should have strength! Someone who would slay a hundred monsters for the woman he loves!”
“Intellectual beauty and delicate features!”
“Abs, biceps, and triceps!”
They argued relentlessly. What started as a small dispute heated up to the point that, if there had been weapons, Selina might have challenged Rosa to a duel.
Meanwhile, a little farther away, Aramis and Theon were standing with their arms crossed, leaning against the wall and talking.
“I won, Theon.”
Aramis, who had been staring ahead with a stiff expression, spoke.
“What?”
“I have four young ladies who like me, and you have three who like you.”
He smiled smugly, as if he’d won the match of a lifetime.
“…Don’t bother me unless you want to lose.”
“What?”
“I don’t have time to compete with a kid.”
“Hey!”
Ignoring the growling Aramis, Theon turned his gaze back to the other side. His gray eyes, sharp behind his glasses, flickered.
Normally, Theon might have exchanged small talk with Aramis, but not today.
Please keep watching.
She said that without any explanation. On a busy day like this, it was a request that, if from anyone else, he would have ignored.
But she wasn’t just anyone. Theon followed her request without a moment’s hesitation.
Harper Luferen. There was always a reason behind her requests.
The musicians finished another piece.
The tempo was fast and complex, close to a feat of skill, and people spun around, dancing so intensely that it was almost painful to watch.
I’m hungry.
The yellow dress I wore against the golden walls made me almost invisible. The downside? No one brought me food, and my stomach growled loudly.
Ever since I fainted recently, Theon and Jenna had been insisting I stick to my diet, not allowing me much sugar. Since visiting Vittori’s lab, I had only eaten green herbs and meat. My tongue longed for something sweet.
Carefully, I headed to the kitchen. Since Theon was watching Vittori, I planned to slip away for just a moment.
The chef, Mr. Kris, had once promised to always keep my snacks in the cake storage room, thanks to me helping him get promoted.
Creeeak—
I cautiously opened the kitchen back door, leaving the noisy chopping sounds and clattering dishes behind, and made my way to the cake storage on the other side.
Click—
“Sweet, sweet things…”
I muttered as I closed the door behind me. The sweet aroma already wafting through the room made my stomach lurch.
Kris was always good to me. Just the smell of this chocolate cake meant it was exactly to my taste. And with the tangy sweet scent, it probably had strawberries on top.
I silently praised Kris as I turned around.
“…Huh?”
The smile I’d had disappeared, and my body froze in an instant.
Sitting on the table in front of me was someone who had arrived before me.
“…You came too.”
Looking at me with a familiar face was Callista Luferen, the hostess of this banquet. Her ice-cold eyes pierced me.
“Will you eat it?”
She asked, her calm voice cutting through the air.
She held a fork in one hand, cutting through the chocolate cake and strawberries on a plate with the other.
Wearing the clear blue dress of Luferen, she sat there like a goddess of the sea, the hem of her dress spread wide. The small necklace she always wore sparkled elegantly beneath her white neck. Her upright posture and haughty expression exuded pure nobility.
…But why was she sitting on a table, not a chair, and what about that half-eaten slice of cake?
“…Won’t you eat it?”
Callista asked again as she picked up a piece of cake and strawberry on her fork, bringing it to her mouth.
“Uh…”
“If you don’t want it, I’ll eat it all.”
She spoke nonchalantly, popping the last piece into her mouth.
What? Only one second to wait?
I stared at her with indignation, but her plate was already empty.
“Your dress is quite unique. I’ve never seen a color like this before.”
Callista looked me up and down, and only then did I look down at my dress. It contrasted sharply with the white kitchen walls.
“This… this is golden silk…”
“An ugly dress. Don’t wear it again.”
She laid the empty plate down and said mercilessly. Her tone, oddly similar to Theon’s, made it clear that our military relationship in the past still echoed in her voice.
Grrr—
My oblivious stomach growled again.
Callista stared at me for a moment, then reached under the table for a large round plate. On it sat the full chocolate cake I had seen earlier.
“I only ate one piece. The rest is here.”
She placed the plate on the table in front of her and, with her fork, poked the flowing chocolate while watching me.
“If you won’t eat it…”
I was on the verge of passing out from hunger. Without thinking, I ran over and bit the fork she offered.
Wow, it’s so sweet, so sweet.
It was smoother and richer than anything I’d had before, so good it nearly made me lose my senses.
“Kris said he made a mistake and poured too much sugar, so it’s a failed batch. No one could eat it, he said.”
As I chewed the cake, Callista looked down at me.
A failed batch? It was perfect for my taste.
“It fits perfectly in my mouth.”
Cakes should be sweet, shouldn’t they?
“Cakes should always be sweet.”
I should ask for more next time. Keep it a secret from Theon, though.
“I’ll make sure you get it regularly. I won’t tell anyone.”
I swallowed the cake and looked up at Callista.
I felt like she’d been changing my words into something more aristocratic without me realizing it.
“Your cheeks have gotten rounder.”
Before I could protest, her fingers grabbed my cheek and pulled it gently.
“Vittori and Theon both find you cute, I hear. Is this why?”
“Ah…?”
While pulling at my cheeks, Callista watched me lick the chocolate from my lips. She then scooped more cake onto the fork and brought it to my mouth.
Chomp.
My mind told me to refuse, but my sugar-craving mouth ignored it.
“From now on, don’t wander around at banquets.”
She watched me swallow the food and then spoke.
“…Why?”
“You’re a child who’s easily used by anyone you meet.”
“…”
“A life spent being used by old men is a miserable one.”
She spoke while resting her chin in her hand, staring at me.
“When you’re being used, there won’t be anyone to help you. Not even me or your father.”
Her sharp gaze surprised me again. Though her coldness was still there, I felt a faint warmth instead of the usual fear.
In my past life, we never stared at each other for long.
Until I was ten, we lived in the same house but rarely crossed paths. After that, she tried to kill me.
We only locked eyes once for an extended time—just before she decapitated me.
Suddenly, I noticed the fork she still held in her hand.
A complex thought passed through my mind.
Hasn’t Callista always hated me?
Why feed an enemy cake? Is this some kind of new game, or…?
She’s still cold and sharp, but because of the sweetness in my mouth, her gaze now felt strangely warm.
“Um…”
I was about to speak when suddenly—
Bang!
“Milady!”
The back door to the storage room slammed open, and a pale-faced Theon rushed in.
He hesitated for a second, seeing me with Callista, then continued.
“Vittori is missing.”
“Missing?”
“Missing?”
Callista and I spoke at the same time.
“…Didn’t she just go to the Academy?”
She asked, but Theon shook his head.
“She vanished without a trace during the dance.”
Callista’s pupils widened.
“Last seen with the second son of the Naitra family, her partner?”
“Ivan Naitra?”
Her complexion darkened.
