IWBQ 25

Chapter 25

. A Rough Welcome
2023.08.25.

“Shall I cover the scar, my lady?”

Regina asked as the finishing touches of makeup for the banquet were done.

The wound Iris had left last time stood vivid on Ellis’s neck.

Iris, who had used magic on Ellis, received no punishment at all.

When the Viscount and his wife came back from their outing that day and heard the story, they ignored it.

So Ellis negotiated with them.

Not to meddle with her outings anymore.

The couple, terrified that Ellis might spread word everywhere about what Iris had done, agreed at once.

Ellis gained freedom of movement. And Iris quieted down.

It’s a scar of victory.

Ellis brushed over the scabbed wound.

“Shall I put on a scarf?”

She wanted to show it openly, but remembered the look Karan had given her before, when he’d seen her cheek swollen from Fraser’s blow.

Regina quickly nodded and fetched a fine scarf from the dressing room.

“My lady’s neckline is her charm point, it’s a pity it has to be covered.”

“That sounds like you’re saying the rest of me isn’t much.”

“No! That’s not what I meant!”

Ellis chuckled. Teasing Regina and watching her fluster was amusing.

“I was joking. Let’s go now. We’ve dawdled long enough.”

“Yes, my lady!”

Regina sighed in relief and escorted Ellis.

The New Year’s Festival had begun.

The bustle of the streets from morning till night came vividly to mind.

Children begged parents for candy and toys, merchants gained a chance for good money from visitors.

The New Year’s Festival overflowed with joy for all, young and old.

A place where culture, love, and money flowed together.

Everyone enjoyed it purely—except Ellis.

She hadn’t joined the street festival for several years now.

During the festival, she always went to the royal palace instead.

For three whole days she attended banquets that lasted past midnight.

She would return home at dawn, sleep, then return to the palace again by evening.

All for one reason only—to build connections useful for Chase.

But this year, she had no such need. She planned only to mingle briefly, then leave.

It might be the last New Year’s Festival I spend in Bedroca… maybe I should enjoy the festivities this time.

The carriage carrying Ellis halted before the Grand Banquet Hall.

The entrance was noisy.

Though they had come late to avoid the crowds, it seemed it would still take time to get inside.

Ellis and Regina alighted and joined the long line.

“Lady Iris must have gone in already, right?”

Iris had left twenty minutes earlier, and, as a royal confidante, she would have entered without queueing—just as Ellis once had.

“Isn’t waiting boring?”

Regina glanced at Ellis, thinking she might be upset at the change in treatment.

“It’s fine. Watching people is interesting.”

And indeed, Ellis was engrossed in observing.

Especially the hairpins women wore.

She spotted two already wearing Jasmine’s new claw clips.

Following Ellis’s advice, Jasmine had adorned them with small gems for a more glamorous design.

The old clips Jasmine used were too plain for glittering banquets—made only for practicality, not to catch hearts.

“How about attaching jewels like the ones used on fingernails to the clip? Under the lights it would sparkle beautifully.”

Ellis had suggested. And now the results were on full display.

“Your hairstyle looks unique today. Elegant yet comfortable.”

“Really? It’s all thanks to this clip.”

The lady wearing it tilted her head proudly.

“Oh my, is that the famous clip? Where did you get it? I want one too.”

“Lady Jasmine Orléans gave it to me specially. Does it look pretty to you as well, my lady?”

Hearing their conversation brought a faint smile to Ellis’s lips.

Thanks to the women’s chatter, waiting in line wasn’t boring.

But not everyone felt the same—grumbles broke out here and there.

“Why’s it taking so long? Did something happen?”

“I’ve never waited this much before. This is too much.”

Complaints spread quickly, infecting others.

Soon most were voicing discontent, and Ellis, hearing it all, could no longer enjoy the wait.

“Shall I go speak to someone?”

Regina asked, noticing Ellis’s stiffening expression.

“To whom, and what would you say?”

“To the official managing the entrance. I’d tell him you are here.”

“And you think he’d let me in for that?”

Ellis guessed the delay was due to high-ranking guests entering first.

Unlike ordinary banquets, the New Year’s entrance was different.

Foreign envoys, royals, and major nobles of Bedroca entered in strict order.

That order was both a courtesy to envoys and a means for the King to wield control over nobles.

Guests judged others by the order of entry.

Was this person worth keeping close? Useful for business?

Ellis recalled her own first entry as one of the earliest nobles.

Was it in the spring of her 26th year?

Before her return, it had been three years prior. After returning, seven years later.

A bitter expression crossed her face.

“There you are.”

As Ellis drifted into gloomy thoughts, a pleasant voice reached her ears.

And other murmurs followed.

“Is that the barbarian?”

“Quiet, it’s the prince. He looks decent enough—guess the rumors were exaggerated.”

At the jealousy-laced whispers, Ellis looked up. Karan held out his hand to her.

“I thought to fetch you from your mansion, but thought it might trouble you. I expected you’d come straight to me, but here you are.”

Karan paused, surveying those around.

Those who met his gaze quickly looked away and fell silent.

A sharp aura radiated from him.

“You’ve had a hard time.”

His words meant more than physical hardship, Ellis sensed.

To ease his heavy heart, she smiled lightly and took his hand.

“Wait, Your Highness!”

When Karan bent as though to greet her like at the café, Ellis quickly stopped him.

He froze mid-bow, meeting her eyes—at the same height now.

“No need for greetings, Your Highness. Rather—why are you here? You needn’t queue.”

As a foreign royal guest formally invited, Karan’s entry should have been long before now.

“As I said, I meant to fetch you. I intend to enter with you. Or… is that inconvenient for you?”

“Enter together?”

“Yes. We are betrothed, are we not? In Bedroca, I hear couples enter together.”

Titrice society had no such formalities.

So Ellis had not demanded any of Bedroca’s customs from him.

She had intended to enter alone.

Not only to respect her homeland’s culture, but for Karan’s sake.

It’s his first day appearing in Bedroca society. The rumors can’t be helped, but why provoke them further?

If she entered with him, gossip would focus not on Karan himself but on their relationship.

“Your Highness, I’ll be fine. Please, you should go first.”

Her firm refusal hardened his face.

“You dislike entering with me?”

“Of course not.”

“Are you ashamed of how I look?”

“No. Not at all.”

Ellis strongly denied it. He was strikingly handsome tonight.

His formal wear, wherever tailored, showed off his tall, toned frame; his hair swept back revealed clean, fine features.

“Then it must be my inadequacy.”

He misunderstood her intent.

“Karan, you’re mistaken. It isn’t you who fall short—it’s me. The reason I said no is because—”

“Ellis. The only words I wish to hear are: ‘Let’s enter together.’ Anything else, don’t say.”

His overly forceful tone was unfamiliar.

When she didn’t answer, Karan simply held her hand and stood beside her, smiling calmly as though waiting was nothing.

The line inched forward.

“Another thirty minutes, perhaps.”

He calculated. Ellis sighed.

For a prince of Titrice to wait in line among minor nobles and heirs—it made her earlier choice meaningless, ending in the worst outcome.

So be it. If worst is unavoidable, I’ll choose the lesser evil.

Ellis gently tugged his hand.

He turned to her.

“Let’s go.”

At her words, Karan smiled—a dazzling smile like a painting.

At the entrance to the Grand Banquet Hall, silence fell when they appeared.

It was a silence like open disapproval.

Ellis worried it might wound Karan.

But he kept his calm smile.

His firm composure impressed her anew.

“Prince Karan Lysandro of Titrice.”

Hartvin presented his invitation to the official.

The official placed it in a small box, which glowed at once.

The blue light proved its authenticity.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

With a bow, the official signaled, and the heavy doors swung open.

Ten guards in splendid armor raised their swords in salute. At the same cue, the entrance music began.

All eyes turned to the entrance.

“We are quite late.”

Ellis remarked calmly under dozens of gazes.

“Yes, I had some business.”

What business?

He didn’t seem like one to break promises.

Catching her curious look, Karan leaned closer.

“Titrice’s welcoming was rather rough. I just stretched my body a little.”

His words made things even more puzzling, but Ellis could ask no further.

“It’s been a while, Ellis.”

Chase, who had entered earlier, approached.