Chapter 22
Inside the Ballroom
With the cry of the attendants, Kartian and Ria appeared. Along with them, the nobles could not take their eyes off the couple.
Setting aside the countless rumors surrounding Ria, her appearance alone was almost suspiciously divine, as if it had descended from the heavens.
Especially since Ria had always dressed modestly up until now.
Though she sometimes wore fairly splendid dresses in daily life, for the ball, Ria had to wear a very simple dress.
This, too, was by the Emperor’s command.
The Emperor did not want Ria to outshine him—for reasons different from now. Because of that, her appearance had been somewhat subdued, but tonight was different.
Tonight, Ria was displaying her charm without reservation.
For a moment, the nobles gasped again.
It was the first time the Emperor had entered the ballroom with the Empress. Moreover, the jacket draped over the Empress’s shoulders was the Emperor’s own.
The Emperor’s intention in giving his jacket to the Empress was clear: to make it unmistakable whose wife she was.
Even that alone confirmed that the rumors circulating within the palace were true: the Emperor’s attitude toward the Empress had indeed changed.
Leaving the nobles’ gazes behind, Kartian extended his hand to Ria. Her hand rested on his.
At that moment, Kartian’s face flushed again.
He knew that, given the circumstances, Ria had no choice but to place her hand on his.
Yet this was the first time he had ever held her hand. The sensation of her palm on his left him dizzy.
Her hand felt like a treasure on his own—an extremely precious gem, one of a kind in the world.
Therefore, Kartian treated Ria’s hand as delicately as if touching fragile glass, careful not to break it.
“Not walking?”
Ria spoke to Kartian, who was just standing there, holding her hand.
“W-well…”
He wanted to walk, but his body wouldn’t move. Kartian muttered in a small voice, looking as helpless as he felt.
Merely holding Ria’s hand made him so nervous that his legs felt weak.
Unable to resist, Ria guided him as they began walking.
Kartian matched her pace carefully. His gaze was entirely fixed on Ria. He followed her to the prepared platform and sat in the chair.
With the Emperor’s arrival, the ball officially began.
Kartian couldn’t take his eyes off Ria. Only when she signaled him did he regain composure and deliver the opening speech, announcing the start of the ball.
“Ria.”
“Yes.”
At Kartian’s shy call, Ria responded softly.
“Shall we dance…?”
“Ah.”
‘This is awkward.’
Ria frowned slightly. Whether Riarna had danced before or not, Ria herself knew nothing of the ballroom dance. Yet she could not refuse the Emperor’s invitation.
While Ria hesitated, Kartian descended from his chair and politely asked her for a dance. Reluctantly, Ria accepted. Holding her hand, Kartian led her off the platform.
As the music began, the nobles paired off as well.
“Hmm?”
Was this instinct? Contrary to her worries, Ria’s body moved obediently to Kartian’s lead.
The problem, however, was Kartian. He kept stiffening during the dance, even when he first pulled her in.
Still, it was fortunate that Ria’s body instinctively led the dance well.
When the dance ended, Kartian remained with his hands on Ria’s waist.
“Seems to be over?”
Ria asked, as if to tell him he could let go.
But Kartian didn’t hear her.
‘So close…’
It was almost miraculous that the dance had ended safely. All he could hear was the constant pounding of his own heart.
Kartian’s face had turned vividly red.
‘I… what should I do now? Even if I die right now, it would be fine. Dancing this close to her…’
He couldn’t believe Ria’s waist was still wrapped in his arms. He buried his face against her shoulder.
Even after the dance, Kartian did not leave her side, leaving the nobles puzzled.
“Are you… sleeping?”
Ria asked cautiously as he remained unmoving on her shoulder.
“I fainted… from happiness,” Kartian mumbled.
“Do people even talk after fainting?”
Ria shook her head inwardly.
‘What if he really does faint?’
He felt dazed, floating in a kind of dreamy state.
She had no strength to support a fainting Kartian herself.
“If you faint, will Ria hold me?”
“Shall we faint together?”
If she tried to support him, both would tumble embarrassingly.
“…Alright.”
Since she didn’t want to faint, Kartian reluctantly released her.
“Really a carrot.”
Seeing his flushed face, Ria muttered. Her words made Kartian blush even more, recalling a past incident.
“About to burst.”
“Don’t tell me you expect me to eat it too?”
“No!”
Recalling that awkward memory, Kartian quickly denied it.
“Well, that’s a relief. If you asked me to eat it again, I would have had to bite your cheek.”
Ria spoke plainly, though Kartian felt mortified. He worried she could hear his racing heart.
“Enjoy the rest of your time.”
“…Huh?”
Ria was referring to attending to the noble ladies. She had come to show them up, so she couldn’t ignore them.
Particularly, she recognized the faces of some noble ladies gossiping together—those she had met with Freya before.
Back then she let it slide, but not now. The delay had been intentional, waiting for the right moment.
Their current expressions made their whispers obvious.
With a polite smile, Ria approached them, hiding her sharpness.
“Good to see you again.”
These were the same ladies who had deliberately ignored her before.
“Your Majesty, the Empire’s flower, we greet you, Empress.”
They lifted their dress hems in salute. Ria nodded lightly.
“Mind if I join your conversation?”
“If the Empress wishes.”
Despite their words, their expressions were not pleased.
“What were you discussing?”
Ria feigned curiosity.
“Just admiring how remarkable the Empress is.”
Their tone was sarcastic, as Ria sensed.
‘A compliment disguised as mockery.’
Previously ignored and scorned, now receiving the Emperor’s favor.
“Compliments are always welcome,” Ria replied gracefully, hiding her inner thoughts.
“You must be delighted, Empress.”
“What’s so delightful?”
She raised her glass. The ladies implied delight at taking something Freya once had.
Ria remained smiling, despite the twisted intention.
“You must be disappointed not to see Freya.”
A jab at their friendship with Freya. Ria said this deliberately, gauging their reactions.
“Couldn’t be helped,” one lady replied. Likely, Ria assumed, she had blocked Freya from attending.
Ria read the concealed malice behind their smiles.
“I envy the Empress.”
How she won the Emperor’s heart so quickly.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Truly. And as you know…”
“What about me?”
“How could we say it ourselves…”
“You’re fortunate then. You’ve endured unpleasant things, but not anymore.”
“Really fortunate?” Ria asked, smiling. She knew exactly what “unpleasant things” referred to.
Ria’s mother, married in a political union to Duke Seronian, had died lonely after failing to win her husband’s affection. Ria’s very birth had been surrounded by scandal and rumors.
Ria, outwardly smiling, waited for the right moment.
The nobles attempted a scheme. A servant approached to refill empty glasses, and one lady deliberately bumped her. The tray spilled, staining Ria’s dress.
“Oh, such a precious dress!” she feigned concern.
‘Precious, yet not as precious as a person,’ Ria thought.
The noble lady had expected anger. But Ria remained calm.
“The dress is precious, but you are more precious,” Ria said.
The lady frowned. This was not the reaction she desired.
“I will gift a dress from our house instead,” she offered.
Ria raised an eyebrow. She sensed the contempt behind the offer.
Still smiling, Ria allowed Kartian to approach.
“Alright,” she said. The noble lady winced under Ria’s firm grip. Ria’s tears glistened, drawing Kartian closer.
Even as Ria excused herself, Kartian’s gaze followed her.
“Ria.”
Kartian called urgently, seeing her tears.
“Ti-an, the dress you chose…” Ria feigned sadness, emphasizing the precious gift Kartian had given her.
Kartian’s cold gaze silenced the noble lady.
“Apologies, I… made a mistake,” she stammered.
“Mistake, you say?” Kartian’s tone was sharp.
“Alright, Ti-an. You apologized, and the house will send a replacement dress,” Ria said calmly.
The noble lady’s words implied Ria’s dress was of little value compared to what the house could offer—a blatant slight.
Kartian interjected:
“Do you think a dress from the house can replace Ria’s? Or surpass the ones I, the Emperor, chose?”
The trap was set. Any answer disrespected the Emperor and Empress.
Unable to respond, the lady’s fate was sealed.
Kartian then punished her father for poor guidance, and forbade attending any social gatherings for six months.
He left the ballroom with Ria, considering her need to rest after such events.
“Ria, I’m sorry.”
Kartian apologized, a habit now, but felt helpless against his past mistakes.
Ria shrugged: “What can we do now?”
The past couldn’t be undone, and her status as Empress had complicated things.
“I understand Ria,” Kartian said. He understood her actions, past and present.
Ria’s composure reflected her careful calculation.
“I can accept any action you take, even if it’s extreme,” Kartian said, finally speaking with conviction.
Ria paused, then met his gaze.
“If I asked for anything, even abdication, would you accept?”
Kartian froze at the word.
“…Sorry. Truly sorry,” he stammered.
“I’ll do better. Never let this happen again. I’ll do whatever you say,” he pleaded.
“Alright,” Ria replied, not truly intending abdication.
“I was really… bad,” he admitted.
“You were,” Ria said simply.
Kartian lowered his head.
“Is that why you hit me?”
She explained it was a misunderstanding, a defense against what she thought was an intrusion.
“You can hit me more if you want,” he muttered.
“I don’t hit people for fun,” she replied.
“You don’t want to make the same mistake,” Ria concluded firmly.
Kartian wanted to be forgiven; Ria wanted no repeats.
“Don’t keep apologizing. It’s in the past,” Ria said lightly.
“Yes, understood,” he nodded, forcing a smile.
Yet before reaching her room, Ria faced another challenge: meeting Freya.
Freya arrived late, hoping to attend the ball.
She tried to hide disappointment and approached, greeting the Emperor and Empress.
“Your Imperial Majesty, the radiant light, and the Empire’s flower, Empress.”
The Emperor’s gaze was cold. Gone was the hesitant man checking Ria’s reaction.
“You were told not to be noticed,” he said icily.
Freya bowed.
“How could I not be seen in the palace?”
Ria commented quietly, observing the Emperor’s changed demeanor.
Even if Freya previously sided with her, the current situation revealed truths.
“Still… she is a concubine,” Kartian added. Basic respect was necessary.
Freya thanked the Empress humbly, acknowledging her higher status.
Ria remained silent, letting the matter pass.
Then came the matter of the tiara.
Freya gasped: “The… tiara?”
Ria frowned.
“Why is that tiara on you?” Freya asked.
Ria asked calmly: “Is there a problem with this tiara?”
Freya stammered, “It was a gift from Your Majesty for me.”
Ria’s expression twisted.
If true, this tiara belonged to Freya, and Ria wearing it could be interpreted as theft—even if she had not intended it.
“I just wore the tiara the maid chose. I didn’t know it was yours,” Ria explained.
Freya’s eyes welled with tears, clearly aggrieved.
Kartian intervened: “Are you sure this is yours?”
Freya said the Emperor had ordered it specifically for her, with her name inscribed inside. Ria checked—her name was indeed engraved.
“So why… is it with me?”
Ria asked, genuinely puzzled.
Freya, though saddened, concealed her darker thoughts.
Ria realized the situation was possibly a deliberate setup.
“We’ll check with the maid who chose this tiara,” Ria concluded.
“Yes,” Freya agreed.
“Just because I have it doesn’t mean I’m guilty. Could be someone’s scheme,” Ria added firmly.
“I believe you,” Kartian confirmed.
“I believe you didn’t steal it,” he said.
Freya, though the source of the scheme, did not account for Kartian’s blind trust in Ria.
The Emperor’s trust was the decisive variable.
Ria observed Freya’s brief hesitation. It was subtle, but noticeable.
