Chapter 126

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The enormous central hall was the height of splendor. From the chandeliers to every ornament and piece of furniture, everything had been prepared with extravagant care.

The people were just as dazzling.

I understood firsthand why Chelsea had urged me to wear makeup. Peacocks with their tails spread wide filled the hall.

I had watched banquets from over someone’s shoulder before, but this was my first time walking around inside one, so the place felt like an entirely different world.

After signing the guestbook and entering the hall, Chelsea called someone’s name and disappeared at some point. Unable to blend into any group, I busied myself looking around.

“…Wow, it even has three floors.”

My eyes widened at the high ceiling, which required me to tilt my head far back to see it. Hartheon was also an impressive grand temple, but it couldn’t compare to Melvers.

“Miss Louize.”

I spun around in surprise at the quiet voice calling me.

It was Theor. With his hair swept back and dressed in a deep navy ceremonial uniform, he looked like a different person.

Before, he had seemed like a young Awakened with intelligent, ambitious eyes. Now, he looked like a knight worthy of being called a sword of the empire.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s alright. I’m glad to finally see a familiar face.”

I genuinely meant it. Theor smiled with his eyes, then slowly examined my attire. As his smile gradually faded, I realized my mistake.

He had gone out of his way to ask his younger sister for me, and yet I had appeared wearing something else. Naturally, he might feel offended.

“Thank you very much for the dress you sent me last time. I liked it more than I deserved, but due to certain circumstances, I ended up wearing something else… I’m sorry.”

“Please don’t apologize. What you’re wearing now suits you better.”

“I’ll return the clothes soon. I should have sent them back earlier, but I didn’t know your address.”

“If you don’t mind, I would like you to wear it to another banquet someday. If I take it back to my younger sister, she’ll probably only nag me about why I brought it back.”

Instead, Theor was trying to reassure me as I stood there at a loss. The more he did so, the guiltier I felt. It was as though I had betrayed the special consideration he had shown me.

“Even if it isn’t for a banquet, I’ll make sure to wear it.”

When I spoke as though making a promise, Theor’s eyes widened slightly before he smiled brightly. Then he called over a passing servant and brought two glasses of wine.

He handed one to me, and I accepted it. Even though I was only receiving a single glass of wine, my body stiffened with awkwardness. Had I looked unnatural? Pointless thoughts like that kept circling through my mind.

“By any chance, Miss Louize.”

“Please drop the honorific. I’m not anyone important. It also feels uncomfortable to hear.”

“Then may I call you simply Louize?”

At the question, asked with his head tilted slightly, I merely touched the wine I couldn’t drink to my lips and nodded.

“Is this your first banquet?”

“…Is it that obvious?”

When I asked, slightly discouraged, Theor hurriedly corrected himself.

“No! I only asked because you came alone without a partner. I assumed someone like you would naturally have another partner.”

“I’m only planning to stay quietly for a while and then leave.”

“Ah…”

After that, Theor fell silent.

Was he preparing to go somewhere else now? It was true that I had felt less awkward because Theor was beside me, so the empty space he would soon leave behind felt slightly regrettable.

But I couldn’t keep him with me merely for my own comfort.

Just then, Theor drank all the wine remaining in his glass. His prominent adam’s apple moved sharply up and down.

…Was he thirsty?

Perhaps because he had swallowed the alcohol too quickly, both his ears had turned the color of wine.

“Um, Louize. If you don’t mind, would you…”

Before he could finish speaking.

“Lord Gerard Castion is entering!”

A deep brass fanfare announced his arrival.

Every gaze in the banquet hall turned in one direction. Mine was no exception.

I no longer noticed anything like Theor’s reddened face.

Through the crowd that had hurriedly gathered, he was walking inside.

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