EEA Chapter 21

The Ball

Ailea took a deep breath as she stood before the banquet hall. It's alright. She could overcome it all. She had resolved and steeled herself countless, countless times.

She walked into the banquet hall with Clint's escort.

At that moment, the sound of sharp intakes of breath could be heard from here and there. Today was the most splendidly dressed day of Ailea's life. That had given her confidence. However, upon actually hearing such surprised gasps, her heart immediately began to ache.

Ailea looked up at Clint, who was escorting her. After confirming his seemingly composed face, Ailea finally felt at ease and freely admired the ball she had entered for the first time. No one openly gossiped about Ailea's appearance.

The vast hall was filled with dresses of every color. The interior was very bright due to the lighting created by the imperial palace's magicians, and with several windows on the walls, cool air and floral fragrances wafted pleasantly.

Then a lady-in-waiting approached Clint and said,

"Your Highness Excalize, His Highness the Crown Prince requests that you come for a moment, as he has people he would like to introduce to you."

"Right now?"

"Yes."

Clint asked Ailea,

"Want to come with me? I'll probably just shake hands with some nobles from foreign countries a few times and come back."

"I... handshakes are a bit..."

Understanding Ailea's difficulty, Clint said soothingly,

"Just look around for a moment. I'll be right back."

"Yes."

Ailea nodded.

The long table in the banquet hall was prepared with countless varieties of desserts. At Teniac parties, these desserts were an important measure of the host's caliber. After Clint left, Ailea became curious about the pretty-looking desserts and walked to the table for a moment. She picked up a petit cake topped with strawberries and put it in her mouth.

Then Rita spoke to her,

"Lady Excalize."

Ailea's eyes widened as she nodded. With food in her mouth, she covered her mouth with both hands and barely managed to answer "Yes." Then Rita said in a chiding tone,

"Flowers are decorations that can only be used for one day. Wouldn't it be better to use them sparingly if possible?"

Ailea barely swallowed the cake and examined herself. Her entire body was surrounded by flowers. Rita, standing before her, wore dazzling diamond earrings and a necklace that would last forever instead of flowers. Ailea answered in confusion, "I see. That's a good point."

"I heard your father was an upright man. Though it's presumptuous of me, I think the hero of the nation would be a bit saddened."

When Ailea couldn't respond to her cold words, the gazes of people around them focused on her. Among them were murmurs that the flowers used on Ailea's dress wouldn't even be worth the price of a single gem piece in Rita's necklace. It seemed they felt sorry for Ailea, who appeared to be getting scolded one-sidedly.

Then Rita soon asked in bewilderment, "Was, was I being rude?"

"No! You said the right thing."

"I thought I'd make conversation since you were alone, but it ended up becoming nagging instead."

"Ah..."

"Would it be alright if my friend Lady Norton borrows His Highness Excalize for a moment later? She said she'd like to dance with him at least once before you two depart for Excalize Castle."

"That's fine. You don't need to worry about me."

"Wouldn't His Highness mind?"

"He won't. Don't worry."

Since Clint living freely was a condition of this marriage, Ailea thought she should naturally answer this way. However, Ailea didn't know that her greatest weapon at this ball was Clint. Her words that Clint wouldn't mind acted like a key, causing sneering remarks to flow from the mouths of women who admired Clint or men who had been looking for something to criticize about him.

"Why would His Highness Excalize be with such a woman..."

“Didn't you hear? His Majesty forced the marriage. It's obvious just looking at them. That poor son, bound to such a woman—it's pitiful. And though the Emperor had no choice but to grant the Grand Duke title because of Teniac's traditions, he clearly wanted to demonstrate that she ranks below his own son.”

"After all the trouble of recapturing Excalize! How pitiful..."

All of them began to be convinced that Ailea had been abandoned. As brief murmuring continued, the fact that she didn't receive Clint's love became something not even worth discussing among them.

Realizing that her existence was damaging Clint's prestige, Ailea cautiously looked around. As soon as everyone's attention shifted elsewhere, she walked toward where there was a large curtain. She untied the string binding the curtain and went behind it.

"Isn't it contagious?"

"Ugh, disgusting."

As if for her to hear, people didn't even think to lower their voices. Ailea grumbled as if nothing was wrong,

"It's less fun than I thought..."

Clint was just waiting for this damned greeting session to end. There weren't just one or two people to greet. Having been on the battlefield just days ago, it was chilling to be wearing nice clothes and hearing "Your Highness."

He was also anxious about whether Ailea could manage alone. It was taking too long for something he said he'd be back from quickly. There wasn't enough time to find a chaperone, and the few ladies he'd contacted in the meantime were also reluctant about Ailea. He should have brought along Kaiton, who at least had a decent build.

Clint, growing impatient, whispered in Roylin's ear,

"Was the master of Excalize Castle supposed to be this kind of thing? Can't I really return the title?"

"The Grand Duke of Excalize is second only to the Emperor. Show respect."

Just because a few rebellions happened in that castle, they give such unwanted preferential treatment. Even that was past glory—Excalize now was ruins. Well, the Emperor's brothers exiled to distant frontiers also have the title of Grand Duke attached...

Clint felt restless having to sit properly in the plush chair. Having been someone who just gulped down alcohol, he stood up as soon as the greeting procession ended.

He said to Roylin,

"I'm done. I'm free now, right?"

"Excalize is too much for you."

"That's what I said."

Clint grumbled. Having nothing to do while sitting except drinking, he'd had too much.

He immediately looked for Ailea but couldn't see her.

Since Ailea was the only one wearing a sky-blue dress today, the absence of that color was immediately noticeable. When Clint made a stern expression from the second-floor railing, Roylin asked,

"What's wrong?"

"Ailea's not here."

"...She's getting along better than expected."

"Because she's a good person."

Clint was so focused on the thought that Ailea had disappeared that he didn't even know what he was saying. As he hurriedly ran down to the first floor looking for her, Rita approached and spoke,

"Captain Clint, my friend Lady Norton would like to ask you for a dance. She's too shy to do it herself."

Rita's face was flushed as if she was thoroughly enjoying this party. Clint answered,

"I'd really like to, but I'm looking for my wife right now, so please bear with me."

"Oh, your wife said she'd lend you for a moment too."

"First, let me find my wife and make sure she's alright, then I'll get back to you about that."

Clint spoke gently but firmly. At this moment, he had only one thought, so Rita's words didn't register well in his ears.

He had no interest in the countless dresses present at this venue.

There was no woman in a sky-blue dress.

That was his only thought.

Clint frantically searched for Ailea. How foolish to leave her alone. He should have assigned someone, anyone, to stay by her side.

As he wandered looking for her, when the wind blew, he noticed flower petals flying from the direction of the curtains.

No way.

Clint's expression hardened.

No way my wife is hiding in such a place.

On his way here, he had heard people gossiping about Ailea and himself several times. Clint walked slowly. When he grabbed the curtain, he felt a surprised tugging force. Clint yanked the curtain open. Ailea, who had let go of the curtain, discovered him and blinked.

Clint was so angry that he actually laughed.

"Why are you here?"

"Bright places are a bit unfamiliar."

"Who said something to you?"

Clint asked in an extremely gentle voice. However, Ailea shivered at the murderous intent mixed in his eyes. He was angry. Had he perhaps heard people saying he was pitiful? Was that why he was so angry?

Ailea made excuses, "Just, really, I like it here..."

Her body was gradually pushed backward. Clint cupped Ailea's face with his hands and said,

"Tell me honestly."

Clint's thumb rubbed her chin and lips somewhat painfully. It seemed he couldn't control his strength from drinking. Or was she being scolded right now...

Ailea said carefully, "I'm sorry."

"...Sorry?"

Clint brought his face close to Ailea, whose back was against the wall. Ailea didn't know what to do with his beautiful face so close. 

Clint said, "When I look this closely."

"..."

"You're really pretty."

At his words, Ailea flinched. The trembling in her body stopped. Clint continued,

"Those bastards talk so carelessly because they haven't come as close to you as I have."

Ailea became even more flustered and pushed him away. She couldn't understand what he was saying.

"You're too drunk..."

"Mm. I'm drunk, very much so."

He nodded and said, "Let's go out."

"What?"

"Come out. I'll make sure you never hear such nonsense again."

"How..."

Clint grabbed Ailea's arm and dragged her outside, then plopped down on a sofa.

"Come here, my lady."

He patted the spot next to him, and when Ailea sat beside him, he lay down using her legs as a pillow.

"A-are you crazy?"

"No."

"What are you doing..."

"I drank too much."

"...How is this a solution?"

"Me not leaving your side is the solution. Anyone who dares say something to my woman..."

Then the word 'plague' was heard from nearby. At that, Clint sat up. With a cold face, he walked to the table, grabbed a bottle of alcohol, and hurled it toward where the sound came from. The bottle flew out the window and shattered.

The surroundings instantly became quiet. Clint returned to Ailea, bowed at the waist, and said, "There won't be any, surely. Anyone who would chatter about plagues or curses or whatever while I'm listening."

He straightened up and apologized to the knight who nearly got hit by the bottle, "I'm sorry. I missed because I've been drinking."

People were appalled. What kind of apology is that, you rude bastard!

Ailea was so shocked that she shrank back, then slightly bowed her head to the knight who nearly got hit, apologizing on Clint's behalf.

Then Clint said with dissatisfaction,

"Why are you apologizing? That bastard should be the one apologizing."

"Really, what are you trying to do..."

"When someone speaks rudely to you, don't accept it—get angry with me."

"..."

"It's absolutely not natural for you to hear such things."

Ailea slowly blinked. She had never once thought that such humiliation wasn't natural.

Wasn't it natural? She thought that for the first time.

Ailea belatedly nodded.

Although Clint had caused a scene, as long as the Emperor wasn't present, there was no one who could say a word to him. And through Clint's behavior, they learned one thing,

That the young Grand Duke was by no means indifferent to his wife.

After some time passed, people began enjoying the banquet again. Then Ailea spotted Norton walking toward them.

"Ah... Right. Lady Norton said earlier she'd like to ask for a dance."

"Later."

"We have to go to Excalize now, where is this 'later'? Go ahead. I'm dizzy, so I'll go to the garden."

Ailea pushed Clint's back and walked out to the garden.

Clint thought for a moment, and when Norton approached, he asked her, "Are you having a pleasant time?"

"Yes, Your Highness Excalize."

"It's funny for me to say this, but."

As if he didn't know why he was saying such things, he rubbed the back of his neck and said to Norton, who was looking at him with hazy eyes, "It's not proper etiquette for unmarried ladies to ask a married man to dance first. Neither Lady Norton nor Lady Rita."

"Pardon?"

"Though it may be a relationship His Majesty forced upon us, the fact that we're married is true, isn't it?"

He himself didn't quite understand what he was babbling about. What are you saying, Clint Rishers, know your place. He thought that to himself, but the words came out on their own.

However, today he just wanted to stay by Ailea's side continuously. He said politely, "I was rude."

And immediately headed toward the garden.