MPBAGS Chapter 101

The first waltz began with the orchestra's performance. Since the Crown Prince's consort's seat was empty, his partner was one of his twin daughters. In fact, it would be more accurate to say it was fixed to one specific daughter. The Crown Prince always chose Jeremia at official events, and this time was no exception as he took the hand of the daughter wearing green jewels.

While the girl with the black jade necklace watched her father and sister's dance with boredom, the father and daughter, who shared remarkably similar beautiful features and blue eyes, continued their elegant dance. The dress, puffed out in several layers, spread out in a circle. The young unmarried noble sons gazed enchantedly at the hem of the dress as it spun and settled.

"Princess Jeremia is truly beautiful." "She looks exactly like Princess Tenebrae though." "Ah, but their inner nature is different, isn't it? Even with the same face, there's something gloomy about Princess Tenebrae."

Though they were as identical in appearance as if cast from the same mold, the sisters' personalities were complete opposites. Jeremia was bright, cheerful, and lovely, while Tenebrae was gloomy and always unable to hide her melancholic disposition.

That's probably why the Crown Prince discriminated between the two. The talk about twins being ominous should have applied to both, but it seemed like the stories were always told with Tenebrae specifically in mind. There were even rumors that, when the prophecy about the future was foretold and the ominous twins were born, the Crown Prince attempted to kill Tenebrae directly, at that very moment.

The performance entered a familiar flow. People who sensed that the first dance would soon end began preparing to dance the second piece with their partners. Just as the performance was heading toward its climax, the brilliant chandelier lights began going out one by one.

"There's no wind, so why are the lights going out?"

The last of the lighting lingered, concentrated only on the very center where the Crown Prince was dancing, before even that faded away. The splendid ballroom was shrouded in darkness. It was a complete blackout. Objects right in front of one's face couldn't be distinguished.

"What's happening...?" "Who is it! Damn, don't push!" "Eek! Someone stepped on my foot!" "I can't see ahead...! I, I need to get out of here!"

With this level of chaos, the music should have stopped, but the orchestra, afraid of being blamed for arbitrarily stopping the performance at the Crown Prince's banquet, continued the accompaniment that had reached its peak. This was because there was a precedent where a cellist who accidentally broke a string at the Emperor's banquet had been executed.

The murmuring mix of people's budding fear and confusion blended with the sweet orchestra performance, creating a strange harmony. It was rather ridiculous, like a well-orchestrated theatrical scene being recreated.

Fortunately, before greater commotion could arise, the stage lighting quickly came back on. People, finally calmed by the chandelier lights that began shining again all at once as if they had never gone out, were busy frowning and adjusting their eyes to the light.

"What is this...?"

And only after readjusting to the light and being able to take in the ballroom's splendid decorations did they begin covering their mouths in horror one by one.

What the crowd had last seen before darkness consumed their vision was the father and daughter standing at the center of the ballroom. So naturally, when the surroundings brightened again, they looked for them first.

However, the father and daughter who had been sharing the waltz were nowhere to be found, and only the girl with the green necklace remained alone, blankly staring at the ceiling while red liquid dripped onto her. Following her gaze in puzzlement, they saw something unbelievable.

Someone screamed, someone lost their mind, some collapsed to the floor, and others vomited. Perhaps it would have been better when their vision was dark and they couldn't see anything.

The music dragged on.

The accompaniment, which continued because the performers were too focused on playing to notice the murmuring, began to lose harmony one by one as the musicians gradually realized something was wrong. Only the last remaining piano continued the majestic latter half alone until a piano string, unable to withstand the intense performance, snapped with a death cry, ending all music.

All that remained was the regular beating sound. Following the heartbeat, drops of blood formed at fingertips fell regularly like a metronome. The sound of droplets falling into a small puddle on the floor was clear.

The Crown Prince, murdered with an antique dagger through his heart, was hanging from the chandelier. As the chandelier, tilted by the weight of the corpse, swayed with a creaking sound, the crystal glasses clinked against each other. It was a very small but eerie and chilling sound.

"Father!"

One of the Crown Prince's twin daughters cried out. Since she was wearing a black necklace, it must be Tenebrae. Someone else shouted while looking at the sword piercing the heart.

"Th-that's the sword that Lady Rohanson gave as a gift!"

People's gazes fell on the sword's handle. Having drawn attention upon entry, quite a few people had witnessed Evangeline Rohanson presenting the dagger to the Crown Prince. Realizing the sword handle was identical, all eyes turned in unison.

"Lady Rohanson assassinated His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Since everyone had kept their distance, a circular open space had formed around Evangeline, making the bloodstained hem of her dress particularly visible. Evangeline was covering her mouth, but if she moved her hands, it seemed like the corners of her mouth would show an arc-like smile.

"Lady Rohanson..."

Kinder called out to Evangeline while biting her lips. Unlike the others, Kinder, who had regained her sight, was looking only at Evangeline.

There was no way Lady Rohanson would kill the Crown Prince, and certainly not in such a way that confessed to being the culprit. This was surely a trap. Sir Gabriel hadn't warned them to be careful for nothing when he left feeling uneasy! But who would believe Kinder's defense?

Evangeline's white dress was stained red. The quarrel with Duke Hosaquin had been quite tumultuous, hadn't it? Thanks to that, she had nearly been soaked in wine, but because Gabriel had shielded Evangeline instead, only a few drops of wine had splattered on her white dress. This meant her clothes hadn't been stained just before the lights went out.

"I was careless."

Evangeline spoke with gleaming eyes and a bold sentiment. Her tone was chillingly delighted.

The ballroom doors opened late. No one had noticed when they had been closed. A few people only recalled that the doors had been wide open when Gabriel left to change clothes.

What entered through the opened door was Muzeta, the Crown Prince's guard knight. He had abandoned his post, failing in his primary duty. In his absence, his master had been murdered.

"Your Highness!"

Muzeta began recovering the Crown Prince's body and taking control of the situation. He reported the death to the Emperor and to protect the confused imperial grandchildren, he escorted them to safety. Meanwhile, the girl with the green jade necklace - Jeremia - stood motionless beneath the chandelier in a daze as her father's blood dripped onto her. Eventually, her twin sister Tenebrae took her hand and led her back to their quarters.