RAMHM Chapter 10

The Overwhelming Power of a Man That Left No Room to Move

I didn't sleep a wink that night. Yes, I was nervous. I'd already had my debutante ball, but back then I'd had a chaperone, and my father and brother had stood firmly behind me. And now...

"M-must I really go?"

"......"

"...I must, yes."

There's only Count Acacia, right on death's doorstep. Going to such a large party where the majority of direct Imperial family members would attend, I couldn't go alone without a partner. Many young ladies would be making their debut here today. A fine gentleman to escort at the party was essential, but this too was outside my choice.

I wore the least conspicuous green dress among those Bliea had ordered. Of course, since I'd chosen from dresses 'Bliea had ordered,' it didn't match what I considered an ordinary debutante dress. The back was cut so deeply there was hardly any fabric, and the front wasn't much better, so Yona had to spend all night sewing on decorations taken from other dresses. If Marge hadn't found a decent shawl early in the morning, I would have nearly gone in an outfit more suited for an evening party despite it supposedly being a debutante ball.

I'd also adorned my face in a way I absolutely never would have in the past. I'd asked them to make me presentable without looking shabby, but the maids, excited about their mistress's first debutante ball, had dolled me up thoroughly. If there was one slightly bothersome point, I'd asked them to do it 'as usual,' so they'd done makeup a bit heavy by my standards—makeup Bliea preferred.

Bliea seemed to think her charm was sensuality. That sultry feeling like theater actresses drawn on gossip magazine or magazine covers. It was grooming I'd never have done in my original body, but when done 'as usual' for Bliea, it suited me rather well. Dressed up like this, even if someone who knew Adrienne's face to some degree saw this appearance, they wouldn't immediately think of Adrienne. In other words, it was perfect for slipping past the few grand nobles who might recognize me and approaching Novian stealthily.

As soon as I climbed into the carriage, Marge, Yona, and the other maids clenched both fists tight and cheered me on. Even the old butler stood at a distance with shining eyes. It was a welcome of a completely different dimension from when I'd first seen them. Occasionally they still couldn't escape past memories and would disrespect me or approach too closely as if crossing the line, but generally, they seemed to be gradually developing awareness of me as their mistress and looked after me quite well.

The biggest reason would be being invited to the victory ceremony, the "family's glory."

I lightly waved my hand to show them. Yona jumped up and down with joy. My heart felt strangely warm and fuzzy. As I looked out the window at them growing distant, I heard Count Acacia sighing deeply beside me. When the carriage passed through the capital's central plaza and reached the palace entrance where traffic was starting to clog, those sighs reached their peak. And his face grew paler the closer we got to the palace.

"M-my lady. If by chance I should collapse... please pay me no mind and enjoy yourself."

"...Pardon?"

"Huff, huff, huff—!"

Count Acacia, who'd been taking short, rapid breaths, pulled a small cylindrical tin case from his chest and poured it into his mouth. From the cool fragrance, it seemed to be medicine to ease tension. I recognized it since I'd taken it occasionally during mild episodes.

"Are you nervous?"

"To even ask such a thing...!"

Count Acacia's resentful amber eyes turned toward me. Since he'd never once treated me as his wife, I no longer felt nervous before him, nor was I particularly respectful.

"O Lord, please take all glory... and forgive the sins of Your lamb..."

Suddenly he began reciting a prayer. How devout indeed. I sat upright and watched Count Acacia fold his aged hands together and recite his prayers.

"Since my lady is already married, everyone will understand even without a chaperone."

"I know that too."

Though I'd only said I knew, he gave me a look of 'how would you know that?' Bliea might not have known. I simply shrugged my exposed shoulders.

The victory ceremony party seemed to be quite grand, as carriages lined up from the entrance. After waiting quite a while, we finally set foot at the entrance. Bliea wasn't particularly tall, but Count Acacia was so short and I wore high shoes, so we were roughly the same height.

At the party entrance stood an attendant who rang bells to announce entries, and he swept over us with a very unfamiliar expression. The coachman handed over the invitation, and the attendant looked back and forth between it and the guest list for a long while before ringing the bell reluctantly and calling out our names.

"Count and Countess Acacia entering!"

Indeed, whether no one cared about the Count and Countess Acacia, the party hall was noisy and bustling. At the few parties I'd attended with Novian before my health deteriorated, everyone had focused on us, so it had grown quiet for a moment. Now I felt occasional glances, but compared to then, it was less interest than the champagne the attendants were busily carrying around.

We moved away from people's attention and stood pressed close to the wall. The entire time, Count Acacia's arm that I was holding trembled faintly. My nervousness, which I'd barely calmed, was creeping back up, and with the Count like this too, it was increasingly stressful.

"...Calm yourself, Count."

"Th-the Grand Duke hasn't arrived yet, it seems."

Though I tried to quietly calm him behind my fan, far from calming down, the Count was startled by the word 'Grand Duke' that had left his own mouth and shut it firmly. It was around the time he looked pitiful, trembling so. Ding—! Ding—! Ding—! That arrogant attendant at the entrance rang the bell three times. People who'd been sitting in chairs stood up abruptly, and those who'd been giggling with acquaintances closed their mouths and looked up at the distant entrance stairway.

"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress of the great Empire of Ronteaux entering! His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess, hopes of the Empire, entering! And His Imperial Highness the Second Prince, who suppressed the western rebels, established merit, and demonstrated the Empire's might, entering!"

As the aged Emperor and the young Empress who'd been enthroned not long ago entered simultaneously, applause and cheers poured out. The applause that continued for the Crown Prince and his wife who followed reached its peak when Second Prince Rhodness appeared.

"Ahhh—! I'm seeing the Second Prince for the first time!"

"Me too. Wow... How can he look like a carved statue? But, his eyes...?"

"Shh! Quiet!"

Among the murmuring voices of young ladies, I looked up with wide eyes at the man displaying an overwhelming presence. As his gaze, seeming to search for someone, swept across the entire hall, I unconsciously hid behind Count Acacia and covered my face with my fan. Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! My already tense heart began pounding frantically. It was the first time I'd seen Second Prince Rhodness in person, whose name alone was renowned. And the problem was that this Second Prince...

'Insane.'

He was the very man who'd been crying as if the world had collapsed before my gravestone not long ago! I slyly peeked out only my eyes from behind Count Acacia's shoulder. Among the sparkling Imperial family members, Rhodness was by far outstanding. The Crown Prince was handsome too, but he was a beauty beyond handsomeness. With platinum hair that gleamed, and red eyes that flashed like a beast's yet hung languidly relaxed, his arrogant expression and sensual lips were exactly as described by the term 'rake.' No doubt about it. It's definitely that man I saw at the cemetery.

"Then, let today be an occasion to celebrate the joy of victory and enjoy ourselves to the fullest!"

After words of welcome, the Emperor, patting Rhodness's shoulder with commendation, raised his champagne glass and called out. Simultaneously, everyone gathered in the hall raised their champagne and cried out.

"Glory to the Lord! Prosperity to Ronteaux! Loyalty to the Emperor!"

"Glory to the Lord! Prosperity to Ronteaux! Loyalty to the Emperor!"

Once more, applause and cheers erupted. Everyone brought champagne to their lips and smiled. The Emperor and Empress, watching this with satisfaction, nodded lightly and ascended to higher stairs to sit in prepared seats. As the musicians positioned below the stairs tuned their instruments, people cleared the center of the hall and made space as if they'd been waiting.

Second Prince Rhodness and the Crown Prince and his wife, the stars of the victory ceremony, descended graciously to the hall. Wherever Rhodness's gaze landed, low screams poured out.

"!"

I unconsciously gripped the arm of Count Acacia, who was trembling. When I met those bright red eyes head-on, I felt like prey placed before a predator. The arrogant, cool expression on Rhodness's face cracked slightly.

No, no! Don't come!

At this point, I couldn't tell whether I was trembling or the Count was trembling. Though the objects of our fear differed, we shared the same emotion. My face had turned deathly pale as I barely hid it with my fan and cowered behind Count Acacia, who was already no different from a quaking aspen, when people suddenly began murmuring.

Rhodness, who'd clearly seen my face, looked down indifferently at a young lady who'd approached near him, then immediately asked her to dance. Though his face was extremely, excessively rigid, the blonde girl, red to the tips of her ears, readily took his hand and entered the center of the hall. As the musicians began playing, the Crown Prince and his wife and the Second Prince's party simultaneously began moving.

"Haah—."

That took ten years off my life. Contrary to my worries, he didn't recognize me. By the way, the person at that cemetery had been the veiled Second Prince Rhodness... As the waltz melody reached its peak, I slyly peeked out my eyes and cast my gaze toward the center of the hall. Though the girl stumbled occasionally, Rhodness danced truly, perfectly in time with the music. The young ladies around me exhaled deep sighs like moans every time his hand brushed the girl's waist or shoulder.

"Ugh—."

And beside me was Count Acacia, letting out strange groans while wiping away cold sweat. We too would soon have to go out to dance. Once the host's first dance ended, guests immediately poured onto the hall with their partners to dance—that was party protocol.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Having found my composure, I finally looked after the Count.

"I... I'm sorry, so sorry."

The Count showed a truly apologetic expression. The first dance had already ended. Jostled among the nobles flooding in like a tide, the Count swayed unsteadily and barely wiped away his cold sweat.

"Your Grace the Gr-Grand Duke...!"

Count Acacia, who'd been lifting his head toward some point, finally...

"Kyaaah—!"

"Sir!"

"Count!"

In a tiny voice only I could hear, he pleaded desperately, scratching out 'save me, save m...' before collapsing. Since the second dance tune was fast and grand music, only a small commotion occurred on our side. I quickly tried to support Count Acacia, but he just sat slumped against the wall, unable to stand. When no one stepped forward readily and only elderly noblewomen let out shallow screams, a knight who'd somehow heard the sound approached and laid the Count down. Soon after, several knights who'd been with him carried the Count away, saying they'd move him to a lounge. I should have followed, but I stopped, unable to do anything.

"...!"

In that gap as people crowded together, someone from behind had lightly grasped both my arms, crossing them and holding them with one hand. Goosebumps rose instantly along my spine, exposed as my shawl had fallen. It didn't hurt, but it was the overwhelming power of a man that left no room to move. I was so startled that I froze, unable even to scream.

A lavender scent mixed with cigars suddenly invaded the tip of my nose.

"...Found you."

Simultaneously, a low voice that seemed to vibrate the floor intensely permeated my ears.