Chapter 179


    "...Where is Ash?"


    At the emperors muttered word,


    Snap!


    The eyes of everyone in the party hall turned like dominoes, and all were fixed on me.


    "Yes?"


    I muttered stupidly,


    "...Hup."


    The princess next to me began to hup.


    Noticing me, the emperor nodded his head and slowly walked into the banquet hall along the carpet.


    Ah.


    Only then did I realize why the emperor had sought me out first.


    Behind the emperor were envoys from the Northern Kingdom, and at the forefront of them were people with ivory-colored hair like Princess Yun.


    Leading the allied nations of the northern front, with Ariane Kingdom at the helm.


    After meeting with them and having a conference, the emperor had attended this party.


    Even though I didnt know about it, discussions about strengthening the alliance must havee up, and naturally, the marriage proposal between Princess Yun and me would have been mentioned.


    Whoosh...


    As the emperor approached, despite the path already being sufficiently wide, the people parted further as if on cue, widening the way.


    It was as if the sea was parting.


    "Ash. Follow me."


    The emperor stood beside me andmanded in a soft... yet deep and heavy voice.


    "The princess of Ariane Kingdom is here as well. Come with me."


    How could I dare not to follow?


    Yun and I obediently followed the emperor down the carpet, with the eyes of everyone in the hall firmly fixed on us.


    "Father."


    Fernandez, who had been waiting at the midpoint of the path, bowed to the emperor.


    "Fernandez."


    The emperor nodded in return and gestured backward with his chin.


    "Follow."


    "Yes."


    Joining the line, Fernandez gave me a sly wink. I reluctantly smiled back.


    "Father."


    Lark, who had been waiting at the end of the path, bowed. The emperor grinned.


    "Lark. Lets ascend together."


    "Its an honor."


    Lark did not join the line but stood next to the emperor, walking with him to the end of the carpet.


    The carpet ended below the tform arranged in the innermost part of the banquet hall. The emperor, Lark, Fernandez, and Yun and I ascended to the top of it.


    p-!


    The emperor, having reached the top of the tform, turned around and looked over the banquet hall.


    His red cloak swung in the air, tracing a round arc.


    "My subjects, hear me!"


    The nobles, who had been bowing towards the entrance, quickly rose and turned to bow to the tform.


    The emperor shouted in a clear voice that resonated in the ears.


    "Our Everck now stands before an unprecedented crisis. Threats are closing in from all sides and even from within our country."


    It was a heavy speech, quite out of ce in the festive atmosphere that had prevailed just moments ago.


    But the emperor himself was enough context and connection.


    He naturally led the mood of the hall to a more somber tone. All the nobles listened attentively to his words.


    "I have remained secluded for a long time to resolve this situation. Meanwhile, my eldest son Lark has taken care of the worries of the west."


    The emperor pointed to Lark, who respectfully bowed to his father. The emperor broke into a wide smile.


    "I am indeed proud, my son."


    "All thanks to you, Father."


    The nobles began to apud as if on cue. p, p, p...!


    The apuse filled the banquet hall. The emperor waited for the noise to subside and then continued.


    "This gathering today was held to celebrate Larks achievements. But we all must remember, other crises remain, and they are strangling the neck of Everck."


    The emperor turned to Fernandez.


    "To ovee this crisis, we must first strengthen the nations domestic affairs."


    Fernandez smiled slyly and bowed. The emperor grinned back at his second son.


    "We must also solidify our rtionships with our neighbors and allies."


    The emperor turned his gaze to the envoys of the northern allied nations standing below the tform. They, too, looked up and bowed in return.


    "Therefore, I announce it here!"


    The Emperor spread his arms wide, and eximed,


    "The marriage between my third son, Ash, and Ariane Kingdoms second daughter, Princess Yun!"


    "...!"


    I was calm, having anticipated this, but Princess Yun was startled, her shoulders trembling in surprise, as though she hadnt expected the confirmation here.


    "The brave kingdoms of the North and our Everck are no longer mere allies! They are bound by blood!"


    Blood alliance.


    At that word, the faces of the envoys from the North bloomed with smiles.


    After all, there was no way to bring two distant countries closer together than by forming a marital rtionship.


    "My dear subjects! Please extend a warm wee to our guests from afar."


    The Emperor pointed to the Northern envoys with his hand andughed heartily.


    "They are no longer our guests, but part of our Everck family."


    p, p, p, p...!


    I wasnt sure if apuse was part of the imperial etiquette, but thunderous apuse filled the banquet hall as if everyone had been trained for it.


    "I suspected that this proposal would not be refused, but..."


    Amid the noisy apuse, Princess Yun let out a small sigh.


    "I never thought it would be announced like this today."


    "Indeed. I did not expect it to proceed so swiftly."


    They said that they were going to introduce us this time, but the Emperor just pulled the trigger. Hepletely disregarded our opinions.


    "Well, I guess our opinions dont matter anyway."


    Yun gave me a faint smile, shrugging.


    "Having been born a royal and lived well thus far, I guess its time to pay the price in this manner."


    Yun reached out her hand to me.


    "Please take care of me, my husband."


    "..."


    I hesitated for a moment but then cautiously extended my hand to grasp hers.


    Yuns wild, yellow eyes sparkled mischievously.


    "Shall we see then, how well the empires greatest yboy... can dance?"


    The next moment, Yun pulled me close. Whoa?!


    Whats this?! She seems stronger than me?!


    All that talk about being brawny and bear-like wasnt just talk, it seemed.


    Yun led me down to the stage, dashing to the center of the party hall.


    I was dragged along helplessly. The crowd cheered and whistled at our sight.


    Leading me to the center of the party hall, Yun bowed respectfully, catching my bewildered look.


    "Since itse to this, lets be the stars of this party."


    "What do you mean?"


    "The original star of this party was Prince Lark. But now that our engagement has been announced, lets outshine him. Lets make this a party in honor of our engagement, not a victory celebration."


    Staring nkly at Yuns words for a moment, I eventually broke into a grin.


    "I quite like that idea."


    I bowed back in response.


    The next moment, we stood close together, holding each others hands, cing them on each others shoulders and waists.


    The quick-witted orchestra began to y a lively waltz.


    And Yun and I began to dance.


    Twirling around the banquet hall, capturing the attention of everyone, including the Emperors.


    Round and round. Round and round.


    ***


    "..."


    Serenade kept fiddling with her empty hair tips.


    Her blue hair, once long and beautiful enough to pass her waist, was now cut off just below her neck.


    Inst nights fire, the ends had all be singed, so she had to cut it short to keep only the healthy part.


    It was hair Id been growing almost all my life...


    Serenade looked at her reflection in the mirror with unfamiliar eyes.


    The bob cut, dangling from her neck, was tolerable considering it was done in haste, but it couldntpare to the beauty of her original long hair.


    Her eyes were shadowed from not sleeping a winkst night. Her legs were lightly burned, hidden by stockings but still stinging.


    Her face wasnt burned, but it still felt hot and red as if the heat of the fire lingered. Makeup simply wouldnt apply properly.


    All the dresses and shoes she had saved were burnt, so she had to quickly borrow an outfit from a nearby dress shop.


    The problem was that today was the festival, and all the decent dresses were already gone.


    Serenade had to choose the best of the remaining ragged dresses to wrap around herself.


    Therefore, her reflection in the mirror was aplete mess.


    Her hair was awkwardly cut short, makeup didnt take, and the dress didnt suit her at all.


    This is the worst.


    To attend a grand party hosted by the Imperial Family looking like this. Everyone would be all dressed up, but she looked like a disheveled crow.


    I just want to stay cooped up in my room


    But then,


    - Serenade. I must tell you this. I need you tomorrow.


    Ash had said this to her.


    I need you, he had said.


    She never wanted to show herself in such a state, especially to someone she wanted to impress more than anyone else.


    But if that person needed her, she had to rush there, no matter how shabbily she was dressed.


    So Serenade boarded the carriage, headed to the party held at the Imperial Pce.


    Mdy!


    The handmaid-sh-coachman, Elize, cautiously spoke from inside the carriage.


    Madam, as you might have guessed, those who set fire to the Merchant Guild building yesterday might attack again.


    If they attack again today, going to the Imperial Pce is dangerous. We should immediately go to a safe ce


    No. I must reach the Imperial Pce.


    Serenade answered with determination in her voice.


    Its not just because of the request of His Highness, Ash. The way for our Silver Winter Merchant Guild to survive is also in that Imperial Pce.


    Please, Elize. Get me to the Imperial Pce.


    Understood, Madam.


    Elize nodded with a stern face.


    No matter what obstacles we face, Ill smash through all of them and escort you to the Imperial Pce, Madam.


    Thank you.


    Clop, clop, clop-!


    The carriage began to gallop along the road.


    Judging the direct route from the wharf to the Imperial Pce too dangerous, Elize drove the carriage on a major detour.


    Whether her judgment was right or whether it was a false rm, no attacks came even as they approached close enough to see the Imperial Pce. Elize took a short breath.


    After all, today is the festival. Theres no way they would tantly attack in such a busy and watchful situation-


    It was the very moment she thought that.


    Because they had taken a long detour, they had to pass through an alleyway instead of the main road, and as Elize drove the carriage into the alley, she sensed danger.


    The alley waspletely empty.


    In a city filled with people due to the festival, this one block of the alleyway was devoid of pedestrians, merchants, ying children, or even loitering beggars.


    Sensing danger, Elize shouted sharply.


    Hold on tight, Madam!


    The next moment.


    Crash-!


    A magic-infused arrow shot from somewhere lodged into the wheel of the carriage and exploded.


    Elize desperately tried to maintain bnce, but the carriage with the shattered wheel eventually toppled sideways.


    Thud, crash!


    The fallen carriage, scattering wooden splinters all around, smashed against the wall of the alley.


    As luck would have it, that wall had bags of dirt and sand stacked against it, and they burst open, filling the area with a thick cloud of dust.


    Trudge. Trudge.


    And through that dust and smoke, five shadows approached.


    The Imperial Familys direct ck Ops team.


    Aegis Special Forces, the dark division.


    Among them, the fourth team  in charge of carrying out assassinations within the Imperial Capital  marched forward, clutching crossbows that gleamed blue with loaded bolts.


    The Imperial hunting dogs were closing in.