< — Meeting People — > (4)
Roy swallowed hard . His eyes were clouded with despair . With a frozen expression like that of an expressionless doll, Roy turned and began to walk to his Lord . Roy's flexible body moved robotically as if sound would come from his joints . He walked until he was two steps away from his Lord and knelt on the spot .
A hush fell over the crowd at the unbelievable sight . Most of the nobles in this place had heard of Duke Taran's strength but they had not actually witnessed it . But they had witnessed Roy's madness quite a lot . There were also many who had watched Roy's duels . The man's personality was insane but they all acknowledged that his skill was superior . One couldn't help but trust what they saw with their own eyes .
Without realizing it, people began to think that maybe Roy Krotin's skills were better than the Duke of Taran's . They thought that even if Duke was his master, he would have a hard time taking the reins of Roy who ran around wild, like a crazy horse . However they realized they got it completely wrong .
For a moment there, people had forgotten . The Duke of Taran was the knight called the War's Black Lion . His martial art's greatness was acknowledge even more in enemy countries (1) . In front of him, the bold 'Mad Dog' was like a frightened puppy . The weak-hearted women grew sympathetic, forgetting that they were just accusing Roy of being barbaric .
“In the time I haven't seen you, you've learnt terrible jokes . ” (Hugo)
It was a monotonous voice .
“Stand up . ”
Roy leapt to his feet . He seemed like a new recruit that was full of spirit .
'I'm going to get hit . '
Roy had a premonition . Roy's premonitions were never wrong, even more so when it was a bad one . It was too scary when his master was angry . The aftereffects from one blow in the stomach would last at least a week . If it were a regular person, their internal organs would burst and they would die instantly . Even if it was himself, he wouldn't be able to eat properly for a week and would have bloody stool . Roy lowered his gaze, waiting for his punishment but when no punishment arrived, he quietly lifted his head .
'Oh…'
There was a familiar face beside his Lord . It was the Duchess . In the meantime, Roy was thinking, 'There is something strange about a blue shawl on a pink dress . '
Lucia broke through the gathered crowd and went up to Hugo . She did not see Roy at the peak of his mischief and did not notice the strange atmosphere of the crowd . He was her destination and the only one in her eyes so she didn't have time to look around .
When she looked into his eyes, the leftover prickly feeling from meeting those unpleasant people melted away into nothingness . Because she was happy, a laugh escaped her mouth . He immediately extend his arm and wrapped it securely around her waist .
It was thereafter that Lucia noticed Roy standing there .
“Sir . Krotin . It has been a while . ”
Lucia felt that Roy was looking at her with a somewhat spirit-less gaze so she spoke carefully .
“Umm…the party is fun, isn't it?”
It was perfunctory greeting .
'Kuk . ' someone burst into laughter . The culprit was the King . Kwiz guffawed and broke into fits of laughter . People looked at the King roaring with laughter and one by one, they began to laugh too . Soon, the party venue was filled with the sound of loud laughter . Lucia was confused; she didn't know why they were laughing .
'Why are they laughing when I was just greeting him? Did I make a mistake?'
Hugo wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her flustered figure into his bosom . He frowned at Roy who was standing funny and gave him a look signaling: Go back immediately and behave yourself .
Roy understood the unspoken command and quickly made himself scarce . Knowing his master's nature, he wouldn't call him back later to punish him for a previous situation .
'I will not forget this debt, Milady . '
Roy praised Lucia to the skies . She was his life-saver . Roy was quickly making his way out of the party venue in jubilation then suddenly, he stopped . He turned to look at the woman he had just passed by . The woman stood alone at the entrance of the party hall where there were very few people . Her face was familiar but he couldn't really remember where he had seen her before .
'She gives off a bad smell . '
The women had a dreary aura around her, contrasting the merry atmosphere of the party and her gaze was fixed somewhere . There were many people gathered where she was looking at so it was impossible to tell who exactly she was looking at . Of all things, the ducal couple was among these people . For some reason, Roy had a bad feeling . He took a very close look at the woman then he turned away .
The middle-aged man who fainted was carried away somewhere by the servants . No one paid attention to the poor middle-aged man . People gathered around the pillar where the knife that the Duke of Taran threw was embedded and whispered amongst themselves . Seeing the knife embedded deep in the stone pillar with only the handle left, people looked on with awe and fear . Someone 'generously' tried to pull out the knife but it did not budge .
Later on, the construction expert that was called advised that the pillars could collapse if the knife was carelessly touched . Eventually, the knife was left alone, unremoved . In the future, it even became a specialty that foreign envoys visited to see at least once .
As the afternoon passed and it drew closer to evening, the people in the banquet hall increased . Once the day got completely dark, the crowd would move to the Outer Palace which was being prepared and the ball would begin .
After greeting, talking and smiling with people for half a day, Lucia felt like her facial muscles were in spasms . She couldn't even remember who she had greeted . Because she had been standing continuously, her legs were sore and she wanted to collapse into a soft sofa and rub her legs .
Lucia's social debut today was successful . People were practically lining up to greet Lucia . The King and Queen who should have been the protagonist of today, could only tolerate the attention which was focused on the Ducal Taran couple .
“Tired?”
Lucia was about to give her habitual reply of, “I'm fine” but she changed her answer to, “I'm a little tired . ” She wanted to complain to him that it was hard .
“Shall we go back?”
For the words, 'I'm tired' to come out of her mouth which had 'I'm okay' sewn on it, she must really be having a hard time . Hugo grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into his chest . Leaning on him would help her reduce the weight on her legs a little . She was definitely very tired . She was usually uncomfortable with physical contact in public yet now she obediently leaned into his arms .
“But the ball hasn't even started yet…”
“It's fine, you've already stayed in the banquet hall for this long . It is hard for everyone to attend both events . In any case, I planned to just show my face in the ball and then go . We have tomorrow too . ”
“Can we really go home?”
Hugo smiled . The word, 'home' warmed up his heart .
“Yes . ”
While the ducal couple who were in their own world, people hovered in their vicinity but could not get close .
“…This is not a very rare sight, is it?”
No matter how many time Kwiz saw it, it was still fascinating . It was the Duke of Taran of all people! Expressing his affection in public with no hesitation! Is this an omen?!
Beth laughed as she listened to her husband's mumbling .
“My Queen, you already knew so why didn't you give me a hint?”
“Because I thought it would be interesting . This small thing can serve as a diversion for Your Majesty, can it not?”
Kwiz looked at Beth who was full of smiles and gave a small sigh . His wife was gradually becoming more tough and indifferent as she raised their three sons . These days, when he visited the back palace, he was secretly watched by the Queen . He also had three sons that would flip and pounce on him if he wronged their mother . If he didn't want to be bullied in his old age, he had to build up his score from now on .
“What does my Queen think? Is Taran Gong being authentic, or acting out a play?”
“Is that important?”
The Queen was right . It was not important . The fact that the Duke of Taran expressed his affection for his wife in an official event was a silent warning to everyone: I am behind this woman so don't try any nonsense . Of course, as the Lady of the Ducal House of Taran, she was in a position that no one could ignore . However it was on a different level when the Duke proclaimed himself as her strong shield .
“The Duchess will be quite busy . ”
“Indeed . ”
Everyone who came here knew that the shortcut to attacking the Duke of Taran was the Duchess . Many people were already looking at the Duchess with blazing eyes .
“But, what is Katherine doing that she doesn't even show her face?”
“She hates this sort of event . Don't you know? I'm sure she'll come out for the evening ball . ”
Kwiz clicked his tongue when he remembered his sister who always made him worry about when she would mature . They were both his sisters but why were they so different? Because they had different mothers? It was a thought he had had before but here he was, having it again . He had to find a suitable bridegroom for his sister but the problem was, there was no one suitable .
Translator's Corner:
This isn't exactly martial arts . I wasn't sure what else to use . It's referring to his skill in battle . His fighting prowess, etc .Chapter end
Report
|
Donate
Oh o, this user has not set a donation button.
|