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The musicians had arrived, and the air filled with a disordered melody. They were rehearsing before the banquet began.
I rummaged through my pockets, hoping Derol would return any moment, yet he was nowhere to be seen. Where could he have gone?
A pang of worry struck me. What if Derol had gotten lost?
I scanned my surroundings calmly. It was evident that Derol must have either lost his way or gotten distracted by something.
The banquet hall bustled with servants moving food and checking the decorations. However, most of the preparations were nearing completion, with only a few hurried servants remaining. The banquet would begin soon enough.
The sharpness of the music gradually softened.
Feigning interest in the food, I kept my eyes keen around the banquet hall. Where on earth is he?
Despite my search, Derol was still nowhere in sight.
Just then, I heard the names of nobles being called as they trickled through the grand doors one by one.
I found myself momentarily mesmerized by their opulent clothing before my anxiety returned. There were a few maids nearby, but no one else seemed as fidgety as I was.
I need to go soon.
At that moment, several servants stopped at the table in front of me. I overheard their hushed conversation.
“If you cross paths with Lady Setina, you might not make it out in one piece.”
“Is it because of the broken engagement?”
“Exactly. She’s taking out her frustration on us due to the cheating.”
“We should steer clear of her.”
“Don’t even get close. It’s dangerous. Oh, and did you hear? With the prince’s return, she’s considering marrying him.”
The servants continued to whisper among themselves as they arranged the food.
“Is the prince really going to marry her?”
“Not a chance.”
Their laughter died down as the head maid approached.
I nervously glanced around. Before long, the banquet hall was bustling with nobles. The atmosphere felt electrifying, as if everyone were waiting for something significant. Laughter, the fluttering of fans, and the rustling of gowns echoed in my ears.
Everyone’s gaze flickered to the closed doors, anticipating a certain someone’s arrival.
I found myself drawn to the doors, my own gaze following the crowd's.
Suddenly, the doors swung open. No name was announced, but a figure strode in with an authoritative gait, a flowing red cape billowing behind him, his jet-black hair slicked back on one side.
My breath caught.
It was Ardion.
My eyes lingered on him. Even from a distance, he seemed to radiate light.
He looked strikingly handsome. His once round face had matured into sharp angles, and his features were perfectly harmonious, stunning to the point of blinding.
While I had thought he was cute as a child, now he was breathtakingly attractive, dressed in an immaculate uniform that exuded authority.
Memories of the boy he once was flickered through my mind, but he had undeniably transformed into a man.
Before long, people swarmed around Ardion as if he were a magnet. He smiled, unfazed by the attention.
He had always been sharp-tongued with others, yet here he was, relaxed and gracious.
Indeed, it’s been three years.
Ardion had ventured beyond the borders in that time.
People do change.
But I hadn’t expected him to transform so completely. My gaze caught a glimpse of someone beside him, someone I hadn’t noticed before. Ardion was introducing her to the crowd with a smile.
She was dazzling with golden hair and a radiant smile that could outshine anyone. It was impossible not to be captivated by her beauty.
Is she… the female protagonist?
A sudden instinct told me that Ardion had finally met the heroine! It felt like a historic moment, both exhilarating and bittersweet.
Now, all that was left was for Ardion to succeed and unite with her…
Ah, what is this… bittersweet feeling?
I struggled to comprehend my own emotions. I turned my head away, reminding myself that this was no longer my concern.
What was clear was that it was time for me to disappear.
But first, I needed to find Derol. My heart sank further as I hurriedly searched for him.
Where could he be?
He had promised to return shortly. Typically, by this time, he would have found me.
As I scanned the area, a dark figure darted past. I immediately recognized Derol dashing towards a large table.
A maid noticed him and headed in our direction.
Oh no, this is awkward.
Derol was clearly being pursued.
I quickly looked around and stood in front of him just as the maid approached. “Excuse me, what are you looking for?”
“I think I saw a rat earlier,” she whispered in my ear, wary of discussing it in front of the nobles.
I forced a bright smile and nodded. “I’ll look for it.”
“No, don’t. It might cause a commotion—”
I blocked her path, grabbing her arm. “No, I need to worry about it. I am very proficient in catching mice. I have received plenty of praise for it.”
As I mimicked catching a mouse, she stared at me, tilting her head in skepticism. “Can you really?”
“Yes! I’ll be very quiet about it. I have a knack for attracting them.”
It was a lie, but I needed her to believe me for the moment.
“Really?”
“Yes, trust me.” I nodded emphatically.
She relented. “Alright then, please do. The prince is supposed to sit here soon.”
“Then I’ll hurry and catch it!” I rushed beneath the tablecloth. Glancing back, I saw she was still watching me. Once hidden, I whispered softly, “Derol.”
At the sound of my voice, he emerged from his hiding spot.
“Where have you been?”
“I got distracted by all the cheese in the kitchen. I’m sorry, Master.”
Derol hadn’t been so reckless back at the mansion. But lately, with both of us struggling financially, his hunger must have driven him to take risks.
I felt a twinge of guilt at how it affected him.
Derol glanced at me apologetically.
I forced a smile and whispered in his ear, “You don’t need to apologize. I’m just relieved I found you. Let’s get out of here.”
Just as we were about to leave, a commotion erupted, and polished shoes appeared in front of us.
“Congratulations on your victory, Your Highness.”
“Congratulations? It was my duty.”
The familiar voice, though deeper than before, was unmistakably Ardion's. As he and others began to take their seats, their shoes came into view beneath the table.
Derol and I froze, barely breathing.
“By the way, who is this?”
“This is Serina. She helped me a lot with the monsters while I was stationed at the frontier.”
Finally, I recalled her name—Serina, the heroine.
Wait, wasn’t she supposed to meet the prince for the first time at the imperial banquet in the original story?
Something felt off. The narrative I knew seemed to be shifting. Perhaps this had happened back at Duke Orchid’s estate as well.
That was supposed to be Ardion’s job.
I bit my lip, but now that Ardion had met the heroine, surely their connection would solidify.
Is it my fault?
If so, that would be serious. I had unintentionally altered the original story. Even minor changes shouldn’t affect me.
Yet unease lingered. What if my presence disrupted their destined bond or prevented crucial events from unfolding?
But I haven’t really done anything to change the story.
It was merely that Ardion had grown significantly during his time away. While I anxiously bit my lip, their conversation resumed.
“I never expected you to handle monsters so swiftly at the frontier.”
“It’s thanks to me for sending Ardion.”
The voice that interjected was Rowell's, the same as I’d heard before.
“Brother, your faith in my abilities allowed me to excel. I look forward to your support moving forward.”
Although his tone was low, there was a hint of sarcasm.
“Ardion, don’t worry. There are plenty of battlefields awaiting you.”
“Speaking of which, how about you join me at the Tarkosa front? With your skills, I think you’d manage just fine.”
I marveled at how easily Ardion countered him. It was clear he had changed in the past three years. I noticed Rowell's foot twitching nervously.
“Tarkosa? That place has been overrun with monsters since three years ago. It’s just like the frontier, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s precisely where I think you’d thrive.”
“Why is that?”
“With your ruthless personality, I’m sure you’d excel at hunting those beasts, wouldn’t you?”
Laughter echoed around them.
“Ardion, I think that place suits you better.”
“I’ve already experienced it, so it would be fine for you to take the lead this time. While managing the empire, you haven’t fought on the battlefield before, so why not this time?”
“…”
“A brave man doesn’t shy away from a challenge.”
Ardin’s words silenced the banquet hall.