Vol. 1 - Ch. 48
Chapter 48
[“When the Princess and the Duke entered, it was dazzling, as if they were destined to find each other.”]
‘What nonsense…’
At the memory of those words, Damian instinctively turned to look at Daphne. She sat watching the scene unfold, her eyes darting as if to miss nothing, yet her hands rested calmly on her lap, and her lips showed no signs of tension.
“What a perfect pair they make!”
The Emperor’s voice boomed, jolting Damian back to reality. The weight of the moment reminded him that this was no dream.
“Excuse me.”
Edmund said, gently withdrawing his arm from Elizabeth’s grasp. Yet she reached out and held it firmly.
“Duke, you’ll keep your promise, won’t you?”
“Princess, what promise have you made with the Duke?”
“Father, oh, you.”
Elizabeth shyly averted her gaze, her lashes fluttering. A blush rose to her cheeks as she smiled delicately.
“He promised to gift me all the animals he catches today.”
Gasps of surprise erupted around them.
“Is this true, Duke?”
The Emperor questioned. All eyes turned to Edmund, who looked down at Elizabeth for a moment. To Daphne and Damian, all they could see was Edmund’s back.
“...It is.”
Edmund leaned in to whisper something to Elizabeth, then returned to his seat. Damian’s gaze followed him the entire time.
Damian wanted to question him immediately, but with Daphne seated between them, he could only fidget. It wasn’t until the banquet ended and the ball began that Damian finally approached Edmund.
“Father, what is going on?” he whispered sharply.
“I’ll explain later.”
“Explain now! Why...?” Damian bit back his rising voice. “Why are you wearing matching outfits with the Princess? And what promise did you make?”
Edmund sighed, rubbing his temples. He hadn’t anticipated the Princess matching her dress to his attire.
[“Carlito.”]
Just as he was about to deny the promise, he glanced over his shoulder at Daphne and was utterly unprepared for the mention of the Crown Prince’s name.
“Father,” Damian pressed, his voice tight with anxiety. He was wondering if he really plans on divorcing Daphne and remarry Elizabeth.
“Are you really…?”
The Emperor stood abruptly.
“Before the hunting tournament begins, I have an announcement,” he declared, drawing the room’s attention. “You all remember the scandal involving the Bled family five years ago.”
The court murmured. The treachery of Marquis Bled, whose plot shook society, had not been forgotten.
“Marquis Bled passed away a few days ago, at peace, thanks to his son’s noble sacrifice.”
The room buzzed with murmurs. Bled Marquis was dead.
From her corner, Daphne silently absorbed the Emperor’s words, replaying them in her mind.
“And after much deliberation, I have decided to free Sergei Bled, who has spent five years in prison atoning for his father’s sins.”
Thump. Thump. Her heart pounded with unease. Daphne, forgetting even the dryness in her mouth, found her gaze drawn to the commotion at the entrance as if entranced.
A flash of blue hair blurred her vision. As he passed by, she stared blankly, tracing the faint remnants of his fleeting smile.
Sergei knelt before the Emperor.
“I hereby appoint him as Chancellor and reinstate the title of Marquis Bled.”
There was silence.
“Congratulations, Marquis Bled!”
Duke Bevelock sprang to his feet and exclaimed. With that, cheers, applause, and congratulatory remarks erupted from every corner of the hall. The signs of Sergei’s hardships in prison were apparent. His once soft features had grown sharper, his figure leaner. Yet, the gentle, vulnerable smile he wore remained unchanged.
“Thank you.”
As the people spoke to him, he grew closer and closer. Daphne, frozen stiff, could only watch Sergei approach her. Two steps. One step.
“Daphne.”
Finally, Sergei stood before her. Seeing Daphne’s shoulders flinch, he reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace.
“I’ve missed you, sister.”
[“I will miss you, sister.”]
It was the same whisper he’d said to her before they parted ways. Daphne, her face pale as if she might collapse at any moment, could only gasp for air.
“I heard you’ve been married since. I’m sorry I couldn’t attend the wedding.”
He acted as though it had truly been five years since he’d last seen her. As if he hadn’t kidnapped Daphne a few months ago when she came to the capital, holding her captive in an underground cell for three days.
When Sergei tightened his grip on her shoulders, Daphne felt a stinging pain, even though the wounds should have long since healed.
“...Brother,” Daphne managed to utter.
Sergei’s eyes softened, a faint smile curling his lips.