Chapter 143: Song of Stars and Starlight
“Shina!”
Enzhe, stepping out into the garden, immediately spotted Fritz. She approached him with a delighted expression, but his face remained emotionless, his gaze fixed on the distance.
“What are you doing here? Want to take a walk with me?”
“…Okay.”
Enzhe’s heart soared at his single word. She linked her arm with his. Fritz didn’t pull away and walked with her silently.
“Look, Shina, golden roses!”
Enzhe pointed to a corner of the garden. As she had said, golden roses were blooming profusely among the vines.
The Imperial Palace was the only place where golden roses bloomed. They were called miracle flowers, created by flower researchers over a hundred years, and were carefully cultivated by the Imperial Family.
“Yes, they’re beautiful.”
Fritz replied indifferently. Enzhe, used to his lack of enthusiasm, changed the subject.
“You saw it in the ballroom, Shina, everyone was blessing us.”
She shouldn’t have said that.
“Enzhe.”
“Yes?”
Fritz, who had been responding to her halfheartedly, finally turned to her. His emerald eyes, usually filled with determination, now held only one emotion.
Guilt.
“Is this really good for us?”
“What… are you talking about?”
Enzhe asked, her face hardening. Fritz, as if to answer her question, gently removed her arm from his and stepped away.
A breeze blew past them. It was a pleasant autumn breeze, but no one felt refreshed.
Fritz spoke quietly,
“Someone told me this a few days ago.”
“….”
“That love is the feeling of wanting to be with someone forever.”
“Shina, wait,”
“I said I would marry you if I didn’t meet someone I loved when I was young.”
Fritz completely ignored her desperate plea.
“That means… I don’t love you.”
The blood drained from Enzhe’s face. Her already pale face turned even paler. Fritz, watching her, delivered the final blow,
“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise. Let’s break off the engagement.”
***
Sue, abandoned by Fritz, went back to the ballroom. She was looking for Noel, assuming he would be alone, but he was unexpectedly surrounded by elderly people.
They were sympathizing with him because of “that incident.” It seemed like people became more accepting after experiencing the ups and downs of life in the capital.
She was about to resign herself to being alone again when, to her surprise, people started approaching her.
“Viscountess Byron, congratulations on your debut in society. I have a close relationship with your father. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The Byron family is allied with the Lopetrefer family, right? I envy you.”
“Lady Byron, you seem close to Lady Lopetrefer… Ah, I’m Dan Crafer, a year above you.”
Most of them were nobles who were already active in society, rather than academy students. Sue was both delighted and overwhelmed by the unexpected attention.
After exchanging meaningless pleasantries with a few people, Sue, wandering around the ballroom, spotted Halo standing alone in a corner, looking forlorn.
“She’s a special recruit, after all…”
She was sipping champagne, her eyes observing the scene, as if it were a world she didn’t belong to, just like Sue had done in the past.
According to the novel, she was supposed to be Fritz’s partner, the center of attention.
Sue felt a pang of guilt, even though she shouldn’t. She tried to ignore Halo and walk past her, but her feet felt heavy. She finally gave up and approached her.
She wanted to take a break anyway. She could use that as an excuse.
“…Ah, Lady Byron.”
Halo greeted her awkwardly, her body stiffening as she saw Sue approaching. Sue stood next to her.
“Lady Ains is popular, isn’t she?”
Halo chuckled at her casual remark. She knew what Sue meant.
“Julia is, after all, a princess of the capital. I can’t ask her to take care of me forever.”
It was a textbook answer. Halo, her tongue loosened, continued without Sue prompting her,
“I’m just a special recruit with no connections. I’m overwhelmed just being here.”
Her smile wasn’t forced. Sue felt a sense of kinship with her. She had also been happy just attending the September Festival last year.
Sue and Halo enjoyed the atmosphere of the ballroom together, in silence. And then, Sue suddenly said,
“Halo, you’re a good singer, aren’t you?”
Halo tilted her head, confused by the sudden topic.
“No… Why do you ask?”
“I want to hear you sing.”
Sue smiled.
In the novel, Halo sang alone in the middle of the ballroom. The original Imperial singer had a problem, and somehow, Halo, the idol of the academy, ended up singing in her place.
Of course, Halo wasn’t the idol of the academy anymore, she was just an insignificant special recruit, ignored by everyone.
But the reason why Sue wanted to hear her sing was because Halo’s singing had impressed Acrea.
Acrea had realized his love for Halo after hearing her sing. There were probably few songs in the world that could evoke such love in a person.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Soran!”
Ains approached Halo. She had rushed over, worried about Halo, rejecting countless requests from other nobles. Sue was impressed by her loyalty. Of course, Ains was glaring at Sue like she was a bug.
“Julia, it’s not what you think. Let’s talk over there… Thank you, Lady Byron.”
Halo, knowing that Ains hated Sue, quickly pushed her friend away.
Sue was left alone in the corner of the ballroom. She thought about going back to the dance floor, but she actually liked this spot. It was peaceful.
‘Why aren’t Enzhe and Fritz back yet?’
The two who had left the ballroom earlier hadn’t returned yet. She hoped they were having a long date because they were getting along so well. She really did.
After standing alone for a few minutes, Sue got bored. She started walking back towards the center of the ballroom.
She was looking for someone to talk to when a man called out to her from behind, “Byron.”
“Master Acrea.”
Sue was a little surprised that Acrea had spoken to her at the Imperial Ball. The last time they had had a proper conversation was during his interrogation in his reception room on the day the Holy Demon Religion was destroyed, and the most recent memorable incident involving him was when she had secretly witnessed Azette asking him to be her partner.
“I saw you while I was passing by. I thought I should at least say hello.”
But Woo Acrea, as expected, had a heart of steel, unfazed by any situation.
He was wearing a white uniform with gold epaulets, as befitting the Acrea family. His hair, tucked behind his ears, was enough to make anyone swoon.
Sue stared at him blankly, then glanced around. Acrea, as if reading her mind, explained,
“Lady Delondariwood is with Lady Vercia.”
“…I see.”
Sue, embarrassed that he had read her thoughts, lowered her gaze and touched her neck.
She had been looking for Azette because she had been glued to Acrea’s side all day. She hadn’t spoken to Azette at the ball, but whenever she had passed by them, Azette was always with Acrea.
She looked truly happy to be his partner.
“Master Acrea, that day… It was actually a coincidence.”
Sue took the opportunity to explain the incident in the art room.
“I know, it was a coincidence that I even met Lady Delondariwood in the first place. How could you have known and eavesdropped on us, Byron?”
He didn’t seem to hold a grudge, but his words made her feel a pang of guilt. Acrea, as if he didn’t care, looked at the dance floor and asked,
“Byron, aren’t you going to dance anymore?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to.”
“Then will you dance with me?”
He held out his hand. Sue stared at it blankly, then slowly extended her own hand.
But her hand didn’t reach Acrea’s, it collapsed to the floor.
“Aaaaah!”
The woman who had witnessed Sue Byron’s lifeless form collapsing before her eyes screamed, as if she was about to faint. All eyes turned towards them.
Sue Byron had collapsed in the middle of the Imperial ballroom. Nobles and servants started swarming around her.
“Ugh… Aaaaah…!”
Sue writhed in pain, her body burning. The snake on her waist was tormenting her mercilessly. She was about to gag when…
Acrea swept her into his arms. And then, Sue lost consciousness.
“Byron?!”
Noel, realizing that the center of the commotion was Byron, rushed towards her, his face pale. But Acrea ignored him and ordered the servants who were checking on Sue,
“Take her to the infirmary. And call Ten, the Byron family maid. …Tell her Sue Byron has collapsed, she’ll understand.”
The Imperial maids, at his curt, businesslike tone, moved swiftly.
“It’s best if you don’t follow us.”
Acrea stopped Noel, who was about to follow them to the infirmary.
“There are circumstances. Please understand, Raines Noel.”
Acrea clearly remembered what had happened at the Lopetrefer mansion last year. And his brother, Reeves Acrea, had been watching.