บท 80: Chapter 80 – Wings (10)
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I barely managed to hold on to my head that nearly stopped thinking; the woman's words were that shocking.
If she were the Lord of Florin Palace, she would be the title of Princess Alkmene, who just gave the toast. Yet, no matter how I pondered, there seemed no reason for her to invite me separately.
As a provincial nobleman distant from the capital, I naturally don't have any particular relationship with her.
And most importantly, she clearly recognized my name and identity.
Angelica, the woman with glasses, was still waiting for my answer. Judging by her attire, she seemed to be one of the maids who followed the princess earlier; the piercing gaze beyond her glasses and the unspoken pressure demanding an answer was intense.
Though she called it an invitation, in reality, I have no way to refuse from my position.
"…How could I decline Her Highness's invitation? However, my partner isn't feeling well, would you mind looking after her while I'm absent?"
"You need not worry about that. Please follow me."
Angelica nodded upon hearing my request. With a gesture from her, two women behind her, who had been bowing their heads, supported Eugenia. Still deep in her drunken slumber, Eugenia remained lost in her dreams.
"We'll have her taken to the inner quarters, so you can head there once your business is concluded. Shall we go then?"
Angelica walked ahead, leading me. Going up to the second floor via the stairs at the back, I saw a private room prepared for the guests' rest.
"If I may ask…for what reason does Her Highness seek me out?"
"I do not know. My lady ordered me to bring you, so I simply did as instructed."
Angelica's steps did not stop even as she answered. According to her words, it seems the princess recognized me and ordered her to summon me.
Finally, she halted in front of a certain door. As she announced our presence, a faint voice responded from inside.
"Your Highness. Young Master Edwin Reed has arrived."
"Well done. Let him in."
Though I hadn't noticed earlier, the princess's voice, heard up close, was quite different from what I had imagined. It was somewhat lower for a woman's voice, almost as if deliberately modulated, sounding unnaturally elegant.
With the princess's permission, Angelica gestured for me to enter. Inside, there was another space with a veil draped over it. A blurry silhouette of a woman could be seen in the background.
Only her bright blonde hair peeking through the veil hinted at her identity.
"Duke Edwin Reed comes to greet Her Highness…"
"That will do. There's no need for such stiff formalities, please have a seat."
As I attempted to greet her according to protocol, the princess extended her arm from behind the veil, gesturing me to stop.
"It is a pleasure, Young Edwin. I've wanted to have a conversation with you for a while now, but there was never an opportunity at the academy. But when I saw your name on the guest list for the ball, I took the chance to invite you."
"For someone as insignificant as a provincial nobleman like myself to be…"
"Insignificant? I've seen you many times at the academy. Well, this meeting is still a first, of course. And there's no need to put yourself down like that. House Reed's remarkable growth in the south is a fact known to all with common sense."
"…I'm honored…"
"But…Anje? Could you step out for a bit? We need to discuss something in private."
Princess Alkmene gestures at her maid to leave.
"Your Highness, with all due respect, it's improper for an outside man to be left alone with you. How could such…"
"Anje. An outside male? Didn't I explain it all to you? Why must you keep saying that? Anyway, you're being quite stubborn."
"…I'll wait outside then."
Frowning, Angelica reluctantly relented, seeming troubled. However, she ultimately couldn't prevail against the princess's will and left the room, muttering something under her breath. I could feel her sharp gaze piercing the back of my head as she left.
"Your Highness…those words just now…"
"Ah, this is just between us, so you need not concern yourself with it. And please, feel free to address me by my name. After all, we are students of the same academy, are we not? Come to think of it, we're even in the same year. So please, speak to me casually as you wish."
"…But…"
"Duke Edwin. Even if you are Silla's cousin, surely you wouldn't refuse even a small request like this from me? If you truly think that way, I, Alkmene, would be most disheartened."
Under the princess's intense insistence, beads of sweat roll down my forehead. While she spoke with weight in public, in private she certainly seemed to have a unique demeanor.
The way she addressed her maid earlier, and how she was treating me now — it was rather unrestrained for someone of royal descent.
"Then…Lady Alkmene…?"
"Hmm…"
As much as she insisted on informality, I cannot simply omit honorifics altogether. Especially since we were not even within the academy grounds.
The princess briefly showed a hint of dissatisfaction, but eventually nodded, seeming to accept this compromise.
"Well, I suppose that doesn't sound too bad. Then I shall address you as Master Edwin. Is that acceptable?"
"Please do as you wish…"
Considering the situation so far, it seems she already knows about me.
While I don't recall seeing the princess up close before, she may have noticed me passing by from a distance.
My height was quite tall, so I tend to stand out even from moderately far away.
But I wonder if the princess also recognized Eugenia's face?
If so, it wouldn't be entirely inexplicable for her to have recognized me this time.
She mentioned seeing the guest list, so our names must have been listed together. In that case, she likely already knew I would be accompanying Eugenia when she summoned me.
The logic had some leaps and gaps, but this was the only way I could explain how the princess recognized me.
In any case, even assuming that, there were still lingering questions. She said she wanted to have a conversation with me — but for what reason exactly?
And while insisting on informality, there was still an unmistakably cool, almost chilly undertone in how she addressed me.
My past mistakes have caused factions to split in the academy, but our family has publicly declared neutrality, so there's no reason for us to be disliked by the royal family.
While I was mulling over this in my mind, the princess seemed to have read my mind and opened the conversation with an introduction.
"…There was something I wished to ask you about."
"Please, speak your mind and I shall respond sincerely…"
"…Master Edwin. Just how many women… do you have?"
Though I was quite tense, the princess's first question was utterly bewildering. I thought it might be a lighthearted joke, but her still cool tone indicates she was indeed serious about this conversation.
"…Pardon…?"
When I asked for clarification because I didn't understand the situation, the princess started explaining again. Her low, growling voice filled the quiet private room.
"I have heard rumors about you recently, Master Edwin. That there was a female student you've been keeping company with lately? One whose innocent body and soul you thoroughly bullying and torment, until you finally make her completely yours?"
"Your Highness…that is…"
"Name."
"Yes?"
"I distinctly told you to address me by my name."
The princess's voice grew sharper with displeasure.
However, what she just said was truly outrageous. She seemed to be referring to Ellie's situation. Just bullying was one thing, but thoroughly tormenting her body and soul until making her completely mine…?
It seems like it was a wise choice to halt any further involvement with Ellie, considering that such scandalous rumors had reached even the princess's ears.
"…Lady Alkmene. Certainly there was a similar incident before, but now…"
"But then, that girl wasn't enough, so you brought another one to the ball today. You two seemed quite intimate. Perhaps… she's your, your… beloved?"
Though trying to maintain her composure, the princess's tone became increasingly angry. Especially when uttering the word "beloved", the sound of her gritting her teeth was audible all the way to where I stood.
"A beloved? She's merely accompanying me."
"…Sigh…"
Upon hearing my answer, the princess's shadow placed a hand on her chest, letting out a large sigh. It almost seemed like a sigh of relief.
"…Where did you even find her…"
"…Lady Alkmene?"
"…No, never mind. I've heard you don't think too kindly of commoner students, but seeing you take one as a companion, perhaps that's not entirely true. Or did you intend to make her your…plaything?"
"A plaything? I cannot fully explain my circumstances, but I assure you, such behavior…"
As the princess continued her taunts, I found myself struggling to come up with a rebuttal. Her perspective might easily misconstrue my intentions, given her lack of understanding of my situation.
"…Lady Alkmene…then what was the reason you wished to see me today?"
"I simply called you to convey this. Master Edwin. Regardless of whom you may associate with, our empire prohibits polygamy. Unless you have inherited dragon blood or are a Hero, polygamy is absolutely forbidden. Please be mindful of this."
"Of course I know that…"
As I attempted to respond, she raised her hand to stop me, continuing her words.
"Hear me out until the end. Therefore, it would be best for you to focus on just one person. The one who cherishes you the most, supports you the most, loves you the most. Master Edwin. Think carefully. Surely there must be someone like that among those around you."
"…I will give it deep thought."
"…My apologies for the inconvenience. Out of consideration for your dignity, I won't disclose today's meeting to others. But I hope you'll remember what I've said."
"…I will do so."
"Then you may go. Hopefully, the next time we meet, you'll have good news to share."
The princess pulled a cord, and Angelica entered from outside. She offered a greeting, but the princess merely waved her hand silently, as if greeting a friend. Certainly an eccentric character.
Summarizing the princess's words, it seems she had heard the circulating rumors about Ellie and me, and was quite vexed. Then when I appeared at the ball with Eugenia, she could no longer hold back and summoned me to rebuke me, though she framed it in terms of polygamy and plural marriage.
In any case, as a member of the royal family, she appeared intent on upholding the academy's policy of emphasizing unity, which was why she insisted I speak casually.
From the princess's perspective, my actions muddying the waters would certainly not have looked favorable; that piercing gaze from earlier was indeed her recognizing me, not a mere mistake.
I pondered if there could be any other reason, but this appeared to be an issue well within my capability to resolve.
Since Ellie, Eugenia and I rarely interacted within the academy grounds, and by the time the new semester starts after the break, such rumors should have died down again.
Fortunately, the princess did not seem to witness me dancing with Iris. From her perspective, having recognized me, the scene beyond the glasses must have been clearly visible.
Had the unthinkable act of dancing with my former fiancée been added, I would have faced the princess's wrath head-on.
Perhaps from experiencing too many events in such a short time, the mental fatigue was certainly severe. I should hurry and take Eugenia to return…
"Apologize."
"…No."
The moment I opened the door to the inner quarters, a mess of a scene unfolded before me.
Two women who appeared to be maids were trembling in the corner, while in the center of the room, two female students with green and red hair respectively were confronting each other.
It seems today's events are not over yet.
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