I Refuse This Life, Your Highness! - Chapter 65

Another brief commotion rippled through the room as the doors opened, revealing my parents and brothers. Overwhelmed with joy, I almost ran toward them. Rvien was the first to notice me, gently placing a hand on Mother’s shoulder.

Mother’s reaction was unexpected.

“Yuraine,” she said warmly, spreading her arms.

I was so accustomed to her strict and cold demeanor that her open welcome caught me completely off guard. Quietly, I stepped into her embrace. Her familiar perfume surrounded me, a comforting scent from my childhood.

“Is that the bracelet His Majesty bestowed upon you? It suits you well,” Father remarked, stepping closer.

“This banquet is truly splendid,” I said after hugging my brothers one by one.

“Of course, His Majesty has impeccable taste,” Rvien replied.

I hadn’t expected even my brother to sing the Emperor’s praises. As we exchanged pleasantries, I let my gaze wander across the banquet hall. People dressed in their finest attire moved gracefully, like flowers blooming and swaying in the breeze.

Count Kiara was deep in conversation with a group of scholars, while Ryol entertained a cluster of ladies, his easy smile lighting up the space around him. For now, the atmosphere was peaceful.

That peace wouldn’t last.

“His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, enters!”

And with that announcement, the tranquility ended.

Grand, majestic music swelled as the doors swung open. Everyone bowed low, the confident click of the Emperor’s footsteps echoing through the hall. I stole a glance upward, catching sight of his characteristic peacock-like ensemble. Quickly, I averted my gaze, not wanting to be caught looking.

“Raise your heads,” the Emperor commanded, standing near the entrance.

“I am pleased to see so many gathered here to celebrate me,” he said, smiling broadly.

Responses erupted from across the room: “It is an honor, Your Majesty,” and, “Congratulations, Your Majesty.” With a graceful gesture, he raised his hand.

“Let the ball begin. Enjoy yourselves.”

The music shifted to a lively tune, perfect for opening the dance floor. Couples began pairing off—husbands and wives, ladies positioning themselves near potential partners, and gentlemen hurrying to claim their chosen dance partners.

But no one dared take the floor just yet. All eyes were on the Emperor, waiting to see whom he would select for the first dance.

A sense of foreboding settled over me.

And my unease was justified. The Emperor’s gaze landed squarely on me.

“Oh my,” Mother exclaimed, her voice brimming with delight. Father’s face was filled with pride, and even my brothers seemed unsurprised. But surely, the Emperor couldn’t ask a married woman for the first dance?

I turned my head deliberately, signaling my refusal. As a married woman, and with my husband absent, it was within my rights to decline. Yet if the Emperor insisted, I would have no choice but to comply. My heart pounded in nervous anticipation.

Thankfully, the Emperor’s attention shifted to Lady Meria, the daughter of a duke standing behind me. He approached her and extended his hand for the first dance.

“Whew…” I exhaled in relief.

“You must be disappointed, Yuraine,” Mother said with an amused smile.

Her comment startled me. Was she really implying that I should be upset about missing the Emperor’s first dance? The idea was absurd. The first dance held immense significance. For the Emperor to ask a married woman would be tantamount to declaring his intention to take her as a mistress.

Wasn’t it my parents who had so enthusiastically arranged my marriage to the Duke? Their unusually warm demeanor today was disconcerting. Even my brothers, typically wary of the Duke, seemed unbothered.

Surely being the Duke’s lawful wife was far better than becoming the Emperor’s mistress or concubine. Just the thought of it sent chills down my spine.

The Emperor and the young lady moved elegantly across the hall, their dance drawing admiring gazes. When their performance ended, the atmosphere in the room relaxed. Others began to step forward to claim their partners, some pairing up eagerly, others hesitating.

Then I felt it again—his gaze. The Emperor’s eyes were back on me.

This time, it would be harder to avoid him. A second dance didn’t carry the same restrictions as the first. Just as the Emperor began to move toward me, a voice interrupted.

“May I have this dance?”

It was Ryol.

Though it was only Ryol, anyone was preferable to the Emperor. I nodded quickly, allowing him to take my hand and lead me to the dance floor. He kissed my hand lightly, holding it as we moved into position.

The Emperor, as though he had intended to rest anyway, returned to his seat.

“The Emperor seems quite persistent,” Ryol remarked.

“It’s unsettling,” I admitted in a whisper.

Ryol chuckled softly. “Just a little longer. Count Kiara mentioned the Duke is almost here. He should arrive soon.”

“Count Kiara? How does he know?” I asked, surprised.

“He stepped out to the terrace earlier and came back with the news,” Ryol explained.

The idea of someone sneaking onto the palace terrace to deliver a message seemed improbable. But Kiara always had his ways.

As the fast-paced rhythm of the music prompted us into a spin, Ryol glanced toward the Emperor.

“Truly persistent, isn’t he? Quite annoying,” he muttered.

“Be quiet,” I whispered sharply.

“Would you prefer the Emperor over a foreign prince?” he teased.

“That’s not the point. Someone might hear you,” I retorted, glancing nervously around.

“Shall I whisper instead?” he offered, a playful grin on his lips.

“Don’t tease me,” I said, scowling.

“I can’t help it—it’s just who I am,” Ryol replied, laughing softly.

His antics usually annoyed me, but tonight, they didn’t seem as unbearable. When had that changed? Probably after we entered the ballroom. In the carriage earlier, I’d felt the usual irritation, but now it was absent.

We danced through one song, then another, deliberately buying time until the Duke arrived.

“I can’t keep going much longer,” Ryol admitted after the second dance ended.

“I understand,” I replied with a sigh.

“Shall we step out to the terrace for some air?” he suggested.

“I’ll go alone. Those ladies over there seem eager for your attention,” I said, nodding toward a group of women watching him intently.

“And there’s a line of gentlemen waiting for yours,” he countered with a smirk.

“I’m too tired for that,” I muttered.

Dancing two fast-paced songs in a row had left me breathless and exhausted.

“Shall I escort you to the terrace?” Ryol offered.

“…Honestly, thank you,” I replied.

“It’s my honor,” he said with a grin.

Ryol led me to the empty terrace and ensured the curtains were firmly drawn before stepping away. A voice called out to him from beyond the curtain, “Your Highness!” I could hear Ryol responding with his usual playful banter.

Free from the fragrant and noisy hall, I could finally breathe. Loosening the top button of my restrictive dress and about to undo the second, I heard a small sound.

“Meow.”

Startled, I looked up to see a light figure drop from the tree above—it was a cat. In the dim light, I could barely make out its color, but it seemed to have dark yellow stripes.

“Mewp,” it chirped, batting at my second button with its tiny paw. The soft, jelly-like pads of its paw brushed against me, and it was so adorable that I couldn’t resist pulling it into my arms.

The cat, however, panicked, darting out of my embrace and onto the terrace railing.

“Sorry! Did I scare you by hugging you out of nowhere?”

“Meow-wow,” it replied, blinking at me as if to say it wasn’t upset. Or maybe I was imagining things? Either way, it was unbearably cute.

“Meow…”

As I stroked its head, the cat rested its paw against its chin, looking thoughtful. What could it possibly be pondering? Overcome by its charm, I gently scratched its forehead and under its chin. The cat closed its eyes and purred contentedly, its little body vibrating with the sound.

Could I lose track of time playing with this cat? If I returned late, I could claim the cat as my excuse—maybe even deliberately get some fur on my dress to make it convincing. Unfortunately, the banquet hall didn’t have anything to offer this poor creature. I recalled the fresh salmon I had seen earlier. Should I sneak a piece for it? Along with some water?

But to do that, I’d need to go back inside. I sighed, feeling a pang of guilt.

“Sorry, I don’t have anything to give you. You must’ve come here hungry,” I murmured.

“Meow,” the cat said, almost as if denying my assumption. It was oddly communicative for a cat. As I continued to pet it, the cat opened its mouth slightly, though no sound came out. Was it trying to speak? Absurd thoughts flitted through my mind as I scratched its fur again.

Suddenly, the terrace curtains parted, and the cat bolted away as if it had been thrown.

“Ah…”

I stared longingly at the spot where it disappeared before turning to see who had interrupted. It was Rvien.

“There you are,” he said.

“Yeah, I just wanted to get some air,” I replied.

“The air inside does feel a bit stifling,” he agreed, stepping beside me. Noticing a tuft of fur still floating in the air, he waved his hand to clear it.

“What’s this?”

“A cat was here a moment ago,” I explained.

“You were playing with a cat?” he asked with a laugh.

“It was cute.”

“Really? That reminds me of the cat that used to wander around the estate. Haven’t seen it in a while.”

“What was it like?”

“Striped, with a bit of an attitude,” Rvien said, shrugging.

“The one here was striped too. It was adorable,” I said, smiling.

“You were planning to hide out here using the cat as an excuse, weren’t you?” he teased.

Caught red-handed, I grinned sheepishly. But I had a feeling I knew why Rvien had come to find me.

“I’d like to rest here a bit longer…”

“You can’t. His Majesty is asking for you,” Rvien said.

“For me?”

“Yes. He wants to dance.”

I had tried so hard to avoid this, yet it was inevitable. Was the Duke still far from arriving? When had the Count heard news of his approach?

“Let’s go,” Rvien urged.

“…Fine,” I said, resigned.

“What’s with the face?”

“I don’t want to dance with His Majesty…”

“Don’t say such things. It’s an honor to dance with the Emperor. You should be grateful,” Rvien scolded lightly, his expression firm.

“…Yes,” I replied reluctantly.

With no room for protest, I followed Rvien back into the banquet hall. A song had just ended, and the timing for a new dance was perfect.

As I walked toward the center of the hall, the Emperor rose from his seat, causing a stir among the guests. He strode directly toward me, grasped my hand, and kissed it. I hated it.

“Will you honor me with this dance, Grand Duchess?” he asked.

“It would be my honor, Your Majesty,” I replied, forcing the words out.

As the Emperor led me to the dance floor, the other couples cleared the space as if swept away by the tide. Under the weight of everyone’s gaze, we began to dance. It was a slow waltz, with a stately three-count rhythm. My crimson gown, made from San Lasnus silk, swirled gracefully in time with the Emperor’s vibrant red cloak.

“Your gown is exquisite. Did your husband choose it for you?” he asked.

“…I chose it myself,” I replied curtly, refusing to humor his insinuation. The Emperor only smiled at my sharp tone.

The gown, with its crimson silk base, featured dark embroidery and black lace trimmed with gold thread. Its design flared at the hem, with glossy black buttons running from the collar to the waist, where layers of lace fanned out to the edges. The silk’s sheen made it look lively rather than dark, perfectly suiting my youthful appearance at twenty.

What I regretted most was not being able to show it to the Duke first.

My gaze wandered discreetly toward the entrance. If the Duke entered mid-dance, the guards wouldn’t announce it. All I could do was hope the dance ended quickly and stay focused. But my attention snapped back when the Emperor spoke.

“Are you searching for the Duke?”

“…”

“He’s been delayed by a carriage accident,” the Emperor said casually.

“…!”

What… what did he just say?

Shocked, I widened my eyes and looked directly at him. His crimson eyes, as vivid as blood, locked unto mine.

Support