Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 181
◈ 181. [Side Story] Victory Party (5)
Alberto, the palace chamberlain, stood quietly at the entrance to the villa..
Alberto, who was watering the tree planted next to the entrance with a gentle expression, suddenly looked to the side..
“You came.”
Alberto smiled softly..
“serenade girl.”
“…….”
The space next to Alberto shimmered transparently, and then it crumpled like clothes - someone took off their cloak and appeared..
It was a serenade.
What she was wearing and took off was the [Invisibility Cloak]. This is an item that Ash gave me in advance to use in case of an emergency..
While hiding under this cloak, Serenade came to this villa..
It was a place I often visited as a child, so the road was familiar to me, and more importantly, Ash told me that a helper would be waiting here..
Looking up at the helper's face, Serenade muttered with difficulty..
“Alberto…….”
“long time no see. You've grown up a lot..”
Although it had been several years since we had seen each other, Alberto was friendly. Serenade smiled without realizing it..
“Alberto is still the same..”
However, there was no time for the two to resolve the issue. The sound of soldiers' footsteps began to echo around the villa..
Alberto nodded with a stern face..
“I have heard from His Majesty the Prince in advance. I will escort you to the main banquet hall..”
Alberto quickly looked around and led Serenade by holding her hand..
“Come this way.”
“But, Alberto!”
Serenade blurted out in embarrassment..
“If you are caught helping me, it will have a negative impact on Alberto as well.…….”
“It's already been 50 years since I worked at this palace..”
Alberto shrugged his shoulders calmly..
“It's time to retire.”
“…….”
“Wouldn't it be a pleasure to be able to help a countess like my granddaughter before retirement?.”
Alberto smiled and started walking ahead..
“No one knows the byways and shortcuts between palaces better than me. Come on, let’s go. We will guide you faster than anyone else..”
Serenade followed Alberto towards the grand banquet hall with injured and unsteady steps..
***
The sky of the ecliptic was red as evening approached..
The scarlet sunset covered the entire imperial palace..
The grand banquet hall was the same, the large building and the entire garden were glowing red..
It was already long past the party start time of 6pm..
By this time, all the nobles who were scheduled to enter were already inside..
Because of this, the entrance to the grand banquet hall was quiet. Alberto and Serenade have just arrived here through a side road..
“Thank you for your hard work, Serenade Girl..”
Alberto grinned, pointing to the entrance to the grand banquet hall..
“Now, please go in. His Majesty Prince Ash will be waiting for you..”
“…….”
Serenade suddenly looked down at her messed up appearance..
I already didn't like anything from my hair to my makeup to my clothes. He was even more miserable because he was attacked on the way..
Blood was seeping from my forehead when the carriage crashed..
The dress was torn at the hem and the stockings were torn. The heels of my shoes are broken and shaking..
There was no way I was going to attend the party..
Rather than a grand banquet hall, I wanted to hide in a rat hole..
“A party like this?…….”
Serenade held the hem of her dress tightly in her hands..
“People will laugh at me…….”
“What does it matter if you laugh at me??”
Alberto spoke seriously..
“Is the person you came to meet the foolish people who laugh at your appearance? Or do you mean Prince Ash, who is waiting for you??”
Serenade shrugged her shoulders when Ash's name came up..
Since that person was waiting for me, I didn't want to be seen like this even more..
“You too... … You'll be ashamed of me.…….”
“It's not like that.”
Alberto confirmed.
“Trust me. His Majesty the Prince will never be ashamed of the Serenade Girl..”
“…….”
“His Royal Highness Prince Ash spoke to me. I really need a serenade girl today, so no matter what happens, escort me to the grand banquet hall..”
“…….”
“And the reason His Majesty Prince Ash needs a serenade girl is not because of her appearance. That's right?”
Serenade clenched her fists..
okay.
He came here because Ash needed him..
Even if Ash is embarrassed by the serenade, then so what?.
I will endure that shame too..
“……Thank you, Alberto.”
Serenade, who had made up her mind, walked to the entrance of the grand banquet hall with a determined look on her face..
Alberto, who was looking at the back of the serenade with a smile, soon turned around with a hard look on his face..
I could see soldiers running urgently from afar..
“A military uniform with dirt on it at a party... … You don't know basic etiquette..”
Alberto adjusted his tie and walked towards the soldiers with a stern voice..
“I need some guidance from an old man..”
Leaving behind Alberto, who blocked the soldiers with his body, Serenade entered the entrance of the grand banquet hall..
***
As soon as Serenade entered the grand banquet hall, harsh gazes poured in from all directions..
It's already been a while since the party started.
Serenade's appearance as she staggered in on her broken shoe heels was definitely eye-catching..
Some people covered their mouths with fans and sneered, while others openly whistled mockingly..
“I guess he's a merchant from the low class, so take a look..”
“Is there no mirror in the Wintersilver family??”
“If it were me, I would have turned away in embarrassment at the entrance..”
There were words that flew like a dagger into the ears of the serenade heading inward, enduring all the humiliation..
“Prince Ash's engagement to Princess Yun has already been announced, so why did his former fiancée come to see him??”
“…….”
Ash's Marriage.
With another princess.
At those words, my eyes turned white..
Serenade stumbled forward, struggling to touch the ground with her toes that were losing their senses..
“Didn’t I come to sprinkle ashes on that wedding??”
“It would have been okay if they kept saying they were royal family and in-laws for 10 years, but it was a drag until the end..”
“Anyway, this is why heavenly…….”
The heart I had worked hard to become strong suddenly became tattered..
Serenade pursed her lips. He barely suppressed the heat around his eyes..
It's good-
At that time, I saw the emperor and the three princes coming out of the door in the innermost room of the grand banquet hall..
Looks like they had a meeting about something..
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The emperor and the other two princes sat down in their respective seats on the platform with stiff faces..
Ash, the last of the four royal family members to come out, approached the girl with ivory hair who was waiting in front of the room and got down on one knee..
Serenade recognized it at a glance. It's that girl..
That beautiful girl... … Ash's real marriage partner.
The prince in a black tailcoat and the princess in a pearl-colored dress matched each other perfectly..
In comparison, how about yourself?.
‘It's like a crow with even the powdered paint erased.…….’
Serenade slowly stopped walking..
I couldn't walk anymore. I had no courage left to go to that brilliant space..
How great would it be if I could disappear from this place without a trace?…….
It was then. Ash, who had a friendly conversation with the princess, got up from his seat and looked straight in the direction where Serenade was..
and,
Step by step. Step by step.
I came down the stage and started walking straight towards the serenade..
There was a loud buzz around. The nobles who participated in the party took turns looking at Ash and the serenade and spewing out words to each other..
Serenade was out of breath as she saw Ash walking toward her with steady strides..
I don't know why Ash called me here..
However, if she fulfills her usefulness, is broken off as her fiancee, and Ash becomes a new couple with that princess,…….
I thought that maybe this might be my last chance to see Ash..
“after.”
After taking a deep breath, Serena straightened her back and stood up straight. And he raised his reddened silver eyes..
‘Yeah, I can handle it..’
Even if all you have left to give me is separation and pain.
Even if all that unfolds before the abandoned self is a thorny path of humiliation, shame, and hurt..
‘If that's what you gave me, I'll gladly embrace it in your arms.’
As I strengthened my resolve, my mind became calm..
Ash came right in front of Serenade. Seeing this scene, the noisy party hall suddenly became quiet..
“serenade.”
Ash smiled first..
I lifted the corners of my trembling mouth and smiled at the serenade..
“……His Royal Highness Prince Ash.”
Ash smiled brightly at the serenade's greeting..
“You can call me my friend like usual..”
“but…….”
Serenade glanced sideways at the princess sitting on the platform and looking at her..
“There is a new princess who has promised to marry, right?.”
“…….”
Instead of saying anything, Ash slowly looked down at Serenade's feet..
“You had a hard time coming here because of me..”
Ash, looking at Serenade's tattered shoes with broken heels, suddenly,
“Tskcha.”
slap!
He took off his shoes and casually threw them to the side..
Not only the people around her but also Serenade's eyes widened in surprise at this unexpected behavior..
And Ash carefully got down on one knee in front of Serenade, grabbed Serenade's foot and lifted it up... … I took off Serenade’s shoes..
The murmur around grew louder. The princess on the platform was also seen covering her mouth in surprise..
Serenade's feet inside the shoes were covered in dirt and blood..
“uh… … His Royal Highness Prince Ash……?”
Serenade muttered in confusion as she watched Ash take off both of her broken shoes and throw them to the side..
“What are you doing now?……?”
“This way, if I step on your toes again, it won’t hurt..”
“yes?”
Ash looked at the orchestra next to him and waved his arms wide..
Then the quick-witted conductor immediately grabbed the baton and swung it..
As the prelude to the waltz played, Ash slyly winked at the serenade..
“A man and a woman who meet at a party have only one job to do.?”
“……?”
“We've been practicing together all this time. Then you should use it on the main stage too..”
Ash grabbed Serenade's hand and expertly pulled her to him..
Take a waltz stance as if embracing each other.
Ash smiled mischievously..
Just like the smiles of those days when I was very young. glaringly.
“Shall we dance, Cinderella??”
the music started.
And amidst everyone's shocked gaze, the man and woman began dancing barefoot..
***
Serenade 30 minutes before arrival.
The innermost room of the grand banquet hall.
At the guardian meeting urgently convened by Ash,.
“From now on, the Southern Front will refuse any support from the imperial family..”
Ash immediately said this to the emperor and his two brothers:.
“what?”
“what……?”
“…….”
Larque, Fernández, and the emperor all looked with puzzled eyes at the youngest child who was suddenly spouting nonsense..
“I clearly declare this here.”
Regardless, Ash confidently declared:.
“As of this moment, the Monster Front will follow a completely independent path, separate from the Empire..”
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