Feeling a tug on her arm, Yura looked up to see Leila peering at her.
“What is it, Leila?”
“We should make our way as well.”
“Make our way?” Yura gasped.
Leila was walking straight ahead. She paid no mind to the throngs of people around them, her eyes locked on a point further into the room. The expression on her face made the blood drain from Yura’s face.
“Leila, you don’t mean—”
You don’t mean for me to join in, do you?
When she tried to think about it rationally, that was the most logical conclusion. Yura took a look at herself. It was like the culmination of all their efforts since she’d arrived. The clothes, the preparation, the offer to escort her. It would all go to waste if she left without participating.
Yura was ready to run. But Leila was faster, pulling her.
“It’s this way, Lady Yuura.”
“Uhh, Leila…what are we going further in for?”
“For His Majesty!”
A sudden outburst caused Yura to jump. Several goblets were lifted into the air by thick arms. The group of men, gathered in a semicircle, all raised a toast “to His Majesty!” Their shouts eclipsed all other sounds in the room for those few seconds.
“They’re members of our heavy cavalry. Please do not be afraid,” Leila smiled.
They certainly did fit the part, Yura thought.
“They’re normally fully armored, so seeing them like this certainly does feel unusual.”
The man laughed jovially. As she watched them out of the corner of her eye, Yura let out a sigh.
“Now then, Lady Yuura.”
“Eep…!”
“No, no, I wanna go home!” Yura complained as the ladies shoved her across the hall.
As soon as she began walking, she was swarmed by an oppressive heat. Massive bunches of flowers in ornate displays overwhelmed her nose with their aromas.
Leila walked on, keeping a tight grip on Yura’s hand as she ushered her forward. Yura continued to argue with Leila as they continued onward.
“Leila, I can’t do anything. You brought me all this way, but I’ve no artistic talents. No magic tricks.”
Leila burst into laughter.
“Now that’s silly! Why should anyone expect you to perform, Lady Yuura?”
“Everyone else is dancing! I should warn you, the only dances I know are the Mayim Mayim and Jenga dances. I really don’t know any others, and you’ll regret it if you make me try!”
They attempted to pass by a cluster of men, all chatting happily with drinks in their hands. As they did, one of the men suddenly called out to them. As they looked back, an older man headed toward them. Leila recognized him and exclaimed, “Uncle!”
Breaking away from Yura, she rushed over to the man. They seemed to share a hug. Leila turned back to Yura.
“I mean, Governor…this is Lady Yuura.”
Leila whispered something to him discreetly. When she did, his eyes widened in surprise.
“…My…”
He dipped his head in understanding. Yura, who’d been chatting incessantly until he appeared, became increasingly awkward. She didn’t see herself as someone deserving of a stranger bowing to her. She bowed back, flustered.
“My…how breathtakingly beautiful…” he cooed. Yura knit her brows at his words. She instinctively pulled a face.
What is this old man’s problem?
She gazed around their surroundings but didn’t see the person she was looking for, as if they’d disappeared into the crowd.
“I had heard the rumors but never expected such beauty…”
“Uncle, where is His Majesty currently?”
The old man who was steeped in admiration was startled by Leila’s words.
“He’s currently on his throne,” he said in one breath, pointing quickly. “But Count Londewim is on his way over, so it may be best to wait.”
“Of course.”
Leila nodded and grabbed Yura’s hand once more. She began to walk back out into the crowd. Occasionally, she would stop and chat with someone she seemed to know, then wander back out once again.
Yura covered her mouth, suddenly seized by heartburn. The scents around her were making her nauseous.
“What is wrong?” Leila peered into Yura’s face, concerned.
Yura silently shook her head. She’d been feeling dizzy, as if all the blood had rushed to her head. The scent of alcohol she hadn’t even drunk was almost intoxicating. Her cheeks and ears were bright red.
I need some cold water…
But all that was being offered was alcohol. Yura held back a burp as the nausea and dizziness only got worse. She was also reaching her limits with the pain of the corset and began searching for an exit.
I need fresh air. Even just a breath of night air…
At that moment, Yura thought she spotted something odd and stood still. It was a strange sensation. Among all the faces full of joy and excitement was one of surprise that looked ridiculous and out of place.
It was a face all the same, but clearly out of place among the others.
Yura stared at the face, but couldn’t clearly make it out. She strained to see him and tried to focus.
Then she gasped.
Her vision had cleared. She saw a familiar face with a look of agitation. Yura felt her dizziness subside.
It was the young man she’d run into that afternoon in the small garden. His clothes were different, but she recognized those green eyes. And that handsome face that would catch anyone’s gaze.
The second he recognized Yura and her expression, he immediately turned away.
“Wait!”
Almost unconsciously, Yura dashed off toward him.
She plowed through the bewildered people in her way, like she was running an obstacle course.
The young man glanced once over his shoulder and, truly recognizing Yura’s face, looked even more surprised. He started moving faster. He slipped into the crowd.
“Hey, hey, please, wait…!”
Her voice was loud enough that it should’ve reached, but he didn’t turn around. He merely slipped further into the hustle and bustle, disappearing into the revelers. She soon lost sight of his back.
Yura gave a shout.
“Hey…wait!”
The second she lost sight of him, Yura took an unsteady step forward slipping on someone’s foot and toppled over sideways.
“Kyaa!”
The people around her were startled and pulled back. The moment she fell, she spotted a look of astonishment plastered on his face. By the time Yura realized what was going on, she was sitting on the ground.
She tried to get up, but couldn’t. Somehow, she’d fallen in a strange position. The second she tried to move, a cramping pain shot through her leg. Her shoes had flown off somewhere. She couldn’t stand up, no matter how she tried…
“Lady Yuura!”
Leila charged toward Yura, brushing past the throngs of people as she did.
“Ahh! What happened?”
But she suddenly stopped right in front of Yura. She made a face like she had candy stuck in her throat.
“Leila?”
Her eyes were on something behind Yura. Her face was clearly shocked, so Yura twisted her head to look behind her. Someone was leaning over her from behind.
“What wert thou chasing?” said a voice from above with a slight laugh.
Startled, Yura stiffened.
“Ashes…?”
The silver-haired young man was looking down at her. A perfectly crafted smile crossed his face as their eyes met.
“Stand up,” Ashes said, offering Yura a hand.
He put an arm around her waist, as she couldn’t stand on her own, and helped her to her feet.
Accepting his help, Yura finally took a look around. She realized she was beneath the massive hanging banner she’d seen from the balcony before. She could see the semicircle platform nearby.
Yura instinctively gazed at Ashes.
His long hair was pulled back with a hair tie just above the nape of his neck. He wore gold-crafted armlets, adorned with medals that shone dark grey.
His clothes were different than in the afternoon. They were more refined. And atop his head was, unmistakably, a crown.
“You really are an emperor, huh…?” Yura muttered reflexively, grabbing at the hem of his cape.
Ashes laughed lightly, his eyes softening. Suddenly, a voice rang out in awe from among the onlookers.
“My…how beautiful!”
Yura looked toward the voice. Sighs then erupted throughout the room, as if a wind had swept in.
“She seems completely out of this world.”
“Such beauty cannot be from our realm…”
A mixture of cries filled with admiration and gasps bubbled up from the crowd, one after the other. Yura gazed around.
Not again.
Yura knit her brows, feeling uneasy.
Who do they keep talking about?
She turned her head, glancing around.
Was that person that the old man from earlier called “beautiful” somewhere nearby now? She couldn’t find them.
There weren’t even any other women nearby.
Behind her was a blank wall. There were no other people there.
As Yura twisted to look around, she gazed up at Ashes, as if to ask where this person was. She opened her mouth to ask him, but suddenly stopped.
Ashes had calmly placed a hand on her shoulder and she stiffened. He turned her toward the crowd and bent down next to her. Then he whispered into her ear, in a voice so quiet only she could hear.
“Didn’t you hear them? Everyone is complimenting you.”
Yura froze, taken aback by his words. Her face stiffened.
“Wh-Why?”
She fidgeted as if to indicate how ridiculous the idea was.
But then Yura finally realized that everyone was staring directly at her.
They were looking at her the way one looks at something exceptionally beautiful. The stares of the men were filled with longing, while those of other women were mixed with a pinch of jealousy.
“Such unparalleled beauty, eh?”
Yura lifted her head, as if pulled by a string. The look on Ashes’ face was one of enchantment. Even he seemed to be infatuated with her. Smiling at the tongue-tied Yura, Ashes spoke with longing.
“Those words exist for you.”
At that moment, the short fuse in Yura’s head was set off with a pop!
What did he say? She fidgeted. Yura gazed up at him in shock.
“Wh-What…?” she sputtered.
Her body went ice cold and she could feel an icy sweat trickle down her back.
An unparalleled beauty? Me?
Those gazes and voices left her convinced that they must be teasing her.
Yura shrank back like a cornered rabbit.
What in the world is going on?
The gorgeous lights of the banquet seemed to blur into an arc. Ashes stroked Yura’s cheek gently.