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THE wedding reception took place in another location and the feast continued. The bride’s family was hosting a garden party at their company where employees and guests alike were treated lavishly. From the second-floor parlor of the brick building, a man looked out the bay window.
When he adjusted the strength of his eyeglasses, the magical lenses picked up the figure of a man and woman walking by the canal, hand in hand. Prince Richard, and the object of His Imperial Highness’s infatuation, Saint Monica.
“Hm…just about time to make a move.”
Xenu grinned, baring his canines, and tipped the glass of alcohol to his lips.
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IN Viscount Telestraza’s castle, I walked down the second-floor corridor, accompanied by the fawning nobles of Kophe.
“I’m busy. Make it short,” I said.
“I understand, my lord, but please be patient. Now, if you will follow me into here.”
Every minute, every second counted in my drive to destroy Kophe as thoroughly and efficiently as possible. And yet, their steps remained light as they led me to the lounge at the end of the corridor. There, I found a contingent of lords gathered inside. Wearing similar expressions, they bowed to me in an identical fashion. The butler adeptly placed a tray of refreshments then poured me a cup of coffee.
“Your Highness, please take a look at the courtyard. I’m sure you’ll find the sight pleasing.”
“……”
I picked up my cup and walked to stand by the bay window. When I looked down, I saw a gaggle of young noblewomen having a garden party in the blooming courtyard. They sat down on the soft, green grass and helped themselves to the assortment of tea and pastries spread out on the linens. A relaxed tea party better suited to picturesque hills and dales.
“Lovely flowers, are they not? We wished for Your Highness to cast your gaze upon Kophe’s elegant culture.”
Underneath the large white umbrella set up by the maids, the daughters of these aristocrats sat on the lawn clad in outfits that exposed so much skin it reminded me of ladies’ evening wear. Their long hair draped over the skirts of their dresses as they rested their feet on the grass. In normal circumstances, men wouldn’t be privy to such a languid tea party. Gentlemen amused themselves with hunting and such, while women deepened their bonds with each other through such relaxing activities. So these men and their daughters both had some nerve to hold an event like this where all and sundry could see.
“Ah, yes, I see, a culture typical of a country that would christen a saint as the Arousing Priestess,” I remarked.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing at all. I am indeed bewitched. The flowers bloom beautifully, splendid as the plants and trees too.” I schooled my features into an understanding expression and smiled at the so-called gentlemen in the room. They returned my smile with their own and started boasting about their respective daughters to me.
“My daughter is Diana. Isn’t her black hair lovely? She’s so clever she can read books in the imperial language.”
“That’s my Iona over there. She’s still young at fourteen, but isn’t her smile absolutely charming? I’ve already received a flood of letters asking for her hand in marriage, from within the country as well as abroad.”
“If we’re talking beauty, then why don’t you consider my daughter, Magdalene? She’s so stunning she was chosen for the starring role in the national theater’s performance. You can take her to any function as she’s quite sociable too.”
One by one, the fathers tried to pawn their daughters off on me. I memorized their words while evaluating each of the girls and women. The aristocrats assumed my thoughtful attitude was one of eagerness and they couldn’t conceal their glee.
“With all due respect, for the longest time, I thought Your Highness wasn’t interested in women.”
“Of course I am. Why would you think otherwise?” I asked.
“Well, there are rumors about how you relentlessly evaded marriage talks in the Empire and how, even now, you show no signs of wanting to settle down, so…”
“I don’t attend social functions at the moment because the sole reason I’m here in Kophe is for my humanitarian work. It would be a grave disservice to the people of Kophe if I were to indulge in parties indiscriminately, hm?”
“What an outstanding mindset.”
They acted so obsequiously that if I said black was white, they wouldn’t contradict me at all. While staring down at their daughters, I started thinking about which one to invite to tea first. After verifying each young lady’s intelligence, the current state of her family’s domain, and her behavior, I planned on marrying her off to the perfect match. Although I was sure their fathers intended to marry them off to me, the emperor’s younger brother.
Being a bachelor occasionally posed a disadvantage, but having members of the ton attempt to sell their daughters to me wasn’t always a bad thing. I was extremely well aware of my value as bait. When noblewomen looked at me, they imagined an ideal prince. Their romantic fantasy inevitably set off a cascade of dreams and desires in them for me to break them free of their cages. Which made it very easy for them to spill all their secrets to me. And their fathers eagerly offered those daughters to me in marriage.
However, all of their seductive wiles were wasted on me. Nothing stirred when I looked at them. Not like the hellfire that scorched me from the inside out at the mere thought of Miss Monica.
“Haaa…”
I finished the cold coffee while recalling the ardor burning in my chest.
None of the nobles in this room knew who my true love was. Shame, really. For them, since the woman they derided as the Arousing Priestess would determine their future.