A Battlefield Of Flowers (11)

Victor Mort only released Amarion from his arms after they had danced two more times.

The etiquette that forbade dancing continuously with the same person seemed rather important to her. She pushed Victor away quite firmly and went to greet the few noblewomen who had been kind to her.

Victor swallowed champagne along with his regret, keeping his gaze fixed on her pure white back.

“Her Highness seems to like Your Highness very much.”

His impassive amber gaze shifted sideways. Katarina Cattaleang wore a deliberate smile. Victor likewise replied by merely raising the corners of his mouth.

“She is rather fond of my appearance.”

“How curious. No matter how beautiful he was, I could never sleep beside death.”

Victor Mort was a man who always carried a pitch-black shadow with him.

His innate status and power, his uncanny strength capable of snuffing out anyone’s life in an instant, his cold gaze, and even the ferocity with which he knew how to wield everything he possessed.

Even when concealed behind a polished smile, he always exuded an oppressive presence. Even the young ladies who squealed while recounting Grand Duke Mort’s heroic exploits were too frightened to speak when they actually met him in person.

Just what was wrong with Amarion’s senses? Katarina lamented inwardly before continuing.

“Let us discuss business.”

“……”

“House Welch has shut its gates. Our merchant company has suffered considerable losses because of it.”

A cold smile flickered across the Grand Duke’s lips. Katarina gripped her glass tightly.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing much. I merely taught them their place.”

Victor leisurely tilted his glass.

“I dislike dreamers. Still, I left their heads attached, so should that not be enough?”

Unable to meet the smiling Grand Duke’s eyes, Katarina frowned and turned her head away.

He was beautiful? No, Katarina had never once thought so. To her, who led countless ordinary people, Victor Mort was no different from a calamity in human form.

Compared to him, however, his wife was.

Katarina looked toward Amarion, who was smiling in the distance.

Had she said that she had come to greet the women who had treated her kindly? Yet as far as Katarina could tell, they had not truly taken her side. Their families lacked influence, so they had merely remained silent out of fear that the trouble might spread to them.

Neither Victor Mort’s retainers nor that foolish escort knight had truly become her strength. Even so, she was expressing her gratitude to every one of them. She was clumsy and awkward, but truly knightly.

“At first, I approached her merely out of curiosity, but…… Her Highness is a strong and lovable person.”

“If you intend to discuss business, then speak only of that. Were the fees charged by the Welch Knight Order not rather expensive?”

What a snake.

Katarina narrowed her eyes and moistened her throat with champagne.

“Of course they were. But I am speaking about my friend.”

“……”

“She endured every insult directed at herself, yet drew her sword when her land was insulted. There are already quite a few knights in the capital who have come to admire her. She is the most honorable among us.”

Katarina spoke quietly. A strange light appeared in the Grand Duke’s eyes. The artificial smile vanished from his face, revealing a deep emotion that could not be put into words.

The Grand Duke said,

“I know. That is why I will no longer show her to anyone. Not to the fools of the capital, nor to you.”

His cold voice signaled the end of the conversation.

“I will discuss the escort contract with my retainers.”

The Grand Duke spoke curtly and headed toward the Grand Duchess. Katarina glared at his retreating figure for a long while.

It was the first ball I had truly enjoyed.

After promising to exchange letters with Lady Katarina, I returned home. But Victor somehow seemed lost in thought. Although he often appeared deep in contemplation, strangely enough, he made no attempt to leave my side.

He would not even let go of my hand in bed, so I had to sit beside him with my sword in my right hand and Victor’s hand in my left.

A peaceful atmosphere filled the bedroom. Victor, who had been silently gazing at me, suddenly spoke.

“I am sorry.”

Startled, I looked at him.

I had spent days worrying that I might become a blemish upon Victor. Why was he apologizing to me?

Victor added sorrowfully,

“For learning too late that you were being insulted.”

My heart dropped.

I had suspected it when he spoke about Nanael, but it seemed he had indeed learned of the rumors circulating in high society.

Words I had hidden because I feared they might be true and did not want anyone to realize that they bothered me. Some of them hurt even more because they contained a measure of truth. I would have preferred to conceal them forever, but after the duel, that had probably become impossible.

I forced myself to smile.

“It is all right. I deliberately hid it from you.”

“……”

“I did not want to trouble the people of the residence. And some of what they said was true.”

Victor’s expression twisted.

I lowered my head.

“I did come here to put Victor to sleep…… So I thought it could not be helped if they treated me as someone who would soon return home. Since Your Highness said you would not remarry Lady Nanael, that alone was enough for me.”

“I will not remarry anyone.”

Victor declared firmly. His large hand gripped mine as though he might crush it.

“You are my wife. I will neither part from you nor send you back. Do not even think such a thing.”

My eyes widened. Victor was looking at me with dark,沉ed eyes.

He pulled my shirt-clad body into his embrace. Unlike his burning gaze, his touch was exceedingly careful. His voice seethed beside my ear.

“Did you think I would let you go once I recovered? After all it took for me to find you……”

My heart pounded wildly.

Then could I remain in the Empire even after Victor recovered? Here, beside him?

“Do I not have to return……?”

“Even if you said you wished to leave, I would not let you go.”

With a trembling heart, I raised my head. His black clothing and smooth skin were visible mere inches away.

Victor whispered desperately,

“I am alive because of you. Therefore, all of this belongs to you.”

I will give you myself, everything I possess, and all my people.

“Stay by my side. Do not go anywhere.”

My head rang.

It was such an earnest plea that I could not possibly refuse. Without fully understanding everything he meant, I nodded as though enchanted.

With a seductive smile, Victor caressed my reddening cheek.

Death hid me within his sleeve.

The next day’s engagement was a garden party held at a certain count’s residence.

Most garden parties were casual gatherings where guests merely shared refreshments, but this garden was so lavish that it would not have been lacking even as the venue for a grand banquet. Beautifully shaped shrubs surrounded enormous fountains and statues, while vibrant flowers bloomed here and there.

After stepping down from the carriage, I secretly stole glances at Victor as he escorted me. Ever since last night, my heart had felt so light that it was as though I had grown wings.

He had said it was all right for me to remain by his side. He had spoken of the things he could give me, but simply being allowed to stay beside him was enough.

He was the first person to bring warmth into my life. He was the first person to say that he wanted to give me anything. So simply being beside him made me happy.

Kaltz, who had been dragged to a banquet for the first time in a while, wore a thoroughly sullen attitude.

“I do not understand why you brought me along when the Grand Duke himself is attending.”

“Is it not better to have more guards?”

“I am not so sure…… I cannot imagine anyone picking a fight with such an affectionate pair of dragons……”

Kaltz, who had been muttering, snapped his mouth shut at Victor’s gaze. Smiling at his joke, which I had not heard in some time, I entered the party.

There were so many people at the garden party that it was difficult to believe it was a daytime gathering. Moreover, unlike the ball held by House Cattaleang, where Katarina had screened the guests, there were quite a few people who made me uncomfortable.

I spotted Lady Welch’s friends in the distance, and my expression stiffened. I had thought I would be fine after not seeing them for a few days, but I still felt uneasy.

Victor asked,

“Do they make you uncomfortable?”

“Ah, no.”

They had certainly insulted me alongside Lady Welch, but that insult had been honorably settled through the duel. It would be unknightly to continue harboring resentment over a matter that had already been concluded.

I smiled at Victor to show that I was fine. After remaining silent for a moment, Victor brushed his lips against the back of my hand.

“Only say the word. If you wish, I will cut off their heads one by one and lay them at your feet.”

My eyes widened.

I wondered whether I had heard him correctly. The ever-gentlemanly and noble Victor could not possibly have said such a thing.

Seeing my expression, he touched his lips with his gloved hand. Even that movement was indescribably elegant.

“My…… It seems that spending time with Kaltz has caused his vulgar manner of speaking to rub off on me.”

Standing behind us, Kaltz gaped with an aggrieved expression.

Well, Sir Kaltz did occasionally say rather coarse things……

Convinced, I shot Kaltz a reproachful glance. He opened and closed his mouth in bewilderment before shutting it again. His glare at Victor was filled with fierce resentment.

I merely tilted my head and picked up a glass of champagne.