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Seeing Olivier with his eyes closed, Radis stared at him dazedly.
His hair beneath the moonlight shone beautifully, a light sheen of blue over his silver hair.
And below that, with his eyes closed, his face looked like the very picture of an angel sculpted out of marble.
His lips opened, and soon, a white huff of breath could be seen scattering.
“What do you see?”
“An angel…”
“Hm?”
Radis changed her words in a hurry.
“The—the walls, all lit up like that. If you look closely, um. The walls spreading out east and west… looks like a bird’s wings being spread out.”
A smile found its way on Olivier’s lips.
“That’s right, and they’re aptly called the East Wing and the West Wing. What else do you see?”
“There are so many buildings.”
“Yes, many, right? This building we’re in right now is called the Central Fortress, and it’s been around since the time that the Cardia Empire was still just a kingdom. The rest of them were erected as the empire expanded.”
“It’s very bright even at night. I’m sure those places are crowded just like the banquet hall, right?”
“Not as much, but there would certainly be a lot of people here.”
“If it’s this place, I’m sure that it’s impossible to feel lonely.”
Radis stopped talking when she saw the soft smile tugging on the corners of Olivier’s lips.
What was he looking at?
No, what was he imagining?
Olivier spoke.
“Beautiful.”
He slowly opened his eyes.
And Radis stared into those watery, amethyst-like purple eyes.
She thought that she might know him a little more now.
Especially as she saw him smiling like this once more, without the mask and all the pretenses, just like how he smiled on the first day that they met.
* * *
When Radis and Olivier returned to the banquet, the atmosphere inside the great hall had changed.
The orchestra’s calm music had now turned into a lively tune, and people were excitedly dancing beneath the chandelier.
Those who led the pleasant atmosphere were knights in white uniforms.
“The knights have arrived. I must go now.”
Standing underneath the stairs, Olivier reached out to her.
It was a little regrettable that they had to part ways, but Radis nonetheless smiled and reached out a hand as well.
Olivier’s hand took hers.
She could feel his fingers curling beneath the palm of her hand.
At the unexpected intimacy of the formal greeting, Radis’ shoulders inadvertently jumped once again.
Still, he did not let go of her hand.
Olivier pressed a kiss upon the back of her hand.
For a very long time.
Radis’ cheeks turned increasingly red as the warmth of his lips could be felt through her lace gloves.
As the sudden, passionate kiss, Radis couldn’t help but flinch and instinctively try to pull her hand out.
But Olivier did not let go of her easily.
His lips, as Radis tugged her hand, passed over the back of her hand, and where they landed next, he left a trail of kisses upon the knuckles of her fingers.
Finally, when his soft lips touched her fingertips, Radis was helpless against the shiver that ran down her spine. At the same time, it felt as if her heart had dropped out of her ribcage.
After that long kiss, from the back of her hand to the very tip of her fingers, Olivier drew back and let go of her hand. Then, leaning close to her red face, he whispered.
“See you again soon.”
And when Radis looked up again, she could see only his back now.
Radis looked around her surroundings, as if she had done something wrong.
Fortunately, everyone seemed to be busy dancing or watching others dance, so they wouldn’t have seen Radis and Olivier hiding in one corner of the banquet hall.
“Phew…”
Strangely relieved, Radis swept a hand over her chest.
As the tension within her eased, her temples soon throbbed.
Too much happened in just the span of a few minutes.
It felt like a flood had broken out in her head. The music was loud and there were too many people around.
She didn’t want to go back anymore.
“Marquis…”
Radis craned her head, looking around.
Out of habit, she began to seek out a black cloak. However, there were more people wearing black clothes than she expected.
She didn’t know how long she wandered in that crowd.
Then soon, she found one particularly large and exceptionally black-clad person amongst the people around the table, talking.
“Mar…”
Radis was about to call Yves, but then she closed her mouth when she realized that he was talking to Olivier.
“The South is a very beautiful place. It’s a rich land that’s full of resources, and the territory’s people are full of vitality.”
Olivier’s way of talking towards Yves Russell was clearly less icy compared to before.
“Hearing you say this, Your Highness, I feel proud as a noble of the southern region.”
Yves seemed to be trying to put on all sorts of airs, but… While he’s posing as something of a windmill, Radis could see a long, forked tail sprouting from Yves’ backside.
“Loire is always awaiting your return, Your Highness!”
“The time I spent in Loire was certainly enjoyable. I would like to visit again as soon as I can.”
“Hahahaha, a day to be awaited, indeed!”
Radis slipped back.
Olivier, who had returned to his seat, was already back to his perfect outward appearance as the third prince, but Radis couldn’t say that about herself.
Whenever she closed her eyes, the image and sensation of him—of his face so close, of his lips touching her hand—would be revived in an instant.
Radis was quite literally blushing from head to toe, front and back.
Then, she bumped into someone.
“Ah…”
Fortunately, it wasn’t too serious. Still though, Radis immediately turned around and bowed her head first.
“I’m so sorry!”
However, all she could hear back from the other person was a shocked voice, sounding as if he was about to faint.
“Radis?”
Radis raised her head, only to be equally startled.
The person who bumped into her was a dapper gentleman who had wavy golden locks and bright blue eyes.
He was wearing a white uniform that had not a single speck of dust on it, and hanging on his chest were two splendid medals.
“M-Master Armano…?”
t/n: Previously, I translated Radis’ term of address towards Armano as ‘Teacher Armano’, but in hindsight—considering the master-student relationship between them—it makes more sense for Radis to call him ‘Master Armano’