So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Well… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if Nox grew up a little too…

Swallowing the pointless retort, I simply shrugged.

Ternox stuffed the remaining canapé into his mouth in one bite and said flatly,

“He does look like Albert.”

“Albert? …Stop calling the First Emperor like he’s some kid next door.”

“Well, to me, that’s about all he is~”

His tone was still light, but somehow… it sounded like there was a faint trace of regret in it.
Or maybe I was imagining things.

Ternox stared at the Crown Prince’s retreating figure, silent for a moment.

Hey. Stop acting all wistful in front of me. Cut it out!

To break the mood, I clapped my hands once.

“Anyway—where have you been?”

“Where else? Want a canapé?”

“You just ate it!”

“Oh, right, right. But there’s a ton over there. Go eat a fresh one.”

“Like I wasn’t going to?”

Bickering like that, I finally turned to head for the food zone—the one I’d completely forgotten existed for a while.

And then—

“Huh?”

Something incredible grabbed my attention.

Meanwhile, Xavier followed behind the attendant, his mind turning dark with thought.

There’s no way the Emperor personally summoned me.

The Emperor was little more than the Empress’s puppet now.

The one who truly wanted him was obvious.

Damn it. Leaving her alone still makes me uneasy…

I’m the one walking alone into enemy territory, and yet Xavier’s head was filled with Renée.

The fact that the concept had been changed so suddenly into a masquerade bothered him.

And above all, for Renée—attending her first banquet—everything would be new and overwhelming.
If the Second Prince’s faction exploited that opening, there was no telling what they might do.

I need to return as quickly as possible.

With that decision made, he realized he’d already arrived at the audience chamber.

Knock knock.

The attendant’s firm knocking scattered his thoughts.

“Your Majesty, the Grand Duke of Celeste, Xavier Celeste.”

“Tell him to enter.”

Click.

The well-oiled door opened smoothly.

Swallowing a breath, Xavier stepped inside with heavy footsteps.

For an imperial chamber, the reception room was sparse.

And seated on the soft velvet sofa was—as expected—

Not only the Emperor.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire, and Her Majesty the Empress.”

Xavier dropped to one knee, offering a disciplined salute.

“Yes, yes. Sit. It’s been a long time, Grand Duke.”

The Emperor’s voice came out rough.

Up close, he looked even more aged.

Only a few years ago, he was still so strong… how did he become like this…

Xavier swallowed the words and sat upright on the sofa opposite.

Like a voice crumbling to dust, the Emperor’s face had lost its vitality.
In stark contrast to the beautiful woman beside him, languidly fanning herself with an ornate fan.

It was as if one had drained the other’s life.

“May I ask why you summoned me during the banquet?”

Xavier’s tone was as rigid as his expression.

Bold—to go straight to the point even before the Emperor.

Across from him, the Empress watched, her lace fan fluttering, a slick smile curling at her lips.

The Grand Duke of the North, who had stepped into the palace alive after all.
A young man like well-forged iron—so desirable it made her dizzy.

If she could take him, he would become Felix’s unshakable backing—
as solid as the towering walls of Celeste.

“I summoned you because I was pleasantly surprised. What brings you to a banquet at last? I sent invitation after invitation, yet you never once came to the capital. I must admit, I felt rather slighted.”

A weak chuckle accompanied the Emperor’s words.

His gaze looked strangely regretful, as if he were seeing an old friend’s face through Xavier.

He was very close with my father, the previous Grand Duke…

But that bond had been severed when the previous Grand Duke’s madness worsened.

“Could it be that a noble marriage vow has melted even the cold ice of the North?”

The Empress added smoothly.

But despite her gentle voice, Xavier heard the blade hidden inside it.

My marriage to Renée was the Empress’s will.

She probably never expected him to truly live as husband and wife with her, but now she looked proud, as if even this were her harvest.

A shameless delusion.

Grinding his teeth invisibly, Xavier lowered his head.

The Empress missed nothing.

“Oh? So you cherish the Grand Duchess that much, do you?”

“It is all thanks to His Majesty’s grace.”

Hearing Renée’s name from someone else’s mouth made his stomach turn.

“Mm, then—”

Before the Emperor could finish—

“Grand Duke.”

Swish.

With a graceful motion, the Empress folded her fan, revealing her bare face.

“And so, I have a proposal—one I will make myself.”

The instant Xavier heard what followed,

the color drained from his face.

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

With a grand, rolling sound, maids began filing in, pushing trays in a line.

All eyes snapped toward them at once.

And on those trays were—

Colorful ice creams.

I swallowed a gasp.

“Whoa… no way.”

At the same time, as if by fate, my eyes met Ternox’s.

“…Shall we?”

“Obviously.”

“Okay.”

No further words were necessary.

We got in line faster than anyone.

Along one wall of the ballroom, an entire section had practically been filled with ice cream.

“It’s an honor to serve you, my lady! Which flavor would you like?”

Imperial maids standing at intervals smiled kindly, scoops in hand.

There were easily twice as many flavors as that famous shop that sold thirty-one kinds.

“Wow. There are so many.”

I can’t believe everything they wheeled in was literally all ice cream.

“Is the Crown Prince obsessed with ice cream or what? I take it back—he’s not an old man. He’s just a kid.”

Ternox looked genuinely dumbfounded.

And yet, you lined up lightning-fast too, sir.

Too tired to argue, I just stared happily at the ice cream.

Honestly, if you’re going to be “crazy” about something, ice cream is the best choice.
This is excellent. Thank you.

“Hoho! This banquet really is full of surprises.”

“I know! Look at those pretty colors. It all looks delicious.”

Apparently I wasn’t the only one interested—
the line grew long behind us.

It seemed like the girls who weren’t into dancing, or who’d been pushed out of the main social circle, were voluntarily taking refuge in the ice cream queue.

Meanwhile, the dance floor in the center was still going strong—partners rotating, little groups swirling.

For someone like me—who had zero confidence dancing with anyone besides Xavier—ice cream was the perfect escape.

No more social-dance battlefield for me. I’ll eat ice cream and wait for Xavier to come back.

Thankfully, the line moved quickly.

We’d grabbed a good spot near the front, and my turn was coming up soon.

Only one person stood ahead of me now.

“Hmm… what should I get? Just a moment…”

The lady in front of me seemed unable to choose, tilting her head again and again.

Is that green one mint chocolate? Or pistachio?

While waiting, I was happily suffering through this rainbow-colored dilemma when—

“?”

A large shadow suddenly fell over me from behind.

I turned without thinking.

“Move.”

A gruff voice snapped.

A tall man was striding forward.

His face was hidden by a mask, but the deep golden eyes beneath it were loaded with irritation.

“Seriously. I’m pissed. Why are there so many people?”

Despite the sharp tone, his voice sounded young.

One hand shoved lazily into his pocket, he swaggered forward—and shoved aside the young lady in front of me, taking her spot.

“Kyaa!”

Stumbling backward from the shove, the young lady lost her footing and fell right into my arms.

“Oh my goodness—are you alright?”

“Y-Yes…”

Startled, I held her shoulders to steady her.

“Serve one of each flavor.”

As if he’d learned manners from a trash heap, the man didn’t spare us a glance. He simply barked an order at the maid holding the scoop.

You little—

My vision went red for a moment. I actually bared my teeth.

Who the hell is this punk?

How dare he shove a delicate young lady like a wildflower!!!