It was a kind of declaration that they couldn't treat me the same as before.
'Is this really okay?'
I looked up at the Duke again.
He was still looking down at me with his usual amethyst eyes that held no emotion.
'There's no good in my position growing.'
In ten years, he plans to offer me as a sacrifice to the Abyss.
After I disappear, he can just tell the outside world that I died of illness or went missing, but even so, there was no good in my presence becoming too prominent.
Someone might question my sudden disappearance, or there might be people trying to dig into things to find flaws in the Rodbel family.
The Duke of Rodbel, a perfectionist who takes every precaution, and this situation were so out of sync.
'And Miracle too.'
I glanced at Miracle over the Duke's shoulder.
But she was too far away and hidden among the people, so I couldn't see her well.
I wonder, what kind of expression does Miracle have right now.
I don't know for sure, but.
'The shock must be quite significant.'
The Duke's love was always Miracle's.
Of course, just because the Duke chose me as his partner doesn't mean he loves Miracle any less and loves me more.
'Don't get distracted.'
What's important to me right now is something else.
Finding a way to get out of the banquet hall was the priority.
Just as I was taking the Duke's hand and twirling around,
'Ah!'
I saw servants carrying trays back and forth behind a white cloth.
'It's over there!'
It seemed it was disguised as a wall with a white cloth, making it hard to spot.
Okay, now that I've found the passage to the kitchen, all that's left is to escape without being noticed by Aiden.
But that was the biggest challenge.
Aiden was an imperial knight. A skilled one at that, assigned to protect the crown prince.
Even though I had taken lessons from Aen, I was still just a fledgling, and it was practically impossible for me to outsmart Aiden and escape from here.
'But it's not absolutely impossible.'
I've figured out what kind of personality Aiden has, so I should be able to use that.
At that moment, the orchestra's performance ended.
I immediately let go of the Duke's hand and greeted him politely, as I had learned from Ligrin.
"Thank you."
And immediately looked for Aiden.
I had no intention of going back up to the stage.
It was too conspicuous there, and it felt a little uncomfortable to look like family to them.
So, I was planning to distance myself a bit when the Duke went back to the stage, but...
'Why is he doing that?'
The Duke was standing motionless, staring only at me.
I wasn't the only one flustered by the Duke's behavior.
They had to proceed with the next song, but since the Duke wasn't moving, the orchestra and the people were just watching the Duke, not knowing what to do.
Why is this guy acting like this today?
Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, I spoke first.
"Um, Duke?"
Why are you doing this? You should go back to your seat now.
With that thought, I looked at him.
The moment our eyes met, the Duke flinched and then turned around and went up to the stage.
Only then did people slowly gather in the center, pair up, and start dancing in a circle.
I slipped out of the crowd and headed towards the kitchen.
'This is the only chance I have.'
Aiden was far away because the Duke and I were dancing.
He kept watching me, but his view was briefly blocked by the people who were gathering to dance.
'I can't escape just like this.'
I only bought myself a little time. Besides, there were a lot of chefs in the kitchen right now.
It was impossible to get through them, and even if I managed to get through, I would be tracked down quickly.
"Oh, is there something you need?"
As soon as I went into the kitchen, one of the chefs who found me came up and spoke to me.
With my hands behind my back, I smiled brightly at the chef and said,
"It smells delicious. I'm hungry."
"Oh... I see you're hungry."
The chef looked embarrassed.
He said he would bring something to eat and told me to wait a moment before going inside.
The other chefs didn't seem too interested in this.
'Now's the time.'
I rolled what I had hidden behind my back under the table.
Swoosh.
The fist-sized marble quickly disappeared.
'I'm glad I brought it, just in case.'
It was one of the magical tools I had sneaked from the warehouse I went to with Banshees.
It was a camping magical tool that started a fire, with oil-soaked grass tied to the tool.
'The only downside is that it takes a long time to activate.'
It was actually perfect because if a fire broke out right after I left, it would cause unnecessary suspicion.
At that moment, the chef who had gone inside came back with a plate.
There was cake and fruit on the plate.
"If you're still hungry after you eat, please tell a servant. It's dangerous here, so you shouldn't just come in here."
"Yes, I'll enjoy it."
I smiled innocently as if nothing had happened and came out of the kitchen.
As soon as I did, a voice came from beside me.
"Were you hungry?"
I turned my head and saw Aiden leaning against the wall.
A chill ran down my spine.
'Since when?'
I thought I had bought myself some time, but Aiden was already near me.
I probably would have been caught immediately if I had tried to escape through the kitchen.
But...
His gaze slid over to the plate I was holding.
'He doesn't know what I've been doing.'
The entrance was blocked by a cloth, and all I did was ask the chef for something to eat.
After thinking that, I smiled brightly and held out a piece of cake to Aiden.
It was a whipped cream cake with a delicious cherry on top.
Aiden's eyes widened.
"Would you like to have some too, Sir Aiden?"
"...It's alright."
"It's delicious, what a shame."
I mumbled as if I was truly disappointed, stood next to Aiden, and stabbed the cake with a fork and ate it.
'Sweet.'
If the green tea was too bitter, the cake was too sweet.
Was it because I had lived my whole life without a sense of taste?
The taste was especially stimulating.
But I didn't dislike this stimulation. I actually liked it.
When I tasted it, I felt like I was alive. I realized anew that I had come back from death.
Even when I was about to become complacent in a comfortable environment, tasting something made me feel alert.
I ate all of the whipped cream cake, and this time I stabbed the lemon pound cake with a fork.
'Come to think of it, Marine also really liked cake.'
I could feel her pretending not to be but looking at it with longing eyes whenever cake came out as dessert.
At times like that, I would give my cake to Marine, saying I was full.
Marine would vehemently wave her hands, saying she was okay, but in the end, the cake would go into Marine's mouth.
I realized anew that Marine had infiltrated my daily life more than I thought. I was about to put the fork in my mouth when,
Bang!
The door of the banquet hall opened and a young man came in.
The man went straight through the dancing people towards the stage where the Rodbel family was sitting.
And then.
Thud.
He knelt down.
What's going on again?
Unexpectedly, I munched on the cake and watched the scene.
The people who were dancing also stopped and watched with interest, belatedly noticing the man's presence.
"That man is definitely..."
"He disappeared after losing the bet, what's he doing here..."
"What's with that appearance..."
People whispered as they looked at the man.
It seemed like something had happened between them.
Judging by the unfriendly gazes, it seemed like the man was the one who had caused the problem.
However, as if he didn't care about their whispers and gazes at all, the man's gaze was only on the Duke on the stage.
He cried out with a sob,
"I, I was wrong!"
Then he slammed his head into the ground.
"Please forgive me, just once!"
The Duke, who had been quietly watching the man, replied in a tone that was difficult to understand.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"......!"
The man raised his head abruptly at the Duke's answer.
His wide eyes were bloodshot.
The man's appearance was a mess.
The sound of disapproval and snickers mixed together from the surroundings.
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