Free Web NovelCelicia lifted a wine glass and went to deal with the great nobles who had crowded around like a pack of wolves, while Muen used the excuse of touching up his makeup to temporarily retreat to an inconspicuous corner.
He shared the same thinking as Ariel: at a moment like this, if he stayed by Celicia’s side, he would inevitably become the focus of every faction. That would make both his later actions—and his eventual escape—far more difficult.
Not to mention that hiding in a corner while there were plenty of people around allowed him to blend in a bit. If he stood out too much, Ariel would probably recognize at a glance that he was that “beauty” she had once known.
Just imagining Ariel trotting over, calling him “beautiful lady” with excitement, made Muen break out in cold sweats.
So at a time like this, keeping a low profile was the safest choice.
Muen casually picked up some food from a nearby table, pretending to eat attentively while secretly observing the entire hall.
Although things had deviated slightly from his original plan, he had, in the end, successfully slipped into the ball.
So next...
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“Prince Andrew, the information you requested has arrived.”
Inside a private room, Andrew rubbed his tired cheeks and took the documents a subordinate handed him.
“Muse Rudoen—does this person really exist?”
“Yes. After verification, Count Rudoen does indeed have such a daughter. However, due to long-term frailty, Miss Muse was unable to leave her room for many years. It is said that she received personal treatment from Princess Celicia, which allowed her to move about again.”
Bright mana stones cast a silhouette on the wall: a man seated in a wheelchair, skin a sickly pale, smiling lightly as he explained the contents of the report. If Ariel were present, she would immediately recognize that this subordinate working for Andrew was none other than her elder brother—who, in the public eye, had long since completely lost his claim as heir to the Bugaard family.
“Heh. Quite lucky, to gain my sister’s favor. But that face does indeed qualify.”
After giving the documents a cursory glance, Andrew tossed them aside without further interest. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Since his sister hadn’t done anything conspicuously strange, he couldn’t be bothered to pursue the matter. The mountain of political affairs already had him overwhelmed; he had no energy to waste on something so meaningless. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
He had never realized before just how exhausting handling those matters could be. But he only needed to endure for this stretch. Once he fully controlled that position, many things would no longer need to be this troublesome.
“Do you want me to probe a bit more? After all, the fact that Princess Celicia brought a companion to the ball is, indeed, somewhat suspicious,” Orlando said.
“Make the arrangements, but mind the limits. We still need to win my sister’s support for now. Try not to offend her at this stage,” Andrew said, rubbing his temples.
“Yes, I’ll go at once—”
“Wait. Bring me some medicine first.”
Andrew suddenly stopped Orlando, who was about to move his wheelchair away.
“Medicine? Your Highness, but you already—”
“Enough. You have it on you, don’t you!”
Andrew whipped his head around. A moment ago he had been gentle and refined; now his expression was vicious, like a beast that had lost all reason.
Beneath his collar, dark veins pulsed, and it was as if he were enduring some unbearable pain.
“Hurry, give it to me!”
“Yes...”
Orlando pulled a small vial from his clothing and handed it over with both hands.
Andrew snatched it immediately, a trace of feral excitement flashing across his face.
Inside the exquisite vial were only three pills. Andrew swallowed all of them in one go, like gulping down water.
“Your Highness, you also know the current situation. That medicine is very difficult to obtain right now. Please try to restrain yourself a little,” Orlando advised helplessly as he watched Andrew consume everything at once.
“Spare me the nonsense. That’s your problem to think about. Do I really need to teach you how to acquire this stuff?”
After taking the medicine, Andrew closed his eyes and reclined on the sofa. The rage on his face gradually subsided, turning into an indescribable, blissful intoxication, as though he were experiencing comfort and trembling drawn straight from his soul.
The bulging veins beneath his skin stilled and returned to normal.
Orlando remained silent, watching the scene quietly. Yet the gaze that had been respectful and deferential just moments ago had now become one of undisguised mockery and contempt.
“Prince Andrew, Prince Albert seems to have arrived.”
Before long, a servant’s voice sounded from outside the door. Andrew abruptly opened his eyes and stood up, fierce battle intent blazing within them. The exhaustion from earlier was nowhere to be found, as if it had been completely swept away.
“Excellent. I’ll go meet that lucky big brother of mine,” Andrew sneered.
“Yes. Your Highness will surely achieve victory,” Orlando said, lowering his head and smiling, his tone respectful and sincere.
...
...
“Your Highness, the Eldest Prince has arrived.”
Someone whispered at Celicia’s side. Hearing this, and while she was still exchanging pleasantries with a kind, elderly count, Celicia ended the conversation with a slight apology and turned to look toward the increasingly noisy, restless area of the hall.
Amid greetings filled with curiosity, respect, or flattery, the crowd gradually parted. A figure that stood head and shoulders above the rest appeared, supported by a maid, one hand resting on a silver cane, slowly making his way forward.
It was a man who bore roughly three parts resemblance to Celicia. His features were handsome and gentle, long silver hair casually tied into a ponytail that gave off a clean, capable impression.
Unlike Andrew, whose sharpness—though somewhat °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° restrained of late—was still hard to hide, this man’s entire bearing embodied the word “refined.”
He wore a smile and responded to each greeting with subtle, measured words, occasionally accompanied by slight gestures. Every movement avoided giving any sense of condescension, instead making people feel like a warm spring breeze had passed by.
Some people brightened with joy at the sight of the Eldest Prince like this, while others frowned silently, their gazes flickering.
More numerous still were the noble young ladies of marriageable age. Seeing the still-unmarried Eldest Prince walk over with such elegance and grace—those who once dismissed this “brain-damaged” prince with disdain now revealed looks like starving wolves.
Even among some of the nobles, traces of unintentional infatuation surfaced.
Celicia took all of this in quietly, committing certain changes in expression to memory. Before Albert could be completely surrounded by lovestruck noble girls, she stepped forward to meet him.
“Greetings, Eldest Imperial Brother Albert.”
“Ah, Celicia.”
Albert hurriedly reached out to lightly support her as she performed her greeting, smiling as he said,
“There’s no need for that between siblings.”
“Even as your sister, I am still a princess of the royal family. If I were too casual, it would only give others something to laugh about.”
Celicia smiled politely. That smile, however, still appeared somewhat cold to others.
“It’s just that I didn’t expect Eldest Brother Albert to still remember me. I thought this meeting might require a proper self-introduction.”
“Hah, Celicia, you jest. Although I was once tormented by a brain illness, I still retain some vague and jumbled memories of the past. I recovered from illness—I didn’t become a different person.”
Albert pointed to his own head, speaking in a joking tone.
“At the very least, when it comes to my family, my memories are quite deep.”
