Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 38

38.

Seren spoke up.

"The House of Gracias doesn't usually arrive by carriage to such banquets."

Normally, Kite was busy guarding the Emperor, so he had no need for a carriage. But this was the first time a carriage from that house had appeared—so naturally, it drew attention.

"Some people know of Lady Ibelin, but many don't. Once you enter the hall, you'll be the center of countless gazes."

The carriage was watched by both the well-informed and the uninformed. Under so many eyes, Ibelin felt a peculiar emotion—she should have been afraid, yet she wasn't. It was strange.

She placed a hand on her chest and said calmly.

"It's fine. I'll do well."

Seren smiled faintly.

"I believe you."

By then, the carriage had arrived at the banquet hall.

Though they had arrived, they didn't enter immediately—some guests had not yet arrived.

Maintaining noble dignity wasn't easy—even arriving early, they waited for their authority's sake. After several others were admitted, Ibelin's turn came.

"Announcing Lady Ibelin El Frillie, fiancée of Lord Kite von Gracias!"

As she stepped through the open doors, the herald cried out—his voice resounding through the hall.

All eyes turned to Ibelin and Seren. Under the countless gazes assessing and appraising her, Ibelin stood tall. Though this was her first experience, she was fine—as she had told Seren.

Facing a grizzly bear as a child had been scarier—at least these were people who could be reasoned with.

With Seren's escort, Ibelin entered calmly.

The stares never ceased.

"Quite an interest."

Among the gazes were curiosity and hostility—probably from those who had suffered from Kite's calamitous nature.

"And half of them are hostile."

At her words, Seren replied with an awkward look.

"Understandably, since you're Lord Kite's fiancée."

He looked as if he wanted to apologize right there. At least Seren was sensible—she thought that as she wondered where to stand. Then she heard a voice from behind.

"Announcing Duke Draven von Barkel!"

Draven entered with a frail-looking woman—the daughter of House Lontree, with whom marriage negotiations were reportedly underway.

"The House of Lontree is the weakest among the marquisates. Its only advantage is its bloodline."

It had once produced empresses and been closely tied to the Imperial House—but over time, it had fallen under the Emperor's watch and steadily declined.

Normally, they would have wanted to send a child to the Imperial House—but they had none of suitable age for the young Emperor.

"The eldest, Lady Alice, is the only daughter—the rest are sons. Still, it's strange—I heard negotiations were underway but nothing was certain."

"Yet they came together?"

"Indeed."

Draven seemed to harbor deep inferiority toward Kite—perhaps that was why he appeared with a marquis's daughter as his fiancée. Ibelin was from a baronial house, after all.

In terms of rank, even a declining marquisate outranked a barony. Draven might even provoke Ibelin today. Just as she thought that, someone approached her.

A brown-haired noble lady with freckles, about Ibelin's age.

"Oh—hello. I'm Serenia of House Mite."

"Hello, Lady Serenia."

Ibelin replied kindly. Serenia let out a small sigh of relief—she seemed to have been sent by someone, not approaching on her own.

It was common for higher-ranking nobles to use lower-ranking ones as go-betweens.

Ibelin herself was an unremarkable baron's daughter—but her fiancé was Kite, the Empire's Mad Dog. Directly approaching her would be intimidating.

"What brings you here?"

When asked calmly, Serenia tensed again—but less than at first.

"I wanted to greet you, as this is our first meeting."

"Thank you."

Serenia made small talk for a while, then mustered courage to get to the point.

"How did you come to be engaged to Lord Kite?"

That was probably what everyone wanted to know. Others would be listening in.

It was fortunate she and Kite had prepared a story—though whether it counted as the real reason was debatable.

"We happened to meet at a merchant's shop—and I fell in love with Lord Kite at first sight."

The story was flimsy. Would anyone believe it? Ibelin thought that even as she memorized the script.

"He was just too handsome."

Just as she expected—from Serenia's expression, she could tell what she was thinking. A woman falling for the capital's most famous madman at first sight—it was absurd.

"Did you know about Lord Kite?"

She really wanted to ask if she knew about his deeds.

"No—I came from the provinces and knew little. But as I spent time with him, I found him entertaining."

"Entertaining?"

Serenia now looked exasperated.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Ibelin feigned concern.

"No—I'm fine. Yes, I'm fine."

Serenia rambled, bowed, and fled.

"How embarrassing."

As she spoke as if acting, Seren nodded.

"It can be—it's not easy for anyone to speak of their love's beginning."

This man was also remarkably shameless—truly Kite's subordinate. Listening to him play along made her cringe.

As Ibelin turned, she saw more people approaching—and they weren't just one or two.

So Serenia was a test.

They wanted to see if she was as irrational as Kite.

"Do you truly love Lord Kite?"

The first to swarm were women. They bombarded her with questions, eager to know what had happened between them—then smiled meaningfully at her answers regardless.

Some pitied the provincial lady, offering heartfelt advice.

"Perhaps it's better to give up on that love."

Why did Kite have to live so scoundrelly? By the time Ibelin was growing weary, the highest-ranking person finally entered—Emperor Leonhardt.

A herald announced the Emperor's arrival, and Leonhardt, more resplendent than usual, entered. The boy with his abundant golden hair and large eyes drew gasps of admiration.

"As beautiful as ever."

"Look at Lord Kite beside him—his attire is different from usual!"

"Yes—it's lovely. He usually dresses carelessly."

"Dressed like that, standing with His Majesty, he's a feast for the eyes."

Kite, well-groomed, received much praise—though curses also flew from some.

"Everyone is deceived by his looks!"

"What a wicked man."

It was rare for anyone to be so hated by others.

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