Chapter 16
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Though it was maddening not to know what kind of trap lay in wait, the Count desperately feigned composure, pulling at his facial muscles to force a smile.
"Ah, that’s right...! Please forgive my rudeness, Your Excellency. I heard that you chose the ceremonial wine of the Seaton family. Thank you for bestowing such a precious honor upon me."
"They say the wine from the Seaton estate is rare. I have always wanted to try it."
"Y-yes, that is correct. The red wine is, without a doubt, the finest specialty the Seaton estate has to offer."
Even as he forced himself to play along, the Count’s voice trembled ever so slightly.
The horrific, blood-stained box that had contained the severed head of a spy kept flickering before his eyes.
However, the Count let out a sigh of relief inwardly as he stole a glance at the man standing behind Declain.
'It seems they haven't caught the last spy yet!'
That must be why Dven was standing by Declain's side!
He was a loyal chess piece, the one closest to Declain, who had been secretly reporting his every move to the Count.
"Now, hurry and present the ceremonial wine to the Grand Duke."
It was when the Count was triumphantly urging the servant on.
"Come to think of it, Count, I am not the only protagonist of this victory."
Suddenly, Declain uttered something strange.
"Are not my excellent knights, who crossed the threshold of life and death with me, also the main characters who deserve to enjoy this honor?"
What was he saying now?
"I cannot be the only one to monopolize this glory."
He had a bad feeling about this.
Sure enough, Declain smiled faintly, as if foreshadowing a sinister future.
"My proud knight, Dven. You drink this ceremonial wine in my stead."
"Pardon?"
The situation began to take a strange turn.
"Y-Your Excellency, how could I dare to accept such an undeserved..."
Dven, who had been standing behind Declain like a shadow, was flustered.
For Declain not to drink it himself but to give the wine to his knight—it was an open slight against Seaton.
"I am fine, Your Excellency. How could I dare to drink your wine..."
At that moment, a hand clad in a black glove pressed down firmly on Dven’s shoulder.
"That is an order."
"Y-Your Excellency...!"
"Would a knight disobey his master's command?"
"...I shall obey your command."
"Glory is meant to be shared."
It was then.
The maid holding the ceremonial wine was approaching with cautious steps.
As she passed by with her head bowed, her pink hair swayed lightly beneath the shimmering light of the chandelier.
Declain’s gaze, which had always been relaxed, narrowed slightly.
* * *
I’m in trouble, I’m in real trouble.
'To think I have to deliver the ceremonial wine to Hugh.'
Getting the poison out was fine, but this was the real problem.
Prina squeezed her eyes shut.
She had wanted to keep her head down and stay invisible until the banquet ended, but for things to turn out like this!
'It can't be helped. This is the only way to keep Hugh alive.'
She must be the only one who would go this far for an ex-lover.
'You better be grateful to me, Hugh!'
The magnificent carpets and gold ornaments lining the walls, and the flags planted at the end of every staircase, sparkled as if they had been newly refurbished to celebrate the victory.
The center of the banquet hall was, without a doubt, Declain.
All eyes were drawn to him, and the light reflecting off everything else made the faces of others look blurred.
Yet, their presence was felt with startling clarity.
"Isn't Count Seaton the one who said that even the Caesar Knights couldn't achieve victory?"
"Indeed. Now that the Grand Duke has returned victorious, it is laughable to see him so desperate to get into his good graces."
Mockery directed at Count Seaton flowed from all corners.
"It is proof that His Excellency is merciful and kind."
Who is merciful, and who is kind?
Prina scoffed inwardly.
"Now, hurry and bring the ceremonial wine here!"
At that moment, Count Seaton shouted.
Prina stepped forward with her head bowed low.
The short distance she walked on the red carpet felt infinitely long.
The place where she finally stopped was right in front of Hugh.
As she carefully lifted her gaze, which had been fixed only on her toes, their outlines finally began to come into focus.
Count Seaton, Hugh, and...
"Oh..."
Prina froze.
'This is Declain?'
His appearance was quite different from the Declain she had imagined.
'Is this... black hair?'
Isn't it closer to chestnut?
'And his eyes are more of an amber color than red...'
Wait a minute...
This is the appearance of the knight who was assassinated in Declain's place. Prina looked at Hugh with trembling eyes.
His attire, too, was far more flamboyant, like that of a protagonist. The sense of incongruity grew deeper.
Hugh was watching her in silence. His gaze, falling upon the glass, was calm yet deep.
"...Your Excellency, this is wine offered with my utmost loyalty."
Count Seaton said in a trembling voice.
"May... long-lasting peace and brilliant prosperity dwell under the grace of the gods."
Count Seaton’s voice was shaking with fear.
"Offer the wine to the Grand Duke's knight."
The moment had finally arrived.
Prina’s hands trembled slightly. With her head bowed deep, she followed the order.
She held the glass out directly to Hugh.
"..."
"..."
A brief silence hung in the air.
'What is this?'
"Ahem! Did I not tell you to give the wine to His Excellency's escort knight!"
Count Seaton barked in annoyance.
But I did.
Prina felt the atmosphere turn strange.
As she lifted her head, blood-red eyes were staring straight at her. Beneath that gaze, a small mole near the corner of his eye was particularly distinct.
Only then did a chill run down her spine.
Isn't something wrong here?
'D-don't tell me.'
It couldn't be. It shouldn't be.
Prina desperately denied it in the face of her ominous premonition.
However.
"That is enough, Count."
Hugh continued, shifting his gaze leisurely.
"I have changed my mind. I shall drink it. It is only right that the master receives the wine first so that Seaton may save face."
His tone was devoid of haste or displeasure. He curled his lips into a calm smile.
"W-well, then, it is my honor, Your Excellency...!"
Prina felt dizzy at the sight of Count Seaton serving Hugh so obsequiously.
'Could it be that Hugh's true identity is...'
Just then, long, neat fingers grasped the glass she was holding.
A black glove slid softly along the rim of the glass. The tips of his fingers brushed against the back of Prina’s hand for a fleeting moment.
"Ah."
Startled, Prina let go subconsciously. By the time she came to her senses, the glass was in Hugh’s hand.
His red eyes, fixed solely on her, slowly drained the wine.
"It feels like it hasn't been long since we said our goodbyes, yet here we are again?"
Hugh, who had been watching her in silence, spoke softly.
His eyes curved gently, and in time with his smile, the small tear mole beneath the corner of his eye became clearly visible.
"Your Excellency."
Count Seaton’s gaze was fixed on Hugh.
"Do you know such a lowly maid?"
Prina’s body stiffened.
"We are acquaintances. We have had several fateful encounters."
Count Seaton’s eyes narrowed as if trying to discern the truth.
Every gaze in the banquet hall was directed at Hugh. As if the chestnut-haired knight standing beside him were of no concern at all.
Even amidst her fading consciousness, that scene was strangely vivid.
Hugh stood with such confidence, as if he were the original master of this place.
'Oh, please...'
Honestly, this can't be happening!
The illusions she had built up until now began to shatter. She had truly realized the truth.
"Isn't that right, Ms. Felt?"
No.
It shouldn't be.
Cold sweat trickled down her.
"I believe you were holding a wine bottle last time as well. You are holding wine here again, too."
She didn't even have a clue when "last time" was. At Leighton Bridge?
She wished it were so... but he might have been referring to the moment they crossed paths after she had delivered the ceremonial wine in Count Seaton’s room.
Prina’s lips parted slightly, then closed again.
Hugh did not rush her. With his eyes still curved gently, he waited for an answer.
The fact that he was waiting was even more malicious.
It was as if he were observing her silence in its entirety, not even giving her room to stumble through a clumsy excuse.
"Do you like wine?"
Hugh asked softly.
"You should consider abstaining. It is not good for your health."
"Ah..."
Before the startled Prina could even pull back her hands, the silver tray and the wine bottle were already in his grasp.
The moment Prina’s hands, having lost their master, froze in mid-air, the black-gloved fingertips brushed against the outside of her wrist.
Then, he passed them off to the knight standing by as if it were nothing.
The knight accepted them submissively, as if obeying Hugh.
Politely, as if serving his superior.
All the noise reaching her ears faded away, her vision was dyed black, and the landscape of the banquet hall felt distant.
'It shouldn't be...'
Everything pointed to one answer.
So, Hugh is...
Hugh is...
'Hugh is... Declain?'
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