Chapter 40: Over the raised glass

Evelyn was trying to keep her face as calm as possible. But in a gesture, she quickly looked for Lily and whispered something in her ear.

“Where’s Lady Rebecca?”

“She’s waiting to enter with the guests.” Lily also lowered her voice to see if she noticed something unusual.

“His Majesty…,he must have left his residence, right?” asked Evelyn

“I was worried, too, so I looked into it, but it’s been a while since he left his residence.”

Evelyn felt frustrated at once.

“According to the chief, the Black Hawk Knights are ready to leave the Kingdom.”

After that day, Evelyn wondered if he would finally let her go without paying any more attention to her. But it seemed that Fabian was taking revenge now.

He seemed to be very angry. Evelyn was foolish to think that Fabian wouldn’t mind it because he was usually indifferent.

“What should I do······?” Lily asked Evelyn again.

Outside the banquet hall door, all the nobles from all over the continent were gathered, waiting for the banquet to begin. But, since the name was a banquet for the Emperor’s farewell, it couldn’t be started without the Emperor himself. In the worst-case scenario, it was like bringing all the guests together and showing them a disgrace.

“First, let’s go back.”

“Yes…”

Evelyn’s head dizzy. It wasn’t a situation to be solved by asking Lily to do something because it could also backfire on herself.

And suddenly, the hate Evelyn had forgotten rose from her heart. She knew that already, but he was a very heartless man. He came here all the way to tease her, even though they were divorced. And he’s trying to humiliate the royal family like this.

“Evelyn. What’s wrong with you?” Miriam asked her daughter carefully.

“No, His Majesty seems to be a little late.”

“Really? Oh well….” Miriam nodded and did not ask any further because there was already an embarrassment in Evelyn’s eyes. Miriam seemed to know what’s going on here.

“Should we go out…?”

They could just give reasons to the guests. However, Evelyn could not bear to think that her royal family would be disgraced.

At that time, Miriam reached out and pressed Evelyn’s hand. “Those who hold banquets should relax.” Miriam’s face was gentle and looked calm.

“Even if we can’t open the door to a banquet because of an accident, it’s better than forcing a guest to stay here.”

Evelyn was biting her lips hard. She felt as if her mother had already found out what was going on.

“It’s all right.” said Miriam.

“But the nobles from all over the continent have gathered, and our royal family…”

“I said, it’s okay.” said Miriam firmly. “The banquet can be canceled at any time. A good excuse is enough, we can think about it later. But you can’t throw away your pride anymore.” Her mother’s voice was too stern today.

After giving birth to Adrian, Evelyn felt she’d barely know her mother’s heart, but Evelyn was still far away.

“So straighten your back. Let’s relax and enjoy this time.”

“Yes….”

Evelyn realized that she had lost her posture unknowingly. Currently, it wasn’t just postures that were lost.

Her mother was right about that. The pride that she got back would fall to the ground. She had to bow down again to pick it up again. It was what the enemy wanted the most. Even if this banquet couldn’t be opened, she would never show him such a figure.

Fabian’s idea hit the bullseye. It was often used by the Imperial family to wash their opponents silently.

It was very shameful to be laughed at by guests who you invited yourself. And it was an indescribable shame if the main character of the banquet, who they thought would not come, suddenly appeared before their faces.

“Your Majesty the Emperor of the Empire is coming!”

One of the Black Hawk Knights blew the trumpet. It was a special instrument that could only be played when the Emperor appeared.

Then they all bowed their heads, and some people wondered if the banquet had started.

“I see you.”

“Your Majesty, how have you been?”

The most powerful Marquis of Satin and his companion, Count Hernia, came close and welcomed Fabian with a smile on their face.

Usually, Fabian despised looking at him the most, but now he was very useful.

“After the wise and brilliant Emperor left the Empire, everybody longed for His Majesty day and night.”

“Yes, everyone was crying!”

Fabian raised the corner of his lips and tried hard to repress his annoyance.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”

Because it was a banquet, every nobleman was accompanied by his wife. The two middle-aged wives who were fully dressed nobly greeted Fabian.

“The banquet at the Felice Palace is too small and narrow to serve your Majesty, but your presence alone will make this place brighter,” said Lady Satin. She broke the silence with her skillful tongue. It was a unique way of speaking for a socialite lady.

“I’m not interested in this banquet.” Fabian said coldly, recalling Evelyn. Then, the two ladies started smiling happily.

“Of course, how dare you serve Your Majesty in such a small kingdom?”

“My wife is right. What could such a small kingdom do? This kingdom is no different from a merchant who is blinded by gold coins earned from trading. Well, I’m not saying that the kingdom of Felice is bad but it’s far from the nobility of His Majesty.”

The wives who took part in the agitation of their husbands. The habit of the imperial family came out unintentionally. They seemed so familiar with the conversation with the thorns in a smile.

“Yeah, sure.” Fabian thoughtlessly threw a word.

“Yes, I doubted my ears when I was invited, but … I felt the kindness of Your Majesty.”

“That’s right. Social circles say there’s no end to your kindness and your mercy.”

It was strange. Apparently, Fabian just came here to declare that he was going back at the banquet hall entrance. But when he heard those ladies talking, he felt unknown displeasure from the bottom of his heart.

“My kindness and mercy?” Fabian asked back briefly, without revealing his emotions as usual.

It was a very convenient way of speaking. Because the nobles, who were so eager to meet the Emperor’s favor just by asking again, used to talk about their ulterior motives.

“Why not? How merciful it is for you to stay in the someone’s palace who has been dismissed for lack of virtue and dignity.”

‘Someone who was dismissed for lack of virtue and dignity, did they mean Evelyn?’

Fabian’s eyebrows flinched at the moment, but the wives were unaware and absorbed in their world.

“Yes, it’s fortunate that we didn’t punish her at first, but your Majesty’s tolerance is truly endless.”

“Do you all think so?” said Fabian in a low voice.

“Is there anything else….”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

The Marquis and Count quickly responded to the flattery. Then there was unknown anger rose in Fabian’s heart.

Actually, the insult was pointed at Evelyn, but the direction was changed entirely. Evelyn was once his wife and the Empress of the Empire, no matter if they were divorced. If they had actually respected Evelyn, they wouldn’t dare to say that.

“Really?”

It seemed that no one noticed the anger in Fabian’s voice.

“Actually, among the nobles, there was a saying that Your Majesty may not be willing to attend. Even, you don’t have to join these banquets.” The Countess, who didn’t notice his anger, already crossed the line.

“I can’t believe everyone thought so.” said Fabian. He thought so, too, and it was irresistible that they also felt the same thing.

Fabian wanted to get rid of his temper right away. Still, he seemed to agree with the opinion that he secretly ignored the Felice Kingdom.

“Ha, that’s what I’m saying….”

The Countess tried to open her mouth, but her husband immediately stopped her. The count didn’t know why the Emperor was angry, but he knew it wasn’t a good situation for Fabian to laugh.

“Your Majesty, the Knights are ready.”

Then all of a sudden, Serus came up and made a report. When Fabian heard it, he didn’t move and only raised the corner of his lips.

“I was waiting.”

“Yes, then…”

“We can finally start the banquet.”

” W-what..?!” Serus tried to ask back, but then he stopped when he saw Fabian’s face.

“Because the Felice Kingdom had prepared a very nice banquet, I was just waiting for my own Knights to join.”

The faces of the Marquis and his wife were covered by dark shadows. Typically, it was common to have hatred or mock a former Empress, but this time the situation seemed different.

“……..Your Majesty’s eyes are ….different….. Still, everyone was so tired of waiting for the this banquet.” said Lady Satin. She changed her posture without changing her face.

“What? This kingdom’s banquet…….” Only her friend, the stupid Countess, couldn’t keep up with this atmosphere.

“Yes, it’s so elegant and sophisticated that you can’t think it’s a kingdom’s banquet, Right? Hoho….” said Lady Satin. She cut the Countess’ word and fluttered her blue-feather fan.

Fabian glanced at the Marquis as if he didn’t want to join the lowly conversation. Then, forgetting all his own purpose, he opened the banquet door at a faster pace than anyone else.

“Your Majesty is entering the banquet hall!”

The glorious trumpet sounded. The King, Queen, and Evelyn stood up with unwavering smiles and gave the Emperor a good example. Fabian accepted it politely and headed to his prepared seat.

“Thank you for the hospitality of the Kingdom of Felice for throwing such a wonderful banquet for me.” Out of his mouth flowed a speech that was completely different from his heart. And the nobles who had noticed were busy admiring the banquet’s excellence, and they praised it in unison.

“Everyone feels the prosperity of the Felice Kingdom and enjoy this banquet.” “

After speaking, Fabian looked at Evelyn.

Evelyn nodded slightly with a faint smile. She couldn’t tell if it was just a ceremonial greeting, but there was a little bit of emotion in it.

“Your Majesty……..” Suddenly Serus approached him and spoke in his ear. “The knights are ready to go.”

That was also Fabian’s order. At first, he was going to turn coldly in front of the banquet hall and leave immediately.

“Didn’t you hear what I said before?” Fabian, as always, was blatant.

“No, I must have made a mistake. The knights will attend the banquet with dignity.”

Only

“They’re supposed to.” Fabian raised the glass with an arrogant smile.

“I want to hold a toast for the Felice Kingdom who arranged the banquet.”

Fabian also got up from his seat. At once, the banquet rose in a single stroke. Compared to any formal banquet in the imperial family, this banquet was much more dignified.

“For the King and the Queen and Princess Evelyn.”

“·······For the…” They all raised their glasses and followed the Emperor and Evelyn joined them without knowing what to say.

At that moment, Fabian made eye contact with Evelyn over the raised glass.

And he was smiling, for some reason.