This one was more suited to Dalia’s age. Although the middle core has become a little smaller.
“If I don’t do this, it will become a topic of discussion. I’m sorry.”
However, this was more than enough. Dalia was soon relieved of her anger.
“Can I put it on you?”
Dalia nodded.
Cedric lifted the necklace and went behind Dalia, weaving the intricate chains one by one.
It took quite some time as it was a fairly complex structure.
‘How much will this be?’
For sure it’s a lot more expensive than what Cedric spent for Dalia last time.
‘How do I pay that back?’
Dalia was worried a bit.
‘I can’t just keep receiving like this.’
In the first place, why was Cedric being so nice to her? How did he come to like her?
She has asked this question once before, but didn’t get a proper answer from Cedric.
She reached back and grabbed Cedric’s hand, which was weaving the chain of the necklace.
Then she turned her head to look at him. Cedric’s hand paused in the air with a slightly perplexed look on his face.
“…… What’s wrong?”
Dalia made eye contact with him.
Several thoughts ran through her head at once.
The one who will someday die and leave Dalia behind.
Now she had no choice but to admit it.
She is afraid of losing Cedric. She was afraid that his goodwill, which began for no reason, would be withdrawn for no reason, and more than that, she was afraid that he would die as the original story had.
It didn’t mean that she’s in love with him. He was close to becoming a precious person like Hikan and Adrisha.
However, looking at what has happened so far, it is impossible to prevent the incident of the original unless the trigger of the main turning point is eliminated.
Just as Meldon and Adrisha’s relationship could not be improved unless she acknowledged her past.
Cedric will die one day. Unless she finds the cause of his death in every route and eliminates it.
Of course, blocking that causes will also change Cedric’s future.
However, unlike Adrisha and Meldon, Cedric’s appearance in the original itself was so few that it was difficult to guess the cause.
The despair of not being able to do anything ate into Dalia’s body for the first time.
But she quickly shook her head.
‘I can do it.’
Dalia has been doing well so far.
Giving up just because she couldn’t do anything and waiting for Cedric to die was not her way.
‘What caused Sir Cedric to die?’
She must find the reason. She can find it.
“……No, nothing.”
Dalia shook her head awkwardly.
Cedric casually pulled his hand away and fastened the last chain of the necklace.
“It’s done.”
“…….”
Cedric rose from his seat and reached out to her. She took his hand and stood up.
For now, it’s time to go to the banquet. It’s time to go and see Beolde.
‘Did she do a lot of good deeds?’
Sorry, but she didn’t expect much.
* * *
Cedric’s 19th birthday banquet was held in the largest hall of the Imperial Palace.
This time, the purpose was to celebrate his birthday, but it was also to welcome the return of the Empress’s sister, Beolde Mershain.
The transcendent has always been a precious asset of the Empire.
Not only that, the Empress has always missed her sister. The same was true of the Mershain family.
Beolde, who had appeared at a banquet for the first time in a long time, remained the same as five years ago when she suddenly disappeared.
With blonde hair cut short below the ears, alluring purple eyes like fairies, long arms and legs, and a boyish neutral look.
This time, she wore a pants suit instead of a dress.
All the young ladies who were not in the high society during her infamous notoriety time were all secretly glanced at Beolde like a fan.
Naturally, the parents’ generation of the young ladies were astonished and re-educated them on Beolde’s achievements.
But contrary to the fears or bizarre expectations of the people, Beolde was being quite docile, disregarding her reputation that once dominated high society in many ways.
Of course, she ignored the people who talked to her, and spent most of her time walking around the banquet hall picking up delicious-looking food with a toothpick.
Beolde was next to a man who seemed to be old enough to be her father, the current Head of Mershain, who seemed to be clinging to her.
He was still deeply moved that Beolde ate the food that he had picked up and said, “It’s delicious”.
However, of course, there were not only people who looked at her kindly. One of them was her former tutor Beryl.
Now in his 60s, his knees hurt every rainy day after his knee was bent by her kick.
He also appeared before her with a cane, risking bending his knees.
“Seems that you’ve been well, Lady Beolde.”
“Yeah, I’ve been well.”
Beolde responded without even looking at him. Beryl was bewildered by the unexpectedly ordinary answer.
With courage, he asked.
“……Do you have anything to say to me?”
“Wait a minute. Didn’t we already apologize for that, Lord Beryl?”
The Duke of Mershain stopped him in a firm tone.
In fact, he also felt sorry for Beryl, who had his leg crippled because of his sister’s sins. But Beolde had been quiet for a while, and he didn’t want to break the peace just because of him alone.
Beolde finally looked at Beryl.
After a long scan of his body, she seemed to remember who he was.
“Ah. I remember you.”
‘Shit, it’s ruined again.’
Duke Mershain touched his forehead. Beryl’s body stiffened with tension.
“I’m sorry about that time.”
‘Huh?’
Everyone present doubted their ears. Beolde finished her sandwich calmly.
“I said I’m sorry about that time.”
“……What?”
“Shit, I’ll repeat what I’ve said…… No, okay, sorry. This is the last time.”
Beolde just swept her hair out of temper. Everyone froze and stared at her in disbelief at what they had just heard.
Then Dalia entered the banquet hall with Cedric as her escort.
Beolde’s eyes sparkled when she saw her.
She left Beryl and Duke Mershain, who were still in shock, and headed straight to Dalia.
She put her hands on Dalia’s shoulders, not even giving her a chance to greet her.
“Dalia, I did a good deed just now. And even two at that.”
“……C, congratulations?”
Dalia responded with a very puzzled look on her face. Beolde indifferently said.
“I don’t care about that, listen quickly and praise me. Hurry.”
All eyes turned to Dalia. She felt dizzy.
Then Cedric naturally took Beolde’s hand from Dalia and brought it to him.
“Well done, aunt.”
He brightly smiled and spoke in a gentle and clear tone so that everyone could hear. Only then did everyone in the audience nod their heads.
‘Ahh, that makes sense.’
Rather than suddenly asking for compliments while meeting for the first time, it was more natural for anyone to try to look good to their nephew.
At first it seemed that Beolde had put her hand on Dalia Pesteros’s shoulder, but there must have been some mistake.
‘Seems that Lady Beolde has finally come to her senses.’
‘Goodness, what’s going on?’
Everyone was satisfied with that conclusion and went back to what they were talking about. Only Beolde looked at Cedric with a look of discontent.
“What are you doing right now?”
Nevertheless, Beolde used honorifics since he’s an Imperial Prince. Although it was very, very awkward.
Cedric gave a peaceful smile.
“I’m afraid she’ll be in trouble if you pretend to know her in this place, aunt.”
“You didn’t know? Dalia is mine.”
Beolde shook off Cedric’s hand and brought Dalia into her arms. Dalia struggled in resistance.
‘Says who!’
Of course, it didn’t work.
When Beolde said ‘mine’, she meant ‘a tool to break my curse’ if interpreted in her way. Or ‘a girl who feels good to hold because she has a mysterious power’.
But for Cedric, who did not know the details of the situation, the words scratched his temper too much. There was a slight sense of triumph in his smile.
“Dalia likes me more than aunt.”
“Really, Dalia?”
Beolde looked down at Dalia in her arms and asked.
She nodded as hard as she could.
Then, the strength was loosened from Beolde’s arm. Dalia hurriedly escaped from her arms and ran to Cedric. Of course, Beolde didn’t blink an eye.
“That’s mean. Anyway, did I do two good deeds?”
“……Well, I’m not sure now, but I’ll hear it later and decide. I’ll be at the balcony during the second part, so please come when I’m alone.”
Dalia replied weakly.
Today’s Imperial Palace Banquet was divided into Part 1 and Part 2.
The first part was to celebrate Cedric’s birthday, and the second part was a time for free conversation among those present, which was allotted by the Empress for Beolde.
Beolde was so satisfied that she waved to Dalia and returned to her younger brother.
‘I’m tired.’
It feels like a storm has just left.
“……Sir Cedric, thank you for your concern just now.”
Without him, she can’t imagine how much she would have suffered from all the attention and questions because of Beolde.
Dalia heaved a sigh.
“I haven’t told you what’s going on yet, have I? I’ll tell you everything that happened with Lady Beolde.”
She turned and looked at Cedric. For some reason, he had a very satisfied look on his face.
“Dalia, do you like me more than aunt?”
“……Yes? Why are you asking about something obvious?”
She still grinds her teeth at the thought of all the hardships she has suffered because of Beolde.
Cedric now had a smile on his face. Dalia didn’t understand why he was doing this, but after a while she realized the meaning and turned red.
