The Elusive, Mysterious Male Lead (36)

Princess Dia waited and waited, but the man she loved never came to invite her. He did not even spare her a glance.

Many people asked her to dance, but none of them were the one she wanted.

And the one she did want had given all his attention, all his looks, to someone else.

Even before these many eyes, he and another man openly and without the slightest attempt at decorum confronted each other for the sake of one woman’s attention, showing no concern at all for appearances.

Princess Dia sat in the dim corner of the terrace, her eyes fixed without blinking on the three figures in the hall, whose tense and inexplicable atmosphere seemed to have hardened into something tangible.

“Your Highness,” someone said slyly, emerging from the shadows beside her.

Dia turned her head and saw the man drawing near, his sly triangular eyes flashing with undisguised excitement. She frowned in distaste. “Della, you should not be here.”

“Yes, yes, Your Highness. But I came to tell you that the plan is going very smoothly. We also thank you for the help you have given us.”

A sharp gleam passed through Dia’s eyes. Then Della said, “Look.”

Dia turned to look and saw a serving maid carrying a tray walk past the wine steward. The wine steward called her over, reached out, and took the glass from the maid’s tray. The rich fragrance of the wine brought a satisfied smile to her lips.

[Host, don’t drink it. The wine is poisoned.]

The motion of smelling the wine barely paused. Then she smiled and drained it in one gulp, all while the system shrieked in alarm.

Xiu suddenly lifted his eyes and looked toward her.

“It’s nothing. I’ve had a bit too much to drink, so I’m going to rest for a while. I’ll come back when it’s time to cut the cake.” She rose to her feet.

“Your Highness, I’ll escort you,” Charles said.

Xiu also stood.

She waved them away. “No need. Stay here.” Then she pointed to the maid with the tray. “Please take me somewhere to rest.”

“But—”

She looked over, her expression brooking no refusal.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Charles had no wish to defy her over such a matter.

Xiu, however, paid no mind. He found this place boring; the air was thick with cloying powders and harsh perfume. If not for his treasure being here, he would not have wanted to remain even for a second longer.

Still, she always knew how to handle him.

“Go play by yourself for a while. I heard that when the palace was renovated, someone presented His Majesty with an everlasting pearl, which has been set into the top of the Dorian Tower. Go and see it for me.”

Xiu looked at her. “You like it?”

“Yes,” she said. “Will you go and see it? If it really is as beautiful as they say, then after the banquet, you can take me there.”

Xiu nodded and strode out. Reaching the doorway, he seemed to realize he did not know the way. He casually seized a nearby nobleman. “Dorian. Tower.”

The nobleman nearly died of fright, thinking this great lord had gone mad and meant to tear him apart. He trembled like a leaf in the dragon god’s grasp and, hearing him speak all of a sudden, could not react at once.

Am I hearing Lord Dragon God speak?

I have actually been honored by being addressed by him!!!

Fear and a strange, absurd pride warred within him.

“Tower,” Xiu said impatiently.

“Oh, oh, I—I know it. I’ll take you there.”

Xiu let him go and motioned for him to lead the way. When they reached the entrance hall, he looked back. His treasure was still standing where she had been, smiling as she watched him.

A faint dizziness began to rise in her head.

It was certainly not drunkenness. She had made a mess of herself more than once from drink and had sworn to rein in her weakness for alcohol. At this point, it was probably the medicine taking effect.

She glanced at Charles.

The handsome knight had just been caught by a colleague who came over to exchange pleasantries. After looking at him once, she turned to the maid who had been waiting nearby all along. “Please lead the way.”

The maid, forcing down the tension and inexplicable excitement surging through her body, respectfully led her away from the banquet hall.