About half an hour ago, Uni was in her room eating sweets given out by lower-ranking officials in the palace.
While enjoying the luxury of coveting the royal family’s munchies, she heard the door open. Of course, Uni knew that it must be Rena returning, so she leaned her head towards the door.
“You came earlier than expected, my lady!”
Then she threw away the sweets and hurriedly approached.
“Wait a minute, what’s this? Ugh, you reek of alcohol!”
Uni was astonished by Rena’s ignorant appearance. Wet hair, smudged make-up, stained dress, and even the smell of alcohol vibrating throughout her body.
Uni didn’t know where to start, so her mouth just kept twitching. Rena faced her and said calmly.
“I will explain later. Help me prepare.”
“Prepare?”
“Prepare to go out again.”
The unexpected mojo made Uni’s eyes even more bewildered.
But Rena was still calm, so the matter shouldn’t be that serious. That was Rena’s usual expression when she was just a little angry.
“Are you going back to the ballroom?”
Uni asked in confusion. She didn’t know what’s going on, but this shouldn’t be the best course of action.
Hair and makeup can be fixed in a hurry, but it would take hours to change a dress. There’s also another method, which is by hiding the flaws, but the result would look bad.
As Uni was still perplexed, Rena only gave a simple answer.
“We don’t have time to change my dress, so please take out my uniform.”
Uni’s eyes twinkled at the word uniform.
The uniform is also suitable for a prom. Besides, it can be changed more quickly than a dress. There’s no need to reapply makeup, and there’s no need to inflate the hair.
After understanding her will, Uni hurriedly ran to the closet.
A short while passed. Uni, who had taken out the Southern uniform, asked as she took off Rena’s dress.
“But how did you become like this?”
“The gentleman who sent me the invitation was more mischievous than I thought.”
“It was a man?”
“Yes, and a very handsome one.”
Rena explained lightly while washing her face with cold water.
Uni also helped her prepare in earnest. The disheveled hair was well combed and tied together, the smudged makeup was completely removed and she reapplied a new one minimally.
After that, the long-awaited uniform was unfolded.
The top of the uniform consisted of a white shirt with a collar up to the neck and a royal blue coat in the form of a corset that was padded at the waist.
The bottoms were white trousers that were tight to the legs. The characteristic of this uniform was that the thighs were clearly emphasized due to the black boots that went up to the knees.
The four dukes wore different types of uniforms. And the uniform of the South was rated as the most sensual among them.
“By the way, is it okay if you wear this out at this time?”
Uni was making a small fuss while helping Rena change clothes.
This splendid uniform was not purchased by Rena, but a gift from the Southern Duke. Can one just wear that kind of clothes so casually and go out?
While Uni was becoming timid with worry, Rena smiled as if everything was fine.
“It’s fine. I’m going to wear it anyway, right?”
“That’s true, but we didn’t plan to wear it this soon.”
“Things don’t always go as planned…”
“My lady…”
“Besides, the Southern Duke would hate me for being humiliated like this.”
Rena laughed and added.
In fact, Rena had no intention of wearing a dress and a uniform on the same day.
In the beginning, she had planned to wear it in a timely manner to escalate her presence, however, the plan went awry when a little boy named Rubid poured cold water on her.
She had retreated after trying hard to keep her dignity, but since she had already become a laughing stock, can the same person show up in uniform the next day and still expect to be respected?
It’s true that there is another way, which is by revealing her true value slowly. However, that wasn’t Rena’s preferred method.
“I was wrong from the start for wearing a dress to fight a wild dog.”
Having finished changing, Rena put her cloak on as the finishing touch.
“The only thing I have to do today is to show them…”
Rena repeated this sentence and vowed to rip off the maniac’s throat just as she would a dead.
And after some time, Rena had faithfully fulfilled that vow.
***
“Keugh!”
Rubid, who had endured his best, was once again dragged by Rena.
He stumbled a lot, but he immediately hit the floor and took steps, pretending that nothing was wrong. Thanks to the hard work, Rubid’s struggles were still seen as dancing.
However, the noble’s eyes were gradually filled with curiosity.
‘Damn it!’
Rubid swallowed the curse and inevitably ground his teeth. The instrument was getting faster and faster, a sign that the song was ending.
What will happen when the song ends? Do I still have to go round and round like a crazy asshole even after the music stops?
Rubid was using this moment to think nervously. Rena still had her hold onto Rubid, and suddenly spoke in a gentle voice.
“How about we make up?”
“What?”
“If we fight like this, we will both lose. So, let’s give up, one step at a time.”
She meant to end this fight-like dance and return to being a gentleman and a lady.
If Rubid still respects Rena, he will correct the previous insults to some extent. Of course, everyone would have doubts about this strange improvement in the relationship, but that was the responsibility of Rubid, who was eccentric and whimsical, and not Rena’s business.
So at this point, Rena had decided to forgive this stupid child.
“You, this…”
However, Rubid wasn’t ready to be forgiven.
At Rena’s generous suggestion, Rubid’s eyes widened in contrast. He did not swear out loud like he did before only because he had been dragged around and had become somewhat aware of his plight.
It was impossible to escape from this monstrous woman. It wasn’t that Rubid was weak. Although she is a seemingly slender beauty, she also had a considerable level of stamina to deal with him.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t beat Rena. He became upset and clenched his teeth.
“You don’t like my suggestion?”
She didn’t just ask, she grabbed Rubid’s hand and turned him around in a large movement.
‘Ugh!?’
Rubid, who had been following along involuntarily, felt his heels slip and slide. Feeling uncomfortable, he looked back and saw his feet draped over the edge of the champagne lake.
Rena, who had pushed him to the lakeside, smiled and asked.
“So?”
What that brief question meant was clear.
‘Damn it, what the…!’
To let the one who poured champagne fall into champagne.
Rena was only going to push Rubid into that lake when the music and dance were over. As proof of that, they were only spinning around the lake before this.
Rubid, who was forced to reconcile, ground his teeth. It was obviously more reasonable for him to secretly bow to one person than to be humiliated in front of everyone, but his sky-high pride did not allow it.
So Rubid looked down at Rena and growled low.
“Try this trick somewhere else.”
“Since that is your answer…”
Rena smiled beautifully and reached the climax of the music with Rubid, who did not reflect in the end.
The steps got faster and faster, and their spinning bodies gained momentum. It would not be strange if they bounced off at any time.
Rena went round and round, and the moment the music ended, she released Rubid’s hand.
‘Kuh…!’
With a feeling of being thrown, Rubid slid towards the lake. It was too late to change his position, so he closed his eyes tight in anticipation.
But the body that had been falling was suddenly still. Then he felt a hand supporting his waist.
Rubid, who had stopped falling, looked up in surprise, only to find Rena supporting his waist while smiling.
Rena looked at Rubid in glee, then pulled him back and helped him stand upright. She then took a step back and greeted him politely.
“Thank you for the wonderful dance. It was fun.”
Rena greeted him with a hand over her chest, just like a knight. Rubid, who was finally released, stroked his wrist with bewildered eyes.
A bright red handprint remained on his wrist. Rubid looked at his wrist and Rena’s bowed head and smiled involuntarily. He laughed for a long time, as if he had encountered something ridiculous, then slapped Rena with all his might.
‘Jakk!’
Bitter friction sounded.
But it wasn’t Rena’s cheek that Rubid hit. What his hand had hit was the palm that Rena had raised next to her face.
Rubid, whose slap was blocked, glared at Rena as if he would eat her alive. The nobles held their breath at the unexpected violence, while Rena let out a sigh.
“You don’t know how to reflect until the end.”
Rena spoke in pity and reached out to Rubid. Rubid slapped her hand with a grim face. However, her hand movement was merely a trick, the one with the real intention was her foot.
As Rubid grabbed her hand, Rena kicked at his ankle by moving her foot in a sweeping gesture.
Rubid lost his balance in an instant. His body collapsed and fell, and the long-awaited champagne burst was realized.
Instead of a cork stopper, she used the prince’s noble body as a medium.
.
.
.
With a loud sound, golden sprays spurted out.
As high waves hit the surface, white foam shimmered.
The scene reminded one of a glass of wine that had been raised so high, but because of an unexpected toast, the nobles turned numb and dropped their chins.
Rena turned around as she watched Rubid’s long platinum hair slide beneath the champagne lake. She then politely greeted the nobles who were looking at her.
“Pu ha ha!”
Applause rang out along with laughter.
The nobles turned their heads towards the sound and felt even more awkward, as the one who cheered at Rena was none other than Clavis.
He rejoiced like the audience watching a wonderful performance. As a result, the nobles fell into serious conflict. Because they couldn’t let the Cardinal clap alone like a fool, nor could they follow him and ridicule the Northern Prince.
It was a moment when the nobles could neither do this nor that.
Something between a roaring wind and lightning strikes surged sharply from the bottom of the lake, and a thunderous roar was briefly heard.
Then, the flowers floating in the lake flew into the air, and the floor cracked without any sign. The marble floor was split in all directions like a cake being cut, and champagne that filled the lake gushed out through the cracks.
“Uwaa!”
“Kaaagh!”
While the nobles were startled by the phenomenon, Clavis muttered happily.
“It seems that our prince is really angry.”
Rena looked back and murmured.
“That must have been difficult to do.”
Then she moved her gaze into the puddle that used to be a lake. At Rena’s provocation, Rubid’s eyes, which looked atrocious, shone even more fiercely.
His eyes were dyed pale blue.
100 years ago, the Kingdom of Gracia was destroyed.
It is not clear what happened before or after that. One day, the door of the abyss opened, and the dead attacked the living and spread death.
Neither the kingdom nor the church could stop the power of death. The kingdom fell like burning leaves, and the poor people of the kingdom suffocated to death in despair.
Then a miracle happened.
The last lineage of the collapsed dynasty, Nihil Gracia, launched a counterattack by slaughtering the dead.
After a fierce battle, the dead who had devoured the kingdom were scattered everywhere, and Nihil built the Empire Grandis Gracia on the ruins of the kingdom.
It was neither a sword nor a bow that the young emperor wielded for victory. It was the mercy that God bestowed upon the imperial family at the last moment, and the power to cut through all evil.
The chosen emperor saved the world with divine power, and gave this power to her bloodline.
That power was the foundation of the empire, and it was the reason and qualification for the reign of the Gracia imperial family.
“You should pray now.”
And the Northern Prince, Rubid Plenus Gracia, was one of the chosen ones who inherited that power.
“That I’ll let you off with an eyeball intact.”
Rubid stepped out of the empty lake and chewed his words.
As the drenched Rubid growled, an invisible pressure weighed on people’s shoulders. The merciless slash and the power that made the air feels heavy were all the powers of the imperial family.
However, Rena did not move and did not lose her smile.
“I’ll be in trouble since I only have two.”
“Then let me take both.”
Rubid stood right in front of Rena, staring at her like he’d kill her.
A lady clings to Clavis at the bloody sight.
“Your Grace, something like this is happening. Won’t you stop…”
“A big deal has already happened, will that guy stop just because he’s being told to?”
Clavis naturally ignored the lady’s words. His eyes lit up as he watched the confrontation between Rena and Rubid.
Rubid’s face was so bitter, like someone who was angry with life itself, while Rena’s eyes were still calm as she stood three or four spans in front of him.
It was an atmosphere where it would not be strange even if sword fighting emerged straight away. No. It could be considered lucky enough if it’s just a sword fight. The nobles knew from numerous cases in what form the anger of the imperial family might be expressed.
The frightened nobles backed away. Rubid’s mouth became more and more distorted. Whatever would happen in the near future would not be considered strange.
“My prince, I have come to meet you.”
The sudden sound felt like being splashed with cold water. It was a calm voice that broke the tension.
“You must see Her Majesty early tomorrow, let’s go back to rest early today.”
Because the hall was still, the sound was strangely clear. The nobles held their breath and turned their heads. A gentleman was walking into the entrance of the venue.
Rubid looked at the man and clicked his tongue. Then he lost his interest in Rena and turned away, while still seething with rage.
The nobles were surprised by his sudden change and sighed.
But the person who was most surprised was Rena.
Rena whispered faintly to the gentleman.
“Father…”
But no one heard it.
It was Marquis Ruber who was approaching from outside.
About half an hour ago, Uni was in her room eating sweets given out by lower-ranking officials in the palace.
While enjoying the luxury of coveting the royal family’s munchies, she heard the door open. Of course, Uni knew that it must be Rena returning, so she leaned her head towards the door.
“You came earlier than expected, my lady!”
Then she threw away the sweets and hurriedly approached.
“Wait a minute, what’s this? Ugh, you reek of alcohol!”
Uni was astonished by Rena’s ignorant appearance. Wet hair, smudged make-up, stained dress, and even the smell of alcohol vibrating throughout her body.
Uni didn’t know where to start, so her mouth just kept twitching. Rena faced her and said calmly.
“I will explain later. Help me prepare.”
“Prepare?”
“Prepare to go out again.”
The unexpected mojo made Uni’s eyes even more bewildered.
But Rena was still calm, so the matter shouldn’t be that serious. That was Rena’s usual expression when she was just a little angry.
“Are you going back to the ballroom?”
Uni asked in confusion. She didn’t know what’s going on, but this shouldn’t be the best course of action.
Hair and makeup can be fixed in a hurry, but it would take hours to change a dress. There’s also another method, which is by hiding the flaws, but the result would look bad.
As Uni was still perplexed, Rena only gave a simple answer.
“We don’t have time to change my dress, so please take out my uniform.”
Uni’s eyes twinkled at the word uniform.
The uniform is also suitable for a prom. Besides, it can be changed more quickly than a dress. There’s no need to reapply makeup, and there’s no need to inflate the hair.
After understanding her will, Uni hurriedly ran to the closet.
A short while passed. Uni, who had taken out the Southern uniform, asked as she took off Rena’s dress.
“But how did you become like this?”
“The gentleman who sent me the invitation was more mischievous than I thought.”
“It was a man?”
“Yes, and a very handsome one.”
Rena explained lightly while washing her face with cold water.
Uni also helped her prepare in earnest. The disheveled hair was well combed and tied together, the smudged makeup was completely removed and she reapplied a new one minimally.
After that, the long-awaited uniform was unfolded.
The top of the uniform consisted of a white shirt with a collar up to the neck and a royal blue coat in the form of a corset that was padded at the waist.
The bottoms were white trousers that were tight to the legs. The characteristic of this uniform was that the thighs were clearly emphasized due to the black boots that went up to the knees.
The four dukes wore different types of uniforms. And the uniform of the South was rated as the most sensual among them.
“By the way, is it okay if you wear this out at this time?”
Uni was making a small fuss while helping Rena change clothes.
This splendid uniform was not purchased by Rena, but a gift from the Southern Duke. Can one just wear that kind of clothes so casually and go out?
While Uni was becoming timid with worry, Rena smiled as if everything was fine.
“It’s fine. I’m going to wear it anyway, right?”
“That’s true, but we didn’t plan to wear it this soon.”
“Things don’t always go as planned…”
“My lady…”
“Besides, the Southern Duke would hate me for being humiliated like this.”
Rena laughed and added.
In fact, Rena had no intention of wearing a dress and a uniform on the same day.
In the beginning, she had planned to wear it in a timely manner to escalate her presence, however, the plan went awry when a little boy named Rubid poured cold water on her.
She had retreated after trying hard to keep her dignity, but since she had already become a laughing stock, can the same person show up in uniform the next day and still expect to be respected?
It’s true that there is another way, which is by revealing her true value slowly. However, that wasn’t Rena’s preferred method.
“I was wrong from the start for wearing a dress to fight a wild dog.”
Having finished changing, Rena put her cloak on as the finishing touch.
“The only thing I have to do today is to show them…”
Rena repeated this sentence and vowed to rip off the maniac’s throat just as she would a dead.
And after some time, Rena had faithfully fulfilled that vow.
***
“Keugh!”
Rubid, who had endured his best, was once again dragged by Rena.
He stumbled a lot, but he immediately hit the floor and took steps, pretending that nothing was wrong. Thanks to the hard work, Rubid’s struggles were still seen as dancing.
However, the noble’s eyes were gradually filled with curiosity.
‘Damn it!’
Rubid swallowed the curse and inevitably ground his teeth. The instrument was getting faster and faster, a sign that the song was ending.
What will happen when the song ends? Do I still have to go round and round like a crazy asshole even after the music stops?
Rubid was using this moment to think nervously. Rena still had her hold onto Rubid, and suddenly spoke in a gentle voice.
“How about we make up?”
“What?”
“If we fight like this, we will both lose. So, let’s give up, one step at a time.”
She meant to end this fight-like dance and return to being a gentleman and a lady.
If Rubid still respects Rena, he will correct the previous insults to some extent. Of course, everyone would have doubts about this strange improvement in the relationship, but that was the responsibility of Rubid, who was eccentric and whimsical, and not Rena’s business.
So at this point, Rena had decided to forgive this stupid child.
“You, this…”
However, Rubid wasn’t ready to be forgiven.
At Rena’s generous suggestion, Rubid’s eyes widened in contrast. He did not swear out loud like he did before only because he had been dragged around and had become somewhat aware of his plight.
It was impossible to escape from this monstrous woman. It wasn’t that Rubid was weak. Although she is a seemingly slender beauty, she also had a considerable level of stamina to deal with him.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t beat Rena. He became upset and clenched his teeth.
“You don’t like my suggestion?”
She didn’t just ask, she grabbed Rubid’s hand and turned him around in a large movement.
‘Ugh!?’
Rubid, who had been following along involuntarily, felt his heels slip and slide. Feeling uncomfortable, he looked back and saw his feet draped over the edge of the champagne lake.
Rena, who had pushed him to the lakeside, smiled and asked.
“So?”
What that brief question meant was clear.
‘Damn it, what the…!’
To let the one who poured champagne fall into champagne.
Rena was only going to push Rubid into that lake when the music and dance were over. As proof of that, they were only spinning around the lake before this.
Rubid, who was forced to reconcile, ground his teeth. It was obviously more reasonable for him to secretly bow to one person than to be humiliated in front of everyone, but his sky-high pride did not allow it.
So Rubid looked down at Rena and growled low.
“Try this trick somewhere else.”
“Since that is your answer…”
Rena smiled beautifully and reached the climax of the music with Rubid, who did not reflect in the end.
The steps got faster and faster, and their spinning bodies gained momentum. It would not be strange if they bounced off at any time.
Rena went round and round, and the moment the music ended, she released Rubid’s hand.
‘Kuh…!’
With a feeling of being thrown, Rubid slid towards the lake. It was too late to change his position, so he closed his eyes tight in anticipation.
But the body that had been falling was suddenly still. Then he felt a hand supporting his waist.
Rubid, who had stopped falling, looked up in surprise, only to find Rena supporting his waist while smiling.
Rena looked at Rubid in glee, then pulled him back and helped him stand upright. She then took a step back and greeted him politely.
“Thank you for the wonderful dance. It was fun.”
Rena greeted him with a hand over her chest, just like a knight. Rubid, who was finally released, stroked his wrist with bewildered eyes.
A bright red handprint remained on his wrist. Rubid looked at his wrist and Rena’s bowed head and smiled involuntarily. He laughed for a long time, as if he had encountered something ridiculous, then slapped Rena with all his might.
‘Jakk!’
Bitter friction sounded.
But it wasn’t Rena’s cheek that Rubid hit. What his hand had hit was the palm that Rena had raised next to her face.
Rubid, whose slap was blocked, glared at Rena as if he would eat her alive. The nobles held their breath at the unexpected violence, while Rena let out a sigh.
“You don’t know how to reflect until the end.”
Rena spoke in pity and reached out to Rubid. Rubid slapped her hand with a grim face. However, her hand movement was merely a trick, the one with the real intention was her foot.
As Rubid grabbed her hand, Rena kicked at his ankle by moving her foot in a sweeping gesture.
Rubid lost his balance in an instant. His body collapsed and fell, and the long-awaited champagne burst was realized.
Instead of a cork stopper, she used the prince’s noble body as a medium.
.
.
.
With a loud sound, golden sprays spurted out.
As high waves hit the surface, white foam shimmered.
The scene reminded one of a glass of wine that had been raised so high, but because of an unexpected toast, the nobles turned numb and dropped their chins.
Rena turned around as she watched Rubid’s long platinum hair slide beneath the champagne lake. She then politely greeted the nobles who were looking at her.
“Pu ha ha!”
Applause rang out along with laughter.
The nobles turned their heads towards the sound and felt even more awkward, as the one who cheered at Rena was none other than Clavis.
He rejoiced like the audience watching a wonderful performance. As a result, the nobles fell into serious conflict. Because they couldn’t let the Cardinal clap alone like a fool, nor could they follow him and ridicule the Northern Prince.
It was a moment when the nobles could neither do this nor that.
Something between a roaring wind and lightning strikes surged sharply from the bottom of the lake, and a thunderous roar was briefly heard.
Then, the flowers floating in the lake flew into the air, and the floor cracked without any sign. The marble floor was split in all directions like a cake being cut, and champagne that filled the lake gushed out through the cracks.
“Uwaa!”
“Kaaagh!”
While the nobles were startled by the phenomenon, Clavis muttered happily.
“It seems that our prince is really angry.”
Rena looked back and murmured.
“That must have been difficult to do.”
Then she moved her gaze into the puddle that used to be a lake. At Rena’s provocation, Rubid’s eyes, which looked atrocious, shone even more fiercely.
His eyes were dyed pale blue.
100 years ago, the Kingdom of Gracia was destroyed.
It is not clear what happened before or after that. One day, the door of the abyss opened, and the dead attacked the living and spread death.
Neither the kingdom nor the church could stop the power of death. The kingdom fell like burning leaves, and the poor people of the kingdom suffocated to death in despair.
Then a miracle happened.
The last lineage of the collapsed dynasty, Nihil Gracia, launched a counterattack by slaughtering the dead.
After a fierce battle, the dead who had devoured the kingdom were scattered everywhere, and Nihil built the Empire Grandis Gracia on the ruins of the kingdom.
It was neither a sword nor a bow that the young emperor wielded for victory. It was the mercy that God bestowed upon the imperial family at the last moment, and the power to cut through all evil.
The chosen emperor saved the world with divine power, and gave this power to her bloodline.
That power was the foundation of the empire, and it was the reason and qualification for the reign of the Gracia imperial family.
“You should pray now.”
And the Northern Prince, Rubid Plenus Gracia, was one of the chosen ones who inherited that power.
“That I’ll let you off with an eyeball intact.”
Rubid stepped out of the empty lake and chewed his words.
As the drenched Rubid growled, an invisible pressure weighed on people’s shoulders. The merciless slash and the power that made the air feels heavy were all the powers of the imperial family.
However, Rena did not move and did not lose her smile.
“I’ll be in trouble since I only have two.”
“Then let me take both.”
Rubid stood right in front of Rena, staring at her like he’d kill her.
A lady clings to Clavis at the bloody sight.
“Your Grace, something like this is happening. Won’t you stop…”
“A big deal has already happened, will that guy stop just because he’s being told to?”
Clavis naturally ignored the lady’s words. His eyes lit up as he watched the confrontation between Rena and Rubid.
Rubid’s face was so bitter, like someone who was angry with life itself, while Rena’s eyes were still calm as she stood three or four spans in front of him.
It was an atmosphere where it would not be strange even if sword fighting emerged straight away. No. It could be considered lucky enough if it’s just a sword fight. The nobles knew from numerous cases in what form the anger of the imperial family might be expressed.
The frightened nobles backed away. Rubid’s mouth became more and more distorted. Whatever would happen in the near future would not be considered strange.
“My prince, I have come to meet you.”
The sudden sound felt like being splashed with cold water. It was a calm voice that broke the tension.
“You must see Her Majesty early tomorrow, let’s go back to rest early today.”
Because the hall was still, the sound was strangely clear. The nobles held their breath and turned their heads. A gentleman was walking into the entrance of the venue.
Rubid looked at the man and clicked his tongue. Then he lost his interest in Rena and turned away, while still seething with rage.
The nobles were surprised by his sudden change and sighed.
But the person who was most surprised was Rena.
Rena whispered faintly to the gentleman.
“Father…”
But no one heard it.
It was Marquis Ruber who was approaching from outside.
