Episode 27| Duke Edwards slight interest
The Royal Banquet continued in full swing.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the grand hall in golden light while nobles from various kingdoms conversed elegantly beneath the music of violins and classical instruments.
Riley remained at Raymond's side gracefully, maintaining the image of the Empire's future Crown Princess perfectly.
Every smile.
Every nod.
Every carefully chosen word.
It was all part of the act.
Or at least that was what Riley kept telling herself.
---
"You're doing surprisingly well," Raymond whispered beside her, amusement lingering in his eyes.
Riley smiled without looking at him.
"I grew up scamming rich people, Raymond. Blending into high society is easier than you think."
Raymond chuckled softly.
"That somehow does not reassure me."
---
Before Riley could respond, the atmosphere in the hall subtly shifted.
The nobles parted instinctively.
A tall figure dressed in black formal attire walked through the crowd with composed elegance.
Duke Edward White.
The Third Male Lead.
And unfortunately for Riley-
another problem.
---
The Duke's silver eyes settled directly on her.
Not once wavering.
Not even for a second.
---
Raymond immediately frowned.
"...What does he want now?"
Riley sighed internally.
"...Probably peace and prosperity for the Empire," she muttered sarcastically.
---
The Duke stopped before them.
He bowed respectfully toward Raymond first before turning toward Riley.
Then-
he extended his hand.
---
"Lady Riley Scott," Duke White spoke calmly, his deep voice carrying effortlessly through the surrounding chatter.
"May I have this dance?"
---
The surrounding nobles immediately quieted down.
After all-
this was Duke White.
The Empire's most respected Duke.
A man who rarely danced with anyone.
---
Raymond's expression darkened slightly.
Not enough for others to notice-
but Riley noticed immediately.
---
She looked toward Raymond briefly.
Then subtly nodded as if to say:
It's fine.
---
Raymond exhaled quietly before stepping aside reluctantly.
"...Don't steal my fiancée away permanently, Duke."
---
Duke White allowed a small smile.
"No promises."
---
Riley placed her hand in his.
The moment their skin touched-
the Duke's fingers tightened slightly.
Almost unconsciously.
As if confirming she was real.
---
He guided her toward the center of the ballroom.
The classical music shifted into a softer melody as couples made room for them.
All eyes naturally gravitated toward the pair.
They simply looked...
beautiful together.
---
At first-
silence.
Neither spoke.
Only the sounds of the orchestra filled the space between them.
---
Duke White's hand rested carefully against Riley's waist as he guided her movements flawlessly.
He was a surprisingly elegant dancer.
Every step controlled.
Refined.
Steady.
---
Riley matched him naturally.
Years of pretending and adapting in her previous life made it easy to mimic nobility.
---
Then finally-
the Duke spoke.
---
"...I feel like I know you."
---
Riley blinked slightly.
"...Your Grace?"
---
His silver eyes remained fixed on hers.
---
"Your presence."
A pause.
"Your radiance."
---
The Duke twirled her gently before pulling her back toward him with graceful precision.
---
"...You remind me a lot of your brother."
---
Riley laughed nervously.
A dangerous topic.
Very dangerous.
---
"Well," she smiled lightly, "we are said to be very similar."
---
The Duke studied her expression carefully.
As if trying to see beyond the surface.
Beyond her smile.
---
"...Too similar," he murmured quietly.
---
Riley pretended not to hear that part.
---
The music continued.
The Duke lifted her elegantly according to the rhythm before setting her down again smoothly.
The surrounding nobles watched in admiration.
Some even whispered that they looked like royalty already.
---
Then-
unexpectedly-
the Duke spoke again.
---
"Is there a possibility..."
His voice lowered slightly.
"...to get to know you more?"
---
Riley smiled radiantly.
The perfect noble smile.
---
"Whatever do you mean, Your Grace?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"I am the Crown Prince's fiancée. Sooner or later, when I become Crown Princess, the entire Empire will get to know me more."
---
The Duke's lips curved slightly.
But there was something melancholic hidden beneath it.
---
"I do not mean in that sense."
---
He pulled her slightly closer during the next turn of the dance.
Close enough for only her to hear.
---
"I mean..."
A pause.
"...in a more intimate manner, Lady Riley Scott."
---
Riley nearly missed a step.
---
Oh no.
---
Her smile stiffened slightly.
---
"Like I said, Your Grace..."
She maintained her composure carefully.
"I am the fiancée of the Crown Prince."
---
Another elegant turn.
---
"Unless you wish to become enemies with Raymond..."
She laughed softly.
"...I do not think that is possible."
---
The Duke stared at her quietly.
Then unexpectedly-
he smiled.
A genuinely helpless smile.
---
"It was worth a try."
---
Riley blinked slightly.
---
"But..."
His hand brushed slightly against her waist as he pulled her closer according to the dance.
"...that does not mean I will stop."
---
Riley's heart skipped.
Not romantically.
Out of pure stress.
---
"For some reason..."
The Duke's voice softened.
"...as this dance is about to end..."
---
His silver eyes locked onto hers.
Filled with something dangerously sincere.
---
"...I do not want to ever let you go."
---
The surrounding atmosphere suddenly felt heavier.
More intimate.
Too intimate.
---
Riley could physically feel Raymond's gaze burning from across the room.
---
And right on cue-
the Crown Prince approached.
---
"I think my fiancée is tired now, Duke White."
Raymond's voice was pleasant.
Too pleasant.
The dangerous kind of pleasant.
---
"I'll take over from here."
---
The Duke looked toward Raymond.
The tension between the two men was subtle-
but sharp enough to cut glass.
---
For a moment neither moved.
Then finally-
the Duke stepped back slowly.
Releasing Riley's waist.
---
But before leaving the dance floor-
he spoke one last time.
---
"If you must know..."
He looked directly at Riley.
"...I am your biggest supporter, Lady Riley Scott."
---
A pause.
---
"His Majesty the Emperor himself can attest to that."
---
Riley blinked softly.
Caught slightly off-guard by the sincerity in his voice.
---
Then-
the Duke smiled faintly.
A lonely kind of smile.
---
And stepped away from the dance floor.
Leaving behind a strange feeling of quiet loss.
As though he had just walked away from something precious he could never truly have.
---
Riley watched his retreating figure silently.
---
"...You attract trouble far too naturally," Raymond muttered beside her.
---
Riley immediately frowned.
"I attract trouble?"
She pointed toward herself dramatically.
"I was minding my own business!"
---
Raymond scoffed softly.
"Minding your own business while making every important person in the Empire fall for you somehow."
---
Riley opened her mouth-
then paused.
---
"...That actually sounds bad when you phrase it like that."
---
Raymond let out a low laugh before gently pulling her back toward him.
---
"Well..."
His eyes softened slightly.
"...You're still my fiancée at the end of the day."
---
Riley looked up at him quietly.
---
The orchestra continued playing.
The banquet carried on.
The nobles whispered.
The political games deepened.
---
But somewhere within the grand ballroom-
unnoticed by almost everyone-
the High Priest watched silently from afar.
And beneath his shadow-
something sinister smiled.