TPOSAWB 63

The Price of Saving A Wicked Beast

Translator: Rae

The banquet hall in the imperial palace was packed with people. Most were nobles from the North, but among them were also central aristocrats of the capital and officials from the Council of Nobility.

Among them were Count Afort and his wife. Surrounded by people from factions that rarely associated with one another, Count Afort glanced around with an awkward expression.

Though he had no idea why the grand ducal house had invited him here, he willingly sent back his acceptance. He worried that refusing might somehow bring harm to Adelaide.

The count had little ambition for power, but being the father of the Crown Princess forced him, whether he wished it or not, to read the direction in which the times were moving. The atmosphere in the capital was maintaining a precarious balance. Rather than creating unnecessary controversy and putting Adelaide in a difficult position, it was better that they themselves be placed at risk. As ridiculous as it was, parental love was supposed to be that way.

“Dear, nothing has happened to Adelaide, has it?”

The countess asked anxiously. Though the count had intended to attend alone because of how uncomfortable the occasion would be, she insisted on accompanying him, if only to see Adelaide from afar.

After Adelaide became Crown Princess, the two had been able to meet her only once. It was when Killian fell from the bedroom balcony.

After that, Killian and Adelaide immediately left on retreat, and once they returned, events spiraled rapidly due to the emperor’s poisoning incident.

Contrary to Killian’s words that they could visit their daughter whenever they wished, that day had been the last time the count and countess saw Adelaide.

From the day he had taken their child away, Adelaide had remained a constant ache in the countess’s heart. The guilt of having bowed to Killian’s intimidation and failing to protect her daughter haunted her day and night.

The image of Adelaide, gaunt beyond measure on the one day they met after the wedding, lingered in her mind and would not fade.

“Don’t worry too much. If something had happened, she surely would have written something in her letters.”

Yet the count’s expression as he spoke was just as dark.

After the day they met Adelaide, Killian allowed them to exchange letters. Even though it was far better than the past, when they did not even know if she was alive, the countess still spent sleepless nights worrying whenever a letter arrived.

The letters said that Killian had become a completely different person and that she was living well with him, telling them not to worry, but the countess did not trust those words at all. Instead, she wept, fearing that Adelaide might be hiding some unspeakable hardship so as not to worry them. Every time a letter arrived, it was followed by guilt and self-reproach.

“Everyone is watching us. Act naturally. You know that the more anxious you appear, the more needless rumors will arise.”

The Countess nodded heavily at his words. She smiled at those whose eyes met hers and tried to maintain her composure as her husband advised, yet her heart only beat more anxiously.

***

By the time Adelaide and Killian arrived, the ball was already in full swing.

The fact that Katarina’s recovery ball was being held on the very day the posters bearing Viscount Romeo’s name appeared could not possibly be a coincidence.

Facing Fabian without knowing exactly what he was planning was dangerous, yet it was equally impossible to ignore the invitation.

Everyone in the capital knew of what had happened in the Glass Garden. The Crown Princess accusing Lady Brundel’s necklace made of Serrem gemstone had already begun to crack the relationship between the imperial family and the North.

Due to the posters plastered across the capital, people had already begun mocking the Crown Princess’s supposed foolishness. They claimed she had fallen for Viscount Romeo’s scheme and harassed the innocent future grand duchess.

As hosts of the ball, Fabian and Katarina warmly welcomed Adelaide and Killian as they arrived in the hall, at least on the surface.

“It has been such a long time, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

Katarina greeted her with a bright smile and perfect courtesy, yet her sharp gaze gleamed as if she had no intention of hiding it. The attention of all the nobles gathered in the hall converged on the four of them.

“…It has indeed been a while, Lady Brundell.”

Adeleid reluctantly accepted the greeting. Katarina leaned against Fabian’s arm with a triumphant expression, looking down on her with undisguised disdain.

“You must have heard as well, Your Highness. The dreadful news that the father of Dame Romeo, who served as your escort, attempted to incite a rebellion.”

Adelaide’s face stiffened. Seeing her give no reply, a trace of mockery flickered through Katarina’s eyes.

“There is no need for an apology. You are innocent and pure, Your Highness, guilty only of being deceived by the father and daughter of Romeo’s Family. But still, Your Highness, you must learn to judge people more carefully. I worry you may suffer hardship if you allow just anyone by your side.”

Though her words sounded as if she were concerned for Adelaide, in truth she was eager to tear her down. Adelaide could not bring herself to respond.

She wanted to tell her to stop insulting Rose and Viscount Romeo at once, but without any proof, speaking up would only corner her further.

As Katarina stared arrogantly at the silent Adelaide and was about to speak again, Fabian gently stroked her hand and smiled.

“There are many eyes upon us, Katarina. Stop putting the Crown Princess in an uncomfortable position.”

As he spoke, Fabian smiled warmly at Adelaide.

“It has been some time, Your Highness the Crown Princess. Have you been well?”

“Yes. It has been a while, Grand Duke.”

“I would love to speak with you at length out of fondness, but I doubt His Highness the Crown Prince would permit it.”

His gaze flicked briefly toward Killian. The sight of him standing stiffly at Adelaide’s side as though he were her personal guard was almost laughable. Seeing him so rigid with tension, Fabian felt an urge to revise his plans. He found himself momentarily curious about what expression would appear on that arrogant man’s face if Adelaide were to be harmed.

“Katarina, today’s events must have been quite a shock. Help Her Highness the Crown Princess rest comfortably.”

“...What? Me?”

Katarina openly showed displeasure at Fabian’s words. But before she could say anything, Killian spoke first.

“I refuse. We will be leaving shortly, so it would be best not to concern yourself.”

At the blunt response, Fabian smiled with a troubled look, his eyebrows drooping.

“Can that truly be? I know well that Your Highness does not hold me in favor. But if you leave like this, people will continue to gossip about matters between my fiancée and the Crown Princess.”

At some point, even the music stopped, and a quiet silence spread through the hall. Everyone present was listening to his words. Fabian smiled inwardly and continued, spreading his arms.

“That is not what I desire. The imperial family and the North are closely related by blood. They can be called the two pillars that support the Empire. Therefore, I hope that my fiancé, who will become Grand Duchess, and the Crown Princess will forget past grievances and maintain a good relationship.”

I hope that the Crown Prince Rain will forget the resentment of the past and maintain a good relationship." 

Many nodded at his words. Fabian smiled gently and gestured toward the upper level.

Staircases leading to the upper level were placed throughout the hall. It was a kind of resting space prepared for guests to relax briefly after enjoying the ball.

From the railings, one could look down over the lower floor at a glance, and sofas placed here and there allowed guests to lie down or lean back and rest.

Once again, it was the same dilemma. Both refusal and acceptance felt like the wrong choice. As Killian glared at him with clenched teeth, Fabian answered with a deliberate smile.

He pushed Katarina's back with a little force. Katarina looked up at him with an irritated expression as he was. The wonder of what's wrong with him was all over his face. 

He pressed lightly against Katarina’s back. She looked up at him with an expression full of irritation, her face plainly showing her confusion at his behavior.

However, she could not defy Fabian’s will. Katarina knew well that, because of the necklace incident, both her own position and her father’s had become precarious within the grand ducal house.

“Shall we go, Your Highness?”

With a face full of displeasure, she extended her hand toward Adelaide.

***

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