The Story Is Not Over Yet - Chapter 106

He must have been walking properly just a moment ago, his eyes were fine, and his pronunciation was straight, but he was drunk…?

As she thought so, Livia glanced at Zagnac suspiciously, but she couldn’t see him properly because he had buried his face in Azela’s hair.

“When he’s drunk, he sometimes says things that don’t make sense because some people is weak to alcohol.… I’m sorry for showing you rudeness, Princess. Is it okay if I give the Duke some air and come back?”

“Ah… Ple-please do that.”

Livia nodded bewilderedly, and Azela briefly said, ‘Thank you.’ It seemed that Zagnac was indeed drunk as he was following Azela’s steps.

However, Livia saw for a moment… The moment he passed her, she saw Zagnac’s eyes that were too wide open. A gaze with a murderous look, as if it were sending a warning not to intervene in this moment.

Livia turned her head and let out a small breath. She realized that she was not welcome anywhere again.

* * *

“I didn’t know you would make me drunk.”

“I didn’t know you would do that there either. Think of the people who see you.”

Zagnac lightly shrugged his shoulders at her nagging. His mood was completely restored. With a smirk on his lips, he urged her to continue the matter that they were talking about, seemingly wanting to hear that she was thinking of him.

Azela sighed, carefully checked that no one was listening, and then spoke.

“First of all, I knew because Princess Livia told me in advance.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

“And… You might think it’s too one-dimensional, but if you find out and politely refuse the Emperor.”

“If?”

“I thought the Emperor would try to kill you right away. So, I thought it would be a good idea to buy some time first.”

“Trying to save the devil… that’s not a bad idea for a human.”

He replied mockingly in a laugh.

At that meaningless, mischievous smile, Azela let a small glare towards Zagnac through her narrowed eyes.

“How long were you planning on buying time by ‘buying time’? Until the Emperor dies?”

“That’s…”

“It’s not a problem that can be solved by just avoiding it.”

“Until I can protect you whole.”

Zagnac, who was laughing, stiffened his body when he listened to the last words. It seemed like something he hadn’t even thought of. Azela, embarrassed by his gaze at her, turned her head and continued again.

“Right now, if the Emperor’s assassin continues to come with determination, I’ll become a corpse and die with you, let alone protect you.”

At those words, he finally raised his hand and covered his mouth. His face, bathed in the soft moonlight, looked strangely red. Silence passed for a moment before Zagnac, who had covered his mouth, bowed his head and uttered.

“Don’t worry. Even if the Emperor’s assassin comes, I won’t let you die.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. As a human, Duke Ferial is someone who knows how to use a sword, but he’s not the kind of person who can beat someone that skilled. That’s why you hired me for a ruse.”

“That’s right.”

As Zagnac nodded his head obediently, his gaze was vividly dangerous as the narrow pupils were shining like beasts.

“But.”

“But…?”

“If you’re in danger, I won’t put you in danger, even if I kill every human in this Empire.”

Azela’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of that beastly sincerity. Even if she wanted to erase her feelings, he always made it impossible to erase them like this… Even if she tried to avert his gaze, he always took her gaze with all his might.

“Killing all humans… That would be more dangerous.”

She laughed, taking his words as a joke. It was an awkward laugh to forget her pounding heart. Perhaps he understood her, Zagnac laughed along with her.

Azela’s heart beat faster at the sound of his wonderful laugh.

“Well, that was the reason anyway, so please follow my plan. If you go in again, be sure to tell Princess Livia that you were drunk and rude. The Princess is innocent.”

“It’s nice that you worked hard for me, but I’ll take care of the rest.”

“What? Wait…!”

In spite of her bewildered call, Zagnac gave a pleasant smile and turned his body around, and stepped inside.

‘I wouldn’t even think like this if I thought he’d handle it himself!’

Even though Azela hurriedly tried to stop him, she couldn’t keep up with his light steps. Zagnac, who looked excited, unlike before, entered the party hall so quickly that she couldn’t help it any longer.

Watching his back with a worried gaze, she saw a sword.

There was only one thing that could be done… She had no choice but to come to her senses and protect him.

Contrary to her concerns, Zagnac stepped inside and apologized to Livia and the nobles around, acting as a perfectly drunk person. Fortunately, everyone was fooled by his perfect acting, and by the time the party was halfway through, the atmosphere was ripe.

“I don’t know what to say about how happy I am that everyone has gathered like this to celebrate my birthday.”

The Emperor soon stepped forward with a glass of champagne. As he raised his champagne glass, all the nobles who were talking picked up their champagne glasses, too, and held them high toward the sky.

Zagnac and Azela also raised their champagne glasses. Even so, the Emperor recited the words he had been preparing for a long time.

“…And one thing, I have good news I want to tell you.”

The time had finally come…

Azela suddenly turned her gaze to the side and looked at Zagnac. Although he knew everything, Zagnac just put a gentle smile on his lips.

Then, the Emperor beckoned to Livia, who had been standing behind him with a shy face, to step forward. Even at this moment, she was wearing the dress and shoes Azela had given her. There was no expensive jewelry on her body.

It was something that could infer how she was treated in the Imperial Palace.

“Perhaps those in the know have already known.”

The Emperor smiled benevolently.

Hohoho, waves of laughter leaked out among some of the nobles. They glanced at Zagnac, who was standing beside Azela. It seemed that some of them, including the noble who had approached him earlier, already knew about it.

Amidst the laughter, the Emperor’s majestic voice spread.

“Duke Ferial and Princess Livia are getting married.”

The Emperor gestured at Zagnac, and a bright smile appeared on his face as if he was now his forever dog.

Livia was smiling, but she looked somehow pathetic. She didn’t love Zagnac, still, she had no choice but to take this path. There was no wonderful man in real life who would save her like the romance book she read every day.

“Congratulations.”

No one knew that this marriage was not without love. Nonetheless, they congratulated Livia and Zagnac because this was normal for such a society.

“Duke Ferial, to marry the Princess!”

“Congratulations!”

The sound of applause spread widely. After receiving congratulations, the Emperor took Livia down and walked toward Zagnac. With each step he took, people gave way to him, like the parting of the Red Sea.

“Duke Ferial.”

The Emperor stood in front of Zagnac and smiled as he placed Livia next to him. It was a situation that a normal human being could not expect to experience, as it was very rare for an Emperor of an empire to do this.

“What a pleasure to the eyes. You match well.”

“…Thank you, father.”

Standing beside Zagnac, Livia blushed and bowed her ladylike head towards the Emperor.

Azela, who had been pushed behind by the people before she knew it, saw the two standing opposite each other. Perhaps this would have been a happy ending… he wouldn’t develop feelings for Livia, and she won’t develop feelings for Zagnac either.

Nevertheless, it was clear that Livia would be of great help to him in many ways. First of all, she was someone who would strengthen the position of the human Duke Ferial. Besides, she was someone who, if done well, could steadily fill his human energy.

…Even if Azela suddenly disappeared, he would not cry. He wouldn’t even be sad. So, in a way, this might be the best happy ending for the two of them.

As she thought so, Azela frowned and took a step behind her.