Chapter 521: Authority

Just as the silver-haired young beauty and the blond “young beauty” were ravenously demolishing food together at the edge of the crowd where no one paid attention—while the blond “young beauty” suffered repeated knee strikes from the silver-haired one—the atmosphere in the hall quietly shifted.

As the ball continued, the greetings and exchanges among the guests temporarily came to a stop. The display of brotherly affection between the two princes ended, and the royal orchestra finally began to play a flowing classical melody.

Polite gentlemen bent at the waist to invite their partners, stepping onto the center of the hall to dance elegant social dances. Unmarried youths, meanwhile, drifted along the edges of the hunting ground, searching for the prey that caught their fancy.

In a sense, unlike the atmosphere that had been deliberately heated earlier, this was the real main act of the ball. Yet under such special circumstances, the main act instead became something few paid attention to—except for a handful of young people just stepping into the social arena. At most, it served as mere entertainment amid clashing blades.

Given Celicia’s appearance and status, the social dance segment naturally made her a focal point once again. But now that everyone knew the Princess already had a fiancé, and given her universally known cold temperament, all were well aware that the chance of a successful invitation was pitifully low. As such, no one dared to speak up.

Instead, it was Muen beside her whose face twitched as he rejected the third invitation of the night.

“Quite popular,” Celicia remarked meaningfully.

“I’d rather be uglier right now,” Muen said with a bitter face, silently regretting why he had agreed to Celicia’s utterly cursed idea.

The looks those adolescent boys gave off—thick with hormonal fervor—not only made his skin crawl, but also dragged his thoughts toward some unpleasant memories from the past.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before Muen finally noticed movement on the side of the two princes.

“Get ready. Imperial Brother Albert should be leaving soon,” Celicia said.

“Oh? Why are you so sure?” Muen asked in curiosity.

“Just watch. I understand my Imperial Brother Andrew’s temperament far better than you do.”

Celicia swirled the red wine in her glass, leaned against the wall, and closed her eyes with an expression of sheer boredom.

......

......

“Imperial Brother Albert, would you like to dance?”

After the music began, Andrew suddenly made a seemingly sincere suggestion. “A ball is meant for dancing, after all.”

“Dance...”

The corner of Albert’s eye twitched slightly. He tightened his grip on his cane, then glanced at the maid supporting him at his side.

The maid had her head lowered, hardly daring to breathe in such a setting—but surely not to the extent of being completely unnoticeable.

A patient who needed support to walk and had to lean on a cane—could he dance?

Yet Andrew acted as though he truly didn’t see any of it at all, enthusiastically calling out to the surrounding crowd in a loud voice:

“Is there young lady from a noble house willing to share a dance with my elder brother?”

The crowd exchanged looks. A clueless young girl, hearing the chance to dance with such a handsome prince, brightened at once. After all, a social dance was the best opportunity to leave a good impression... but just as she was about to raise her hand, the hand was pressed down firmly by a brother or father beside her.

What a joke. Though Prince Andrew wore an expectant smile now, if you raised your hand at a time like this—wouldn’t you risk earning his resentment?

Anyone with half an eye could tell that this was nothing more than Andrew deliberately seizing an excuse to humiliate his imperial elder brother in public after the earlier display of brotherly kindness had ended.

More importantly, it was a way to assert his present “authority” before everyone.

And Prince Andrew was still the regent. The ailing Emperor had not openly declared support for the eldest prince. Under such circumstances, Andrew did indeed possess that authority.

So silence followed.

Watching the surrounding guests remain wordless, a trace of satisfaction surfaced in Andrew’s eyes. Yet he put on a show of anger and said:

“What’s wrong with you people? Are you looking down on my imperial brother because his body is weak now, because he can barely even walk, so none of you are willing to ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) dance with him? How disgraceful!”

“......”

No one dared respond.

After drawing a deep breath, Albert still spoke in an even tone:

“Andrew, if you have nothing else, may I take my leave for now? I’m feeling slightly unwell and truly cannot remain here any longer.”

As he spoke, Albert coughed several times in succession. The maid beside him hurried to gently pat his back, helping him steady his breathing.

That visibly weak posture seemed to corroborate his words. Even Andrew had no grounds to detain him any longer, and could only say with faint regret:

“What a pity. I rather wanted to see Imperial Brother’s elegant dancing.”

Someone nearby snickered, though the laughter blended into the music and was hard to catch.

“My dancing truly isn’t any good, but...”

Albert suddenly looked straight into Andrew’s eyes and spoke earnestly.

“If Andrew has any questions regarding state affairs, you may come to me. I dare say that in this matter, I still possess a bit of talent. After all... what everyone hopes for is surely the Empire’s continued strengthening, is it not?”

“...Indeed. A strong Empire is what we all hope for,”

Andrew’s smiling expression froze abruptly, as though someone had precisely struck a sore spot.

Anyone entangled by the royal curse was the most outstanding royal offspring of their generation—this rumor had long been like a thorn lodged deep in his heart.

Before he could say anything, Albert glanced left and right, placed a hand to his chest, and lowered his head in greeting.

“Since that is the case, please forgive my discourtesy. I shall take my leave first. I hope all of you enjoy a pleasant evening.”

With that, Albert did not linger for a moment. Supported by the maid, he swiftly exited the hall.

The music swelled even higher, as though entering a climax. Gentlemen and noble ladies wasted no time, quickly finding their dance partners and immersing themselves fully in the dance.

Only occasionally, when heads drew close, did they exchange a few words—things outsiders would never know.

Only Andrew, whose pleasure at the humiliation had barely lasted, now wore a darkened expression once more.

“It seems... I can’t hesitate any longer. I must—”

Staring hard at Albert’s retreating back, he muttered something through clenched teeth.

......

“I didn’t expect the eldest prince, who looks so gentle on the surface, to say something like that. Provoking Prince Andrew right now—wasn’t that a bit unwise?”

Watching how things unfolded, Muen rubbed his chin and asked.

“There’s nothing unwise about it. Don’t forget—he’s the true eldest prince. As long as he demonstrates excellence surpassing Imperial Brother Andrew’s, he naturally possesses the greatest legal legitimacy,”

Celicia replied.

“On the other hand, Imperial Brother Andrew didn’t deviate from my expectations at all. Smart for no more than three minutes before he loses control of his emotions. I wasn’t wrong—those earlier actions were indeed someone else’s strategy.”

“It seems that with or without this ball, I’ll need to get in contact with Prince Albert as soon as possible,” Muen sighed.

“Then hurry. Imperial Brother Albert has already left, and he’s currently staying within the palace. This is the only chance to communicate and test the waters with him. Knowing that he’s angered Imperial Brother Andrew, he’ll surely lie low again out of caution,” Celicia said, opening her eyes as she too watched Albert’s departing figure.

“Understood.”

Muen nodded, once again employing his invincible Touch-Up Escape Technique, swiftly vanishing from the edge of the ball as he followed in the direction Prince Albert had exited.

What he didn’t know was that at the very moment he left, a certain steel-plate-level glutton who had been wholeheartedly focused on eating finally filled her stomach. Disliking balls and finding the place a bit stuffy, she quite naturally... decided to step outside for some fresh air.