I Raised Him Modestly, But He Came Back Obsessed With Me - Chapter 123

Three days later.

 

The palace was busy since dawn. In order to fulfill the emperor’s order, the banquet hall was opened to accommodate all nobles.

 

“Bring the table.”

 

When the emperor’s assistant gave the order, the servants moved in a hurry. Several large tables were placed in front of the tall and wide door. Fountain pens were placed on it along with the thick guestbook.

 

“It’s the crown prince’s order to get the autograph of every noble in the hall without any exceptions.”

 

The aide carefully examined the guest book on the table and asked the servants to take care of it.

 

“I understand.”

 

The servants bowed to the assistant in line.

 

At dawn, numerous carriages entered the Imperial Palace. Everyone didn’t know the exact reason for the emergency call. They just came because of the emperor’s order to attend without any exceptions. Nobles had to sign the guestbook before entering the banquet hall.

 

“You don’t even know me when you see my face! Why do you need to check my identity one more time!”

 

Some people signed without saying anything, while a lot of nobles protested in a rage.

 

“I’m sorry. This is an order, so please do it once.”

 

Two people walked leisurely among the nobles who were venting out their anger that didn’t subside despite the words from the servant.

 

“Do I need to sign in here?”

 

Ben stood at the front without hesitation.

 

“Greetings to Your Excellency. You can sign it here.”

 

The servant held out a fountain pen at Ben.

 

“…”

 

The nobles who were running rampant at the arrival of the Grand Duke quietly shouted their mouths.

 

“Cersinia, you just have to sign it here.”

 

After signing, Ben handed over his fountain pen to Cersinia. She followed him and engraved her name right next to his.

 

Cersinia.

 

Her own name.

 

Then she returned the pen to the servant and linked her arms to Ben.

 

“Then.”

 

Cersinia’s cool eyes turned to the nobles who had made a fuss, then turned around and gave a beautiful smile. Obviously, her eyes were smiling, but the emotions contained within were the same.

 

The two entered the banquet hall leisurely as if nothing had happened. As the two, who had an overbearing and oppressive atmosphere, disappeared, they let out the breath they had been holding back here and there.

 

“Ahem!”

 

The nobles who had just run rampant were clearing their throats and reluctantly picked up their pens. Even the Grand Duke signed without a word, so there was no reason for them to be stubborn any longer.

 

Entering the banquet hall, Cersinia looked around and asked him,

 

“Was Fleur written in the guest book?”

 

“I think I saw it.”

 

Cersinia’s eyes turned fierce in an instant. Like a hyena looking for its prey. Although she had already heard about her appearance, more people were presumed to be Fleur because brown hair and brown eyes were common colors.

 

Cersinia glanced through the banquet hall with an expressionless face. She made eye contact with the person coming in just in time.

 

‘Duke Kailos.’

 

When Duke Kailos made eye contact with Cersinia, he was startled and quickly avoided her gaze. The fact that he entered the banquet hall meant they had obtained all the necessary signs. 

 

The plan has already begun. Not was the time to uncover the sins of the two in front of everyone.

 

“Ben.”

 

“Yes, Cersinia.”

 

“I think their gazes are particularly stinging today.”

 

As Cersinia said, all the nobles in the banquet hall glanced at her. Sometimes, people who made eye contact with Cersinia even turned their eyes away by coughing. The gaze that sticks like a magnet has been like that since she appeared.

 

It differed from the gaze when she was invited to Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. She knew what it was for. It was obvious that they had heard the rumor. The rumor is that Cersinia used witchcraft or magic to put out the flames. In the gaze armed with curiosity, there was discrimination as if they were looking at a living being different from them.

 

“I’ll order everyone to close their eyes.”

 

“What? No, wait!”

 

Cersinia hurriedly covered Ben’s lips. Then he smiled and kissed her palm.

 

“Are you teasing me?”

 

Recognizing the joke, Cersinia glanced at him with squinted eyes.

 

“Everything will be fine. Don’t be nervous, Cersinia.”

 

A firm arm wrapped around her waist. Cersinia’s lips, who had been looking at him with a cheeky expression, were also gently loosened.  

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“There’s a place I want to go with you when this is done.”

 

He whispered in her ear in a very small voice. The voice that came from him tickled her ears.

 

“What is it?”

 

Ben stood in front of Cersinia with a look of vigilance.

 

“I heard that Lady was very helpful in putting out the flames.”

 

Daughter of Count Spencer spoke and glanced at Cersinia. She was asking if the rumors were true.

 

“I’m flattered.”

 

Cersinia came forward and answered, standing close to Ben.

 

“It was true. That’s amazing.”

 

When Cersinia agreed, the lady exclaimed in a small voice. Then her curious eyes twinkled.

 

“Did you really use that… great power?”

 

Perhaps she couldn’t resist her curiosity, the lady asked carefully, looking at Ben, who was in a ferocious mood.

 

“It’s not that great of power. It was just useful to put out the flames.”

 

At Cersinia’s answer, the banquet hall shook. All the rumors they’ve heard here, and there are true. Cersinia didn’t pretend she didn’t know about it or pretend that she wasn’t like that. It was true, and she wouldn’t hide it because it was something the emperor had already known. Therefore, it was more effective to prevent rumors that were inflated in a strange direction by directly acknowledging the facts and pointing out the facts.

 

“Excuse me…”

 

Her answer was more influential than she thought. Perhaps everyone had one or two questions, so they slowly approached Cersinia.

 

Recognizing the reactions around her, Cersinia frowned at what would bother her more than she thought. Ben also hardened his expression as he watched the wolves trying to steal his chance to be together with her.

 

In the meantime, among those who glanced at her even if they didn’t approach her, a woman who was far away alone caught Cersinia’s eyes. The brown-haired woman had a face full of discontent and deep hatred.

 

‘No way?’

 

Cersinia’s eyes shone keenly.

 

“Ben, I think she’s that woman.”

 

Ben shifted his gaze along Cersinia.

 

A woman with a suspicious look on her face among the distinguished guests. She was identical to the description she had heard about Fleur.

 

“I think that’s right.”

 

With the intuition, they instinctively assumed that woman was Fleur Delmond, the daughter of Viscount Montene Delmond.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Cersinia linked her arms to him again. The two walked through the crowds that surrounded them.

 

Step, step.

 

Their footsteps were louder and stronger than the roaring noises. All the curious eyes of the moment turned to where they were walking. The woman flinched as she saw Cersinia and Ben approaching her, and then she hurriedly looked around her. She looked like a mouse caught by a cat, looking for a hole to escape.

 

“Nice to meet you. My name is Cersinia.”

 

But Cersinia was a step ahead. She arrived in front of the woman and introduced herself with a smile.

 

“And this is Grand Duke Alexdemikan Shorevarce.”

 

Cersinia didn’t forget to introduce Ben in a relaxed manner.

 

“…”

 

The woman was silent and looked at Cersinia’s expression. Before she knew it, the woman, who had an expression dyed with embarrassment, raised her lips with a stiff expression.

 

“My name is Fleur Delmond.”

 

At that sound, Cersinia’s arm, which was holding his arms, was given strength. It was a moment when their intuition matched.

 

“If it’s Delmond… Aren’t you the only child of Viscount Montene Delmond?”

 

An innocent question, pretending nothing happened, turned to Fleur. It was a provocation. A trick to see Fleur’s reaction.

 

“…Yes, that’s right.”

 

Fleur’s lips twitched slightly. Cersinia captured Fleur’s slight facial expression change with hawk eyes veiled in her smile.

 

“As expected, I’m right. I have a connection with the Viscount Montene.”

 

“Ha, what kind of connection?”

 

Fleur’s voice rose as if she couldn’t hold back her anger at the ridiculous words. Cersinia, who was smiling, suddenly hardened her expression.

 

“Bad connection.”

 

There was no high or low in Cersinia’s voice that was colder than ice. Fleur realized that all eyes around were on them and wanted to avoid it, so she prepared to bring up another topic, but…

 

“It must be karma for the Viscount.”

 

* * *

 

At the words of Ben, the mask that Fleur was wearing began to crack.

 

“…”

 

Fleur glared silently at Cersinia.

 

‘What are you talking about with what you know?’

 

That witch crippled her father, and overnight, her family was ruined. Her mother abandoned her and ran away, saying she couldn’t live like this. Fleur received the annulment of her engagement from her fiancé, who promised her future. Soon after, she heard the news of her ex-fiancé’s marriage to her friend, who is no better than herself.

 

No one looked up to her when her family was ruined. Everything disappeared like a bubble. As she had nothing, people around her looked at her as if they were looking at an insignificant bug. Feelings of shame, humiliation, contempt, and hatred come at once. It all swallowed up Fleur like a tidal wave.

 

‘How dare she.’

 

‘How dare that witch, who shouldn’t exist in this world, ruin my life!’

 

She had to find the witch who drove her to the brink like this. And kill that witch. She will find her and tear her to pieces. That’s how she’s going to kill her.

 

From that day on, Fleur had only one purpose. To take revenge on the witch who made her like this and kills that witch. Her own life had been turned upside down, and she had to roll the gutter, but her eyes couldn’t stand it if that witch lived well.

 

But it’s not fun if she kills her too easily. The hatred and revenge caused by the sorrow that had been accumulated for three years were not simple. So she had to give the witch the proper ending.

 

The witch’s ending was always one. Everyone had to hate the witch. Because witches are evil creatures that shouldn’t exist in this world. How ridiculous the witch would be to be pointed at by people and shed blood from being hit by stones.

 

Everyone will watch the witch’s body burn with a look of contempt like a bug. The witch must face an end like that, howling at the pain from burning. That’s the end of the witch.

 

‘So now, the witch shouldn’t be smiling proudly in front of me with Grand Duke beside her.’

 

‘Everyone says that witch is their savior? God’s salvation?’

 

She couldn’t even let that nonsense go around.