<Chapter 91>

“Is it true that the Monster Duke is attending today’s banquet?”

“I heard he’s coming with his wife. There’s a rumor that they get along really well… but is that really true?”

“Who knows? Maybe the Duke spread the rumor himself.”

“Did you hear? I have an acquaintance in the North, and they said the Monster Duke was so smitten with a Saintess candidate that he practically kidnapped her and forced her into marriage.”

“I heard the three major trading firms have taken turns visiting Winstein’s townhouse at least five times each. Word is, Winstein has spent billions of gold just buying jewels.”

“Isn’t that just an attempt to win her over with money? There’s no way he’ll ever earn her heart.”

“Isn’t it suspicious that he only calls merchants to his home? You’d think he’d take the Duchess to an auction or something at least once.”

“Why do you think that is? He’s too scared to take her out, afraid she’ll run away.”

“I’m surprised he even managed to bring her to the capital. What if she’s not actually the real Duchess but a stand-in?”

“That could be true. None of us have ever seen the Duchess’s face, after all.”

“Exactly. She wasn’t even a noble… Wasn’t she originally a Saintess candidate?”

“Yes. I heard she was an orphan with no family.”

“How pitiful… But still, she got a lucky break. An orphan of unknown origins becoming a duchess—would that even be possible under normal circumstances?”

“But if she was a Saintess candidate, isn’t that still impressive? I heard she has far more divine power than even the Archbishop.”

“Apparently, that’s not the case. Otherwise, why would the Great Temple have kicked her out even before the real Saintess appeared?”

The Monster Duke and his wife provided endless fodder for gossip.

As people continued to chatter excitedly about the ducal couple, an even more shocking piece of news spread through the grand banquet hall.

“What? His Majesty the Emperor is not attending? Is that true?”

“Why? What happened?”

“There was no prior notice of this.”

“Now that I think about it, there were rumors that he was gravely ill…”

“Shh! You can’t just say things like that carelessly.”

Three hundred years ago, the Emperor received the title of Saint and was granted the blessing of immortality from God.

However, this blessing only preserved youth—it did not prevent illness. Many who received this blessing still died at a young age.

“How old is His Majesty now? Seventy?”

“I think he’s past sixty… but I don’t remember exactly. He looks so young that it’s hard to tell his real age.”

At any rate, it was a relief that the one absent was the Emperor and not the Crown Prince—especially for parents with daughters.

‘Right now, the only member of the Imperial Family is His Highness the Crown Prince.’

‘If my daughter became the Crown Princess, she would be the future Empress!’

Just as parents with daughters were sneaking glances toward the entrance, wondering if the Crown Prince might quietly make an appearance—

“His Grace, the Duke of Winstein, and Her Grace, the Duchess of Winstein, have arrived!”

At last, the two people who could be called the main characters of the banquet made their grand entrance.

*  *  *

“His Grace, the Duke of Winstein, and Her Grace, the Duchess of Winstein, have arrived!”

The moment we stepped inside, every gaze in the hall turned sharply toward us.

If this weren’t a bright, lavishly decorated banquet hall, it would have felt like something out of a horror movie.

‘Why is everyone staring at us?’

It made sense that people would look when we first entered, given the doorman’s booming announcement.

But after seeing us come in, shouldn’t they go back to whatever they were doing? Why were so many of them still staring?

‘I really just want to go home. Seriously.’

Avoiding their gazes, I clung tightly to Temenos’ arm and tried to shrink behind him.

Sensing my discomfort, Temenos subtly shifted to shield me while whispering softly, “Are the stares making you uncomfortable?”

“Yes… See? This is why I told you not to dress up too much!”

I shot him a look of protest, and he gave me an exasperated expression.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. Every single one of those people is looking at you.”

“Liar!”

“If you don’t believe me, take a look around.”

At his suggestion, I cautiously rolled my eyes to observe the surroundings.

‘…Oh my God, he’s right!’

Even though I was trying to be discreet, I still caught the eyes of several people.

And most of them were men.

Some turned bright red and hurriedly averted their gaze, while others even winked at me.

One unfortunate man made the mistake of getting caught by Temenos. With a pitiful squeak, he scrambled away in terror.

‘Wait… so they were staring because they think I’m beautiful?’

Some were whispering to each other while glancing at me as if appraising me, but overall, the majority were simply captivated by my appearance.

‘Well, I mean… I am pretty gorgeous.’

“You look pleased.”

“Of course! Wouldn’t you be happy if your wife looked stunning?”

“Not at all. Because my stunning wife is drawing far too much attention.”

Oh my, is he jealous?

I emerged from behind him and latched onto his side. As Temenos had pointed out, I felt oddly pleased.

“No matter how overwhelming it is, you’ll just have to endure it. This is what happens when you have such a beautiful wife.”

“I see. Be sure to remember those words.”

“Huh? Why?”

Leading me toward the refreshment table, Temenos picked up a fork and placed a small chocolate into my mouth.

“When some woman tries to talk to your husband, you’ll have to endure it as well. After all, that’s just the price of having such a handsome husband.”

“……!”

I had plenty to say in response, but with a mouth full of chocolate, I couldn’t risk making a mess!

Fuming, I glared at Temenos with all my might.

*  *  *

Inosensia was attempting to make her glare as intimidating as possible, but to Temenos, she only looked even more adorable.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you—!”

Before she could finish, he popped another chocolate into her mouth.

Seeing her chew furiously in frustration, he smirked slightly.

“Don’t laugh!”

“Why not? Does my already handsome face look even better when I do?”

“Ugh… Do you have no shame saying things like that?”

“Not at all. I learned it from my wife.”

Lacking a proper comeback, Inosensia simply cleared her throat.

Then, she started piling finger foods onto a plate—chocolates, cheese, anything within reach.

“Ugh, all these stares are too much. Let’s just grab our food and find a quiet corner.”

Temenos, amused by her suggestion, decided against telling her the truth.

That no one was looking at her anymore.

‘From the very beginning, not a single person has looked at me.’

Of course, some were sneaking glances. But when he caught them, they immediately recoiled in fear.

Unlike the men who blushed when locking eyes with Inosensia, the looks he received were entirely different.

‘…How irritating.’

At the same time, Temenos realized something.

The reactions of those around him had changed significantly from before.

There was a time when they, too, couldn’t meet his eyes and trembled in fear—just like the people in this banquet hall now.

Of course, they still found it difficult to meet his gaze. But at the very least, when standing before him, they no longer shook uncontrollably or stuttered as much.

‘Aside from Inosensia… the only ones who meet my eyes without hesitation are… the Holy Knights?’

Suddenly, a thought crossed Temenos’ mind.

Inosensia. And the Holy Knights.

They had one thing in common—they were all clergy.

‘Could it be… that those who possess divine power aren’t afraid of me?’

But Temenos immediately dismissed the idea.

‘No way. That can’t be.’

If that were true, then twelve years ago, when he first set foot in the Great Temple, he wouldn’t have been driven out so mercilessly.

Not to mention, Bishop Roam had also called him a monster and looked at him with utter disgust.

‘Come to think of it…’

When he visited the Great Temple twelve years ago, the emotions in the eyes of the clergy who looked at him weren’t fear, but revulsion.

It had been such a shocking sight for his younger self that the memory remained vivid to this day—those priests gazing down at him as if he were nothing more than an insect.

In hindsight, that was strange in its own way.

Normally, the overwhelming presence of fear would prevent someone from openly expressing disgust. Was it because he was still a child back then and appeared less threatening?

“Alright, this should be enough! Now, let’s head over there.”

Just then, Inosensia approached him with sparkling eyes, balancing a precarious tower of finger foods on her plate.

Even though she had only been apart from him for a moment, he could feel the filthy mix of desire and curiosity in the gazes trailing after her.

For a brief moment, Temenos felt a powerful urge.

To unleash the intangible force Inosensia had called ‘Dragon Fear’ and drive every person here out of this place.

To ensure that not even a single glance could be stolen at her in secret. To make it so that her gaze would never stray elsewhere, even for a second—so that it would be fixed solely on him.
 

<To be continued>

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