kscans

Chapter 11 - The Stage of Dancing Silhouettes

The Grand Hall was overflowing with people. Young ladies in vibrant dresses hid their mouths behind Crim fans, indulging in gossip.

"—My dear, have you heard? They say His Majesty is planning a major renovation of the Summer Palace."

"—Is that true? That sad place where his sister passed away?"

"—Yes, that’s the one. The palace with the famous Tower of Tragic Love."

"—A princess and her lover, torn apart by their difference in status…"

"—They say her lover, an official, incurred the former king’s wrath and was beheaded…"

"—And the princess, overcome with grief, threw herself from the tower where she had spent time with her beloved…"

"—Oh, what a heart-wrenching tale!"

The hall was a spectacle of gorgeously dressed ladies, colorful flowers arranged in vases, over three hundred candles, and eight chandeliers glittering like silver.

A particularly magnificent grand chandelier hung from the center of the frescoed ceiling.

The ceiling depicted a beautiful dawn. Purplish clouds were rendered with a delicate touch, and the fresco’s border was silver.

Though darkness spread outside the windows, the hall was as bright as if a piece of daylight had been cut out and placed within.

Musicians played string music. The sound mingled with the chatter of the guests, creating a unique harmony. The rustle of clothes, the echo of shoes on the polished floor, the sharan of jewels.

"—Why has His Majesty not yet named a Crown Prince?"

"—Isn’t it to be the First Prince? I thought tonight was for that announcement."

The heads of noble families exchanged words in hushed tones.

"—Could the dark horse be the Second Prince?"

"—Surely not. He’s a reckless dreamer."

"—He ignores his fiancée to dote on some young girl."

"—There’s a rumor that the Royal Sister’s child is actually alive."

Several people gasped.

"—The princes’ cousin?"

"—Would that not be the Third royal heir?"

"—No, I don’t believe it. It’s just a rumor. No one has ever seen such a person."

The voices of the crowd murmured like the tide. Rumors, flattery, compliments, laughter, whispers. The flowing melody of the strings. It was the concerto of a royal night party.

And in the midst of it all.

"…What are you doing?" Jin asked, exasperated.

"Can’t you… see?"

"I’m asking because I can’t."

Touli was shoving his master’s back, trying to push him away from the wall. Litt was using all his strength to stay put.

"To think you’d actually become a wall tapestry!"

"Is it… fine if I’m a flower on the wall?!"

"Enough with the excuses! Just go and make your rounds!"

"No."

"Are you a child?!"

"My job should have been over when I finished ghostwriting the invitations! Why on earth do I have to attend the party itself?!"

"If you do, I’ll make you some Cymbal-produced High Grown tea when the party’s over!"

"What did you say, Touli?!" Litt’s eyes flashed.

"What connections did you use to get your hands on such high-class tea?!"

"That’s what I’m saying, don’t underestimate an attendant!"

"Out with it, confess!"

"I’ll tell you later! Stop trying to buy time like some writer padding their page count with drivel!"

"A fine piece of sarcasm!" Jin, who had been watching the exchange, gave a single nod.

"Then allow me to offer my humble assistance, Touli." With that, he grabbed Litt by the scruff of his neck.

"Gueh! Ch-Choking…" Litt surrendered, tapping Jin’s arm. Jin released him two seconds later.

"…I thought I was going to be hanged."

"Would you prefer beheading?" Jin gripped the hilt of his longsword, and Litt shook his head. From close range, Litt’s brown braid slapped Jin in the face.

"Guh!"

"Ah, sorry. Not on purpose."

"…It’s fine," Jin said, pressing a hand to his nose. It had apparently been surprisingly painful.

"Lord Litt." Touli’s eyes were set in a firm glare.

"Fine, I’ll go. The Court Secretary-General has just arrived, anyway."

Bald, wearing a magnificent silver brooch—a single wing—on his chest, had just entered the Grand Hall, accompanied by Spirld.

"The Court Secretary-General looks rather grim. Did you do something, Litt?" At Jin’s words, Litt tilted his head.

"I can think of so many possibilities, I don’t know where to start."

"I see. That’s good to know." Jin tugged on Litt’s rank mantle.

"Let’s go ask him in person."

"No, really. I can’t think of anything I’ve done to trouble Court Secretary-General Bald."

"To trouble him, perhaps. But it seems you may have angered him."

"Picky men aren’t popular, my friend."

"Nor are men who make excuses, my friend."

Jin’s retort silenced Litt. Behind him, Touli gave a silent round of applause.

"Litt!" Bald called his name.

"A pleasure to see you, Court Secretary-General Bald."

"This is no time for playing the fool." Bald’s voice was like steel, and the expression vanished from Litt’s face.

"Something’s happened, hasn’t it?" When his face was blank, he looked as if he were radiating killing intent. Spirld swallowed hard at the sight of those cold, sharp green eyes.

"First-Class Court Secretary Liton, do you recall how many invitations you wrote for this party?"

"Five hundred and fifty-six pairs," Litt answered without hesitation.

"Oh, Moon Goddess Kuna!" Bald looked to the heavens. The surrounding people glanced over, wondering what was happening.

"Is this world truly not perfect?"

"Compose yourself, Court Secretary-General Bald," Spirld said with an obsequious smile.

"After all, Litt is only human. Mistakes happen."

"What did you say?!" Jin took a step forward.

Litt stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. He silenced the attendant, who was about to speak, with a single glance.

"May I have the details, please?" Spirld snorted.

"You don’t remember? I suppose that’s to be expected."

"Court Secretary-General Bald." Litt looked at Bald. Growling, Bald stroked his white beard.

"Do not make the Court Secretary-General speak of such dishonor. I shall tell you." The green eyes finally fell on Spirld. Spirld held up the guest list and declared:

"The number of invitations His Majesty decided upon and His Highness Raoul ordered you to write was five hundred and fifty-seven pairs!"

Litt’s eyes widened. At the bottom of the list Spirld was holding was a name he had no memory of writing an invitation for.

—Lady Sumika Scott, daughter of a Viscount.

The invitation list also served as the checklist for guests arriving at the Royal Castle.

"What is the meaning of this, failing to write an invitation?!" The loudly proclaimed scandal sent a murmur through the crowd.

"Weren’t you the one who was supposed to cross-reference the list and the invitations?" Litt’s voice was as calm as ever, which made Spirld’s brows furrow.

"Shifting the blame? How pathetic, Litt."

"No. To be precise, it’s a shared responsibility. And," Litt added.

"A failure of supervision."

Bald sighed deeply.

"Listen, Litt. Spirld apparently sent an invitation to the Scott family by express rider."

"Oh? So Lord Furas cleaned up my mess for me?" Litt’s face remained impassive, but his voice turned icy.

"—When did you notice?" The Grand Hall fell silent.

"I finished all the invitations three days before the deadline set by His Highness Raoul. Lord Furas, you should have noticed one was missing then."

Jin turned to Touli.

Touli silently nodded, confirming that Litt had indeed met his work deadline. Spirld sneered.

"I noticed immediately. However… I couldn’t believe that you, the only other First-Class Court Secretary besides myself, could make such a mistake. My heart ached for you, and I couldn’t bring myself to tell the Court Secretary-General right away." Well, thanks for that, Litt muttered under his breath.

"So. On the off chance, the one-in-a-billion chance that a wolf and a whale did a waltz and I made a mistake, has Lady Sumika arrived?"

Spirld’s smile deepened.

"Unfortunately, not yet." Spirld held the unchecked guest list high.

"Oh, and it’s almost time for the Royal Family to make their entrance!" At his theatrical lament, Jin clicked his tongue.

"You’ve been framed, Litt."

"Yes. I’ve walked right into it."

"This is no time for jokes. Write an apology to Lady Sumika."

"And what will you do?"

"I’ll go get Lady Sumika. Someone! Fetch a horse!"

At the Vice-Captain of the Royal Knights’ command, several people started running. Targa and Yuri were among them.

The musicians lowered their instruments. In their place, musicians holding gleaming trumpets appeared in the Grand Hall.

"Vice-Captain Jin."

The crowd parted. Valona, holding a golden Crim, walked forward gracefully, followed by three ladies-in-waiting.

"There is no need to trouble yourself for the Scott Viscount family."

"But—!"

"The Royal Family will be arriving shortly. Who cares about some Viscount’s daughter?" The Duchess’s daughter, from the Philbard family, let out a booming laugh, O-ho-ho-ho.

"What should we do, Lord Litt?!" Unable to bear it, Touli grabbed the edge of his master’s clothes.

"At this rate, it really will be off with your head!"

"—Calm down, Touli." A smirk played on Litt’s lips.

"Haste makes waste." His green eyes were laughing.

The trumpets sounded a fanfare, a solemn and majestic call.

"Hey, Litt!"

"Lord Litt!" Jin and Touli cried out.

The trumpets fell silent. The Master of Ceremonies announced:

"May the Moon Goddess Kuna, who governs the night sky, grant her protection! His Highness, the Second Prince Tagi… has arrived!"

The people in the Grand Hall all bowed deeply toward the upper seats. A finely dressed Tagi appeared.

"Ah," Touli gasped, quickly clamping a hand over his mouth.

"…Hey."

Litt gave Jin, who had nudged him with his elbow, a silent wink.

Bald let out a hiccup as if his soul were about to depart his body. Spirld and Valona were both pale as ghosts.

Tagi’s brownish-blond hair was adorned with a silver ornament befitting the splendid night party.

His purple eyes, the mark of royalty, darted around restlessly. He kept glancing behind him. A young lady, who was not royalty, followed Tagi.

"May the Moon Goddess Kuna, who governs the night sky, grant her protection! His Highness, the First Prince Raoul, has arrived!"

Raoul appeared, his golden hair flowing. From his high station, he surveyed the crowd with his imposing purple eyes. When he spotted Litt, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"May the Moon Goddess Kuna, who governs the night sky, grant her protection! Their Majesties, the King and Queen, have arrived!"

As the King and Queen took their seats on the thrones, the people spoke in unison.

"May the Moon Goddess Kuna’s protection be eternal! O, Silver Snow Country! May you prosper, may you shine!"

As the voices were absorbed into the ceiling of the Grand Hall, only silence remained.