Chapter 29: A Frenzied Party (Escape)
As the day wanes, the inevitable happens.
In the grand social gathering known as the Duke’s party, there were pitiable souls who could not find a partner.
And those souls savored their solitude in a garden set up behind the Duke’s residence.
Some call it the ‘Garden of Losers.’
“Ah... I want to die.”
From deep within, a voice filled with despair arised. It belonged to Lady Heria of the Baron’s family. She had hoped to find a partner today but was met with failure.
“Oh. Life truly sucks.”
The man beside her was Viscount Matteo.
Though he appeared fine on the outside, he had yet to find a dance partner due to his habit of stuttering in front of women.
“Haha, Heria, you too?”
“Viscount Matteo, we meet again...”
Their eyes meet.
Sometimes, miracles do occur in the Garden of Losers.
“…….”
Yulia watched as the two disappeared beyond the garden.
Startled upon seeing Ascal, she wandered aimlessly and ended up here.
The cool breeze and the scent of flowers tickled her nose.
It wasn’t so bad.
She thought of cooling her head here a bit and then returning to the hall.
“Why on earth would you reject me when I was obviously perfect, curse you, curse you!”
But suddenly, a strange voice could be heard nearby.
Yet, for some reason, this voice was not unfamiliar.
Yulia took a step forward.
The source of the voice came into view.
Serena Barba.
The second princess of the empire and Yulia’s elder sister.
“Oh my. Meeting you here is unexpected, Yulia. Well, not like we ever exchange greetings. But, what brings you to this place? You, who rarely show yourself.”
Serena, as if nothing had happened, reverted to her princess-like demeanor and smiled.
“……”
“Did you... hear?”
“……”
Serena coughed awkwardly.
“Coug... Everyone faces failure. And isn’t it true that those who rise from such failures are the real strong ones?”
“……”
“Seriously! Say something for once.”
Serena tapped her foot impatiently. Watching her, Yulia slowly opened her mouth.
“Were you rejected by Ascal Debrue?”
“Going straight for the sore spot, huh? Yes. I asked that man to dance, and he turned me down right away. So, what about it?”
Serena glared at Yulia. She had never liked Yulia, especially now when she was hurt.
“I’m glad then.”
“What’s there to be glad about...”
“Oh. Were you all gathered here?”
The one who appeared was the crown prince of the empire, Kain.
Without any attendants, lost in thought and strolling through the garden alone, he chanced upon Serena and Yulia.
Such an encounter was indeed rare.
Since reaching adulthood, they had rarely gathered like this outside of official events.
“It reminds me of old times. How long has it been since we three siblings gathered like this?”
“Excuse me. We’re still young, you know? In our prime. Old man.”
Serena pouted.
Kain chuckled.
“So, little sister, why were you sulking all by yourself?”
With a sigh, Serena took a seat on the bench.
The night had deepened, and she felt weary. She was mentally exhausted from constantly seeking political advantage up to this point.
“I was rejected by a man.”
“Really? Who evil would dare reject my little sister? I should give him a piece of my mind.”
“...Ascal Debrue.”
Kain’s smile froze.
“That’s quite a coincidence. I too just got rejected by that man.”
A momentary silence ensued.
Then, as if on cue, the two siblings turned their gaze to Yulia.
“...I don’t know who that is. Who’s he?”
Yulia averted her gaze.
The atmosphere deflated, much like air escaping from a balloon.
“Does Yulia not know? Well, considering I did manage to snag a cookie, I suppose I can claim to be closest to him.”
“A cookie, you say?”
“Yes. I had a cookie made by Ascal Debrue himself. It was so dry it choked me up.”
“A cookie...”
“Yes, a cookie. It melted tenderly on the tongue.”
Kain fantasized about the taste of the cookie.
Sweet and moist, it must’ve melted instantly in the mouth. The only issue was the absence of a drink; had there been something to sip alongside, he could have devoured them all.
Yet, hearing this, Yulia’s eyes changed.
“I didn’t get to taste the cookie.”
Cold sweat formed on Kain’s brow.
“There are plenty of cookies in the banquet hall, Yulia.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“A cookie? That man made cookies?”
Serena, dusting off her dress, stood up.
Yulia looked as if she was ready to sprint. These ladies were clearly not themselves, they were acting strangely earlier too.
“Where is Ascal now?”
“I couldn’t even dance, and now if I don’t get to eat a cookie, I won’t be satisfied.”
Kain obediently responded.
“The last time I saw him, he was in the hallway to the left of the banquet hall. It’s been a while, so I’m not sure now.”
“Oh, Your Highness Prince Kain. And Princess Serena, Princess Yulia. Count Devar greets you. Isn’t tonight’s party truly delightful?”
Suddenly appearing, Count Devar caught the trio’s attention.
They looked at him as if he were some kind of insect.
Count Devar started to sweat profusely.
He had arrived at the wrong place, at the worst possible time.
For the first time in his life, Count Devar felt the threat of impending doom.
He desperately sought a way out of this predicament.
‘What, what can I say… to escape this situation?’
He didn’t have much time to ponder.
Frantically racking his brain, Count Devar eventually blurted out a single word.
“Ascal...?”
He immediately felt the tense atmosphere ease.
Fortunately, he had guessed right.
Taking a deep breath, Count Devar continued.
“If you are looking for Mr. Ascal, he’s probably on the mansion’s second floor, conversing with Miss Sushia.”
“Thanks for that. It will help my sisters.”
“Haha. It’s an honor.”
Relief evident, Count Devar began to serve in his role as a hospitable guest.
“By the way, Your Highness, have you heard? Ascal brought a very peculiar horse today. Although it’s still young, they say it’s a beautiful white horse.”
“Does it have a spot on its shoulder, by any chance?”
“I’m not quite sure about that...”
The identity of that foal was unmistakable.
Kain had once given a foal to Ascal. It was a scrawny and unremarkable creature. Frankly, Kain had thought it would die before fully maturing, but it grew into a magnificent white horse?
Kain’s expression shifted.
“Everyone, head to the 2nd floor. I’ll take the left staircase, Serena, you take the right. Yulia, I’m counting on you to handle the central stairs. Find Ascal.”
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
At that moment, the most formidable temporary alliance in the Barba Empire was formed.
****
“Sob…I admit defeat.”
“Don’t you ever mention even the ‘Co’ of cookies in front of me again, Sushia.”
In the end, when Ascal met Sushia, they tasted and compared each other’s cookies. Ascal’s were undeniably superior. There was no need for a picky judge; the difference in taste was overwhelming.
“From now on, you are banned from my office permanently.”
“Please, anything but that! Sir! I’ll do anything!”
As it seemed Sushia would cling to him again, Ascal proposed a compromise.
“Then, clean the restroom for a month.”
“...I-I’m still a noblewoman, though.”
“Either accept or be banned permanently.”
“Ha. Fine. I’ll clean the restroom.”
Sushia collapsed onto the floor, seemingly unconcerned about soiling her dress.
“Why has it felt weird since earlier?”
Since earlier, there had been a prickling sensation on his back. As if he should run away at any moment, his body seemed to warn him. Moreover, that feeling was intensifying.
‘Ah... It’s probably just fatigue.’
Just as he was trying to ignore that feeling, a housemaid appeared.
“You are here, Lord Ascal.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Well... His Highness the Crown Prince is looking for you.”
“Oh? He must have some urgent business.”
“And... Princess Serena is also looking for Lord Ascal.”
“Why the princess?”
“And... Princess Yulia is also looking for Lord Ascal.”
“...”
‘Um.’
Something seemed to be going awry.
He had a gut feeling that getting caught would land him in some serious trouble. Without further thought, Ascal decided to flee.
“Ascal! Wait! Show me the horse!”
It was the voice of the Crown Prince.
Ascal instantly took off running.
“I knew you’d come this way. Just as I predicted.”
Upon heading to the right staircase on the 2nd floor, Princess Serena was waiting. She looked rather triumphant.
Ignoring Princess Serena, Ascal rushed up to the 3rd floor.
“Hey! Wait! At least give me a cookie before you go!”
Once he made it out of the lengthy staircase, he found himself at a dead-end. Escaping up the stairs and evading both Crown Prince Kain and Princess Serena was a feat, but now, upon reaching the 3rd floor of the mansion, Ascal felt like a cornered mouse.
Being caught was now only a matter of time.
‘What should I do?’
But suddenly, the distant sound of approaching footsteps reached his ears.
Ascal glanced at the window.
...The night sky looked beautiful.
But this wasn’t the time to admire it.
‘Even if I fall, I won’t die, right?’
If he lands properly, a fall from the height of 3 floors shouldn’t be fatal. And he had legs trained from daily commuting. They should be reliable.
‘Or maybe not, considering I’ve recently been commuting by carriage.’
It was a moment of doubt.
“I found you.”
Behind him, he heard Yulia’s voice.
There was no more time to hesitate.
-WHOOOSH!!
Ascal jumped straight through the window with both arms pressed against his torso.
The window shattered immediately, and Ascal began his descent to the ground.
‘This feels much higher than I thought?’
And worse, he was falling head-first.
This might be the end of him.
If there was a Darwin Award here in this world, he’d surely win it this year.
At that moment,
A white horse appeared in the distance.
From the sky, a shadow of wings descended.
“Fer!”
The Pegasus, spreading its wings wide, was racing towards its master.
With a graceful move, it successfully let Ascal mount it.
“Let’s go home like this!”
“Hee-haw!”
Fer flapped its wings.
****
“Tha-that’s... Impossible!”
Raven was frustrated. Mired in a recent slump, he had hoped to find some inspiration by attending the Duke’s party.
No matter how much he danced or took walks, inspiration eluded him.
Then, before Raven’s eyes, an unbelievable sight unfolded.
Among the stars embroidering the night sky, a man was soaring while riding a Pegasus.
“This is a miracle!”
Raven hurriedly fetched his canvas.
He had to complete the painting before this inspiration faded.
<The Man on the Pegasus>
And the painting that Raven completed became one of the most renowned masterpieces in imperial history.
