I Accidentally Kidnapped The Ultimate Villain – Chapter 51

Ch 51

“Duke Loenbert is entering!”

In an instant, the people in the banquet hall turned towards the door, just like when Lionell had entered.

Killian was entering without linking arms with Melina. It seemed Melina was trying to link arms with him, but Killian was openly frowning.

Even though she was his former fiancée, she still remained at the Loenbert Estate. Perhaps, just like the rumors, it was because marriage talks were going on with Prince Leventis, Killian’s younger brother.

“Don’t go that way.”

“Yes.”

Lionell whispered to Aria, and Aria forced a faint smile while looking at her feet.

She sighed softly and raised her head, only to make eye contact with Killian, who was looking this way. She instantly hid behind Lionell.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your Highness, I really want to dance.”

“Hahaha. Okay.”

Aria immediately regretted saying that. She had only read about dancing in books before coming here. Even so, she wasn’t completely clueless. She had watched waltzes in videos before and even attended a dance academy as a hobby.

So, while regretting it, she thought it was fortunate that she knew the dance. Plus, if she could avoid Killian’s eyes, that would be even better.

“You look really beautiful today.”

“Thank you.”

Aria said as she took the hand he offered. Then, the orchestra began to play. The first song was a light waltz, so they slowly began to move, taking steps.

As Aria moved forward and then back, Lionell slowly followed. However, he was holding her hand and liked keeping his body close while holding her waist, so he couldn’t focus on the dance at all.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“Are you always this bad at dancing?”

“Yes.”

He wasn’t embarrassed that he wasn’t good at dancing. He wasn’t a good dancer to begin with, and it wasn’t something that would improve with effort.

“Ah. Do you remember the day we had our first dance?”

“Uh, how was it……?”

“Back then, you threatened me that you wouldn’t have your debutante if I didn’t partner with you.”

“Haha…… That’s right. That’s right…….”

Aria gripped his hand tighter, sweating. Lionell smiled contentedly and looked happily into Aria’s blue eyes as he spoke.

“But thanks to that, we became each other’s first.”

She knew he was using a double meaning and tried not to react.

“Your Highness, I want to be of help to you.”

“You’re already enough.”

“But as a friend, not as a fiancée.”

At those words, Lionell unknowingly stopped dancing. Aria was flustered and avoided his gaze, and he, seeing that she wouldn’t meet his eyes, thought it was a lie.

“You’re still angry.”

“No, I’m not.”

“It’s okay to be angry. You can keep being angry until you feel better.”

He didn’t try to dance again and just hugged her tightly. Since other people had started dancing as they did, they had to go to a corner to avoid touching them.

“Your Highness, I want to drink some alcohol.”

“Okay.”

She wished the Emperor would come quickly, but he still hadn’t arrived. So, Aria couldn’t leave the banquet hall. Moreover, it wasn’t easy to keep appearing to be on good terms with Lionell.

She thought it would be better to drink some alcohol to borrow some intoxication.

“I brought wine.”

“Thank you.”

Aria looked at Lionell, who was handing her a wine glass and smiling, and it seemed his eyes were redder than the wine, so she couldn’t help but stare.

“Your Highness, your eyes are really red.”

“Are my eyes still the best?”

“Um…….”

Aria quickly gulped down the wine. She liked the sweet yet quite strong wine that went down her throat. She gulped it all down and then looked at the glass in surprise.

“Oh my.”

“Is it good?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to drink mine too?”

“I will.”

She took the glass he offered and drank it all in one go. This time, he didn’t go himself but gestured for a servant to bring the same kind of wine. Then, the page filled Aria’s empty glass to the brim.

Lionell thought it was dangerous for her to hold two wine glasses in her hands, so he took the empty glass. Then, the page filled his empty glass with wine as well.

He drank the wine from the same spot where Aria’s lipstick mark was.

When Aria finished drinking, he didn’t drink any more and handed her empty glass and his glass to the page.

“Let’s dance again.”

“Dance?”

“Yeah. Let’s dance differently this time.”

“How?”

Lionell smiled playfully and removed a strand of hair that was stuck to Aria’s cheek.

“Shall we go? It seems like new music is about to start.”

“Yes.”

Aria followed him as he led her by the arm.

Then, they stood in the center of the banquet hall again, and she took his hand and placed her arm on his shoulder like before. Then, he said quietly to Aria.

“Put both your hands on my shoulders.”

“Yes?”

“And put your feet on mine.”

“Your toes will break because of my heels.”

“You can take off the heels and just put your toes on.”

“Ah.”

Aria was a little drunk, so she did as he said without thinking much.

She lifted her heels and placed only her toes on his shoes, then hugged his neck. Then, Lionell smiled like a child and held her waist tightly.

“You can hug me tightly.”

“Yes.”

And as the music started, he moved around with big motions.

“Ah…….”

“Puhuh.”

“Ugh.”

Aria felt like she was going to fall, but the action was quite fun. It was fun and amazing, as if she was dancing without doing anything.

Moreover, she was feeling very good, perhaps because she was getting a little tipsy.

Then, when it was time for him to turn around, he grabbed Aria’s waist, lifted her powerfully into the air, and spun around.

“Kyaa!”

“Hahaha.”

Aria forgot that there were people around and shouted without realizing it. Then, she was barely relieved when he put her down and her face flushed red as she punched his chest with her fists.

“You startled me!”

“Wasn’t it fun?”

“It was fun.”

“Then it’s fine.”

He said that and then moved her around to the music again. Anyone could see that Lionell was the worst dancer at this banquet, even though he was the Crown Prince. He was stiff, perhaps because he was a martial artist, but he was confident, and Aria, who had found him strange at first, now found him fun.

So, she laughed as she danced with him, matching his movements.

Most of the people in the banquet hall, seeing Aria Dolorein so close to Lionell, were relieved that the Crown Prince had truly chosen his Crown Princess.

That was the Imperial Faction.

However, the Noble Faction was displeased and gathered among themselves, criticizing their frivolousness.

“Since His Highness and the Princess are so close, they will have an heir soon after they marry.”

“Hoh ho ho. You’re right.”

At those words, the people of the Noble Faction seemed displeased and began to quietly chatter among themselves in voices that could not be heard. It was then.

“Her Majesty the Empress and the Second Imperial Prince are entering!”

The gazes shifted to the two who appeared at the end of the song. Lionell took Aria’s hand and went to stand where the Emperor was supposed to come.

What was strange was that while the Empress and the Prince appeared through the main door, the Emperor appeared on the balcony on the second floor.

“His Majesty the Emperor is here!”

“His Majesty the Emperor is here!”

Then, the gazes that had been directed towards the Empress and the Prince all turned towards the balcony on the second floor. Lionell felt strangely that his father had planned even this small detail, which made him feel strange.

“Infinite glory to the sun of Kalendia!”

“Infinite glory to the sun of Kalendia!”

“Infinite glory to the sun of Kalendia!”

“Infinite glory to the sun of Kalendia!”

Aria only pretended to follow the people who were saying the same words and bowing their heads, but she missed it. However, perhaps because she had been drinking, she was in a strangely hazy state.

“Thank you to everyone who came to the banquet. Today’s banquet is a charity banquet held for the restoration of the temple. So, while eating and drinking is good, I hope that you will show kindness to the citizens of the capital through donations as the temple’s manpower is lacking.”

The Emperor’s kind face that she had seen in the audience chamber was gone, and he had completely changed to a stiff face.

“Then, may the goddess’s blessing be with you all.”

As the Emperor gave a short congratulatory speech, applause erupted from all over. The Noble Faction had no choice but to clap as well. However, since the well-organized Imperial Faction was enthusiastically applauding, only tremendous cheers and applause were visible on the surface.

Soon, the Emperor came down from the balcony on the second floor using the private staircase that led to the banquet hall.

Then, he immediately approached Aria and Lionell.

Aria was suddenly terrified because of the Emperor’s appearance she had seen earlier. Lionell patted her shoulder and made eye contact to ease her tension. And he tried to ease her tension by mouthing ‘relax’.

“My most beloved son.”

“Father.”

Hearing the Second Imperial Prince approaching and calling out, the Emperor deliberately said that to Lionell.

“Your silver hair is truly radiant today. It could be called the light of the empire.”

“You are too kind.”

“The color of your eyes and the color of my new daughter-in-law’s hair are the same. This must be fate.”

“Thank you.”

Lionell was courteous yet affectionate to his father, the Emperor. Aria was exchanging glances with her father, who was standing behind the Emperor. Duke Dolorein was looking at Aria with pride.

In the midst of that, someone passed by and placed something in Aria’s hand.

Aria was surprised and glanced back at the person who had given her the paper.

It was Killian’s page.