LIGHTNOVELSTORY Vol. 3 Chapter 9.3
Ervandas stepped closer to the mirror at the entrance, examining his reflection.
‘This should be good enough, right?’
It wasn’t just ‘good enough’; he looked so stunning that all the other men in the banquet hall would resemble dried-up squids in comparison. Thankfully, Kalendas, his older brother, possessed a certain regal charm, preventing the guests from questioning their eyesight. Otherwise, if Ervandas stood alone, radiating a brilliant aura, it would make everyone else look like creatures from another world.
‘I hope Lulu likes it.’
Ervandas swallowed nervously, gazing at his reflection, which was, even by his own standards, exceptionally polished.
It had already been a month since he last saw Lulu.
The last time they met was at the banquet with the envoys from various kingdoms. Ervandas hadn’t been pleased with that banquet at all.
It had been a rather hectic event, welcoming the newly arrived envoys. Kalendas had earnestly pleaded with him,
“Please, just act like a proper prince today. Okay? Don’t just rush to Lulu’s side and stand there the whole time. Talk to the envoys, show some interest in their…”“Isn’t that your job, brother? I thought that’s why we have a king.”At Ervandas’s snide remark, Kalendas clutched his hair and let out a silent scream.
Ugh, seriously. If only I can punch him!
But alas, it was impossible. He couldn’t just assault his younger brother in front of a room full of dignitaries. Besides, Ervandas wouldn’t just stand there and take it.
Kalendas was physically fit; it wasn’t impossible if he landed a few punches on Ervandas. But Ervandas would have dodged them with all his might, unwilling to let his meticulously arranged attire become disheveled. He couldn’t look unkempt before meeting Lulu.
So, Kalendas opted for a verbal assault.
“Don’t you remember why this banquet is being held? To put it nicely, you settled the wars. To put it bluntly, this is all because you marched your army into various countries, and now we have to deal with the aftermath. So you need to take responsibility and be nice to them, with a smile on your face. If things go wrong, you’ll be separated from Lulu for a long time again. Got it?”Kalendas’s attack hit its mark perfectly.
Lulu. Long. Separated.
At those words, Ervandas’s expression hardened.
‘As expected, the only way to get through to this guy is to use Lulu as bait.’
Kalendas, satisfied, clapped Ervandas on the shoulder. A royal command, delivered with a brotherly smile: Behave, you idiot.
Not long after Kalendas left, the royals and nobles from various countries, attending as envoys, entered the banquet hall. Ervandas diligently carried out his duties, as instructed by Kalendas.
He had improved somewhat since being with Lulu, but he still wasn’t comfortable around women. Nevertheless, reminding himself that it was his duty, he desperately tried to control his stiffening expression.
Perhaps because it was a particularly busy day, Lulu didn’t arrive until the banquet was nearing its end. The moment he saw her, all his discomfort vanished, and a smile bloomed on his face.
Knowing how much Lulu struggled with choosing her banquet attire, he always chose her outfits himself. Even though he had spent many years in the temple, he had learned much from observing and experiencing life as a prince. And he had a keen eye for aesthetics. Thanks to that, Lulu always wore clothes that were impeccably beautiful and beyond reproach.
‘I worked hard on choosing the outfit I sent her this time.’
Lulu was particularly fond of clothes with lace and embellishments. Even when she was in the forest, she would constantly touch and admire the decorative parts of the clothes he bought her. However, too many embellishments could easily make an outfit look tacky and ridiculous. So Ervandas was always extremely meticulous in his selection. Whenever Ervandas chose an outfit for Lulu’s next banquet appearance and gave detailed instructions, the royal tailors would gather for a heated discussion. The outfits Ervandas requested were always a new challenge for them.
Ervandas craned his neck, scanning the arriving guests, eagerly awaiting Lulu’s arrival.
“Greetings, Prince Ervandas. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
A woman’s voice interrupted his thoughts. Who was she? Ervandas looked at the woman who had suddenly stopped before him. He recognized her before he even saw her face.
‘The woman who looked cold.’
The season had already transitioned into early winter, so the banquet attire had become quite thick. But the woman before him, perhaps having come from a warmer climate, seemed unaware of the local weather. Otherwise, there was no reason for her to be dressed so scantily.
Of course, it was royal attire, so even though it was revealing, it wasn’t vulgar. But that was all it was. To Ervandas, she was simply a woman who had made a poor wardrobe choice.
If he had to assign any further significance, she was the princess of a kingdom whose supplies had aided his knights during battle. So he needed to express his gratitude for their help and offer a suitable return gift. That was the extent of it.
‘What was her name again?’
Fortunately, he hadn’t forgotten his duties as a prince, and he quickly recalled her name and what he needed to do.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again as well, Princess Sierra.”
It was a standard, formal greeting. But even those simple words caused Sierra to blush.
Unbeknownst to Ervandas, Sierra had harbored a lingering affection for him for a long time.
Not long after she came of age, there had been talk of finding a suitable husband for her. There weren’t any candidates within the kingdom who were of a suitable age. Of course, age differences weren’t a major concern for royal marriages, but Sierra was a beloved princess, and her parents were reasonable people. Moreover, Sierra was willing to fulfill her duties as a princess. She wanted a marriage that would benefit her country.
And her kingdom, stable and prosperous, had no need for alliances within its borders. It would be more advantageous to marry royalty from another country. That’s when Ervandas’s name came up first as a potential candidate for Sierra’s marriage.
They were the same age, and the relationship between their two kingdoms would benefit from a marriage alliance. Before any official proposals were exchanged, the two kingdoms agreed to exchange portraits.
Knowing that portraits commissioned from the other kingdom would be heavily embellished, Sierra’s kingdom sent their royal painter to Ervandas’s side to paint his portrait.
A month later, the royal painter returned. She immediately went to Sierra and presented her with the painting.
“Your Highness, you must marry him. You must!”The painter, muttering like someone possessed, finally revealed the portrait she had painted. Sierra looked at it and said incredulously,
“I asked you to paint Prince Ervandas’s portrait, and you went to heaven instead? Or are you obsessed with myths these days?”Sierra’s reaction was understandable. The canvas depicted a breathtakingly handsome young man, his beauty so radiant it was almost blinding.
“Or did they bribe you?”There was no other reason why she would paint a prince from another kingdom in such a flattering light. At Sierra’s words, the painter flushed red as if deeply insulted, and exclaimed,
“His beauty is not something that can be captured with mere money! Look! Do you think this is the kind of beauty that can be painted by someone motivated by greed? I am humbled, Your Highness, by the limitations of my art! I can only offer a pale imitation of his true magnificence!”She continued to praise Ervandas’s appearance, then declared that she had to paint a portrait for her own collection before she forgot his image, and then left.
Sierra spent the entire day gazing at that portrait.
‘If he really looks like this…’
Even if it was a political marriage, she was confident that they could have a happy life together. Even if he had a bad personality, she could understand. After all, roses have thorns.
Sierra pressed her hand to her fluttering heart. Alright, she would accept this arranged marriage with joy.
However, Sierra’s resolve was shattered. Before any official proposals could be exchanged, news arrived that Prince Ervandas had fallen ill. The prince, who had gone to the temple, soon sent word that he had decided to devote himself to God.
Upon hearing this, Sierra was distraught all day. Her man, belonging to God?
‘No, he might come back soon. It’s not easy for royalty to live in the temple.’
But even Sierra’s last shred of hope was crushed. Ervandas not only adapted well to life in the temple but also joined the Temple Knights, known for their harsh training and ascetic lifestyle.
Thus, Sierra’s first love, her unrequited love, her future husband, vanished.
Years passed. Sierra had almost forgotten about Ervandas, but then news arrived out of the blue that he had married. To a red-haired commoner, no less.
‘What on earth happened?’
How could someone who had devoted himself to God blindly, get married? And where had he met this woman? She was curious. Or rather, she was upset. If he had remained in the temple, she could have at least given up. But in the end, he chose a red-haired commoner?
Then, when she heard that this commoner woman had become the Master of the Mage Tower, Sierra made a guess.
‘It must have been a political marriage to secure the mages’ support.’
Thinking that way, Sierra felt a surge of sympathy for Ervandas.
He wouldn’t have easily fallen from grace, not after being devout enough to join the temple. It must have been a marriage out of necessity, for the sake of the royal family.
So when the time came to form an envoy, Sierra volunteered to be the representative. She wanted to see Ervandas in person, and she wanted to help him, knowing he must be unhappy with his marriage.
That’s how she met him again, at the banquet a month ago. The moment she saw him, dressed to the nines, she bit her lip. That painter, she hadn’t done him justice!
Ervandas retained the beauty of his youth, but it was now enhanced by the strength and vitality of a young man. And he possessed a maturity that was rare for someone his age.
Sierra was glad she had put effort into her appearance and approached him confidently. Contrary to her expectations, Ervandas was well-mannered and kind. And he even smiled at her.
‘As expected… Could it be that Prince Ervandas still has feelings for me?’
Ervandas’s behavior fueled Sierra’s imagination. The moment his supposed wife arrived, he whisked her away to a corner of the banquet hall and then disappeared.
‘He must be embarrassed.’
That’s why he had rushed away, out of sight. Sierra made up her mind. She would be more proactive in helping Ervandas.
Of course, the best solution would be to divorce him from the Master of the Mage Tower, but if the Master had any sense, she wouldn’t let go of Ervandas so easily. In that case, wouldn’t it be nice to at least become someone who understood his struggles, someone he could confide in?
And if they developed feelings for each other in the process, that wouldn’t be so bad either.
So, Sierra had put extra effort into her attire today. She was confident in her beauty, and this dress, with its daringly low neckline, accentuated her assets. As she walked towards Ervandas, she felt the weight of the room’s gaze upon her, a mixture of admiration and envy.
“Greetings, Prince Ervandas. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Ervandas smiled and nodded at her greeting, replying,
“It’s a pleasure to see you again as well, Princess Sierra.”
His words, “It’s a pleasure to see you again,” sounded to Sierra’s ears like, “I’ve missed you so much,” “I’ve been waiting to see you again for a month,” “Let’s have a deep conversation now.”
Just as Sierra was about to gather her courage and ask him for an escort,
“What’s that?”
“Who is that?”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Most of the guests had arrived, and there was no one else on the guest list who could cause such a stir. What was happening?