Moonlight Ball - Chapter 129

Now, Iris had to face the world without Elaine, and she wasn’t sure if she was strong enough. She had never considered herself to be strong, only free. She did what she wanted, never looking back.

“But I suppose now that Elaine is gone, I have to be able to stand on my own,” she said, taking a deep breath.

Stand alone? Sidrain’s eyes narrowed coldly. Her desire for her was suddenly overwhelmed by frenzy. You’ve lived your life under Elaine’s protection, and now you talk about standing alone in front of me?

Sidrain didn’t want Iris to stand alone. He wanted her to simply be by his side, to smile and to be his beloved. Whether she was a little crazy or like a beautiful, blooming rose, it didn’t matter. But alone? How could she even utter the word in front of him, her legal husband and the first man in her life?

“Iris,” he spoke, his voice thick with emotion. “Do you know what you need to do if you truly want to stand alone? You must first clear your past. That’s the only way you’ll truly be free.”

And what was Sidrain’s nickname once?

“Do you know what you need to do first if you want to live alone? Clear your past. If you want to live alone, you must first defeat the duke. That’s the real way to live alone.”

With a wicked glint in his eye, Sidrain added, “And don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to live alone.”

***

Amidst the bustling festivities at the Count of Surah’s manor, whispers and glares flowed as freely as the wine. Margaret, the fiancée of the powerful Duke Zeneth, basked in her newfound prestige and wealth, courtesy of the King himself. However, beneath the surface, the wives of the capital’s elite nobility seethed with jealousy and suspicion.

Marchioness Rose In Lasian was at the forefront of these whispers. How could the King bestow such riches upon Margaret and declare her background so openly? And how could the Queen’s own representative, the infamous Elena En Sethang, be tasked with overseeing her affairs? To Rose, it all seemed too good to be true.

As the Surah family made their grand entrance into the royal social circle, many were quick to mock their flamboyant display of wealth. They saw it as nothing more than a desperate attempt at showing off, and the Count and his sons, along with Margaret, only added to their ridiculousness.

The atmosphere of the party was tense, with some guests leaving in disgust, others forcibly putting on a smile, and still others awkwardly trying to make conversation. It was a chaotic and uncomfortable affair, to say the least.

“Take a look, Ris,” Sidrain murmured, offering her a glass of punch. Ris was barely touching her food, her face a mask of discomfort. “See how your tormenting family is acting.”

“I just want to go back to my room,” Iris sighed, turning away from the crowded table. “I have a lot of work to do.” She had been feeling nauseous since earlier, suffocated by the presence of her father, her three half-brothers, and Margaret. The five of them made it hard for her to breathe. Her head was pounding.

“No,” Sidrain said firmly, placing a hand on Iris’s shoulder. “Soon, you’ll have to greet them and speak your mind. Say what’s in your heart. If you don’t, you’ll have to face them again.”

Iris turned her gaze to Sidrain, her blue eyes reflecting surprise, pain, and resentment. But Sidrain only smiled.

The word “alone” was on his mind once more. He knew what he had to do, of course. He just had to explain his feelings to Iris and she would assure him that she didn’t mean it like that, calming his troubled heart. But it didn’t feel right. His mind was telling him one thing, but his emotions were taking over. He wanted her to know first. He was angry, sad, and frustrated that it seemed like all she wanted was to meet with him and nothing more. He didn’t know how to handle these tumultuous feelings – a mix of hatred and a crazy kind of love. How was he supposed to deal with this even sadder feeling?

You said you’d do it alone, he thought, I’ll make sure it happens.

Iris gazed at Sidrain, her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke, “What did I do wrong?”

Sidrain’s lips twisted into a sneer as he replied, “Nothing. It’s just a fact of life. Humans are born alone and die alone.”

Iris cocked her head, studying Sidrain’s demeanor before asking softly, “You’re angry now, aren’t you?”

“Does it look like it?” Sidrain shot back. Iris simply nodded, her unwavering gaze betraying her insight.

“Well, that might be so,” muttered Sidrain. He stole a glance at the chamberlain and saw the members of the Count Surah’s family approaching. As they drew near, Iris’ hands began to shake and tighten around the arms of her chair.

Sidrain felt his heart race. He hoped that if Iris just spoke one word, he would be able to find some sort of solace. He didn’t know what that word would be, but anything would be enough. If she expressed her desire to be a part of his life or expressed regret for not doing so earlier, it would be enough for him.

But as the members of the Count Surah approached, Iris remained silent. In the end, the five members had to bow before the king and queen, with Iris keeping her mouth firmly closed.