Banquet (4)

A heavy sound rang out.

It was the sound of Ariel's back of the hand striking Cobin's face.

Cobin flew and slammed into the wall, then fell back to the floor.

And he did not move.

".....''

Silence fell over the banquet hall.

People could only blink their eyes, unable to open their mouths.

The only thought running through their minds was whether it was physically possible for a human to fly in a straight line like that.

The first to move was Marcus, Cobin's escort knight.

Regardless, Marcus was the only one who could take care of Cobin here.

Marcus approached Cobin.

'What is this...?'

Cobin's condition was serious.

His eyes were rolled back, foaming at the mouth.

His arms and legs were bent in grotesque directions, like a crumpled insect.

But he seemed to be breathing faintly, so he didn't appear to be dead.

The wall Cobin had flown into was dented, and several of Cobin's teeth, including molars, were scattered on the floor.

'Just from a wave of her hand, it's this much...?'

Marcus could hardly believe the situation.

From what Marcus saw, there was no sign of Ariel using magic.

She had simply waved her hand reflexively in response to Cobin's sneak attack.

Yet Cobin was in a near-death state.

Judging from the dented wall Cobin slammed into, his entire skeleton must have been shattered.

Perhaps he had even suffered permanently crippling injuries.

'Well, he brought it on himself...'

Marcus clicked his tongue and hoisted the unconscious Cobin over his shoulder.

Cobin had proposed the duel in the first place, and launched the sneak attack. Ariel had merely reacted.

So Marcus had only one task left.

To take the unconscious Cobin away and treat him.

Having found the banquet dull anyway, Marcus left the hall without hesitation, carrying Cobin.

*

"Sir Shane... What kind of training has Ariel undergone?"

"...I don't know. This is the first time I've seen anything like this. Her strength is like an ogre's."

"To compare a lady to an ogre, your words are excessive."

"She may be stronger than an ogre. With such a slender build... It's truly unbelievable."

Carl and Shane were having a conversation, seated in one corner of the banquet hall.

They were discussing the earlier duel between Ariel and Cobin.

'No... can that even be called a duel...? It was too one-sided...'

Thinking so, Carl looked over at Ariel sitting some distance away.

Having dispatched Cobin, Ariel had returned to her seat and was eating her chocolate cake again.

Her face was serene, as if nothing had happened.

After Marcus took Cobin away, the banquet had resumed, and people were starting to take an interest in Ariel one by one.

"Hello, your name is Ariel, right? You're incredibly strong."

"Certainly worthy of Lord Carl's courtship. Northerners do like strong women, don't they?"

"I've heard. Though it wasn't courtship, but a marriage proposal? Which she rejected..."

"Ariel, why did you reject Lord Carl's proposal? Lord Carl would be a great catch..."

Even surrounded by numerous ladies, Ariel silently ate her cake with a blank expression, giving no hint of her thoughts.

"Now, now, we appreciate the interest but that's enough everyone. Ariel must be tired after her duel with Cobin."

Selly shooed the ladies away, shielding Ariel.

'Indeed... she does look tired.'

Carl observed Ariel as he sipped his drink.

Ariel's eyes were now half-lidded, and her hand holding the fork was slowing down.

Eventually, she closed her eyes and dropped the fork with a clatter.

"Hm? Ariel, are you okay?"

Selly gently shook Ariel's shoulder. Ariel's eyes fluttered open, but her gaze was unfocused.

"Ariel, shall we get some air for a bit?"

"Mm."

So Selly and Ariel walked out to the banquet hall's terrace.

"Sir Shane."

Carl spoke in a somewhat solemn tone.

"I'm afraid I cannot do it."

"Cannot do what, my lord?"

"We depart this city at dawn tomorrow, so I must bid farewell to Ariel."

"Bid farewell..."

Shane looked puzzled.

The phrasing 'bid farewell' seemed a bit too...something, though he couldn't put his finger on it.

"So I must convey my heart to her now."

Shane's eyes widened at Carl's words.

"You mean..."

"I will confess."

"Young master... That is..."

"I do not intend anything untoward. I simply wish to let her know my feelings, whether Ariel accepts them or not."

"..."

Seeing Carl's resolute expression, Shane found he could not dissuade him.

Shane also had times like Carl's youth, and he knew well that at times like that, no matter what he said, he couldn't dissuade him.

"I understand, young master."

All Shane could do was hope that Carl wouldn't get too hurt.

"Then, I'll be back."

Carl stood up and walked heavily toward the terrace of the banquet hall.

"Haha, really..."

Shane chuckled as he watched Carl's back.

No matter how mature Carl tried to act, to Shane he always seemed childish.

But now, Carl seemed to have grown up considerably.

*

Selly and Ariel, who had come out to the terrace, leaned their arms on the railing and looked up at the night sky.

It seemed there were an unusually large number of stars out tonight.

"Ariel, come visit our estate next time. We don't have desserts like that since fattening foods are forbidden at our estate, but the garden is huge. Let's play there. Ghost and Lu can come too."

"Un."

"And if we're lucky enough to get my father's permission, we may even be able to go to a nearby city for fun. That city will probably have Delight too, so maybe we can eat strawberry tarts. And..."

Selly chattered on incessantly.

Since she would be leaving Sierra for the capital at dawn tomorrow, she didn't have much time left to spend with Ariel.

"It's a pity, if it weren't for the princess's birthday party, I'd want to keep playing with you in this city... There's still so much we haven't done yet..."

Then the sound of footsteps came from behind.

Selly turned to see a handsome boy with black hair approaching.

It was Carl.

"Selly, long time no see."

Carl and Selly had exchanged greetings a few times before. They weren't close, but they knew each other's faces.

"Lord Carl, what is it?"

"Ah, um, could you give us a moment? I need to talk to Ariel..."

Seeing Carl's hesitant demeanor, Selly almost burst out laughing.

The Grand Duke of the North, who had remained perfectly composed even before Princess Illiana, now had the face of a boy completely smitten with a crush.

His appearance was somehow endearing, and Selly felt an urge to tease him, but she decided to graciously give them space instead.

"Ariel, I'll head inside first. Lord Carl, please have your conversation comfortably."

"Thank you."

After Selly left, Carl took a deep breath and called out to Ariel.

"Ahem, ahem, Ariel."

Ariel, who had been gazing up at the night sky, slowly turned her gaze toward him.

Her crimson eyes, slightly drowsy-looking, stared blankly at Carl.

Taken aback by her indifferent gaze, Carl hesitated but tried to compose himself as he took something out of his pocket.

"This is..."

What Carl took out was a ring.

A ring engraved with the Castarck family crest.

"For you..."

Carl slipped the ring onto Ariel's finger, and Ariel looked at the ring with a puzzled expression.

If it had been another lady, she would have immediately understood Carl's intention.

For a man to give a woman his family crest ring signified a proposal of engagement.

"If you wear that ring... you'll receive the utmost hospitality anywhere in the North..."

Carl mumbled, then quietly bit his lip.

In truth, this wasn't what he had prepared to say. He had intended to say something bolder and more impressive.

But the moment he stood before Ariel, his mind went blank.

"Wow, there are a lot of stars."

Carl looked up at the night sky for no particular reason.

From the moment he slipped the ring onto her finger, he didn't have the courage to meet Ariel's eyes.

If their eyes met, he felt like his heart might burst.

"Anyway, Ariel, I'll be leaving for the capital at dawn tomorrow. So, um, thank you for accepting the ring... Come visit the North sometime. It's cold in the North, but... the scenery is quite nice..."

Carl rambled incoherently.

He himself didn't even know what he was saying.

There were different words forming in his mind, but his mouth was babbling on its own accord.

Realizing this wouldn't do, Carl steeled himself and abruptly turned to face Ariel.

"So, Ariel..."

At that moment, with a thud, Ariel collapsed to the floor.

"Ariel...?"

Carl quickly checked on Ariel's condition.

He hesitated to touch her body, but there was no choice now.

This could be an emergency situation, since Ariel had suddenly collapsed.

To check if she was breathing, Carl brought his hand near her nose.

Fortunately, she was breathing well. Calmly and regularly. But she was unconscious.

Carl had been taught by Shane how to handle situations like this.

'Ah, mouth-to-mouth...'

Carl's face flushed red.

But he quickly shook his head to clear the stray thought.

If no action was taken when someone suddenly collapsed, it could be too late. So he couldn't afford to hesitate.

"Eek!"

Carl squeezed his eyes shut and brought his lips closer.

Soon, a cool yet soft sensation met his lips.

Carl opened his eyes without realizing it.

"!"

In an instant, Carl felt his heart sink.

Somehow, Ariel had opened her eyes and was staring at him.

What Carl's lips had touched was Ariel's palm.

Ariel had reached out and blocked Carl's lips with her hand.

Anyone who saw this could easily misunderstand the situation.

"Ah, Ariel. This, this is..."

Carl hurriedly stood up, and in the process, bumped into someone standing behind him.

"..."

Carl slowly turned around.

Standing behind Carl was Selly.

"Lord Carl... what were you about to do just now..."

Selly looked at Carl with an expression of disbelief.