North x Northwest

Chapter 338

Pretending not to notice, Lil spoke as they walked towards the dance floor.

“I see you have been promoted to Commodore. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. How did you know?”

“I saw the epaulettes of the officers saluting you.”

“…”

After taking a stance, their right hands met, and they waited for the prelude to end before spinning in a circle.

The addition of wind instruments enhanced the music, while the people dancing next to them moved closer and farther away in waves. Likewise, the chandelier’s lights shaded and highlighted Cesar’s face.

During their movements, however, Cesar kept his eyes locked on Lil.

“…If you look at me like that, people will misunderstand.”

Out of habit, Cesar let out a soft apology through a faint whisper in her ear. He then lowered his eyes and only saw her from his peripheral vision. They alternated between circles and semicircles, getting closer to the emperor’s platform before returning.

Soon, the music slowed down, prompting everyone to pause neatly and look at each other. A moment later, the second theme began, and Lil and Cesar once again got closer until the two of them were face to face.

The silence between them lasted one turn, two turns…

“How are your injuries?”

“I am doing fine.”

There was nothing else to say. Lil guessed that Cesar must’ve heard the rumour going around, yet he didn’t ask anything else.

Silence filled the narrow space between them once more, a stark contrast with the banquet hall filled with chatter. The music heightened, exciting the attendees who laughed and chimed in. Those watching the floor also contributed to the overall mood by toasting their drinks and clapping their hands.

Lil and Cesar brought their hands together and kept the pace. This particular segment of the song suddenly felt boringly slow and became exacerbated by the deepening silence between the two.

At some point, Cesar started looking at her again. Lil, noticing his gaze, looked up at him as well.

“I…”

He swallowed dryly.

“…I am departing tomorrow. It was fortunate to see you before I left.”

“You’re going back quickly.”

Cesar smiled bitterly.

“Yes.”

“Take care of yourself.”

Cesar distanced himself a bit and stretched out his right arm with his palm up. Taking his arm, Lil tactfully held the hem of her skirt with her other hand so that it flowed freely. She revolved around him in accordance with the angle of his arm until Cesar’s arm slowly lowered. It sank to a halt as if his strength was draining.

“I think I now know what you meant.”

Lil walked towards him as it was her next move and signed.

“Sir Cesar…”

“I’m not trying to repeat the same story.”

“…”

“I admit it… I always assumed I knew everything, that was why I did not make an effort to find out more. I thought it was enough because I understood you a little more deeply than others. After all, I was the only one who experienced the side of you that others refused to see. That alone made me feel as if I had already accomplished something great… I was so absorbed in that privilege… no, I even considered it a favour, so I could not help but think perhaps I was only being stubborn. And because of that, I even told you I would do everything you wanted. But now that I see it more clearly, in the end, I actually did nothing…”

“…”

Cesar slowed his steps before coming to a standstill.

“I have come to realise that I will never know or truly understand what you want.”

“…”

His lack of movement prompted Lil to also stop her already slowing steps and let go of her dress.

“I am sorry, Liloa.”

“That is enough. I told you already, it is fine.”

“Actually, my numerous apologies up to this point were nothing but empty deceptions…”

“…”

Reaching the end of the song, the music ended and people poured out to various places.

“I am not looking for a chance to be with you again.”

“…”

In the crowd, Cesar offered her his hand.

“Rather, this is my sincere apology for the pain I caused you in the past.”

It was the same hand gesture as when he asked her to the dance, but this time, he was visibly shaking. Lil thought for a while before slowly putting out her hand. Beyond her thin gloves, the warm sensation gently touching her fingertips spread through her palm up to the backs of her hand.

Cesar lowered his head and kissed the back of her hand.

“Be happy.”

“Sir Cesar…”

“…”

Lil swallowed the lump down her throat.

“Be sure to be happy, too. Thank you for everything.”

The face she was facing was awkwardly smiling.

“Thank you.”

The hand holding hers suddenly gained strength. It held onto her as if it would never fall, but soon Cesar let go of Lil. Unlike their meeting in Roahn, Cesar was the one who turned his back first this time.

Many people greeted him and bowed as he joined the crowd, some people approached him and talked to him in a friendly manner.

‘I always believed that speckled chandelier light, white dress shirts, scarlet sashes, black justaucorps with gold epaulettes, and hat feathers of all colours, was the backdrop best suited for Cesar Lemoine…’

Lil smiled in relief and soon turned around.

***

“…Cesar Lemoine…”

Mireille leaned against the railing on the second floor of the banquet gallery and stroked his chin. His narrowed eyes parted from Lil and followed the man who exited the ballroom.

As soon as Lil turned her body after seeing Cesar walk away, other men, who had been waiting for her to be left alone, began to approach but hesitated upon Venua’s sudden appearance.

“…Cesar Lemoine, ah, you mean the Commodore?”

Mireille looked back at the owner of the voice. He was a petty officer of the Mondovi fleet, leaning on the railing with him. Mireille took two glasses from the tray of a passing servant and handed one to the officer.

“Commodore?”

“Yes, he was recently promoted.”

“Then did he stated that his body had completely recovered?”

“Yes.”

“But was he not said to have been recuperating at home for several years because of some chronic illness or injury? How did he land in Roahn with the Mondovi fleet that had been dispatched to the South?”

“From what I have heard, he went on a trip for a while because he was frustrated with nursing life. I guess the trip gave him the much-needed energy and he soon after rejoined the Navy.”

Mireille wondered if the recuperation was just an excuse and if the two had actually been travelling together, but at the same time, he immediately doubted this line of thought because doing so would have been an act too bold for such an upright officer to commit.

‘But, no matter how I look at it, Cesar appeared as though he was well-acquainted with Liloa. Yes, of course, it is not strange at all that someone like Liloa would dance with a man, but while they originally danced in a mood that was expected for shallow acquaintances, they eventually looked as if their purpose was not to simply dance, but to have some kind of conversation under the pretext of dancing…’

Mireille took a moment to recall his memories.

‘Long ago, when Cesar came to my residence to sign a contract with me, I clearly remember Liloa’s unusual behaviour…’

“Then, who was the patient the Admiral took great care of while the fleet returned to Mondovi?”

“Unfortunately, petty officers are not informed of such matters.”

“…”

Mireille intentionally frowned. He looked down at the banquet hall and drank his drink, soon enough, however, the petty officer added.

“…But an officer I know said he overheard that the patient was a woman.”

“Really?”

“She was aboard a merchant ship belonging to Viscount Noirmont, so the patient must have been someone from Sesbron. Someone high-profiled enough whose death could cause a dispute. That was why even our great Commodore Sagastar feared for his life.”

“I see.”

“Did I help you?”

Mireille, who had emptied his glass, nodded his head.

“That was very helpful.”

“If so, about the money for my uncle’s loan…”

Mireille took out a document from his arms and the petty officer hastily opened the documents handed to him.

“Of course, let us pretend it never happened.”

The officer, smiling brightly, lowered his head.

“Thank you.”

Mireille tapped his shoulder and motioned for him to go, and soon the man disappeared beyond the crowd.

Despite the scuffle with Venua, Lil was still surrounded by a lot of interested men. Mireille watched the scene for a moment with a cigarette in his mouth. Then, the duke eventually walked away from his spot, leaving a trail of smoke that followed his steps and mixed with the smoke from the cigarette pipe that an old woman was holding.

‘No wonder. There is no way she could have endured that life alone for long. Cesar Lemoine must have helped hide Liloa’s identity, thus enabling her to live while avoiding the pursuit of Obernyu.’

“A great bitch, indeed. Messing with all the esteemed gentlemen from this Empire.”

– – – – –