CHAPTER 108 - THE DYING OLD MONSTERCecilia sulked. Ezekiel understood he had hurt Cecilia's feelings, but strangely he didn't feel guilty at all. The discomfort he felt was also not because of Cecilia's anger, but because of something else.
Something felt odd.
It was as if the back of his head got stuck in quicksand, and he couldn't get it out. His mind was confused and his feelings were heavy. It was like he had a very bad premonition, and he felt like he already knew the reason.
But what is it?
Why did he feel so displeased? What made him hate everything lately, and especially… himself?
Why was his head so tired and sore, and why did his body feel so eager to go to Cecilia and hug her tightly? An annoyed Ezekiel himself rejected the idea. He fought with Cecilia, and even though it was out of his own selfishness. Why couldn't Cecilia understand that this was also for the sake of the empire?
Marrying Harriet and making her Empress would have a very good effect on the empire, even though she was an evil and cunning woman. Moreover, after she was pregnant with the Almandine's heir, she would get very strong support from the Monsters of the North.
Something felt wrong. Very wrong.
But what is it? Ezekiel couldn't put his finger on the problem.
All his logic had concluded the most appropriate and best for everyone. After Harriet became a widow, he could make her empress, and they could work together to build this empire in a better direction.
But why did this feel so wrong?
Even though it was clear that Harriet was also someone who could have an affair like him, so it didn't matter if she–
"Young Lord Liam Almandine and Marchioness Harriet Goldlane have arrived!"
The greeting for the guests of honour interrupted Ezekiel's thoughts.
The giant double doors opened, and everyone gasped in surprise. The first thing that came into their eyes was a man's long blonde hair tied neatly with a white ribbon.
Then they realized they weren't looking at a dying old man being pushed in a wheelchair.
They saw that the man standing beside Harriet Goldlane was a handsome young man who shone like the sun at tonight's party. He wore a white suit with ornaments and a gold brooch. Around his neck was tied a pale lavender tie, decorated with a thin gold chain.
And half a step behind him, Harriet followed by interlacing her right hand on the man's left arm. Everyone gasped a second time.
Harriet's long, pale lavender hair was loose, straight, adorned with strands of extremely thin, shimmering gold chains. The woman's white dress looked simple, but down to the hem, dainty pastel lavender flowers adorned it.
Harriet's shoulders and neck were quite open because of the over-shoulder top. This was the most recent fashion design, exclusively made for Harriet. However, because of her loose hair and the make-up she wore, the red marks from Liam's actions were not very obvious.
Liam swung his wooden cane, ignoring everyone who was silently staring at them.
Meanwhile, Harriet took a deep breath. She flicked her folding fan open and hid half of her face behind it. She was preparing to face this troublesome important night with a perfect and flawless smile.
"Tch!"
Everyone was shocked to hear the irritated click of tongue in the silent hall. They turned to the Emperor, who had just suddenly made a sound.
"Apparently, even though you are old and dying, you can still walk and come here," said the Emperor in annoyance.
Having just reached the centre of the room, and not yet at all near the altar where the Emperor was standing, Liam immediately smiled. It was an enchanting, sweet yet cold smile.
"Axias," the man's golden eyes shone. Instantly, a cold aura enveloped the room. Liam's anger was clear in the air for some reason.
Harriet and everyone else looked at the two confused. What kind of horrible atmosphere is this?
As Liam pulled Harriet closer, Harriet could see the veins in Liam's jaw and cheeks starting to show. And Harriet was starting to notice the Emperor glaring angrily at them.
Why? What really–?
"So it was you who did it, brat?" Liam took his hand off Harriet and immediately grabbed Axias by the collar furiously. "You were the one who spread the rumor that I am a dying old fart, huh?"
Axias looked back at Liam angrily and grabbed Liam's hand that was pulling his collar.
"B-but isn't that true?! You're almost twice as old as me, and you're dying! How dare you marry my daughter, Harri, without my permission you damn old monster!"
Axias' voice cracked because he was actually scared too, but he bravely tried to fight Liam's pressure.
"Your daughter? My Madam is your daughter? How far are you going to dream? Who are you to call my Madam your daughter?" Liam got really pissed off now. His face was dark, only his golden eyes shone terrifyingly.
At the same time, everyone was piecing together the facts in their heads and realizing many things.
"Ma-Ma-Master! Even if you're the one who taught me swordsmanship, you can't randomly marry someone's daughter!" Axias shouted loudly with a green-blue face. Liam's golden eyes felt as if they were burning his soul.
"You lizard, you–I didn't remember accepting a disciple who calls himself a wise dragon. But at the same time you don't know how much trouble my wife went through because you told everyone that I'm a dying old man," Liam firmly believed Axias was the culprit.
They didn't actually have a relationship like a disciple and master. They were just two strangers who met by accident. Liam often bathed in the spring and summer in a waterfall in the West, while Axias often practised swordsmanship in the same place. Liam never admitted that he was Axias' teacher, but he indeed gave him a few pointers.
Moreover, in this world, no one dared to call him a dying old man other than Axias.
Which eventually spread rumors that he did indeed 'look' like a dying old man–even though that was not true at all! Liam was sure he still looked young and handsome, and there was not a single grey hair on his head!
Harriet slowly raised her hand forward and tried to pull Liam's hand, which was almost strangling Axias by pulling his collar up. She was the only person in the banquet room who was able to react faster than the others, who were still glued to their feet with their mouths wide open.
"Milord, of course, you don't look like a dying old man at all. You look so handsome, strong, brilliant, stunning, and incredibly dazzling," Harriet spoke softly but frantically, and her words made Liam slowly lower Axias body, letting his shoe's soles back to the floor.
"Of course. Look at my hair," Liam said confidently, pulling off the ribbon tying his hair. "I have no grey hair at all!"
"Pff–hehe, that's right, Milord! You have no grey hair at all!" Harriet spoke cheerfully, and Liam smiled proudly.
Axias adjusted his collar with narrowed eyes, his body shuddered with fear as everyone else was still speechless.
"Hmm, so now Harri has become a beast tamer…" he muttered under his breath, making everyone turn pale at Axias's impolite words. He just got strangled by Liam, but he's still not satisfied?
And so, everyone finally saw the figure of Liam Almandine, who turned out to be the same person who was rumored to be Harriet Goldlane's boy toy. He was the most handsome man they had ever seen, even more mesmerizing than the main character of this party, Axias, who was still glaring at him in annoyance.
Long blonde hair, piercing and terrifying golden eyes, and an angelic face. Liam Almandine, the dying old monster–