I stood with my lips firmly pressed together, and Samuel, who had been sipping his wine, glanced at my expression and asked.
"Do you have something to say to him? Shall I bring him here?"
I clenched my teeth and quietly steadied my breath, managing my expression.
"Never mind. He'll appear once he's finished with his business."
I replied expressionlessly and glanced toward the window. I had only danced a couple of times, yet the night had grown deep.
'Shall I go back?'
I had achieved my purpose, so there was no need to keep guarding the banquet hall.
Besides, I had left at my own discretion from the very first day. I had shown through my actions that I had no intention of observing social etiquette.
So no one would try to detain me with excuses about how the protagonist had to stay until the end since it was the final day.
'As I thought, it's better to leave now.'
Thinking I should say goodbye to Heinrich, I looked around, but the servant who had been standing at the entrance handling announcements struck his cane to draw attention.
"Instead of fireworks today, something special has been prepared! Those who are interested, please look at the garden in front of the banquet hall!"
It was an announcement for a small event scheduled around midnight when the banquet would be at its peak. Like yesterday's fireworks, it was prepared to heighten the entertainment, and I could see the attendees wearing expressions of interest.
'I don't care about events or whatever, this is just the right timing to slip out of the banquet hall.'
Heinrich, who had just heard the announcement, approached me.
"If it's the garden, we can watch from the balcony or go outside to see it. Which would you prefer?"
"Ah, I was planning to go inside now."
"But you should at least see what's been prepared before you go."
"I'll watch on my way out."
"If that is your wish."
Rather than urging me to stay, Heinrich offered to escort me as his partner. And so, with others watching, I accepted his proposal only as far as the entrance.
"I should escort you to the palace..."
"You need to look after those priests. Didn't you say today is the last day?"
When I pointed at the priests with my chin, Samuel pressed his lips together firmly.
Was there anyone who didn't know their purpose in visiting was to attend the congratulatory banquet? They would leave once the banquet ended.
'He was muttering about having to endure just one more day. He must find it quite bothersome.'
Just then, I saw one of the priests causing a dispute through excessive proselytizing. In the end, Samuel reluctantly bid me farewell and turned away.
"That fellow has it rough too."
Heinrich clicked his tongue with pity and extended his hand to me. Everyone was going to see the garden, and thanks to that, I too could naturally slip out among the crowd.
"If it had been fireworks, we could have seen them from your palace. I wonder why they suddenly changed the plan."
"If it's fireworks, I've seen plenty before I died, so I'm not particularly curious."
I replied indifferently and hurried my steps. Stepping outside, the cold night air wrapped around my body.
I could hear the people who had come out first whispering in bewildered voices.
"There's nothing here."
"What is this? Should we wait?"
The banquet hall was built to be reached after climbing quite a number of stairs, higher than the garden. Thanks to that, standing at the entrance, the garden was visible at a glance. True to people's words, the garden was pitch black.
Normally, lights would have been placed along the path, but for some reason, not a single point of light was visible.
But then...
'Zenon?'
While others couldn't see because it was dark, it was clearly visible to my eyes. He was walking behind low garden shrubs, hunched over with his back bent.
"Forgive me, but I'll excuse myself, Your Highness."
I released Heinrich's hand, gathered the hem of my dress, and went down the stairs. I could feel puzzled gazes following from behind, but I was more interested in Zenon's behavior.
What on earth was Zenon doing? He didn't even sense my presence until I was right beside him.
"Zenon."
He had been crouching awkwardly, absorbed in something, and raised his head abruptly at my call.
"Huh? Lady Anelli! I was actually going to go call you. We must be on the same wavelength!"
Facing his brightly smiling face, I felt slightly wronged for having worried about him when he hadn't shown himself in the banquet hall all this time.
"......What are you doing?"
I asked in a half-hearted tone and lowered my gaze. I noticed the edges of Zenon's cloak were dirty. Evidence that he had been wandering around the garden for quite a while.
"Ah, I was preparing magic to replace the fireworks."
"Why are you handling this?"
"There wasn't a single magician who knew how to perform this magic. So I had no choice but to prepare it alone."
At his nonchalant answer, my brows furrowed involuntarily.
"No, you're a guest. If you just sat still, they would serve you. Why would you volunteer to do the work? Did someone threaten you?"
If that were the case, I was inclined to immediately grab that person by the collar and throw them to Duahan as food.
At my question full of displeasure, Zenon looked surprised and waved his hands.
"That's not it. I volunteered to do it. Have you forgotten why I came as a guest? As the Magic Tower's representative, I should give a gift to the banquet's protagonist. You said everyone else has already given theirs."
At the unexpected words, I forgot my anger and gazed at him blankly.
Of course, as Zenon said, countless gifts from numerous people were piled up in the detached palace. There were even divine artifacts sent from the temple.
But Zenon knew full well that I wasn't the type to care about such things.
"Fortunately, the garden is well-maintained. It seems it will go well with my magic."
He looked around the dark garden and stood up. Then he lightly snapped his fingers. Zenon's figure before me vanished in an instant.
"Since Lady Anelli is the protagonist, I'll hide myself for a moment. I hope it pleases you."
From the direction where Zenon's voice came, light sparkled and rose up.
'Fireflies?'
One small, round firefly, likely created by magic, flew up into the air with a spin. Since the surroundings were so pitch black, following the firefly's path wasn't difficult.
As I moved my gaze as if spellbound, following the yellow light, suddenly the firefly multiplied into two.
The two fireflies flew about drawing curves haphazardly. Then they became four.
"What in the world..."
The increasing number of fireflies began to illuminate the garden. Some on low shrubs, some on the low-cut grass, and others floating in the air.
As I watched the dreamlike scene spellbound, Zenon's voice laced with laughter came from nearby.
"Even though this is a place you're leaving, I wanted to create a wonderful memory for you. Because this place doesn't contain only things Lady Anelli dislikes."
Where the fireflies landed, flowers bloomed. Countless flowers made of translucent light, dazzlingly sparkling.
They bloomed in full glory, covering the entire garden.
"And for my own personal selfishness... I wanted to commemorate yesterday as well."
I blankly looked down at the flowers blooming at my feet, then glanced to the side. Though his figure was still invisible, Zenon was definitely beside me.
"After creating such a dramatic commemoration, you won't dismiss it as if it never happened, right?"
'If it's about yesterday...'
I chewed on his sheepish words blankly, then slowly narrowed my brows.
"I can't see you, but it's unfair that only you get to observe my reaction."
"But these flowers all bloomed for Lady Anelli, so it can't be helped. If I'm included, the picture won't come out right at all."
It was truly an absurd excuse. With my lips pouted, I quietly raised my hand. A couple of fireflies that had been hovering right before me settled gently onto my palm.
There was no sensation, but I could feel a warm energy.
"More importantly, look at those people's blank faces."
Zenon urged me from beside me. Only then did I recall that this was the garden in front of the banquet hall.
When I raised my head, the crowd gathered at the banquet hall entrance came into view. They were looking at me with faces full of astonishment. I could clearly see their expressions of admiration with flushed faces.
"From now on, Lady Anelli's final moment that will be remembered will be this current image. No one will be able to call you an undead anymore?"
I could tell just from his voice. Right now, Zenon was definitely wearing a triumphant expression with his head held high.
With that very expression he showed whenever he bragged about his magic skills.
"...I see."
A stiff and cold murmur escaped my lips.
'Whether they see me as undead or not, I don't really care.'
If they thought of me as undead and feared me, that was convenient for me. I rather thought it was a good thing.
If they were too afraid, they wouldn't dare to use me or consume me as entertainment.
'I really don't care.'
I gazed blankly at the crowd, then lowered my gaze. Where I stood had now become a perfect flower bed. The flowers blooming abundantly swayed gently.
A wind I hadn't noticed blowing now brushed against my skin. Its power, not particularly strong, shook beneath my feet and dizzying my mind. Dizziness surged from a flower fragrance I shouldn't have been able to smell.
'I was always fine.'
Is it those flowers blooming vibrantly that are swaying, or...
"Um... I expected a more dramatic reaction. Is it not good?"
Seeing some emotion on my face, Zenon asked cautiously.
If he was going to boast, he should have been brazen until the end. Why did he lose his spirit so quickly?
Truly a ridiculous man.
For some reason, the corners of my mouth kept trying to twist, so I pressed my lips together tightly.
"It's not good."
I bent my waist and grabbed a swaying flower. The flower couldn't maintain its form and crumbled into a halo of light in my hand.
Even its breaking appearance could be this beautiful.
"To think I have to share such a sight with others."
I sincerely regretted it. To think I had to show this beautiful sight to those humans.
"I want to see it alone."
It was a murmur so quiet it was practically a monologue, but Zenon managed to hear and respond.
"Does that mean you like it that much?"
A faint sense of relief was mixed in his question.
"Yes."
I straightened my back, which I had bent for a moment.
"There's probably only one person in the world who has received such a gift."
I said, looking at where Zenon would be standing.
'My expression right now... seems a bit strange.'
Those standing far away wouldn't know, but Zenon would be seeing my expression clearly. I didn't want to look unsightly.
"And there will be only one person in the world who can give such a gift."
I drew a curved line with my trembling lips and composed myself. My voice was slightly hoarse from holding back rising tears.
At least fortunately, I was standing composedly without collapsing and crying.
And yet.
"Thank you, Zenon. For making my last banquet a good memory."
One tear trailing across my cheek was something I couldn't stop.