Chapter 20 - Ceremony (4)

Haa. I let out a deep sigh, resigned to my fate. The one person I had hoped to avoid had somehow managed to find me.

"Get lost, I don't want to have anything to do with you" – that's what I wanted to say, but Ryuk's simpy emotions wouldn't let me.

Instead, I meekly replied, "Sure. It will be my pleasure." Ugh, I couldn't believe I was stuck with this simpy personality.

As we stepped onto the dance floor, the room fell silent, with all eyes on us.

What surprised them wasn't that we were dancing together first, but rather Marianne's unexpected initiative.

When we reached the center of the hall, the crowd parted, making room for our dance. Marianne extended her gloved hand, a sweet smile on her lips. I bowed, the tails of my suit jacket fluttering with the gesture.

As I took her hand in mine, our eyes met, and a wordless understanding passed between us.

We glided across the floor as if in a dream, the waltz music swirling around us. Marianne's gown flowed beautifully, the fabric rustling on the marble floor.

My own movements were fluid, a result of the countless hours we had spent as children perfecting our dance skills.

"Wow, I'm impressed, Lady Marianne," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the music.

"I didn't expect you to be such a skilled dancer, especially considering how much you used to whine during our dance classes."

Marianne's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her expression smooth once more.

Ryuk had always affectionately called her Mary, but I refrained from using the nickname, sensing a hint of tension beneath her polished exterior.

"Appearances, Your Highness, can be quite deceiving," she replied, her voice laced with a subtle smile.

"I may not look the part, but I've taken plenty of dance lessons since then." Her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, but I detected a glimmer of something else – a reminder of the less-than-pleasant memories we shared from our past.

I chuckled, recalling how she would frequently beat me up if I didn't play with her. As expected of those barbarians.

"You've changed a lot over the years," I said, swirling her around the dance floor, her gown flowing effortlessly.

"You, Your Highness, have changed as well," Marianne said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she gazed at me.

"You used to call me Mary, then." Her voice was laced with a hint of nostalgia, but also a touch of wariness.

I met her gaze, a tinge of sadness creeping into my tone. "Yeah, and you used to call me Ryuk. At best, Prince Ryuk, if we were in a formal gathering. Now, we're calling each other by just titles, huh?"

The music swelled around us, but our words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions.

Marianne's eyes narrowed, her gaze flashing with a mixture of defiance and calculation. "Do you get tired, Lady Marianne?" I asked, my voice low and even.

"Always being daddy's perfect puppet. Doesn't it ever exhaust you, draining the life from your soul?"

Our movements continued, perfectly choreographed, as if we were two puppets dancing on strings.

I pressed on, driven by a desire to understand. "Even going as far as to plot against those who love you, who would give their lives for you. Doesn't that weigh on your conscience, Marianne?"

My voice was laced with a hint of sadness, a sense of loss. I or rather Ryuk had once loved her deeply. Even now he still did.

Marianne's eyes flickered, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of the girl she used to be.

But it was quickly replaced by a mask of determination. "The world does not revolve around you, Ryuk," she said, her voice firm.

"So, please, stop playing the victim. I'm sacrificing, too. This is about our people's rights, my family's survival."

Marianne's demeanor shifted, her formal address abandoned. The change was subtle, yet palpable, a sign that she'd grown tired of the pretenses.

As I observed this shift, I noticed Ryuk's emotions begin to ebb. His turmoil, which had been simmering beneath the surface, slowly subsided. Was he trying to find closure. Fine then, I'll help you.

Without thinking, I spoke, my words a reflection of the thoughts swirling in my mind.

"You know even now I'll stand by you, no matter the cost. Even if it means burning the world down."

My statement was impulsive, yet rooted in a deeper truth. Memories of the game's events flashed through my mind – the northerner's rebellion,and Ryuk's unwavering loyalty.

In the game, the northerners' frustration with the Ainsworth Family and the Empire's tyranny finally boiled over, sparking a rebellion.

The outcome was never in doubt, but that wasn't the point. What mattered was Ryuk's response when Marianne and her family were threatened.

He put everything on the line to protect her, persuading the emperor to issue a royal decree that prioritized their safety above all else.

The cost was steep – the potential slaughter of every northerner – but Ryuk didn't hesitate.

His actions were a testament to the depth of his feelings for Marianne, and his willingness to go to extremes for her sake.

The weight of my words settled between us, and Marianne's grip on my hand faltered, as if she was taken aback by the intensity of 'my' or rather 'Ryuk's' devotion.

"I get it's difficult to trust people. And that you have duties to fulfill as the heir to House Ainsworth," I said, my eyes locking onto hers before darting away for a moment.

"But still that doesn't mean you have to seal yourself off completely, shutting out the people who can help you."

Marianne's expression turned contemplative, her brow furrowing as she weighed my words.

"Then is there still a chance for trust between us?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "I'm not sure," I said finally, my voice measured.

"But I think it's unlikely. Especially considering everything that's happened... and what's still to come." I said and paused.

"But just for the sake of clarity, I have to ask," I said, my voice low and even. "Did you ever truly love me, Marianne? Or was it all just a ruse?"

I searched her face, seeking answers to the questions that had haunted me for so long. This was Ryuk's chance at closure, a way to lay the past to rest.

Marianne's eyes widened, her expression caught between surprise and unease. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words faltered on her lips.

The hesitation was all the answer I needed. Her silence spoke volumes, confirming the suspicions I'd harbored for so long. She had never loved Ryuk, not truly.

A spark of anger ignited within me, and I leaned in, my voice taking on a menacing tone. "I know what you and your father have been planning," I whispered, my breath caressing her ear.

"I know what you intended to do to me today." The words hung in the air, a threat and a promise, leaving Marianne's face pale and drawn.