I reached out, stroking his back. Sys stopped mid-sentence, falling silent.
“I’m not just saying this. You said you love me, didn’t you?”
Instead of answering, he buried his face in the crook of my neck.
“I believe you.”
“…!”
I felt him take a sharp breath.
“Is your heart so light that dancing with Lady Daysha could sway it?”
“Absolutely not!”
He lifted his head, and I placed my hand on his cheek. Everything about him felt soft and warm.
“I know. That’s why I can afford this kind of recklessness.”
“Recklessness?”
“The confidence to lend my charming fiancé to another lady.”
“Pfft! So I’m charming in your eyes?”
He grabbed my hand, his eyes crinkling with a smile.
“Obviously.”
“Here I thought you found me charmless, with all your rejections.”
Kiss.
“…!”
I stole a quick kiss, catching him off guard. His eyes widened.
“Playing hard to get is my charm.”
“Haha!”
He laughed heartily, his throat bobbing. Pulling away, he opened his arms and enveloped me. My body fit perfectly into his broad embrace.
“Your charm’s too lethal. I’ll never escape it.”
He pressed a series of kisses to my forehead.
“Not that I want to.”
His boyish, innocent grin warmed my heart.
“I’m so nervous—this is my first big party,” Levina said, her tense face scanning the room. Around us, nobles gathered in small groups, chatting.
The doors to Erharak Hall were already open, but the ball wouldn’t officially begin until the emperor arrived to announce its start. Nobles mingled, catching up and forging connections.
“I was feeling so alone until I found you, Beeonne,” Levina said. Though still stiff, her voice trembled less, her nerves easing.
“I’m the lucky one. If you hadn’t come to me, I’d be stuck by my father’s side, terribly uncomfortable.”
When I entered the hall with Father, nobles had swarmed us. They vied for his attention, and I wasn’t spared either.
“We’re both lucky,” I said, smiling at her.
Erharak Hall was vast, built to hold the empire’s entire nobility. Finding someone specific here was no easy task. Spotting Levina, standing alone after parting from Marchioness Engrail, was pure chance.
“Hello, Lady Eliant.”
I turned at the voice. Lady Leslie and Lady Kerrion approached.
“Hello, Lady Leslie, Lady Kerrion.”
While Lady Leslie held her head high, Lady Kerrion gave a slight bow.
“We’ve been looking for you,” Lady Kerrion said.
“For me?”
Lady Leslie cut in before Kerrion could continue.
“Yes, we owe you thanks.”
She unfurled her fan, waving it lightly.
“Ahem, thank you, Lady Eliant.”
Her stiff gratitude betrayed her unfamiliarity with such gestures.
“If not for your mediation, we’d have been humiliated. Thank you,” Lady Kerrion added, bowing politely.
Lady Leslie pursed her lips, clearly displeased but silent, as if they’d agreed beforehand. She fidgeted with her fan instead.
“It was nothing,” I said.
“We know, but we felt it proper to thank you,” Lady Leslie said sharply.
“Lady Leslie…” Lady Kerrion began, looking awkward.
“Your advice made it easy to get an apology,” Kerrion continued.
“Hmph!” Lady Leslie huffed, turning away, unable to retort.
“I’m glad my advice helped.”
“We formally protested to House Daysha, and they gave a satisfactory response,” Kerrion said.
“I see.”
I’d already heard the details through Anasha.
Led by House Leslie, the families of the noble ladies present that day sent a formal complaint to House Daysha, demanding an apology and punishment for the offending servant and maid.
The duke promptly issued a formal apology and handed over the servant and maid to the complaining nobles, along with a letter stating he’d not interfere with their punishment.
But there was no apology from Lady Daysha.
The duke’s swift apology caused a stir. The noble families, appeased by the lavish gifts he sent, accepted it readily. The gifts’ value, equivalent to months of their budgets, was hard to resist.
Though the incident didn’t create as big a ripple as I’d hoped, it revealed key truths.
It’s a pity, but at least I learned the duke’s resources are formidable.
The affair exposed his wealth and agility. His quick response and financial strength showed he hadn’t been idle in his domain all these years.
As a result, nobles eager to meet him flooded his residence, turning it into a hub of activity.
“I saw you enter with Marquis Eliant. Isn’t His Highness escorting you?” Lady Kerrion asked cautiously.
This was my first imperial ball since coming of age. Barring unusual circumstances, Sys, as my fiancé, was expected to escort me.
Lady Leslie, still turned away, perked her ears with curiosity. I raised my fan to my lips, as if hiding a blush.
“This might be my last New Year’s Ball with my father, so I asked His Highness’s understanding.”
“Oh!”
“How thoughtful!”
Lady Kerrion gasped softly, and Levina exclaimed in admiration.
“I heard His Highness is eager to marry. Have you set a date?” Kerrion asked, curiosity piqued.
I sensed the nobles around us tuning into our conversation.
“Not yet.”
A sharp gaze pricked at me. Turning, I saw Father, surrounded by nobles, watching me.
Our eyes met. I lowered my fan and smiled faintly at him.
“…!”
The young ladies, puzzled by my action, followed my gaze and widened their eyes upon spotting Father.
Others, caught mid-conversation, paused to glance between us.
“I want to stay in my father’s shadow as long as I can.”
I wasn’t sure if my voice reached him across the noisy hall. Even with his knight-honed hearing, it was unlikely.
But it didn’t matter if he heard. My words to the ladies were sincere, and I knew Father felt the same.
“Oh!”
“Goodness!”
Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd.
