William owed Renéee a hundred apologies. That kind woman had forgiven the person who had made her son’s hand like that. Izer didn’t bring up that incident anymore either.

It was an unspoken rule between Izer and William. It was like a minimum rule for surviving in noble society. Like two scorpions in a glass bottle, to expose the other’s shame meant sacrificing one’s own honor.

Jade, who was shuffling cards with a cheerful face, asked.

“Is Percy doing well? Has he grown a lot?”

“You saw him just a couple of months ago. He’ll be about the same as then.”

“Kids that age grow so fast. It’s boring with just these disgusting guys around, let’s see a cute young master. Can’t you call Percy over?”

Another young man who had been silent until now picked up on Jade’s words. His tone was dreamy.

“Yeah, let’s call some women. Izer is still as prudish as ever.”

Izer inwardly concealed his disgust. Cain Montes, he lived soaked in alcohol and drugs every day. He was also known for his bad habits, and even prostitutes were said to be wary of entering his room.

Izer smiled outwardly and replied. Once again vowing to immediately cut off dealings with the Montes Trading Company as soon as this contract period ended.

“Cain, you know the adults are in the next room. Percy is probably greeting my father’s friends right now. He’ll come to our side after the conversation is over there.”

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Izer, sitting with his back to the door, responded.

“Come in.”

Creak, the door opened. Izer reached for the table and grabbed a cookie. It was to play the role of a caring older brother to his younger sibling.

And Celian. He thought for a moment.

They all know Celian Berienne’s face. Although her silver hair and blue eyes would remain the same, she would be wearing dull gray clothes with her hair tied up, so there was a high chance they wouldn’t recognize her.

‘She’ll know to bow her head on her own.’

The man was just straightening his back, bringing the cookie towards his body.

Bang. There was a loud noise. Izer reflexively frowned and raised his head.

The chair William had been sitting on was empty. Izer’s eyes moved a bit higher to see William’s face.

The standing man’s expression was as if he had seen a ghost. William’s lips parted. His voice seemed to be asking if what he saw was correct.

“Li, Lian?”

“……”

Izer slowly turned his body. The moment his gaze touched the shimmering white shoes, he sensed that something was wrong.

The bright sky-blue satin stimulated his vision. The shadow cast by the highest quality lace wrapped around her waist flickered.

What she was wearing was a dress fit for a ball. Her cleavage was clearly visible below the deeply cut neckline. Her long silver hair, let down to awkwardly cover both shoulders, and the pearl necklace prominently placed between them caught the eye.

The man’s eyes continued to climb up her face.

The pearl earrings hanging on both ears matched the necklace. Her lips were also red.

Except for her lips, there was no makeup, but no one said it was strange. After all, Celian Berienne originally didn’t wear much makeup.

Yes, the original Celian Berienne.

Crumbled cookie powder fell messily onto his knee.

Despite hating dirt terribly, Izer couldn’t move and looked up at her face. Percy was nowhere to be seen.

The blue eyes that had been staring at the guests met his. Even the voice flowing from her glossy lips was the same as before.

“I’ve brought Young Master Percy.”

Celian Berienne had appeared in her form from six years ago.

* * *

Celian stood with her back deliberately straight. She kept her eyes lowered, unable to bear the shocked gazes upon her.

This wasn’t her intention either. The clothes Izer had sent were simple and neat. If she tied her hair up and kept her head down, it seemed possible that they might not recognize her.

However, two hours before the gathering, the Duke had sought her out. Celian let out a scream of despair as soon as she opened the box.

It was a cry of terror, not joy. She knelt down at the order to wear the sky-blue dress that was anything but modest.

‘This can’t be, Your Grace. It’s too luxurious. A simple dress is enough for me.’

‘It’s friends you haven’t seen in a long time. Even Count Winston is coming.’

That’s exactly why it couldn’t be. She remembered what had happened to her when she wore a similar dress in front of William Winston. He would overlay the past onto Celian wearing this dress.

She didn’t even want to think about what would come next. It was horrifying. Celian pleaded.

‘Please, I beg you. Anything but this dress…’

‘Did you like the clothes Izer sent that much?’

‘……’

‘Wear this dress. Put on all the accessories too, and let your hair down. It would be good to put something on your lips as well.’

In the Chesterfield mansion, Harris’s word was law. She had no choice.

Celian fiddled with the dress Izer had given her for a while before starting to undress. This time, she made sure to close the curtains tightly.

She couldn’t even choose the clothes she wore. She felt like a perfect doll.

The dress was heavy. It was too burdensome to put on alone, but there was no one to help her change. She briefly considered asking Marsha or other maids for help, but gave up as she couldn’t think of a suitable excuse to explain why she was wearing such a dress.

Tears fell onto the sky-blue satin. It was a trace of sorrow shed while clumsily tying a knot at the back of her neck. Even the difficult process of changing seemed to show that this luxury dress didn’t suit her.

A thicker teardrop rolled down her chin. The droplet that disappeared between her cleavage dampened her skin.

She undid her hair that had been tightly tied to prevent even a single strand from escaping. She also placed the hairpin sent by the Duke in the same spot she used to wear it. The necklace and earrings, far more splendid than those worn at the banquet, found their places.

Celian reached for a small handbag. Applying makeup to her pale lips was a declaration of defeat.

Now standing in the small room was a beautiful noble lady. A Celian Berienne-shaped doll that the Duke would be very satisfied to see. An old doll that existed in everyone’s memories, and should have only existed in memories.

Percy liked that his teacher looked pretty, but Celian’s heart was breaking as she smiled at the child. Celian deliberately ignored Izer’s piercing gaze.

“Young Master, you should greet your brother’s friends.”

“Yes, Teacher Celian.”

Jade, who had pulled William, who showed no signs of sitting down, back into his chair, gave her an awkward smile.

“Ah… Percy, hello. Celian too, hello. It’s been… a while, right?”

They were no longer in a relationship where they could speak informally. Celian barely managed to answer.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

Silence fell. Celian Berienne had used formal speech with them. Nothing revealed her current status more than that fact.

Whether the young men were greatly shocked or not, the child was bright.

“Brother Jade, hello. Brother William, it’s been a long time. Brother Cain too.”

Percy was too young to realize that the atmosphere in the room was strange. Jade stammered as he received Percy’s greeting.

“Oh, yes, I’ve been well. Then. Have you been well too, Percy? Here, come and have some cookies.”

Jade continued the conversation with Percy. It was fortunate that they at least broke this suffocating silence.

Celian kept looking at the ground.

She couldn’t leave the room until Percy left. This was her role, after all.

Even as she heard Cain’s snickering sound as he failed to hold back his laughter, William staring at her chest with glistening eyes, and Izer looking her up and down with a somewhat angry face, Celian had to endure.

Fortunately, Jade let Percy go quickly. He had started talking to Percy to try and lighten the mood, but it only ended up prolonging Celian’s stay.

Jade said loudly.

“Sleep well, Percy. Have sweet dreams!”

The living room door closed. A deep blue gaze followed Celian as she headed towards the child’s room with Percy.

* * *

The young men seemed to have regained their cheerfulness.

As Celian returned to her room after making sure Percy was asleep, she heard particularly loud laughter. It was Izer’s.

She didn’t know what subject they were discussing so merrily. Was her situation included?

Nobles had many things to enjoy. The topic of her would briefly come to their lips and then disappear. Celian tried to think as positively as possible as she moved her steps.

But that incident happened as soon as she closed the door to her room.

A strong hand suddenly appeared and covered the woman’s mouth.

“Mmph!”

“Lian–.”

Celian’s body froze. It was a chillingly familiar voice. William Winston, who had embraced her, breathed hotly on her neck. He smelled of alcohol.

The man’s hand grasped her br*ast too naturally. Celian grabbed the man’s arm with all her might.

This was the Duke’s mansion. No matter how much her status had changed from before, it was against etiquette to touch a servant from another household.

The thought that Izer might have allowed this crossed her mind, but she pushed that possibility to the back. If that were the case, there would be no reason to hide and pounce like this.