Chapter 1 (Part 4)

“Young Lady!!”  

Perhaps it was the desperation in the voice calling out to her. Snapping out of her thoughts, Reinis stood up and grabbed the man’s hand.  

The man who caught her as she leaped out of the carriage carried with him the refreshing scent of the wind.  

In the fleeting moment before she lost consciousness, a thought crossed her mind.  

‘A pleasant smell… I feel like I’ve smelled this somewhere before….’  

At that moment, a memory from four years ago, at a banquet, came to her mind.  

***

“Oh my, Ren, I told you that such a dress wouldn’t be appropriate for such a glamorous banquet, but you’ve worn it again?”  

Chloe approached Reinis with a smile that barely concealed her mockery.  

Her followers, who trailed behind her, also spoke with faces full of ridicule.  

“Lady Chloe, it must be so hard for you. Lady Reinis always shows up in such attire… If it were me, I don’t think I could bear to associate with her.”  

“Exactly. To wear something like that to such a large banquet… It’s horrifying to even imagine my closest friend dressed that way.”

As the followers began flattering Chloe with their scornful remarks, Reinis’s head naturally drooped toward the floor.  

“That’s not true. I think Ren is wonderful. Even in a setting like this, she insists on wearing a dress she loves. That confidence is something to be admired.”  

If Reinis hadn’t known how to read between the lines of social pleasantries, she might have mistaken Chloe’s words as genuine praise.  

‘The pitiful Reinis Martin, who doesn’t even know enough to feel embarrassed, and the kind-hearted Chloe Teyshire, the Marquis’s daughter, who generously remains close friends with her despite everything.’  

Everyone knew that this was the image Chloe Teyshire, the Marquis’s daughter, was trying to paint.  

And Reinis was well aware of this reality too.  

Even so, she endured the mockery directed at her, forcing a smile.  

“Th… thank you, Chloe. You’re the only one who truly understands me.”  

“Chloe? Oh, Ren, I wish you’d treat me more casually. It’s too much. Don’t you all agree?”  

“Absolutely. Lady Chloe goes out of her way to care for you, and yet you can’t even address her casually… Lady Martin, you really need to develop a bit more sense.”  

“While you’re at it, you should also work on your sense of style when choosing dresses.”  

Even amidst the laughter laced with ridicule, Reinis smiled.  

She found herself utterly revolting. She hated herself for not even being able to say she despised this reality.  

Feeling the tears welling up, Reinis quickly raised her fan to cover her face.  

“I… I’m sorry, but I think I need to step outside for some air…”  

Even as Reinis hurriedly left her seat, the mocking laughter continued to follow her. It felt as though everyone she passed was pointing fingers at her.  

Once she reached a secluded spot, Reinis sat in a corner and began to quietly wipe away her tears.  

When her tears finally subsided, Reinis lifted her head and cautiously looked around. Worried that someone might have seen her crying and tarnished the honor of the Martin family, she carefully observed her surroundings.  

Realizing she had reached a dark backyard garden where the loud music and dazzling lights of the banquet barely reached, she let out a sigh of relief.  

“Thank goodness…”  

She whispered softly to herself.

Rustle—  

Just then, an unfamiliar sound reached her ears, and Reinis’s body stiffened in shock.  

“Ha… They wouldn’t come this far…”  

At the sound of an unfamiliar voice, Reinis crouched down and hid her face between her knees, her ears straining to listen.  

“That Hel… He sent a reply saying he’d attend on his own whim… When I return, I’ll make him run laps in the training grounds in front of the knights.”

The voice was tinged with irritation.  

‘…Who is that?’  

The voice, which had been approaching Reinis, suddenly stopped.  

“Did you follow me all the way here?”

Realizing that the stranger had misunderstood, Reinis suddenly recalled her father, Baron Martin’s words before the banquet.  

‘Behave yourself so as not to disgrace the honor of the Martin family.’ 

In that moment, she imagined the angry faces of the Baroness and the Baron, and she shot up and shouted.  

“Y-you’re mistaken! I wasn’t following you! I was here first!”  

The stranger was startled by her sudden outburst, especially since traces of her recent crying were still evident on her tear-streaked cheeks.  

Her face was a mess of tears and a runny nose, her eyes red and swollen. The man quickly scanned her face and then, adjusting his tone, bowed his head.  

“Ah… I must have misunderstood since so many people at the banquet were bothering me.”  

His polite bow and words left Reinis wide-eyed for a moment before she burst into laughter.  

The man, who had been watching her with a puzzled expression, tilted his head.  

“Oh… I’m sorry. You said you dislike banquets, but you still greeted me so formally, and it made me laugh without realizing it.”

The cheerful voice that emerged made it hard to believe this was the same person who had been crying just moments ago, and this time, it was the man who burst into laughter. That marked the beginning of their conversation, as the two sat down together in one corner and exchanged words.  

“It seems like this is our first meeting. Is this your first time attending a banquet?”  

“Yes. I didn’t really want to come, but one of my subordinates sent a reply saying he’d attend on his own… Just wait until I get back. I’ll make sure he experiences hell. Ah! That was not directed at you, my lady, but at the subordinate who forced me into this place.”  

Realizing he had spoken without thinking, he awkwardly waved his hands with a sheepish smile. At this, Reinis smiled and responded.  

“I understand. I was forced to come here as well… Ah!”  

Startled by her own words, she quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth.  

“Shall we keep everything we talk about today a secret between us?”  

At his suggestion, Reinis smiled and nodded. From then on, the two continued their lively conversation.  

No matter the topic, laughter never ceased between them. It was such an enjoyable time that Reinis completely forgot she had been crying earlier.  

Small lights began to illuminate the dark garden one by one, and soon, both their faces were fully revealed in the glow.  

“Wow…”  

Reinis let out a gasp of admiration and said,  

“How can someone be this beautiful?”  

After a brief moment of silence, Reinis realized what she had just said. Her face flushed bright red, and she abruptly stood up.  

“That… that is… um… well… you’re just so beautiful—ah, no, that’s not what I meant… ah, you’re handsome!! Ah?! No!! That’s not it either…!”  

Flustered, she rambled on incoherently, not even knowing what she was saying anymore. Finally, she clamped her hand over her unruly mouth to stop herself.  

“This isn’t what I meant to say…”  

After finally calming herself down, Reinis mumbled quietly to herself and bit her lower lip.  

The man, who had been watching her with wide eyes, suddenly burst into laughter.  

A refreshing scent of a clear breeze seemed to emanate from him.  

As he laughed heartily for a while, he wiped the corner of his eyes with his hand and spoke.  

“The one who’s beautiful isn’t me, my lady—it’s you.”  

It was a phrase she had never heard before.  

Reinis, with her cheeks flushed red, fanned herself with her hands to cool the heat rising in her face. Suddenly, a familiar voice reached her ears.  

“Where on earth have you been, making me search for you like this?! I’ll have to scold you properly so you never pull a stunt like this again.”  

Reinis froze in place, her expression hardening rapidly. Seeing this, the man glanced around before letting out a soft sigh and rising to his feet.  

“This has been such a delightful time, but unfortunately, I must return to the banquet hall now. If I stay away much longer, I won’t be able to avoid a scolding.”  

As he began to walk away, he suddenly stopped and exclaimed, “Ah, right!” He reached into his pocket and pulled something out.  

“I must’ve laughed so much that tears came out. I’m fine, so I think it would be better for you to use this handkerchief, my lady. I hope we can meet again, my beautiful lady.”  

Lightly kissing the back of Reinis’s hand, he placed the handkerchief in her palm.  

“And I hope no more upsetting things happen to you, my lady. Then, I’ll take my leave now.”  

Watching his figure grow smaller in the distance, a thought crossed her mind. Perhaps he had stayed by her side to comfort her when she was crying.  

Left alone in the garden, now softly illuminated by small lights, the only thing remaining in her hand was the handkerchief he had given her.  

That was their first meeting—and their last.