A party was being held to welcome the new Grand Duchess from the Empire.

‘I’m not sure I’m someone worth celebrating…’

Before she knew it, Selina was adorned in a lavish dress and glittering jewelry. Lowering her gaze, she looked down at her wrist. Dangling from her slender arm was the beautiful bracelet said to be one of Thalia’s treasures.

The image of the arrow once aimed at her suddenly flashed through her mind. She couldn’t help wondering if someone had recognized her for what she truly was—an ill-fitting actress behind a mask—and decided to mete out punishment.

‘They said the culprit still hasn’t been caught, didn’t they.’

It wasn’t as though the news filled her with unbearable fear. From the start, if they were people from Thalia, it was obvious they would despise someone like “Selina Ilios Axell.”

Still, perhaps because of Calix’s stern warnings, the household staff never openly showed their dislike toward her. The nobles attending the party, however—she had no idea how they might react.

“Would you like some water?”

Lady Lily approached, her concern plain upon seeing Selina’s tense expression.

“Ah… I’m fine.”

Selina was grateful for the lady’s kindness, but at the moment, she felt as though even drinking water might upset her stomach, so she declined.

“Parties always pass in the blink of an eye. It’ll be over before you know it.”

Offering those words of comfort to the stiffly seated Selina, the lady soon helped her to her feet. It was time to enter the banquet hall.

Drawing in every ounce of composure she could muster, Selina followed the lady into the Moonlight Palace.

Located in the annex of the Grand Duke’s castle, the Moonlight Palace shone with a soft, ivory glow, just like its name. The cream-colored columns gave the exterior the air of a sacred temple.

From the moment Selina stepped through the entrance, the beauty within was revealed, matching the splendour of the exterior. Unlike the grandeur and opulence of the Empire, Thalia’s palace was a work of art in every detail. Intricate patterns adorned the walls and columns, and lush greenery filled the space, creating the sensation of stepping into a forest.

But above all, what captured Selina’s gaze was the moon on the ceiling.

‘There are moons hanging in the air—even indoors!’

Moons that glowed with radiant light hung from the ceiling.

Encircling the edges of a great round design, they resembled an enormous clock carved into the ceiling—each moon growing larger in perfect clockwise order. At first a full moon, the shape gradually shrank to a sliver no bigger than a fingernail, then, after several more shifts, returned once again to a round, full moon.

‘It’s Beautiful…’

Selina gazed up at the ceiling, entranced. Each one was both exquisite and strange. Surely they hadn’t plucked the moons straight from the sky, so how could they shine so brightly indoors?

Just as she wondered, Lady Lily answered as though reading her mind.

“They’re called moonstones. They exist only in Thalia. They say they shine bright all year round, nourished by the power of moonlight—hence the name.”

“I see. Ah, thank you for telling me.”

Selina quickly replied, then turned her head toward the ballroom. She appreciated the lady’s answer, but at the same time, she felt embarrassed, as if she’d been caught staring off into space. She had been told she must always act the part of a noblewoman, no matter the time or place—had she just failed to do that? The thought left her uneasy.

Fortunately, Lady Lily said nothing more and simply guided her to the ballroom.

“This is where today’s party will be held.”

The attendants guarding the doors bowed to Selina and opened them wide.

“Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, enters!”

One of the attendants announced her arrival in a loud, clear voice.

There’s no need to say it so loudly…

Hoping desperately that everyone would be too caught up in the festivities to pay her any mind, Selina stepped forward with a tense heart.

‘…Ugh’

But the moment she set foot inside, she realized that wish would not be granted.

“At last, you’ve arrived.”

“…That’s her?”

Every gaze in the ballroom turned to Selina. The low hum of whispers that had filled the air fell silent, as if cold water had been thrown over it. Not a single noble spoke. As if it had been rehearsed, their eyes swept over her—cool, appraising, and unwelcoming.

‘Don’t be nervous. You expected this.’

Selina took a slow, shallow breath, trying to keep her hands from trembling.

“This way, please.”

Following Lady Lily’s lead, she sat in the seat prepared for the Grand Duke and his wife, positioned at the center of the hall. It was truly fortunate the lady had accompanied her—if not, Selina would have been at a loss for where to go, likely retreating to a corner as she had back in the Empire, keeping her head down and watching everyone else from the sidelines.

“His Grace will be occupied entertaining other guests. So, Your Grace, please spend your time here.”

Lady Lily bowed to Selina before withdrawing.

Once the lady was gone, Selina was, at last, truly alone.

In the middle of the ballroom, young men and women were busy clasping hands and dancing. She remembered overhearing the maids back at the marquisate saying that grand parties—whether for a founding day, the emperor’s birthday, or any other pretext—were really meant to spark romance among the nobility.

Just as they’d said, couples were switching partners as they danced, and those who had already found mutual interest had moved to the edges of the hall to share quiet, intimate conversations.

Watching the happy faces, Selina felt a dull ache press against one corner of her heart.

‘It’s not time for the antidote yet…’

She lightly tapped her chest with one hand, trying to ease the tightness, and let her gaze wander. Almost without realizing it, her eyes searched for Calix.

‘He said he’d be busy, didn’t he?’

From his seat a few steps higher than the ballroom floor, the entire scene lay spread before him. From that vantage point, Selina could see him clearly—even if he hadn’t been so tall that he stood out no matter where he was.

‘He really must be busy.’

Men and women of all ages surrounded him—some seeking conversation, others presenting gifts.

Come to think of it, Calix had always been popular, not just here in Thalia, but back in the Empire as well.

‘People who are well-liked will always draw attention, no matter where they are.’

She found herself staring at him for a while before catching sight of her reflection in the mirror. Her face was dazzlingly beautiful — a far cry from the girl who had once been shut away alone in a convent.

Yet, to her, she still resembled the unwanted ugly duckling.

Among the swans, the ugly duckling stood out all the more for not belonging.

Perhaps, as Ethan had said, no matter how much one dressed up, one’s essence could never truly change.

‘It’s better to keep quiet and slip away quickly.’

She was idly swinging her legs beneath the heavy folds of her dress when—

“Look at Calix. Ignoring his own wife while he’s off having a grand time over there.”

Startled, Selina turned her head to find a woman standing beside her—a woman with hair as brilliantly golden as Calix’s.

“Wh–who…?”

“Don’t you agree? You’ve just arrived in Thalia, awkward enough to want to sink into the floor, and yet there he is, acting like that.”

With eyes as clear and blue as a lake, the woman tipped back her champagne in one smooth motion, then looked toward Calix with open disapproval.

“You must be annoyed too. Having to come all this way, to sit here stuck in one place when you never even wanted to in the first place.”

‘Who is this woman supposed to be?’

Selina’s eyes widened, caught between surprise and unease.

Of course, she did feel awkward here, but annoyed? No. Coming to Thalia had been her own decision, and she had accepted that spending time in the ballroom was part of it.

“Th–that’s not true.”

“It’s fine. If I were in your place, I’d feel the same. I probably would’ve gotten fed up and slipped out halfway through.”

Selina shook her head in earnest, but the woman went on as if she could see straight through her.

Anyway, just look at the bandage on Calix’s hand! What’s so impressive about getting hurt that he needs to wrap it up like that? Is he trying to show the whole world what a noble deed he’s done?”

Only then did Selina’s eyes turn toward Calix’s arm.

It had been perfectly fine earlier in the day, yet now it was wrapped in bandages. As she tried to recall if anything could have happened to injure him, the memory surfaced—Calix stepping in to restrain her horse when it had reared and bolted.

‘Could he have gotten hurt doing that?’

Selina’s face clouded over.

Noticing the change, the blonde woman let out a faint, knowing smirk.

“You think so too, don’t you? Calix loves nothing more than putting on a show for people.”

“That–that’s not true!”

But Selina shook her head firmly, refusing to agree with the woman’s words.

“His Grace was hurt trying to save me. I—I nearly fell off my horse, and he… he got injured stopping it from happening…!”

Was it because Selina, who until now had seemed so reserved, suddenly spoke with such conviction? The blonde woman looked at the newly arrived Grand Duchess of Thalia with a hint of surprise.

At that moment—

“Calliope.”

A large, solid hand came down on Selina’s slender shoulder.

“What business do you have with my wife?”