“My goodness, it’s the cursed Duke.”

“How horrifying.

Even imagining what lay hidden behind the mask sent shivers down their spines.

Princess Irene felt no differently. She struggled to conceal her expression of disgust, instead fixing her gaze on Tayton. Their eyes met briefly in the air.

Composure.

Irene clenched her teeth as she reminded herself of the reason she attended the Duke’s banquet. No matter how much she despised him, she was, after all, the Duke of Gunner’s fiancée.

She couldn’t afford to display even a hint of misery before such an audience. Her lofty pride wouldn’t allow it.

“Thank you for attending the banquet, Princess Britton.”

The Duke extended a hand toward her. Irene barely touched it, as if it were a soiled rag.

“Thank you for inviting me, Duke Gunner.”

Tayton’s lips curled into a smile beneath his mask as he glanced around. His grin, visible only from below the mask, struck a grotesque impression. Several noblewomen quickly averted their eyes.

As Tayton urged the guests to enjoy themselves, the previously stifled nobles and emerging entrepreneurs seemed to gradually relax, resuming their polite exchanges and casual conversations.

Meanwhile, Irene, making her way toward the center of the hall, suddenly paused. Her eyes widened slightly as she noticed a man drawing all the women’s attention.

Andrei Lermont.

Meeting her gaze, Andrei excused himself from the young ladies around him and approached Irene, a champagne glass in hand and a leisurely gait.

As though he were born to stand apart, every gesture of his drew the room’s focus. Andrei, who had played a major role in sparking the recent Santier craze in the capital, greeted her in a smooth, dignified tone.

“It has been a while, Princess Irene.”

“Indeed.”

Andrei extended a hand to her, and Irene, in stark contrast to her earlier interaction with the Duke, gently placed her hand in his.

Andrei lightly kissed the back of her hand and, still holding it tenderly, escorted her toward the center of the hall.

The other guests began to openly glance at the Duke of Gunner, assessing his reaction. Princess Irene and Andrei Lermont were the most talked-about man and woman in the capital, always at the center of gossip.

With Princess Irene, the Duke of Gunner, and the unexpected appearance of Andrei Lermont, everyone was eager to see how this tangled triangle would unfold.

However, the Duke of Gunner seemed largely uninterested in the two. He was busy conversing with marquises, counts, and young entrepreneurs, exchanging ideas about future plans.

On the other hand, several women discreetly cast longing glances at Andrei. Those who had hoped for a chance to dance with him had to swallow their disappointment upon Irene’s arrival.

“Andrei’s attendance had me holding onto faint hope, but it seems I won’t get my turn tonight.”

A woman with her hair elaborately adorned with flowers sighed in lament. Beside her, the count’s daughter chuckled.

“Well, at least we get to see that handsome face up close. It’s not all bad, is it?”

“Don’t you agree, Lady Romaine?”

The one who stood out the most was Count Aegis’s daughter, Romaine, who had her hair styled in the tallest updo. She nodded silently, causing the elaborate feathers in her hair to sway gracefully, almost as if dancing.

Romaine couldn’t take her eyes off Andrei. Her friends, who knew how passionately she pursued seats in the front row of all his performances, gave her sympathetic glances of understanding.

At that moment—

“See? I told you to hurry.”

“Well, Catherine, it’s not like you weren’t fussing about your hair the whole time.”

“You wouldn’t let me do a proper updo! And it’s not just the hair—I barely had time to finish your makeup!”

Their hurried whispers cut through the soothing music like a faint breeze, too soft for most to hear. But unfortunately for them, the one standing near the base of the staircase was none other than Tayton. He slowly raised his head.

Hailey, dashing down the grand staircase, straightened her posture when she noticed the gazes fixed on her. Catherine, abandoning her complaints, adopted the perfect demeanor of a dutiful maid, holding up the train of Hailey’s dress.

Hailey forced a pleasant expression, hiding her irritation at the cumbersome dress, and moved with an air of ease.

The gown she wore for the ball was far longer than anything she typically wore. A moment of inattention and she risked stepping on the hem, tumbling down the stairs in a dramatic roll.

What an unforgettable entrance that would be.

Hailey tugged at the corners of her mouth to mask her nervousness. The attention of the crowd, piqued by the arrival of a new figure, gradually turned toward her. Whispers buzzed like a low hum around her.

“That young lady must be Hailey Salmon, the one everyone’s been talking about.”

The one everyone’s been talking about?

“I heard she’s been staying at the estate for three weeks already.”

“Has it really been that long?”

Actually, it’s been three weeks and a day.

“They say other young ladies couldn’t last more than a few days before fleeing in tears. Quite remarkable, isn’t it?”

Well, I wouldn’t say I’m that remarkable…

“Exactly. Do you think she might be a witch? That would explain how she can stay near the cursed duke without issue.”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous!”

“Ha ha, just a joke.”

That’s taking the joke too far.

Noblewomen, their faces partially obscured by decorative fans, let out peals of laughter. Having reached the main hall, Catherine quietly withdrew, leaving Hailey to face the murmuring crowd alone.

It was clear at a glance that these were people of prominence. They were dressed as if competing for attention, donning their most extravagant outfits and dazzling jewels. Amidst this sea of opulence, Hailey felt like a solitary island adrift.

The women’s elaborately adorned hairstyles, bursting with flowers and feathers, resembled towers reaching for divine favor, akin to the Tower of Babel. Hailey now understood why Catherine had been so insistent on pulling her hair into a higher updo.

Among them, her modest hairstyle made her seem positively diminutive.

***

“This was passed down to me from my mother. I thought you might need it, so I’m lending it to you.”

Inside the box offered by Madam Mastis rested a necklace and earrings crafted from luminous pearls that gleamed with an otherworldly light. Even at a glance, the jewelry was clearly extraordinary.

Madam Mastis, concerned that Hailey might be mocked for attending the ball without any adornments, had entrusted her with these treasured heirlooms. Hailey suddenly felt the pearls at her neck weigh more heavily.

But now what? She didn’t know anyone here.

Almost instinctively, Hailey searched for the duke. Aside from him, she had no one else to rely on here—a lone branch of support, so to speak.

Her gaze met Tayton’s. Her pale green eyes glimmered with a hint of relief.

“…”

“…”

With a slight movement, the duke turned his head away. Despite surely noticing her discomfort, he remained engrossed in his conversations with those nearby.

So much for that idea.

Hailey sighed deeply and began making her way to the edge of the hall. Just then—

“Miss Hailey Salmon.”

A voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned her head and saw a familiar face. Albert Blair, with his golden hair and striking blue eyes, stood before her.

“Oh,” Hailey uttered, her voice betraying a touch of awkwardness. Pretending to be delighted to see him wasn’t easy given their less-than-friendly history.

As she wondered why he was here, a thought struck her, and she nodded inwardly. Of course. He was the second son of the Blair family—and a detective inspector at that.

Perhaps his presence had something to do with suspicions about the duke.

The faint scent of fresh air clung to Albert, suggesting he had only just arrived. The stir caused by his appearance spread among the women in the hall.

“Inspector Blair is here.”

“What luck! The two most handsome men in the capital are in the same room!”

“I can’t believe I endured the discomfort to attend the cursed duke’s ball, but now I feel it was worth it. I could die happy!”

Letting the murmurs of the crowd wash over her, Hailey offered Albert a hesitant greeting.

“It’s been a while, Inspector Blair.”

Curious eyes trailed the two of them, wondering how they might know each other.

For a moment, Hailey thought she caught Tayton’s gaze lingering on her. But, without eyes on the back of her head, she couldn’t be certain.

“Why doesn’t Miss Hailey Salmon speak in Santier? Could it be that she doesn’t know Santier? Despite being the daughter of a baron, perhaps her family couldn’t afford a private tutor?”

“That’s impossible. Did you forget that she’s the Santier tutor for the Duke of Gunner?”

“Oh, right.”

The woman, who had been disparaging Hailey, awkwardly fell silent. Hailey pretended not to have heard their remarks and maintained a composed expression while looking at Albert.

“I’m glad to see you’re well, Miss Hailey.”

“Mm.”

Hailey hesitated for a moment before smiling shyly at him.

“I went too far last time, didn’t I? My father always scolds me for it, but I never seem to fix the habit. I formally apologize. And thank you for helping me when I collapsed.”

“Think nothing of it. I simply did what anyone would do, so there’s no need to dwell on it.”

Though Albert’s expression remained stiff and formal, he spoke gently, showing undeniable consideration for Hailey.

He handed her a glass of champagne. “Thank you,” she said as she accepted it, bringing it to her lips.

“I must also apologize for the rudeness I showed you,” Albert said.

“Think nothing of it,” Hailey replied with a light laugh, echoing his words. Her laughter seemed to ease the tension between them slightly.

Albert’s rigid demeanor softened a little. He lightly tapped his glass against hers.

“Let’s consider it even, then, for we both crossed the line,” he said.

Albert gave her a curious look, evidently unsure what “line” he had crossed with her. While he understood how she might have offended him, he seemed puzzled by the idea that he had offended her.

Shaking her head slightly, Hailey added while sipping her champagne, “You dragged my father into it when you were upset with me. That’s what got my blood boiling.”

“Ah.”

Realization dawned on Albert, and his previously impassive face showed a trace of embarrassment. His azure eyes flickered, as if ripples had disturbed their calm surface.

Rubbing his chin, Albert fixed his deep gaze on Hailey. “I’m sorry.”

His straightforward apology caught her off guard. She smiled sincerely, feeling the resentment she had harbored begin to dissolve. Albert quietly studied her cheerful expression.

“If you keep apologizing, I’ll have to as well. At this rate, we’ll spend all day trading apologies.”

“As you suggested, let’s just consider it water under the bridge,” Albert said.

“Agreed.”