A fleeting glance.

Feeling the weight of others’ gazes brushing her cheeks, Hailey slowly turned her head.

Clusters of noblewomen chatted amongst themselves, their eyes discreetly darting in her direction. Half of them alternated between stealing glances at Andrei Lermont.

Hailey suddenly recalled what Anna had said about Albert being wildly popular among noblewomen.

So the rumors were true.

“Hmm?”

At that moment, she sensed yet another gaze—this one neither jealous nor envious, but unreadable. She turned her head to meet a pair of transparent silver eyes staring steadily at her.

Ah, now that I think about it, those two don’t get along, do they?

Guessing the reason for the duke’s scrutiny, Hailey awkwardly averted her gaze, only to meet Albert’s instead.

His blue eyes, different from the duke’s, reflected an intelligence tempered by the noble arrogance typical of his rank. He seemed the very image of a perfect aristocrat.

And yet, as a second son, he lacked the privileges afforded to the heir despite his impeccable lineage.

Well, not that it’s any of my business. At least I won’t need a crutch anymore.

Hailey smiled faintly as she felt the now-gentle gaze Albert directed toward her. It seemed she no longer needed someone to lean on.

“The day you gave your testimony to Sergeant Hans, I heard you fainted midway through. Are you all right now?”

“Yes, thank you for your concern, Inspector Blair.”

“You may call me Albert.”

“…All right, Inspector Albert.”

Hailey smiled politely, ignoring the hostile stares directed at her cheeks. It felt like she had become the enemy of every woman in the room overnight.

She wasn’t sure who Albert would eventually marry, but she silently wished his future spouse would have nerves of steel.

Sending a brief prayer into the void, Hailey subtly glanced toward Princess Irene, who was engaged in conversation with Andrei Lermont. Her deliberate indifference to the duke was evident in her posture.

“By the way,” Hailey suddenly said, turning back to Albert, “that woman… Misha, wasn’t it? What’s the status of that case?”

“It’s at a standstill,” Albert replied with a hint of bitterness, sipping his champagne. Though it wasn’t his fault, Hailey felt an inexplicable pang of guilt. Her voice softened, as if to console him.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of any help.”

“There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Miss Hailey.”

“That’s true. I’m not sure if a cruel murderer would feel remorse, but, well, it’s certainly something he ought to be sorry for.”

At that, Albert let out a faint laugh. Surprised by his unexpected reaction, Hailey slightly widened her eyes.

So, he does laugh after all.

At the same time, the women around them started murmuring. Snippets like Inspector Blair laughed? What on earth is their relationship? occasionally reached her ears.

Feeling a little sorry for him, Hailey lowered her voice and looked at Albert sympathetically.

“It must be hard being so popular. You can’t even laugh freely.”

At her remark, Albert let out another soft chuckle. Coincidentally, the music that had been playing stopped, allowing the low sound of his laughter to ripple softly through the hall. The women who had been making a commotion froze as if they’d just seen a ghost.

After what felt like a brief pause in time, the musicians began playing again, this time a tune for dancing.

The men, as if they had been waiting for this moment, started asking the ladies they had been eyeing for a dance. One by one, the number of dancing couples increased.

However, some reluctant ladies still glanced over at Andrei and Albert, hesitant to accept the dance invitations they received. It was as if they were waiting for the life-changing luck of being asked by either of the two men.

Instinctively, Hailey took a step back, distancing herself from the crowd. Her dancing skills were rudimentary at best, and she had no desire to make a spectacle of herself in front of everyone.

Moreover, as the humble daughter of a baron living in the cursed duke’s residence, she doubted any man would have the audacity to ask her for a dance.

But then—

“!”

Albert extended a hand toward her with impeccable grace and courtesy, as if the gesture itself were part of the dance.

“Would you honor me with a dance, Miss Hailey Salmon?”

Caught off guard, Hailey’s eyes widened in surprise. She couldn’t bring herself to turn away, her cheeks burning under the intensity of the stares now directed at her.

The women of marriageable age had been paying close attention to see whom Albert would invite to dance. His rare attendance at social gatherings made it all the more intriguing.

And yet, the recipient of his offer turned out to be Hailey Salmon.

He really is well-mannered, just like Anna said.

Having been rigorously trained in etiquette, Albert must have noticed the solitary figure of a woman left standing alone, uninvited. Perhaps it was his sense of noblesse oblige compelling him.

Unsure of what to do, Hailey stared down at the large hand extended before her. It was a strong hand, one that looked capable of grasping everything it desired.

What should I do?

Taking Albert’s hand would mean becoming the center of attention—a situation that went against her life motto of “live quietly, unnoticed, and endure.”

But refusing his offer now, in front of all these people, would risk embarrassing him.

Taking a step closer to him, Hailey leaned in slightly and whispered hesitantly.

“Inspector Albert, I’ve never danced before.”

“That’s quite alright. My leather shoes are sturdy enough to endure a few missteps.”

At his lighthearted comment, Hailey let out a soft laugh. Her round eyes curved into a crescent shape.

“They might end up ruined, you know.”

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

“Well, then… I’ll leave it in your hands—”

Just as she extended her hand halfway, something interrupted them. The Duke of Gunner began to move.

Limping slightly, he walked toward the princess, leaving his cane behind. Empty-handed, he approached her step by deliberate step.

His movement drew the eyes of the entire room like a magnet. The duke was a man whose presence was impossible to ignore. Even while conversing, people couldn’t help but remain aware of him, and the moment he moved, all attention was naturally drawn to him.

Hailey was no exception. Her light green eyes followed the duke’s black mask as he headed directly toward Princess Irene.

With perfect courtesy, he bowed slightly and extended his hand.

“Would you do me the honor of dancing with me, Princess of Britain?”

It was an impeccable invitation. Holding her breath, Hailey watched the scene unfold. She wasn’t alone—everyone in the room seemed to have forgotten how to breathe, their eyes fixed on the pair.

Irene pressed her lips together as though enduring some kind of insult. Beneath her transparent, noble expression, Hailey caught a fleeting glimpse of deep disdain and contempt.

In the blink of an eye, Irene returned to her composed demeanor, lifting her chin slightly.

“What a pity, Duke Gunner. Another gentleman has already asked me for this dance.”

With that, she shifted her gaze to Andrei. The man, who had been blinking in surprise, quickly grasped the situation and responded with a charming smile.

“Dearest Duke Gunner, might I ask for your kind permission to dance with the princess instead?”

Dearest Duke Gunner?

Suppressing the urge to scoff, the duke silently studied the man before him. With his thick brows, prominent double eyelids, and luxuriant sideburns, everything about him—from his gestures to his tone, even the slight twitch of his eyebrows—resembled a seasoned actor on stage.

The duke’s lips barely moved as he muttered softly, “…Do as you wish.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Andrei extended a hand toward Irene, and she took it. The two began to move gracefully to the music.

It was an unmistakable rejection.

In front of a crowd, Irene had humiliated Tayton. She now danced gracefully with Andrei as if they had known each other for years.

“……”

Tayton stared at his hand for a moment before slowly curling it into a fist. An empty, hollow fist. The faint sound of suppressed ridicule pricked his back like sharp thorns.

He could easily guess what they were whispering about.

“The cursed duke dared to ask Princess Irene for a dance? He never learns, does he? Rejected time and again, yet he persists.”

Tayton exhaled slowly, careful not to let it show. Though his gaze was colder than usual, no one seemed to notice.

“……”

Hailey, watching his back in silence, found herself biting her lip unconsciously.

Again.

The lonely back of someone who didn’t seem to understand what solitude was. That back unnervingly tugged at her nerves. The sight of Irene and Andrei dancing tenderly, and the duke watching them silently—it was unsettling.

Tayton’s figure resembled…

A person who couldn’t find their place. Yes, just like her.

He stood there as if he were a child who had lost hold of their mother’s hand. The ground beneath him seemed to crumble into nothingness.

Hailey’s face stiffened as she stared at his back. A flood of emotions surged within her—hot, heavy, and sharp all at once.

“Princess Irene has rejected Duke Gunner’s invitation.”

“It’s no secret that the princess dislikes the duke.”

“The Duke of Gunner’s dignity has been utterly trampled.”

The so-called gentlemen murmured discreetly amongst themselves.

Not to be outdone, the ladies and young maidens whispered behind their fans. Their sharp words cut into the duke like razors.

“The Duke of Gunner looks utterly pathetic.”

“But honestly, who would want to dance with the cursed duke?”

“Exactly. What if touching him transfers that dreadful curse?”

“Poor Princess Irene. No matter how much of a political arrangement this is, how did she end up betrothed to that cursed duke?”

Before they could finish their spiteful remarks a sudden exclamation broke out.

“Oh my!”