Pendlore wasn’t the type to enjoy such banquets for long either. So he was willing to grant her request anytime if she wanted to return. At his words, Cherse’s eyebrows curved into a frown.

“No, I’m saying you should be by Lady Brill’s side. She’ll surely want to be with you. Especially in such an unfamiliar environment. You know so little about a woman’s heart.”

Pendlore didn’t bother to answer Cherse’s nagging. That woman who unconsciously became tense just at his appearance, would she really.

Radilt Brill did not need Pendlore Duston. That was an undeniable clear fact.

Light still overflowed brilliantly in the banquet hall. Everyone’s faces were bright beneath it, and joyful voices filled the air.

Only Radilt seemed to be alone, veiled in darkness.

“Young Duke Babloth, really, leaving the hall so quickly.”

“He’s not one to enjoy banquets originally. It’s rare enough that he attended at all.”

“He must have joined Lord Duston and Lord Ruard.”

Around her, conversations about Pendlore that she knew nothing about swirled. Everyone spoke fluently as if they knew him well. Radilt tried not to feel depressed. It was nothing to be surprised about, nothing to be flustered about.

‘My position is only this much after all.’

How much did she really know about him to begin with? Even thinking this way, she couldn’t erase the sensation of emptiness in one corner of her heart, where cold wind seemed to blow through.

“Lady Brill? Where are you going?”

“I feel like resting a bit.”

He had said to go to the lounge and rest if she felt tired. Radilt asked a servant about the location of the ladies’ lounge. The servant guided her.

“That side is a room for unmarried young ladies, and this side is for married ladies. Lady Brill, you could be considered married, for now.”

The servant explained with slight hesitation.

“But since this is your first time in society, it would be fine for you to go to that lounge as well.”

“No. I was definitely married.”

Although she might not have been a noblewoman recognized in a place like this, Radilt had a husband. A lover who was kinder than anyone and who cared for her.

She entered through the door that the servant opened for her. Being a retreat exclusively for ladies, she couldn’t bring the servant inside.

Since the banquet hadn’t started long ago, there was still no one in the lounge. In the central living area, several long sofas were arranged in a circle with tables, and small adjoining rooms had curtains instead of doors. Inside the small rooms were large beds and long chairs.

Seeing simple refreshments and drinks displayed along one wall, Radilt poured herself a glass of red juice and sat on the sofa. Sitting alone in a quiet place, her blocked breath cleared.

‘I’ll spend some time here and then go back.’

When would it be acceptable to return home? Lady Roud had said that after about ten dance pieces were played, it was fine to leave the banquet hall. What number was it now? Still, if she asked to leave too early, Pendlore might dislike it.

‘One hour would be too early, so two hours? Three hours?’

She hoped to return no later than midnight. Radilt slowly sipped her drink. It was in this moment, while she paused to catch her breath…

“Yes, summer is indeed not a good season for holding a ceremony.”

The lounge door opened with the sound of laughing chatter. Ladies who had danced three or four times had come up to rest. Radilt stood up in surprise, startled.

“Oh my.”

The ladies’ gazes fell on Radilt, who stood awkwardly. Though her appearance was no different from a noblewoman, the way she stood to greet people was.

Wasn’t it like an unskilled maid?

Such silent whispers spread among the women. But none of them showed it outwardly, all wearing welcoming expressions.

“So this is where you were, Lady Brill.”

“We naturally thought we’d find you with Lord Duston.”

“Or perhaps you’ve already met with him and returned?”

“A young lady wouldn’t be tired after just one dance, so perhaps?”

The ladies all burst into laughter at the words spoken with rounded lips and a secretive air. Radilt alone didn’t understand and merely blinked her eyes.

“This is perfect timing. I had so many questions.”

“There are things we can’t discuss in the hall, you know.”

Before Radilt could escape, the ladies surrounded her. Drinks and refreshments were served, and Radilt sat back down on the sofa under the gentle pressure of hands on her shoulders.

“So, what’s Lord Duston like?”

“……Pardon?”

“Don’t pretend not to know, in bed, of course.”

“There were rumors that Lord Duston’s preference wasn’t for women with extensive experience.”

Radilt’s expression froze at the bright voices casually mentioning others’ intimate affairs. Noticing Radilt’s reaction, one lady opened her eyes wide.

“My, Lady Brill is innocent.”

“Ah, are you too embarrassed to speak right now?”

“Perhaps you should have gone to that room. We’ve kept someone who should be mingling with the children here~”

This was one reason why lounges were divided between unmarried and married women. Naturally, married women tended to have more uninhibited conversations.

“Then Lord Duston might not dislike young and innocent ladies after all.”

“Yes, that’s true. Lady Brill, could you answer just one thing? Did Lord Duston like it when you shyly showed your awkwardness?”

“Looking at you now, I’m sure he did.”

“But since you’re not a virgin, your hip movements must have been quite seductive, right?”

A lady in a red dress lifted her skirt abundantly and provocatively wiggled her hips. Radilt’s face grew increasingly pale amid the sounds of laughter.

“We’ve never experienced the special skills of women from the slums, so if you don’t mind, we’d like to hear about them.”

“Is the secret really experience? You must have been able to meet various men easily in such places. Which position is best for melting a man?”

“I… don’t know.”

Radilt couldn’t bear it anymore and stood up.

“I don’t know such things.”

It might be rude to escape like this. But she couldn’t endure any longer. She simply couldn’t listen to these voices that blackened not only her ears but her heart as well.

“Excuse me.”

Radilt left the lounge, pushing aside the dress hem that wrapped around her ankles with each step. Her dedicated servant was nowhere to be seen, perhaps having left his post. But without even thinking to look for him, she descended the circular staircase.

The hall where music flowed. Couples spinning around. Several eyes found Radilt. As they approached as if to speak to her, Radilt quickly turned away.

She headed away from the brightly lit area toward where the darkness of night seeped in. It was the garden connected to the hall.

‘……How can they speak such words so easily.’

Radilt exhaled a thin sigh as she descended the stairs leading to the garden.

‘I thought such nobles would be different.’

But they were no different from the women at the market. They merely adorned themselves more beautifully and refined their speech more elegantly, but their conversations weren’t much different.

Simple curiosity, secret instincts, persistent desires. Even in their secretive ladies-only lounge, they threw off the veil that covered them.

‘I’m tired.’

The lounge wasn’t a lounge at all. Though there was supposedly a lounge for unmarried women, she didn’t feel like going there either. Predictably, they would also ask about her relationship with Pendlore.

Radilt sat on a deserted bench where light barely reached. The dress folds that Lady Fond’s madam had been so concerned about spread out beautifully.

‘It feels like I don’t exist here.’

Everyone only wanted Radilt Brill’s vacant position. She was naturally treated as someone who would disappear.

‘……I.’

A breeze swept through the night garden where the sun had completely set. Though it was a summer night, it wasn’t particularly hot yet. There was still some coolness remaining. The sound of night insects could be heard faintly from somewhere.

She gently tapped her feet. The banquet’s music was far, far away, and the light was dim. Though she was isolated and alone, that was rather comfortable.

“I guess such places really don’t suit me,” Radilt murmured softly.

‘I used to be so outgoing before.’

She had become quietly withdrawn since Lushen left. Even if she spoke loudly, all that returned were cold stares.

The woman who killed her husband.

At least such words didn’t come up here. Though her illusions about real nobles had been shattered, maintaining appearances was still far better than not doing so.

As Radilt comforted herself, thinking that it wasn’t the absolute worst—

“Good evening, Lady Brill.”

A long shadow fell over her. A strange man smiled down at her.

“……Hello.”

Radilt greeted him cautiously. Lady Roud had clearly said that no man would directly approach a woman attending a banquet for the first time. She had explained that it was proper etiquette to converse only after going through a partner.

Yet this man had approached Radilt who was sitting alone.

“It seems Lord Duston has been neglecting you.”

“No. I simply requested to rest alone for a moment.”

“Without even a single servant?”

Radilt started to answer but closed her mouth. Since he had approached rudely first, it would be fine to answer with silence. She also had an intuition that nothing good would come from getting involved with this man.

The man raised the corner of his mouth at Radilt’s avoidance.

“I am Count Edwin Rezen. I, like Lord Duston, enjoy making friends.”

“……I understand that Lord Duston doesn’t keep many friends.”