Rosé felt as though she were being led to the slaughterhouse.

She was expected to make the final entrance as the ball’s star. All eyes turned to her the moment she appeared.

“My, how lovely.”

“She’s growing to resemble Countess Audrey more and more. Her mother was quite famous in her prime.”

“Who will be lucky enough to claim such a precious daughter? I imagine Count Jared will hold on to her tightly.”

“Regardless of which noble family’s son secures her hand, he will have achieved great success.” She’s from House Etoile, after all.”

“I heard they just acquired another massive trade vessel.”

Behind fluttering fans, the nobles whispered amongst themselves.

As she descended the stairs, Rosé lowered her gaze and quietly searched for Kasiax’s location.

Finding him wasn’t difficult.

Men with dazzling platinum blonde hair, strikingly handsome features, and an air of arrogance weren’t exactly ordinary.

Standing at the bottom of the staircase, he lifted his glass toward her as if to announce his presence.

When their eyes met, he gave her a slight smile, his gaze folding in amusement.

As he smiled, the ladies around him began fanning themselves more vigorously.

Unlike the other noblewomen, Rosé felt something hot and nauseating surge within her when she saw that smile.

‘That devilish bastard.’

She averted her gaze as if she hadn’t seen him in the first place.

Noticing this, Kasiax chuckled aloud as if he found her utterly endearing. He even pressed his fingers to his forehead and shook his head slightly.

Plenty of noblewomen resorted to such childish and obvious tactics just to get his attention.

Seeing his smug laughter, Rosé had the overwhelming urge to throw champagne in his face.

“You look gorgeous tonight.”

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, he stepped in front of her and extended his hand.

Rosé hesitated, staring at it for a long moment before reluctantly placing her fingertips atop his.

He pulled her hand toward him and kissed the back of it. Even as he lowered his head, his green eyes remained fixed on her, watching her like a predator eyeing its prey.

He had that self-assured gaze as if he could seduce any woman in the world.

How many nights had she spent with her heart fluttering, enchanted by those very eyes?

Now that she knew his true, despicable nature, his handsome face and alluring gaze felt as repulsive as a snake’s.

She didn’t want his touch on her skin for even a second. These were the same hands that had once tightened around her throat.

“Thank you for coming, Your Highness.”

She offered a formal curtsy and delivered the perfunctory greeting, her usually sweet voice now laced with coldness.

Sensing something off, Kasiax lifted his head, only for Rosé to yank her hand away as though it had been sullied.

For a moment, a faint crease appeared between his brows.

“Then, enjoy the rest of your evening.”

“……!”

He watched as she turned around and walked away, his expression hardening with cold disbelief.

‘What the hell is that about?’

Kasiax couldn’t understand Rosé’s behavior.

At first, he had assumed she was just playing coy out of shyness, but the way she had pulled her hand away just now—it felt as though she found him filthier than an insect.

“She’s more troublesome than I thought.”

Clenching and unclenching the hand she had rejected, he furrowed his brows.

Once they were married, he would discipline her properly as her husband.

Rosé, having successfully distanced herself from Kasiax, quickly melted into the crowd of well-wishers.

She was anxious.

What if he asked her to dance?

Holding his hand, meeting his gaze, pressing close as they moved together—

‘I’d rather die.’

Just then, someone grabbed her elbow.

“Rosé, where are you going?”

“Eliza!”

She turned to find Eliza and Helen standing with Lady Muriel.

“Tracy is dancing.”

Judging by her expression, Tracy wasn’t enjoying herself. She looked like she had bitten into something sour as she endured the dance.

“By the way, it’s impressive that Lady Muriel even attended the ball. It must be difficult for her to compose herself.”

At Eliza’s remark, Lady Muriel’s face twisted, on the verge of tears.

Rosé frowned instinctively and turned to glare at Eliza.

Was that supposed to be comforting? More like rubbing salt into an open wound.

How had she ever considered these girls her friends before her regression?

Had she been just as heartless as them?

“Don’t worry too much, Lady Muriel.”

‘You won’t have to worry about dying from poison, at least.’

Rosé kept the last part to herself and gently took Muriel’s hand in reassurance.

“H-Hic…”

She hadn’t meant to make her cry.

But the moment Rosé touched her hand, Muriel broke into sobs.

The ballroom instantly fell into uneasy murmurs.

The nobles who already knew about her situation clicked their tongues or shook their heads in pity as they whispered among themselves.

Standing at a distance, the Marquess and Marchioness of Montenegro paled and hurriedly ushered their daughter away.

As Muriel’s sobs filled the hall, all eyes turned toward Rosé.

Including Kasiax.

‘Damn it!’

He straightened his lapels as if preparing to approach her for a dance.

Thankfully, someone beat him to it.

“May I have the honor of this dance?”

“Of course.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Rosé took his offered hand and blatantly ignored Kasiax standing before them.

Eliza and Helen, watching this unfold, exchanged bewildered glances between Rosé and Kasiax.

Kasiax no longer even tried to hide his astonishment.

Wasn’t this a drastic change from how she acted at the imperial ball not long ago?

The realization that he was being disregarded by nothing more than the daughter of a lowborn merchant-turned-noble made his blood boil.

Even the slight twitch of his tightly closed lips revealed how infuriated he was.

‘How utterly irritating. Is she doing this on purpose just to provoke me?’

Kasiax glared at her from across the way—the same expression he had when he had pushed her chest back at the tower.

“Ah!”

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

“N-no, it’s fine.”

Rosé, unable to focus on the dance, kept stepping on her partner’s feet, committing a series of missteps. Her body had gone stiff as if made of solid wood, making it difficult to move properly.

Her partner quickly realized that her attention wasn’t on him at all. It felt as if he were dancing alone, holding a lifeless doll, which only made his face flush red as sweat trickled down his forehead.

“I’m really, really sorry. I’m not feeling very well right now.”

Apologizing, Rosé attempted to step away even before the music had ended.

At that moment, a hand effortlessly snatched her away. Startled, she turned around—

Her eyes widened in sheer joy.

“Hans!”

“To think you could make a wonderful man look that miserable. As expected of my little sister.”

“I—”

“I just couldn’t bear to watch anymore. Look over there— he’s gazing at me like I’m his savior.”

The young nobleman she had been dancing with was still staring at them with an awkward, embarrassed expression.

Hans gently placed his hand around his sister’s waist and naturally led her into a dance.

The moment she saw him, the tension in her body melted away, and her eyes welled up with tears. It was the first time she had seen her brother again after hearing that he had gone missing at sea before her regression.

Her chest tightened, her emotions overwhelming her as if he had returned from the grave.

“I looked for you earlier, but you weren’t around. I thought you wouldn’t come today either.”

“How could I miss my little sister’s birthday?”

“Please, for once in your life, tell people when you’re leaving and coming back! You know how much everyone worries about you!”

Seeing the tears welling in Rosé’s eyes, Hans tilted his head in confusion.

“Why are you suddenly acting like this? It’s not like you.”

Instead of answering, Rosé buried her face in his shoulder, unwilling to let him see her tears.

“I’m just worried you’ll disappear again while wandering around like that.”

“No news is good news, you know? But never mind that—what’s going on? Why is that rabid raccoon glaring at you like he’s about to explode?”

Hans subtly gestured toward Kasiax, who glared at them across the ballroom.

Rosé couldn’t help but chuckle when Hans called Kasiax a rabid raccoon.

Hans was probably the only person in the entire Solstern Empire who would casually refer to Kasiax as that bastard or rabid raccoon without a second thought.

Hans had never approved of Rosé’s feelings for Kasiax.

He constantly nagged her, questioning why she liked such a hypocritical bastard. To him, Kasiax was nothing special aside from being the crown prince, and he never hesitated to belittle him.

‘Hans knew all along, so why didn’t I see it?’

As that thought crossed her mind, she leaned against his shoulder.

‘If only I had listened to him back then, I wouldn’t be in this mess now.’

She let out a long sigh and felt Hans studying her seriously.

“This is getting really suspicious. Be honest with me— what the hell did that bastard do to you?”

“I finally realized what a complete piece of trash he is.”

“That son of a b*tch. I knew it.”

“Go kill him for me, Hans.”