“Lady Veronica Maynard is entering!”

The attendant shouted in a loud voice. Veronica calmed her trembling heart and slowly walked into the ballroom.

People’s gazes gathered on her. She moved her steps carefully to avoid making any mistakes.

And she reached the inside of the ballroom.

“Veronica, you’re here.”

“Hello, Count Rottron.”

Count Rottron, who was close to Count Maynard, approached her first.

“Is Count Maynard well? It’s been quite a while since I last saw him.”

“Yes, thanks to your concern, he is doing well.”

“That’s good to hear. This must be your first ball, are you nervous?”

“Honestly, I’m a bit nervous.”

Veronica lowered her head to hide her blushing face. She had debuted late and was attending a ball for the first time, so everything felt awkward and unfamiliar to her.

Even the gazes from people around her felt burdensome.

“Excuse me, Lady Maynard.”

At that moment, a stranger’s voice interrupted the conversation between the two.

Veronica and Count Rottron turned their heads simultaneously toward the source of the voice.

“Duke Berzel!”

There stood Duke Berzel, Alexander, who had recently gained a notorious reputation.

Veronica recalled the conversation she had with Claire on the way here. Claire’s concerns were valid, so Veronica also wanted to avoid getting involved with him if possible.

But she didn’t expect Alexander to approach her right away.

“Hello, Duke Berzel.”

Veronica greeted Alexander politely. The way she lifted her skirt was elegant and graceful.

“This is our first meeting. Pleased to make your acquaintance, lady.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance as well.”

While answering calmly, Veronica deliberately lowered her eyes to avoid making eye contact with Alexander. Alexander, who was used to dealing with people, immediately recognized her intention. Nevertheless, he did not erase his smile, as if he knew nothing.

“Count Rottron, would you mind giving us a moment alone?”

Alexander suddenly suggested to Count Rottron. Count Rottron glanced at Veronica. He was worried whether Veronica, who had just stepped into society, could handle a conversation with Alexander.

However, Count Rottron was not bold enough to refuse Alexander, who wielded significant influence in the empire.

Understanding Count Rottron’s feelings, Veronica gave him a reassuring smile. It was a look that seemed to put him at ease.

Count Rottron nodded faintly and looked at Alexander.

“Then, I will take my leave. Have a pleasant conversation. Veronica, I’ll see you later.”

“Yes, Count.”

Count Rottron left slowly. Veronica and Alexander watched his back as he walked away.

After confirming that Count Rottron had blended into the crowd, they turned their gazes back to each other.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

Veronica asked Alexander cautiously. He picked up a glass of wine from a passing attendant’s tray.

The dark red wine swirled gently in the glass. Alexander looked at the glass with a thoughtful expression. Then he took a sip of the wine.

“I asked for a moment alone because I wanted to ask you something.”

“To me?”

Veronica asked, her eyes widening in surprise. Alexander looked at her. Veronica was a woman whose mere presence exuded loveliness. But Duke Berzel felt no emotion when he looked at her. Instead, someone else came to his mind.

“I’m looking for a maid who works at the Maynard estate. Can you help me?”

The more Alexander spoke, the more puzzled Veronica became.

She couldn’t understand why Alexander, of all people, would ask about a maid from the Maynard estate.

Moreover, Veronica had never seen Alexander at the Maynard estate. That meant, to her knowledge, Alexander had never officially visited the Maynard estate.

“Could you tell me who you are looking for?”

Rather than speculating internally, Veronica thought it would be better to ask Duke Berzel directly and get a straight answer.

Alexander moistened his lips with another sip of wine before speaking again.

“Do you know a woman named Claire Evernizer?”

“Who?”

Veronica asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

Alexander frowned slightly and repeated his question.

“I asked if you know a maid named Claire Evernizer. …Do you not?”

“How do you know her name, Your Grace?”

Veronica didn’t expect to hear her personal maid’s name from Alexander’s mouth. Instead of feeling glad to hear a familiar name, she felt an aversion towards him.

“So you do know her.”

“Of course I do. She’s my maid.”

“She has brown hair and green eyes, right? About your height, and her hair is longer than yours.”

“…That’s correct.”

Veronica nodded involuntarily, then closed her mouth tightly, unable to solve the mystery.

Since Claire was her personal maid, Veronica was rarely apart from her. So how could Alexander know Claire’s name and appearance?

“Can you tell me why you are asking about her? As her master, I should know if there’s a problem with my maid or if she caused any trouble.”

Veronica tensed up, thinking of possible scenarios. She hoped Alexander hadn’t harmed Claire.

Alexander shrugged his shoulders lightly.

“Not at all. There’s no need to worry.”

“Then why are you asking about Claire? And how do you know her?”

“If I say it’s because she helped me… would that explain it?”

“Are you saying Claire helped you, Your Grace?”

Veronica tilted her head, finding it hard to understand.

How did the two meet, and what happened between them…? Everything was a mystery.

“Is she also in the capital?”

“……”

Veronica quietly observed Alexander. She wanted to determine if he was telling the truth.

However, Alexander’s face was too calm to suggest any trouble. In fact, he even had a faint smile, as if he was quite pleased.

‘Then, could Duke Berzel’s words be true?’

The only assumption Veronica could make at this moment was that Alexander might be telling the truth.

When Veronica didn’t respond, Alexander furrowed his brow slightly.

“Lady?”

“Oh, yes. She is here.”

Veronica answered him belatedly. She wondered if she should have told him. Even after saying it, she was worried. She looked up at Alexander with anxious eyes.

“I see.”

Alexander nodded briefly. A satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Alexander gestured to a passing attendant, who approached them. Alexander placed the empty wine glass on the tray the attendant was holding. Then he looked back at Veronica.

“This must be your first ball. I hope you enjoy it.”

Alexander gave a light, unregretful nod to Veronica. Veronica also quietly nodded back at him.

With a lingering sense of unease, Veronica watched Alexander walk away.

***

After parting with Veronica, Alexander left the ballroom. A few people tried to speak to him, but he ignored them and headed straight down the corridor. He called out to a passing maid.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The maid approached Alexander and bowed her head.

“Where is the rest area for the maids?”

“Pardon? Why are you looking for that place…?”

The maid, who had been questioning him, quickly realized her mistake when she saw Alexander’s displeased expression. She immediately closed her mouth and bowed her head.

“I’m sorry. I’ll show you the way.”

The maid belatedly led Alexander to the rest area used by the staff.

Following her, Alexander recalled the rainy season.

It was a coincidence that he met Claire due to Caleb’s betrayal, but that small encounter had a significant impact on him.

The time he spent in that warehouse was the most peaceful time in Alexander’s life.

Claire had shown him kindness without knowing anything about him. For someone like Alexander, who had lived in the harsh environment in the ducal household, a favor without any strings attached was unfamiliar. But it was sweet because it was unfamiliar.

Claire, who had given him a new experience, had no idea how eagerly he had been waiting to meet her again.

Although he had been busy dealing with the remaining people in Caleb’s group, now that things were somewhat settled, it was time to repay the favor.

Following the maid, Alexander finally arrived near the rest area.

“This is far enough. You may go.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Alexander saw a figure in the distance and told the maid.

The maid bowed to him and then walked away.

Alexander, confirming her departure, approached the person he saw from afar.

Even though it was only a few steps away, it felt incredibly long to Alexander.

Finally, Alexander stopped in place. He called out the name he had repeated countless times in his mind.

“Claire Evernizer.”