“My goodness, isn’t that the young lady of the Blante Marquisate?”

“It looks like it. Do you think Lady Bayern invited her?”

“Not a chance. Everyone knows the current situation of the Blante family. If Lady Bayern didn’t want to risk falling out of the Emperor’s favour, she would never have invited her.

“Then did she show up uninvited? How utterly inappropriate.”

“For a noble young lady to behave so badly – has she thrown away her dignity just because her family has fallen? How disgraceful.”

“Lady Bayern must be so unhappy. Even if they were friends, for her to turn up like this and disrupt the party is just too much.”

“I doubt if she even thinks of her as a friend. Don’t you remember? Lady Blante always treated Lady Bayern like a mere accessory, even then.”

Whispered voices filled the air around them, their words heavy with criticism.

None of it was true, but Ariel had no desire to refute it, or even pay attention to it.

Her attention was focused on one person and one person only.

Finally, the man who had been avoiding her gaze turned to look at her.

Their eyes locked – cold, emotionless black eyes that seemed to cut right through her. Ariel held his gaze, refusing to look away.

Why are you here? No, why are you standing next to Cier?

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.

Ariel shifted her gaze to the person approaching her.

“Ariel! It’s been so long!”

The one who stopped in front of her was none other than Cier Bayern.

“Cier, it’s been a while.”

Ariel was a beat slow to react to the overly cheerful greeting, which seemed completely out of place in the current situation.

When Cier approached, her expression changed abruptly.

With a pitying look, Cier furrowed her brow and looked at Ariel from head to toe.

“Oh my, look how thin you’ve become. You must have been under so much stress…”

“Cier, I’m alri—”

“Ariel, I know it’s way too late, but I’m really sorry I couldn’t make it to the Marquis’ funeral. I wanted to, but my parents absolutely forbade it… They said that to mourn a traitor would in itself be an act of treason.”

Traitor.

The word struck Ariel like a dagger, shattering her carefully maintained composure.

“The investigation isn’t over yet. Be careful what you say, Cier.”

Ariel’s sharp words made Cier jump slightly.

It was unwise to react like that, especially when she had come for help, but she couldn’t let anyone insult her father.

And it was clear from the look in Cier’s eyes that she had no intention of helping the Marquis’ family.

“If I’ve upset you, I’m sorry. I suppose it’s not easy to accept. Your father, a traitor… I doubt I’d be able to come to terms with it so easily either.”

“…”

“But Ariel, the evidence is already conclusive, and the Marquis… ended his own life. I just hope you can face reality soon. This isn’t over yet.”

Lowering her voice, Cier added, “If you don’t get a grip on yourself, you’ll even lose the title of Marquis.”

As Ariel had suspected all along.

Her expression was a mask of pity, but her violet eyes revealed the truth – contempt disguised as sympathy, accompanied by mocking words disguised as comfort.

It seemed Ariel was the only one who thought they were friends. For someone to change so quickly… it could only mean that she had never thought of Ariel as a friend in the first place.

Another betrayal. First love, now friendship.

‘Have I been living my life all wrong?’

The series of painful betrayals no longer fuelled her anger, but filled her with self-doubt. The isolation she felt, surrounded by people who rejected her, only deepened the feeling.

‘Losing my pride wouldn’t have fixed anything.’

Faced with the harshness of her reality, Ariel decided to leave.

“All right, I understand. I’m sorry for showing up uninvited. If I’d known about the party, I wouldn’t have come… I’ll leave now.”

But just as she started to turn away, Cier reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Ariel looked at her with a puzzled expression, only to find an almost expectant look.

“You’re leaving already? Come on, Ariel, you’re here now, why don’t you stay? If you leave like this, it’ll look like I forced you to go.”

The subtle condescension in her words made Ariel’s eyes narrow sharply, but before she could respond, Cier continued.

“And showing up unannounced like this – surely you must have something to ask me. Whatever it is, just say it. I’ll help you. After all, we are friends, aren’t we?”

“Friends…”

Ariel let out a hollow laugh, unable to suppress the bitter amusement. Had the meaning of ‘friendship’ somehow changed without her knowing?

But Cier, as if unaware, continued with a bright, unaffected expression.

“Yes, friends. Besides, everyone here already knows about our connection. If your behaviour was a bit inappropriate, they’ll pretend not to notice – or I’ll make sure they do.”

Cier raised her voice deliberately, glancing around the room as if putting on a show.

“The atmosphere may have been a little clouded by Lady Blante’s arrival, but I hope you’ll all understand. She’s a close friend of mine, and the Blante Marquisate is going through a very difficult time.”

“We understand.”

“It’s all right.”

The nobles replied, their thinly veiled mockery clear in the sneers that accompanied their words. It was an open insult to Ariel.

But contrary to Cier’s expectations, Ariel neither trembled with humiliation nor lashed out in anger.

She simply looked at Cier, calm and composed.

That steady, unflinching gaze made Cier hesitate.

Though Ariel was no longer the celebrated ‘flower of society’ and now bore the stigma of a traitor’s daughter, there was still an inexplicable air of dignity about her.

It was a reminder of the past – when Cier had always envied her, no matter how hard she tried not to.

As if to avoid Ariel’s reproachful gaze, Cier’s eyes landed on the thing in Ariel’s hands. Feigning surprise, she gasped theatrically.

“Could this be a gift for me? Of course, you wouldn’t come to me empty-handed.”

With a pleased smile, Cier snatched the box from Ariel’s hands before she could react. The speed of her movement left Ariel powerless to stop her.

Cier made a show of unwrapping the box in front of everyone. When she saw the pocket watch inside, her eyes widened dramatically.

“Oh my! Isn’t this one of the treasures of the Blante Marquisate?”

“…”

“I understand that things are difficult, but to bring one of your family’s treasures… You must be truly desperate.”

Cier sighed heavily, her tone dripping with feigned concern as she raised her voice, making sure everyone nearby could hear.

“Ariel, I was thoughtless. I’m sorry. Don’t worry – I’ll help you. Our family is having a charity event soon. I’ll make sure all the proceeds go to the Marquisate.”

Kuh, pfft—

As soon as Cier finished, the crowd burst into laughter.

Giving money meant for the poor to the Blante Marquisate? Her words essentially treated the once prestigious family as beggars.

It was an insult that crossed the line.

But instead of reacting with anger, Ariel’s eyes swept past Cier.

Behind her, standing close to where she had been moments before, was Kylance.

Had she unconsciously been expecting something? More than the jeers and taunts of the crowd, it was his expression that caught her attention.

As if on cue, their eyes locked.

Kylance wasn’t openly laughing at her like the others, but he showed no sign of displeasure at the situation either.

His expression remained calm and indifferent, as if he were watching a play unfold, unaffected by any emotion.

Then, as if she were invisible, he gracefully raised his glass and took a sip of wine.

‘If only you’d mocked me like the others.’

His cold disregard – pretending she didn’t exist, as if she were a stranger – cut deeper than any mockery.

Unlike Kylance, she hadn’t been able to completely erase him from her heart.

‘So I can forget you so easily.’

‘That’s why you sent the annulment papers so quickly and can stand here now looking so unaffected.’

As Ariel bit her lip to hold back the emotions that threatened to spill over, Cier’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Ariel, I’ll do everything I can to raise the donation funds. So no matter how hard it is, just hold on a little longer.”

A voice laced with false concern, pretending to be sincere.

The words snapped Ariel out of the haze that had clouded her thoughts as she looked at Kylance, bringing her back into focus.

Fixing her gaze on Cier, Ariel spoke firmly.

“Enough.”

“What…?”

“Stop pretending to be my friend. Stop pretending to care about me.”

Ariel’s blunt words made Cier’s lips quiver slightly with restrained irritation.

“Pretending to be your friend? What do you mean… Ariel, that’s a bit harsh…”

“Too hard, is it…”

Ariel smiled at Cier, her expression mirroring Cier’s – or perhaps even more polished and poised.

With that perfect smile, Ariel replied calmly,

“You’re right, Cier. I was too harsh. I apologise. I momentarily forgot how socially inept you are.”