The ballroom was much brighter than Eirene had imagined, dazzling her eyes. Clive noticed her hesitation and waited patiently. The soft murmurs gradually grew louder. 

There were so many people gathered that she couldn’t even guess the number. Eirene had thought this situation wouldn’t be difficult, but suddenly her heart began to race violently and her breathing became uncomfortable.

“Are you alright?” Clive asked worriedly.

“I think I’m nervous.”

“Hold on tight. Nothing bad will happen.”

Clive patted Eirene’s hand that was gripping his arm desperately. She found it both amusing and reassuring that Clive was her only support. 

Though she had faced death and believed nothing in the world could frighten her anymore, this unfamiliar world was certainly not easy. After taking a shallow deep breath, Eirene signaled that she was ready now. The eyes of guests who had been eagerly awaiting their appearance turned toward them. 

Several people, forgetting their manners, stretched their necks to get a glimpse of the Grand Duke’s fiancée they had only heard about. Those who had only imagined the face of the future Grand Duchess each had something to say.

“I heard rumors she wasn’t shown because she was ugly, but that’s clearly not the case.”

“Who do you think the Grand Duke is? I never believed that rumor for a second.”

“There was also a rumor she was ill. Maybe that’s true? Look at her face. She’s pale, like someone who’s never seen sunlight.”

“That’s not paleness, it’s fairness. Even from a distance, you can see her flawless, fine skin. I’m so envious.”

“It seems the rumor was true that Count Phineas and the Grand Duke deliberately kept her from appearing in social circles.”

There had been talk that the two had been seeing each other for a long time before their engagement. Neither the Imperial family nor the Phineas family had ever denied it. 

People who had been questioning the truth behind the rumors while observing Eirene’s appearance soon shifted their attention to her dress and necklace. 

Vague comments circulated about where they had seen similar items, how much they cost, and how the jewels could only be obtained by imperial family members. 

Eirene’s rapidly beating heart showed no signs of slowing down. Cold sweat broke out, and she still found it difficult to breathe.

“Should we go outside if it’s too much?”

Eirene shook her head at Clive’s concerned question. How could she accomplish anything if she couldn’t overcome this one challenge? 

This was something she would experience countless times in the future.

“It will get better.”

Wherever the Clive and Eirene couple went, all eyes followed them, and guests gathered one by one, waiting to greet them. Though the greetings remained conventional due to the line of people waiting, Eirene’s tension eased as the number of people she greeted increased. 

Time passed quickly with nothing but mindless formal smiles and words. As the greetings drew to a close, the time to enjoy the ball finally approached, and simultaneously, the attention directed at Eirene subsided. 

Not knowing how to dance, Eirene quietly slipped out of the bustling ballroom. She had considered escaping to the veranda briefly but decided against it to avoid the tiresome situation of someone approaching and striking up a conversation. 

The cold night wind slashed against her exposed skin, covered only by her dress. Still, it was better than being inside. Eirene blew on her hands and rubbed them together, but it didn’t help much, so she gave up and found a bench to sit on. 

Inside, she had seen the Count and Countess and Aishe from a distance. They merely glanced at Eirene and Clive without approaching. 

She had considered going over to greet them first but was waiting to see what would happen. Aishe’s gaze turned savage whenever she looked at Eirene, but quickly transformed into a radiant smile when someone approached to speak with her. 

Impressive, Aishe. To defeat such a cunning sister, Eirene would have to become the same. 

She would need to do the same with Clive too. Though she didn’t like it, this wasn’t the time to be picky. 

Just as she was about to go back inside, someone approached her. 

Thud, thud. 

It was the sound of dry grass being crushed. It was Kailro, Aishe’s twin brother.

* * *

“It’s been a long time.”

Kailro, who was standing at a measured distance, greeted her first. Eirene couldn’t even remember how long it had been since she had seen him. He, who used to frequently visit the underground room, had stopped coming much earlier than Aishe had. 

At the time, she had asked the Count and Countess and the maids why her little brother wasn’t visiting, but they never answered. Aishe had told her just once, “He just doesn’t want to come.” 

Eirene had worried and suffered for a very long time, wondering if she had done something wrong to Kailro. 

This was understandable because suddenly losing daily contact with someone meant that the young Eirene had lost both a family member and a friend. 

Though they were twins, Kailro was quiet, unlike Aishe, who had a cheerful and lively personality. He never laughed or spoke loudly. 

With a personality opposite to Aishe’s, resembling a calm lake, his appearance nevertheless closely resembled hers. Why hadn’t she realized back then that she was the only different one? 

It was the result of trusting them without even a speck of doubt. A truly foolish result. 

In that past when Eirene had killed everyone living in the Phineas Mansion, if she had directly confronted Kailro, she might not have been able to carry out her plan. She had no ill feelings toward him. 

Of course, the fact that he was in on it remained unchanged.

“So you’re alive, Kailro. I thought you were dead.”

The adult Kailro she now met remained unchanged. His gentle gaze indicated his personality was still the same.

“I’m alive and well, as you can see.”

“You disappeared like you’d never see me again, so did you come here because you had no choice?”

“Yes. How could I refuse an invitation from the Grand Duke?”

“Then you must know why I’m here too.”

A brief smile appeared and disappeared on Kailro’s lips.

“I think it’s for the best, Eirene.”

Hearing Kailro’s voice calling her name like a friend, Eirene momentarily felt transported back to the past. A time when she lived without knowing anything. 

In that foolish time, her memories of Kailro weren’t so bad. But now that she knew he was also part of the Phineas family who had deceived her, ill feelings that hadn’t existed before began to creep up.

“For the best? This is for the best?”

“I hope you marry the Grand Duke just like this.”

“What about Aishe?”

“Aishe will be fine. Don’t worry.”

She wasn’t worried; she simply couldn’t understand why Kailro would say such things. He shared no blood with Eirene, but he was Aishe’s biological brother.

“How could I take Aishe’s place?”

“You have the right to. Because Aishe has taken things from you all this time.”

“I don’t understand why you’re concerned about me instead of Aishe.”

“I…”

Kailro started to say something but stopped. With a troubled expression, he scratched his forehead before giving a familiar smile.

“I want you to be happy.”

Wanting her to be happy? Eirene couldn’t help but laugh.

“Kailro, you were always such a kind child. It suits you, wishing for others’ happiness. But Aishe was kind too. Our parents were good people too. Everyone was kind and good, but you know very well what these kind, good people did to me, don’t you? I was used by my family for a long time and then discarded. So I’m afraid of what you might really be thinking when you say you wish for my happiness.”

“I’m sincere.”

“Are you feeling guilty now?”

“…”

“It seems Aishe and your parents sent you to test me, so go tell them this: I’ll only focus on my role. I’ll quietly return this position to her, so tell them not to worry.”

As she turned away, suppressing her rising anger, Kailro grabbed her wrist.

“Eirene. That’s not it.”

“Let go.”

“I will. Just don’t leave and listen to me a little more.”

“I said let go.”

Suddenly, another voice interjected. A voice she could identify without looking. A large shadow approached from the darkness. Kailro immediately released Eirene’s wrist upon seeing Clive. 

Not knowing how much of the conversation Clive had heard, Kailro’s complexion rapidly turned pale blue. The sharp, ash-colored gaze looked ready to sever Kailro’s neck at any moment. 

A massive, elegant white snake. Many called Clive the Empire’s rogue, but that was only said by those who didn’t truly know him, those who hadn’t faced the sword wielded by this rogue. 

Just looking at him made it impossible to utter the word “rogue.” The innate dignity unique to imperial family members was embodied in the white snake standing before them. 

The moonlight flowing over his white hair made him shine even more brilliantly, causing Kailro to shrink. When he heard that Eirene was substituting for Aishe, Kailro had genuinely thought it was for the best. 

He hoped she would continue to replace Aishe and become the Grand Duchess. Even with the Grand Duke’s unfavorable rumors circulating throughout the Empire, it would be far better than the Phineas Count’s household. 

At least better than being confined underground without a single ray of sunlight. But he didn’t want his family to suffer because of Eirene. 

He desperately hoped Clive hadn’t heard the entire conversation. He didn’t even want to imagine it. Clive languidly closed and opened his eyes before asking Eirene:

“What’s going on?”

His voice was more subdued than when he had spoken to Kailro.

“Nothing, Clive. Just a minor sibling quarrel.”

Eirene stepped forward.

“Go, Kailro. We’ll talk later.”

She pushed Kailro’s back. Moved by her weak hand without resistance, Kailro barely managed to bow to Clive before leaving. His quick steps gradually slowed, then stopped, and he sat down with a blank expression. 

Again. Despite knowing his parents’ and sister’s crimes, he had remained silent. It was the same long ago. He had wanted to apologize to Eirene on behalf of his family and help her, but he lacked courage. 

He feared the blame and punishment that would befall the Phineas family if what she had endured became public. 

So, unable to do anything, he stopped visiting the basement where Eirene lived because he was ashamed of being no different from his family. 

Now an adult, he thought he had found courage, driven by unrelenting guilt about Eirene and living years filled with regret, but he was no different from back then. 

The moment he saw Clive, he was gripped by fear and fled, making him feel utterly pathetic. He was relieved that Clive hadn’t heard his conversation with Eirene.

“I won’t escape my punishment either. I’ll accept my penalty, Eirene.”

Kailro covered his head with both arms in agony and sobbed. He couldn’t leave that spot for a long time.

* * *

Clive took off the fur cloak he was wearing and draped it over Eirene’s shoulders.

“I think you’re crazy.”

Eirene looked at him, puzzled by his unexpected words. Was it because she had discussed important matters with Kailro in a public place, despite the absence of people?

Even though they had spoken in hushed voices, there were many places to hide. Kailro’s sudden appearance had caught her off guard, and her anger had made her neglect to be vigilant about her surroundings.

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me.”

“I should always stay alert, but seeing Kailro made me angry first, and I couldn’t control myself.”

“I’m not talking about that man. Even though the weather has warmed up, you’re likely to freeze to death dressed like this outside.”

Only then did Eirene realize her body was frozen. She hadn’t noticed, but she had been shivering from the cold. She pulled the cloak tighter around her shoulders, trying to block the cold wind as much as possible.

“I wouldn’t have stayed until I froze to death. I was just so focused on the conversation that I didn’t feel it.”

“Are you sick? How can you not feel this cold?”

“I feel it now.”

Clive gave her a disapproving look and urged her to go inside. The moment she stepped indoors following him, her body began to thaw in the warmth.

“Why did you go outside in the cold? Did you arrange to meet Kailro Phineas?”

“I met Kailro by chance. This is my first ball, so I felt awkward, and since I can’t dance, I didn’t want to just stand around looking lost, so I went out.”

“You can’t dance at all?”

“Unfortunately not.”

“This is a problem. Many people are waiting for the Grand Duke to dance with his fiancée.”

The people enjoying the ball stopped dancing and parted into two lines when Clive and Eirene appeared. Though she thought their interest had waned, they had actually been waiting. Clive took Eirene’s hand and led her to the center. He seemed to have no choice in this situation. 

Looking at the man whose eyes were sending a message to trust him, Eirene strangely felt no worry at all.