As the song ended, Belrocan casually smiled broadly and kissed Selvia’s hand.

“That was enjoyable. You’re an excellent dancer.”

“Ah…… thank you.”

Applause poured forth and the music continued.

Glancing around, she saw others also seemed quite satisfied with the banquet.

“It’s unfortunate not to see the King of Delpheron, but perhaps there will be another opportunity.”

“Yes, I’ll speak with him about it.”

She had no intention to do so. Unless they spoke with her separately.

Selvia hastily composed her expression, thinking of Beatus who would be watching her.

Soon, new music began, and people flocked to Selvia to request a dance.

At the same time, as a shadow fell before her, Selvia looked up.

“Would you dance one song with me?”

“……Of course.”

It was perfect timing as she had many things she wanted to ask, and they could talk without worrying about other people’s ears.

Due to the singing, if they whispered quietly, their conversation wouldn’t be heard.

Since he was a member of the Empire’s delegation, others would likely think it was just normal courtesy.

Above all, he was a duke from another country, so he had status.

“Seeing you like this gives me quite a feeling.”

“……You’re being mischievous. You could have told me beforehand.”

“That wouldn’t have been fun. Besides, my situation wasn’t good either.”

Harwin glanced at Leliana. Selvia sighed and nodded.

“That’s true, I hadn’t thought of that. But why……”

Why did he lie to Leliana?

If she had known he wasn’t from a humble family, Leliana would never have tried to break off the engagement.

Indeed, the story about breaking it off because his family was ruined was a lie. Even if a family of this status went bankrupt, would they not even have money for marriage?

Even if her father requested to break off the engagement, he could have refused and at least gotten money.

Why did he agree so readily?

Selvia was curious about his intentions.

“Are you curious about why I broke off the engagement?”

Selvia gently nodded.

He smiled faintly and held her waist more firmly.

“That’s because I……”

As his lips moved, the song changed.

Having no choice but to end their dance, Selvia turned to leave when he suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him.

“Ah!”

Selvia’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Harwin.

Crash—

Wine glasses fell to the floor with a loud noise.

Startled people looked toward Selvia and Harwin.

“You almost spilled wine on your dress.”

At Harwin’s words, Selvia looked behind her.

It had indeed been a close call, as wine had stained the edge of her dress.

Selvia’s face flushed as she found herself completely in his embrace.

She couldn’t tell if the loudly beating heart was hers or Harwin’s who held her.

However, Selvia was sure it was hers.

‘……That startled me.’

The cool mint scent mixed with his natural fragrance brushed her nose.

Selvia blinked at the heartbeat still ringing in her ears.

Harwin slowly released Selvia. The loss of his warm embrace that had enveloped her felt regrettable.

‘Regrettable? Why……?’

While still bewildered, a clear voice rang through the banquet hall.

“Sister! Are you alright?”

Leliana came running.

While pretending to check Selvia’s body, her eyes quickly scanned Harwin.

Light radiated around Leliana.

It was clearly different from Selvia’s power of light. From the start, as if she alone possessed the power of light, she captured everyone’s attention.

Leliana’s appearance was so intense it almost felt like the protagonist of the banquet had changed.

“Oh my! Goodness! Seeing the power of light up close is truly dazzling!”

“In contrast, Her Highness the Queen seems to be hiding her power completely.”

“Surely the Queen would shine just as brightly?”

Whispers comparing Leliana and Selvia were clearly audible.

Nevertheless, Selvia looked at Leliana without changing her expression.

Making such an entrance meant she wanted something.

By the looks of it, she seemed interested in the head of the delegation of the Karina Empire.

Though she seemed conscious of Harwin standing beside her, she wouldn’t be interested in someone who came as a guard knight.

Even if Harwin was a duke, he couldn’t compare to someone close to the Emperor.

‘She’s taken control. Good.’

Leliana kept hovering around Selvia while trying to suppress her rising smile.

Selvia quickly realized this was done with Beatus in mind.

Since he wouldn’t be interested in what he already had, Leliana was making her move.

That’s why Leliana acted more freely.

What Beatus wanted was the child of prophecy, and Leliana was also someone who could fulfill that dream.

Beatus would be the one at a disadvantage, so she thought he would show more interest if she showed interest in others.

Above all, she didn’t like this situation where people’s attention was focused on Selvia.

Earlier, it was Leliana who had bumped the servant carrying the wine glasses.

According to her calculations, Selvia should have been completely drenched in wine, but thanks to that man, she had narrowly avoided it.

‘What a shame.’

Still, it wasn’t a complete loss since she succeeded in making people aware of her presence.

Leliana clicked her tongue and turned sharply to look at the servant.

The servant, face red with terror, fell to his knees and pressed his head to the floor.

“I-I’m so sorry! Your Highness the Queen. That’s…… someone pushed me from behind!”

Leliana interrupted the servant’s words with a shout.

“Are you making excuses?! You should have watched where you were going! My sister could have been hurt!”

Like a sister caring for her older sibling, Leliana maintained her shocked expression.

At her scolding, the servant trembled all over and couldn’t lift his head.

“It’s alright, stand up. I know it wasn’t intentional. The banquet will only become more chaotic, so it would be better to calmly clean up.”

Selvia soothed the servant in a gentle voice.

The servant lifted his tear-stained face and nodded quickly.

“I think it would be good to take a break. I need to change my clothes as well.”

She spoke while looking toward where Beatus would be behind the screen.

Though he couldn’t answer anyway, nothing serious would happen if she left briefly.

“Sister, how can you just leave like this!”

Selvia removed Leliana’s hand from her arm and murmured quietly.

“If you’re not thoughtless, don’t act so rashly. Who raises their voice like that at a banquet? And mind your address. Calling me ‘sister,’ people will criticize you.”

At Selvia’s words, Leliana bit her lip hard.

“No answer?”

“……Yes, Your Highness the Queen.”

Leliana’s fists were so tightly clenched they turned white.

Belrocan, who had been quietly observing this, approached Selvia.

“If it’s alright, may my guard knight escort you? I think it would be good to consider it Karina Empire’s manner.”

“I’m fine……”

Wait, if he escorts me, that means we’ll have time alone.

“I would appreciate that.”

It was a favor she didn’t need to refuse. Selvia immediately seized the opportunity Belrocan had handed her.

“Then, I shall escort you, Your Highness the Queen.”

At Harwin’s words, Selvia’s head naturally lifted.

The blue eyes barely visible under his hood met hers, and he smiled without fail.

The warmth of their joined hands gave her a strange feeling.

“You seem rather pleased.”

If Harwin hadn’t said so, she wouldn’t have known she was smiling.

“I would have liked it better if that pleasure was because of me.”

At his words, Selvia’s heart pounded again.

His words were somewhat open to misinterpretation.

Her fingertips trembled instinctively at this unfamiliar mix of goodwill and excitement.

Nevertheless, Selvia remained vigilant. She didn’t know whether his goodwill would harm or benefit her.

As they walked side by side toward her room, she glanced at their joined hands.

‘It feels unfamiliar.’

This was an escort she hadn’t received even from Beatus. She couldn’t help the strange emotions that crossed her mind.

This is strange, right now this is…… dangerous.

Her reason was being shaken by him.

She hadn’t known his presence would have such destructive power, like causing ripples in still water.

He was just her younger sister’s former fiancé.

That’s all he should be, but somehow when facing Harwin, it felt like all thought stopped.

Even when Leliana first brought Harwin, she had thought she’d never seen someone so beautiful……

Up close, he was even more so.

“I know I’m beautiful.”

At his words, Selvia’s eyes widened in surprise.

She must have been staring at him without realizing it.

Besides, to speak so brazenly, Selvia blinked with a dumbfounded expression.

“I’m joking. You were staring so intently, I had to say something.”

“Ah……”

Selvia’s face flushed hot.

If he noticed, she must have stared for quite a while.

Feeling needlessly embarrassed, she hung her head low.

By the way, I wonder what he meant by what he said earlier.

Selvia mulled over Harwin’s words.

Honestly, she had so many questions for him.

The problem was, she didn’t know what to ask first.

‘I can’t understand his intentions.’

She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. Above all, since he came as the delegation’s guard knight, she had to be careful with her words.

There was nothing to gain from turning someone who came for friendship into an enemy.

Selvia glanced at Harwin again before quickly turning away.

Her heart raced again as she met his gaze as he stared at her intently.

……Indeed, dangerous.

Her instincts were telling her so.

Nevertheless, curiosity kept poking its head out.

“What are you pondering so deeply?”

“What? Ah……”

She was being uncharacteristically thoughtful. Selvia gently shook her head and lifted her face to look at him again.

Harwin, who still hadn’t taken his eyes off her, curved his eyes in a smile.

“……Why did you hide your title?”

“Is that what you’re most curious about? I expected you’d be most curious about something else.”

Harwin hummed while gently stroking his chin.

His eyes, languidly falling shut as his face tilted slightly to the side, still persistently held only Selvia.