Natalie smiled down at Florian while lightly placing her hand on his. When she wiggled her fingertips as if urging him to speak, Florian looked up at her with a face full of emotion.

“May I dare ask Your Highness for a dance?”

“Of course.”

The moment Florian took Natalie’s hand and stood up, the situation was resolved. No one here could defy her.

‘Wow, that’s impressive.’

Bella covered her mouth as she watched the two heading to the dance floor. This was the beginning of the first dance event with Florian. Seeing it directly before her eyes made it even more moving.

‘And another interesting point is this.’

Bella quickly examined the male leads’ reactions. Blake had his hands on his waist with a bitter smile, while Leon was simply watching the two with what seemed to be an amused expression. And Everitt had disappeared somewhere.

When playing the game from the Princess’s perspective, they were all targets to be pursued, so there was no opportunity to observe from a distance like this. But now, as a supporting character with an observer’s viewpoint, she could see things she hadn’t noticed during gameplay.

This was precisely the subtle enjoyment that couldn’t be experienced in the game. Blake looked somewhat disgruntled after helping out only to see Natalie go off to dance with Florian, or Everitt, who had left the scene entirely as if he didn’t want to watch.

It was absolutely delicious to see these prime candidates slightly wary of each other.

Of course, it made sense that they would find it difficult to cooperate. After all, only one person could win the Princess’s favor in this game.

Bella mentally flashed a refreshing smile toward the two men who had tormented her.

‘Go ahead and struggle all you want to win Natalie’s favor.’

It was also quietly satisfying to see Leon maintaining his composure throughout. I suppose only those with something to hide would feel anxious.

Soon, the waltz began to flow across the floor.

Florian, dressed in deep purple to match his eye color, gently supported Natalie’s waist. With one hand on his shoulder and the other lightly placed in his hand, Natalie happened to be wearing a lavender dress. They matched so well, as if they had deliberately coordinated their outfits for dancing together.

Every time Natalie took a step, her pink hair flowing, the hem of her lavender dress rippled and slightly wrapped around Florian’s ankles. There was something subtly sensual about it that made the corners of Bella’s mouth, watching from a distance, slowly curl upward.

Florian’s face would turn bright red, then he would lower his eyes and shyly turn his head away, then look back at Natalie and smile again—it seemed as though they weren’t just dancing but also exchanging sweet dialogue.

‘I wish I could stick close to them and hear what lines he’s choosing.’

Bella took a sip of the cocktail she was holding with a pleased expression. Watching a scene that perfectly matched the game’s concept made her heart flutter with excitement, just like on the first day.

In her improved mood, Bella began to enjoy the ball. Even though she couldn’t dance, there was plenty to do.

She listened to the music, had a drink, and helped herself to plenty of finger food. She also exchanged light greetings with ladies she had become acquainted with.

It was when the ball was in full swing.

‘It’s a bit hot in here. Maybe I should get some fresh air for a moment.’

She didn’t quite have the courage to go all the way to the garden but thought it would be nice to step out onto the balcony for just five minutes. Fortunately, the curtain of a balcony a little distance away was open. It was a sign that it was empty.

Bella carefully looked around. As soon as she confirmed no one was watching her, she quickly approached the empty balcony. She was about to enter after opening the glass door and making sure there was no one inside the balcony.

A large hand firmly grabbed the glass door. As Bella turned around in surprise, a massive shadow pushed her onto the balcony.

“Eek.”

As Bella staggered, the man who had entered the balcony wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Red eyes blazed as they looked down at her. It was Everitt.

‘How stupid of me. Instead of sneaking onto an empty balcony alone, I should have grabbed any lady to come with me.’

Bella regretted her decision, but it was too late. Everitt held her while using his other hand to pull down the curtain.

In that moment, she remembered what had happened on the balcony before.

“Let go of me. Today I really will…”

Scream.

But those words were swallowed into Everitt’s mouth. With one hand firmly gripping Bella’s waist and the other holding the back of her neck, he abruptly crashed his lips against hers and thrust his tongue inside.

“Mmph.”

His thick tongue invaded relentlessly, stirring everything inside her mouth. Bella’s tongue was helplessly entangled with his, rubbed and sucked. It was dizzying. A fierce kiss that felt like it would suck out her very soul.

Bella pounded his chest with her fists. Everitt took all her punches while continuing to suck on her lips and ravage her mouth until she was gasping for breath.

His lips finally separated from hers after a long while. As Bella couldn’t even speak properly and was panting heavily, Everitt grabbed her chin and lifted it to meet her eyes.

“Have you tried it with your lover in the few days I’ve left you alone?”

“Hah… gasp… what…?”

“I told you to compare how we f*ck.”

Everitt tilted his head to one side and curled up the corner of his mouth.

“What, don’t remember clearly? I can pound you again as many times as it takes until it’s carved into your hole and you’ll never forget.”

Bella glared at him with a disgusted expression. Everitt slid his hand from her chin, caressing her nape before fingering the choker around her neck.

“Why are you wearing this? It doesn’t even suit you.”

“You think I’m wearing this because I want to? Whose fault is it?”

At Bella’s sharp retort, Everitt’s eyes widened. His straight eyebrows rose before softening, and then he smiled with curved eyes.

“So you think of me every morning when you put this on.

“Who would—ugh.”

Everitt grabbed Bella’s hair and pulled it downward. As her head tilted back, Everitt brought his face close and whispered.

“Or were you thinking of someone else? Is there someone special you don’t want to show the marks beneath this?”

“I told you I have a lover, you lunatic!”

Bella pushed his chest with all her might. Everitt released her with a cold laugh.

“I wonder if this lover of yours actually exists. Or is he just in your imagination?”

“Isn’t the Grand Duke just taking out his frustration on me because he’s upset that Her Highness is being kind to Florian? Why are you doing this to me when you have someone else you like?”

Everitt hesitated. Bella didn’t miss the opportunity and quickly ran toward the glass door to escape him.

There was no time to draw back the curtain. Bella threw her whole body forward, intending to push open the door along with the curtain.

“Gasp.”

Whether the door hadn’t been properly closed and only the curtain pulled down, or someone had deliberately left it open from outside, there was nothing beyond the curtain.

Her arm, extended forward to push the door, sliced through the curtain and flailed in empty space, causing her body to stagger as her momentum had nowhere to go.

Just before falling forward, she collided hard with something. Without even knowing what it was, she instinctively grabbed onto it to prevent herself from falling and pulled herself up.

“Ah.”

It was a person. What entered her vision was the scene of cognac spilling onto a man’s chest, staining his white dress shirt with a deep honey color.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!”

Bella hastily released her grip and stepped back, raising her head. At last, she saw the man’s face. Leon was staring at her with his blue eyes wide in surprise.

“Miss Carta? Still walking without looking ahead, I see.”

“That’s… I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

Leon raised his head to look behind Bella. Everitt had just followed her out, drawing back the balcony curtain. When the two men’s eyes met, Leon was the first to speak.

“Oh my. Have I interrupted a date? Then I should…”