The long-awaited day of the banquet arrived.

“Welcome, Lady Ronia. Please wait a moment.”

The Renigrad servant, who greeted Arne as she got off the carriage, couldn’t take his eyes off her.

The lilac dress, perfectly tailored to her body, matched her white hair well. Since it was ‘The Return of Roa,’ which Ella had put the most effort into, it was hard to look away once seen.

Arne tilted her head gracefully. The servant then went to announce her arrival to the mansion.

Having always stayed at Cedric’s villa, it had been a while since she visited the main mansion of the Grand Ducal family. As she admired the well-maintained garden, she suddenly heard a scream.

“Ah!”

Running towards the direction of the scream, she saw a man barely maintaining his balance on a ladder.

“Are you alright?”

Arne hurriedly ran over and grabbed the shaking ladder. Her eyes met the red eyes of a man with black hair looking down at her.

“Cedric?”

“Ramona.”

As the surprised man reached out, the ladder tilted again. The sound of the ladder falling echoed loudly. But the man’s firm grip on Arne prevented her from getting hurt.

Arne, wincing, opened her eyes and looked up at the man’s face. He looked similar, but he wasn’t Cedric. The middle-aged man stared at Arne blankly, as if he was out of his mind.

“Ah… Are you alright? I am Raniarne Freya de Ronia.”

“Ah… I see. Silver hair and red eyes are so rare that I mistook you.”

The light in the man’s eyes dimmed. He stood up and extended his hand to Arne. At that moment, a familiar low voice flowed.

“What are you two doing?”

Cedric appeared with a servant, his brows furrowed.

“Oh, well, the ladder suddenly fell over…”

Arne scratched her head as she stood up. Her ankle, which she had delayed treating, throbbed again. Trying to walk as naturally as possible to avoid Cedric’s nagging, she lost her balance.

“Arne.”

“Lady.”

Hands from both sides stabilized Arne’s swaying upper body.

“Thank you. I’m fine now.”

Arne awkwardly responded, looking back and forth between the two similar-looking men. Cedric sighed softly and gave a short command to the servant.

“Take my father and treat him. Lady Ronia, come with me.”

“What?”

Realizing it was Cedric’s father, Arne looked at him, and before she knew it, she was lifted into Cedric’s arms.

“If your ankle gets worse one more time, you’ll end up in my arms at the banquet hall. I’m serious, not joking. You are quite careless.”

Even as Arne struggled, Cedric’s strong arms didn’t budge.

“That man is more injured than I am.”

“The Lord of Renigrad will surely receive treatment. That’s not your concern.”

When Cedric entered the mansion, the servants and maids bowed their heads in respect.

“Greetings, Cedric.”

“Greetings, Cedric.”

The bustling movements halted for a moment. Those against the wall didn’t raise their heads until Cedric passed by. Nothing obstructed his path wherever he went.

“Where are we going?”

Cedric walked swiftly without answering. Arne, feeling uneasy, grabbed Cedric’s collar.

“Are we really going to the banquet hall like this?”

“You wouldn’t be able to go on that foot anyway.”

“Put me down. I’ll limp there on my own.”

“Leaving it untreated after hearing what I said, did you want something like this to happen?”

A maid’s eyes subtly moved. Though her body remained still, she couldn’t control the slight shaking of her eyes upon hearing what was said.

Arne’s face flushed red. The maids and servants of the mansion were the eyes and ears of the owner.

A young lady who couldn’t walk on her own was disgraceful. She had prepared and waited for today, and she couldn’t show such a sight to the Grand Duke.

“I was just really busy.”

“Even if you’re busy, you should have gotten treated.”

“It was late at night, and there were no doctors. I was going to see one after the banquet.”

“After the banquet, you’ll be busy with something else, knowing you.”

Arne could feel the maids and servants exchanging glances, standing still with their heads bowed. She could imagine them whispering. Arne’s lips trembled. She grabbed Cedric’s tie and pulled him close. Her red eyes burned as she faced him.

“No. Put me down.”

Cedric’s steps halted. Arne’s trembling fingers gripped his tie tightly. Cedric turned and commanded.

“Everyone, leave.”

The servants filling the hallway quickly exited. Silence fell as they were left alone.

Cedric turned and opened the nearest door.

Click.

The sound of the door locking echoed loudly. Cedric leaned against the door.

“We’re not going to the banquet hall, so could you let go of my tie now?”

Arne’s suspicious gaze lingered on Cedric’s red eyes. It was dark, with only one window in what seemed to be a storage room. Arne frowned to see Cedric’s expression, and he lifted her onto the windowsill.

“If you really don’t want it, I won’t do it.”

Arne’s fingers gripping the tie turned red. Her nails dug into her skin, but she couldn’t feel it.

Cedric opened his mouth but then let Arne hold onto the tie.

‘She’s holding onto this piece of cloth as if it’s a lifeline, trembling.’

Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a slow light on Cedric’s face. Dust floated in the sunlight. Warmth radiated behind Arne.

She slowly let go of the tie.

“I’ll go to the banquet hall on my own feet.”

“As you wish.”

Even as Arne let go of the tie, Cedric matched her eye level and replied.

“I originally planned to delay the banquet a bit and see a doctor. But you always prioritize other things over taking care of yourself.”

“…I don’t want to be late for the banquet. I don’t want to be known as someone who’s late from the start.”

Cedric’s brows furrowed. He seemed displeased with her answer but sighed deeply.

“As you wish.”

Arne sensed that he had conceded a lot. She awkwardly moved her lips.

“I-it won’t take long to heal with spirit mana.”

As Arne lifted the hem of her dress slightly, Cedric turned his head. She saw his neck redden. He pressed the hem of her dress with his fingertips.

‘Ah…’

Arne’s eyes blinked rapidly. Although she hadn’t formally learned etiquette, she had common sense.

Even if a noble lady’s dress exposed her shoulders and chest, it never revealed her feet. Kissing hands or hugging was acceptable, but exposing legs was considered very suggestive.

Thinking back, Cedric had blessed her wrist but never directly treated her ankle.

‘So that’s why he suggested seeing a doctor.’

Arne’s face heated up. Even the Duchess sometimes mocked her bare feet. Why had she forgotten this?

She must have been so tense, fearing Cedric might actually carry her to the banquet hall, that she lost her mind. He was a man who could really do that.

When Arne opened her eyes, she met Cedric’s gaze. His red eyes were intense.

“You don’t need to lift your dress.”

His fingers, pressing down on her dress, dropped below the fabric. The sound of the cloth brushing was suggestive.

His thick fingers touched above her ankle slowly.

His touch was warm. Arne clutched her dress tightly. His unwavering gaze was hot. Only their breathing filled the silence.

As his thick fingers brushed slowly, Arne flinched. Cedric’s fingers paused.

Arne bit her lip hard. She opened her mouth intentionally. She felt she had to say something.

“Did you ask to see me because of my ankle?”

Of all things to say! Arne closed her eyes tightly and then opened them. A brief silence followed. Cedric’s low voice echoed in her ears.

“There was something I was curious about.”

His gaze, one hand resting on the windowsill, persistently sought Arne’s eyes.

“I don’t know if you’ll be honest with me.”

Cedric’s fingers grazed over Arne’s ankle bone. Goosebumps rose and her senses heightened.

“Have you ever been to the Imperial Honorary Cemetery? Besides the day you found the letter?”

Arne’s eyes slowly blinked.

‘So he did recognize me that day. Should I tell him or not?’

Cedric’s lips twisted slowly as he stared intently into Arne’s eyes.

“…Why did you run away?”

“Run away?”

“Was that also on your way home? You seemed to be fleeing.”

Cedric grabbed her ankle. His eyes burned. The veins on his hands and arms bulged with tension, but he quickly released the pressure.

“If you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to. Whatever the reason, if you plan to run from me, now is the time to do it.”

“Why would I run away from you?”

“…I thought you might have heard rumors about how my grandmother, Lady Judith, passed away.”

‘Cedric’s grandmother was…’

The Grand Duke himself…

‘Did he think I avoided him out of fear after hearing the rumors?’

She never imagined he would misunderstand like that. Arne’s eyes widened in surprise.

“That’s not it. No! I was just trying to secretly meet Duke Xenon, so I hid my identity and avoided you.”

Arne urgently grabbed Cedric’s arm. Cedric’s body leaned closer.

“Is this why you wanted to see me?”

“….”

The distance was too close. Arne’s knee touched his thigh. Cedric ran a hand through his hair, subtly creating space between her dress and her waist.

“I wanted to give you an invitation addressed to you. It was delivered to me.”

Cedric slowly withdrew and handed her the invitation.

‘Duke Xenon.’

A smile spread across Arne’s lips. To receive a response so quickly, Duke Xenon’s love and determination for his daughter were indeed commendable.

“It’s an invitation from Duke Xenon. Why did you meet him secretly?”

“Are you curious about the contents?”

Arne picked up the invitation and opened it in front of him. Cedric’s blatant gaze was the answer.