Male Lead, Please Dump Me Three Times - Chapter 23

That’s right.

I just made an ignorant and tactless remark.

In an instant, memories from the academy flashed like a panorama.

The vivid images of me repeatedly making advances towards the seemingly impregnable Ray came to mind.

My face felt like it could burst at any moment with anger.

I couldn’t bring myself to meet Ray’s eyes again.

A sense of unbearable silence.

Only the sound of the running carriage echoed around.

* * *

— Miss, when entering the ballroom, you must link arms with the Duke! It symbolizes partnership.

“Oh, right! I almost forgot.”

“What?”

When we arrived in front of the ballroom, Ellie’s words suddenly came to mind.

Ellie emphasized that several times.

“Ray, hold on a moment.”

As we walked side by side, I cautiously linked arms with Ray.

Ray’s firm arm twitched slightly. He seemed frozen in place.

“At the ballroom, partners should walk like this… that’s why.”

“Right. I know that too.”

Ray nodded as if he had just realized it then. Then he gently held my hand that was linked with his arm.

I looked up at Ray with a bright smile.

“Daisy, there’s something I want to give you before we go in.”

“What is it?”

Ray pulled something out of his pocket.

In a slender box lay a handkerchief that matched the color of my dress perfectly.

The deep blue handkerchief was adorned with diamonds meticulously placed along the edges.

The silk texture cascading like a waterfall and the diamonds scattered in wave patterns evoked images of a galaxy.

“Wow… it’s beautiful…”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes! I really like it!”

“I’m glad.”

Ray said with a lazy smile.

Ray gently took my wrist and carefully tied the handkerchief around it.

“You must carry it with you.”

Ray softly kissed the back of my hand as he spoke.

I nodded at him with a smile.

“Of course. Shall we go in now?”

Arm in arm, we headed into the ballroom together.

The doors of the ballroom were wide open, seemingly welcoming the attendees.

As we entered the ballroom, the dazzling chandelier lights dazzled our eyes.

Inside, the ballroom was high-ceilinged and very spacious. But with so many people, it felt crowded.

The gazes of many people focused on us momentarily, almost overwhelming us.

Women looked at us with curious eyes. Some even had a blush on their cheeks.

‘Oh… everyone seems to be admiring Ray’s face. I’m so proud.’

Soon after, the murmur of people resonated in our ears.

“Oh my goodness… Could that be Duke Croit? I’ve seen Duke at social events before… but what a surprise.”

“The person next to Duke Croit… Could it possibly be Lady Carnelian?”

“It seems so. I haven’t seen her since the academy graduation ceremony… She’s still beautiful. Those clear, shining emerald eyes… I really wanted to steal them.”

“I wonder what it’s like to live with a face like that? There truly is no one quite like her…”

‘Hehehe….’

I smirked inwardly.

Having inherited good genes, I was also… quite good-looking.

Compliments are always exhilarating.

I tried to keep a calm facade, holding back the urge to boast.

That was when it happened.

Amidst the crowd, a woman with silver hair in a pink dress passed by.

It was a familiar figure from behind.

‘Delian…?’

The moment I saw the thick wavy silver hair, I was certain.

It was Delian.

‘As expected. She’s here.’

I gripped Ray’s arm tighter at once.

“Huh? Daisy, what’s wrong?”

Taken aback by my sudden reaction, Ray lowered his head and asked me cautiously.

“Huh? Oh! It’s nothing.”

When I looked back, Delian had already disappeared.

“Wait. That dress…, could it be adorned with diamonds?”

“Not even cubic zirconia, but actual diamonds… Goodness. How… truly in love. How romantic.”

The words of the people didn’t register in my ears.

I continued to scan the crowd busily, searching for Delian and Killian.

“Duke Croit?”

At that moment, I heard the voice of a stranger from somewhere.

We moved towards the direction of the voice together.

A man in his thirties was approaching us.

“Viscount Exit?”

“May joy accompany the empire’s peace. Have you been well? It seems to be our first meeting in a place like this. And the person next to you is…?”

Viscount Exit looked at me with a curious gaze.

Alternating between us, as if expecting an introduction.

“Oh, my……! That’s great, I hope you two are comfortable making your acquaintance. I’ve been meaning to take a look around for a while anyway!”

I said as I cautiously released my arm from Ray’s grip.

For a moment, Ray’s arm tightened.

“No, you can’t. Stay with me.”

I carefully pulled my hand out of his grasp and said, 

“I won’t go far. Okay? I’ll be nearby, so you can go and chat comfortably.”

Ray’s eyes seemed somewhat lonely. I tried to avoid his gaze.

Then I smiled reassuringly.

I moved briskly. I began to chase after the trace of Delian that I glimpsed.

‘Thanks to Viscount Exit’s interference, I can explore alone for a while.’

I delved into the bustling crowd, starting to look for the woman with silver hair.

I glanced around the first floor quickly, but Delian was nowhere to be seen.

‘I’m sure I saw her….’

Suddenly, the stairs to the second floor came into view.

“Maybe I should check the second floor…?”

Without hesitation, I walked towards the stairs.

At that moment,

‘Whoosh.’

Someone grabbed my wrist with a rather rough touch.

A touch that lacked even the slightest consideration.

It wasn’t Ray’s touch.

A small, rough, chubby hand was holding my wrist.

“Lady Carnelian?”

I pulled my wrist away from him and said, 

‘What the hell? Grabbing someone’s wrist so suddenly…’

“Yes, that’s right. And who might you be?”

The middle-aged man standing in front of me was about my height.

At a glance, he looked at least 20 years older than me.

“I am Baron Schwald. May joy accompany the empire’s peace.”

“Ah… Yes. May joy accompany.”

Shwil or Shwald, who cares.

His features were carefree… it seemed like he could incite a revolution and conquer others with that face alone.

I casually greeted him and shifted my gaze again.

Despite scanning the bustling crowd, I couldn’t spot the woman with silver hair.

‘As expected. I should hurry to the second floor.’

Just as I was about to move my feet again,

“What is it? Are you ignoring me right now?”

Baron Schwald’s voice had a more forceful tone.

“I’m not ignoring you, I’m just not interested.”

I brushed past Shwald and continued walking.

That was when,

“Where are you going in the middle of our conversation?”

Baron Schwald forcefully pulled my wrist and pushed his unattractive body against mine.

“You said you weren’t interested, right now?”

He gripped my wrist with a strong force.

“Ugh! Disgusting! What are you doing?! Let go!”

“What, calling me disgusting? They say a strong denial is a strong affirmation… Are you trying to resist now?”

“Wow, you’re crazy…”

Disgusted, I didn’t even think of shaking off his unpleasant touch.

It clung to my arm like a leech.

With his rough and calloused skin, just the touch of his short, thick fingers made my body shudder.

It felt like an unsettling bug had attached itself to me.

“If I was a strong man, I would have dealt this kind of trash within a single blow!”

Then there would be no need to argue with such a nuisance.

Seriously…

This won’t do.

In my next life, I must be born as a gangster.

Being born as a tough person and taking down those villains.

Truthfully, being born as a handsome man has been my long-standing wish.

But experiencing such unfair situations… being born as a rugged-looking man doesn’t seem so bad after all.

“You seem like a novice in high society. I thought I’d entertain you for a moment while you’re wandering alone…”

Baron Schwald glanced at me from head to toe with a condescending look and whispered softly.

“What… Since when could you address me so informally…”

That was when,

“Baron Schwald?”

A familiar voice could be heard from somewhere.

Startled by the sharp voice, Baron Schwald turned his head behind me.

“What are you doing to my partner right now?”