With quick acceptance, she held out her hand palm up this time, as if telling him to take it himself. Unlike women who shyly extend their hands only when asked by men, Elena was different.

Elena’s eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled.

“Take it quickly.”

She was ready, so she told Rudfelix to hurry and extend his hand.

“Come on.”

“You really are an unpredictable person.”

A smile formed on Rudfelix’s lips. He felt relieved as Elena gradually found herself while talking with him.

“You seem to enjoy that.”

“Honestly, it’s interesting.”

“Me too.”

“Shall we go down again?”

“By all means.”

As Elena held her skirt and descended the stairs, he held her hand firmly to prevent her from falling.

“I’ll say this now because it’s this moment.”

Elena looked around at others and spoke as if it were nothing.

“When I return to being an aide, could you please ease up on the harsh treatment a little?”

Rudfelix, who had just been treating her formally as Lady Jellisto, was taken aback.

“What?”

Seeing his lips purse, Elena covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

“I won’t ask you to treat me like this, but please be a little less harsh.”

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, their various conversations ended with talk of harsh treatment. Elena winked at Rudfelix as if it didn’t matter.

“With that understanding, I’ll enjoy tonight’s ball. Well then…”

When she tried to smoothly bow and withdraw her hand, it wouldn’t come free.

Elena looked up, intending to ask him to let go, and was startled.

“This really is fun.”

She didn’t know how to react to his broad smile.

Others seemed equally uncertain, as the unsettled atmosphere nearly drowned out the soft music.

“About the harsh treatment when you return as an aide…”

Rudfelix released her hand and stepped back slightly.

“I’ll think about it.”

“How mean of you.”

Meaning he couldn’t even make a white lie about being nice when she returns as an aide.

“Your Highness, it’s been a while.”

“Your Highness, do you remember me?”

Elena was about to say something, but people gathering to establish connections with the Grand Duke began to approach one by one.

“He really does live in a different world. How do people gather around him so quickly?”

Suddenly left alone, Elena clicked her tongue before quietly pressing her chest.

“Whew.”

Her heart was beating so hard it was really difficult to act nonchalant.

Meeting as nobles rather than superior and subordinate made her feel like she was with a different man.

She was nervous when he held her hand to keep her from falling, responded gently to conversation, and showed consideration.

“I might fall for him at this rate.”

“That would be troublesome,” Elena muttered as she lifted her skirt to avoid tripping while turning around. Then she spotted a familiar face.

‘The Crown Prince.’

Crown Prince Suharto was surrounded by as many people as Grand Duke Rudfelix. He seemed relaxed despite dealing with many people alone, and his characteristic smile stood out. His blue uniform complemented his bright face.

“He’s also from a different world.”

Just seeing these two exceptional men felt like she’d seen enough people for the day.

While watching Crown Prince Suharto like that, their eyes met, and Elena greeted him with a nod before turning away.

She thought that would be enough, but apparently the Crown Prince didn’t think so. He approached Elena with unhurried steps, seemingly unhindered by the people circling around him.

“It’s an honor to meet the small sun. I’m Elena of Count Jellisto’s family.”

Elena held her skirt and bowed her head in greeting.

“Lady Elena, a dress suits you better indeed.”

Though you rejected my gift. Elena smiled past his subtle complaint.

“You showed me why I should come wearing a dress like this.”

“It suits you well.”

Suharto complimented her dress with a pure expression.

“And I made some mistakes in not knowing you well, my lady.”

“Pardon?”

“I judged on my own and thought you would like it, then was surprised and upset when the gift was returned.”

I see. Thankfully the Crown Prince’s emotions hadn’t reached an extreme.

‘I’ll have to be more careful in the future.’

“So I thought again. I want to give Lady Elena something she truly needs, not just a dress.”

“Thank you.”

She resolved to gratefully accept even if it were trash now that he said he wanted to give something else.

Elena, who had planned to respond appropriately and part ways, noticed a woman walking behind Suharto.

She appeared to be between a girl and a woman. Elena recognized her immediately by her pink hair.

‘It’s Royna.’

Lady Royna Cecil, the female protagonist of the original story.

At her first imperial ball, she was walking while looking around curiously with wide eyes. Elena remembered today’s ball because it was meant to be the first meeting between Crown Prince Suharto and Royna.

Elena watched her with interest, knowing the future that only she knew. Sure enough, Suharto also happened to notice Royna and stared at her intently.

“Your Highness.”

“Ah…”

Suharto was so focused on looking at Royna that he didn’t immediately respond when Elena called him.

‘He won’t talk to me anymore.’

The moment she realized his interest had turned to Royna, Elena quietly moved away from him.

“Right, they were destined for each other, so probably a mysterious attraction.”

Just when she nodded in understanding, thinking he couldn’t take his eyes off Royna due to their destiny, she suddenly remembered someone – a character not detailed much in the original story.

“The Grand Duke.”

What would Rudfelix be doing here?

“I’m curious.”

She wasn’t curious about Suharto going to meet Royna.

There was no need for her to focus on them when the author and protagonist already did.

Rather, she was interested in the Grand Duke, who was only briefly mentioned.

She wondered what Rudfelix was doing here.

‘This is my first ball.’

‘I should casually look around and observe.’

“Ah?”

The moment she thought about looking for him, he was right there.

As Rudfelix’s eyes shifted while talking to the man in front of him, their gazes met.

Her calmed heart started racing again as his eyes shone clearly.

Elena quietly hid behind someone standing between them as a shield.

‘He really makes my heart race.’

Simply resting her hand wasn’t enough, so she clenched it into a fist and pressed firmly.

“Is it because we run into each other often?”

While she felt more comfortable with Grand Duke Rudfelixthan others due to familiarity, sometimes he made her more uncomfortable than anyone else.

While these contradicting emotions didn’t make sense, perhaps they were understandable because they only applied to him.

“You disappeared so quickly. If you weren’t nearby I would have had servants search for you.”

Her heart dropped and her shoulders jumped at the voice close by. Startled by the unexpected voice, she forcibly lifted her head.

“Your Highness?”

Facing his gentle smile, she didn’t know how to react. Her hands tangled complexly and she hid them behind her back.

She was confused about why he came when he must have discovered Royna.

“Would you accept this?”

Inside the box was a quill made from peacock feathers.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

Moreover, what happened to the woman who was supposed to thrill him?

“You seem to work hard as an aide, so this came to mind. Though it’s worthless compared to a dress, I thought it would be a good gift that wouldn’t burden you.”

“How could this be worthless?”

Are peacock feathers that common? It seems to be made from the largest feather too.

“Though modest, it’s quite useful, so I hope you’ll carry it.”

His smile saying ‘You won’t reject this too, right?’ brought another wave of surprised stares crashing over Elena.

‘No, why did you come to me?’

Confused by the situation that wouldn’t sort itself out, Elena couldn’t accept the offered gift and looked around.

While searching for Rudfelix, she wasn’t sure if they had crossed paths. Though she had lost interest, as it was their business, Royna had already moved far to the opposite side.

‘What’s going on here?’

Why hadn’t they met, and why was the Crown Prince in front of her?

And…

Surely he wasn’t watching?

There was one person she especially hoped wasn’t watching.

‘Why am I being so conscious of the Grand Duke?’

Though they weren’t anything to each other, this situation would become awkward if discovered.

Elena turned her head slightly and quickly turned back.

‘Our eyes met.’

Things had gotten properly complicated.