5.1

“Why don’t you stand up a bit straighter? Your sibling’s efforts in sending you to me are going to waste.”  

“Yes…”  

At the Countess of Croysen’s words, Iliana reluctantly straightened her back. Her expression was so lifeless, as if she were being dragged to a slaughterhouse, that the Countess frowned.  

The capital, preparing for the social season, was practically in a festive mood. This was because most noble families hosted parties after the royal debutante ball. As a result, many people were already moving around, trying to make connections even before the debutante.  

‘How many parties has it been already…?’  

In the Kingdom, many nobles used the debutante ball as an opportunity to find marriage partners. Even though love marriages were talked about, arranged marriages were still the custom.  

Iliana glanced at the Countess standing next to her, scanning the crowd. It seemed as though the Countess was fully embracing the masquerade theme of today’s party. Covering her mouth with her fan while slowly moving her eyes, she looked like a scheming villain plotting something in secret.  

“If you keep looking around with such irreverent eyes, no good connections will come your way. How much longer do I have to remain your chaperone?”  

“Ah, but… Didn’t you say you’d do it until Anas became the head of the house?”  

“Don’t try to flatter me. I don’t know who you take after to behave like this.”  

Clicking her tongue, the Countess grabbed a wine glass from a passing waiter and handed it to Iliana. Iliana, accustomed to her aunt’s soft spot for her, smiled weakly as she accepted the glass.  

As the scheduled music began to play, the atmosphere of the party grew even more chaotic. The number of people handing out dance cards to those who looked like handsome men or beautiful women noticeably increased.  

Feeling overwhelmed by the energy-draining atmosphere, Iliana turned her attention elsewhere and sipped her wine.  

The taste wasn’t as good as the commercial wine served at the Founding Festival. Grimacing at the bitterness, she heard the Countess speak.  

“Hide your expressions better. Even if you’re used to the wine from the Declan family, this is the capital. Every single one of your reactions will affect your reputation and connections. How many times do I have to tell you to be careful before you stop making faces?”  

Today, thanks to her nagging aunt, Iliana felt as if she finally understood what it meant to have her ears bleed.  

If I marry Lucian, at least the wine would always be high-quality.  

As she drank her wine, entertaining rather rude thoughts, her expression soured again. Luckily, her mask covered her entire face. If this had been an ordinary ball, it would have made headlines in the newspapers.  

If I became the biggest headline in the newspaper, what would Lucian think?  

…No, I need to stop thinking about him. Iliana, stop it.  

How far had she come to give up on her one-sided love? And yet, her heart still couldn’t let go. Letting out a deep sigh, Iliana braced herself for another round of the Countess’s nagging.  

If someone transcribed all her nagging, it could probably fill ten books.  

As Iliana idly entertained such thoughts and glanced around the ballroom, her eyes suddenly widened.  

It was because of a man who entered the party hall belatedly.  

‘…What is this?’  

Balls like this didn’t have a set entrance time. Guests could come and go freely within the start and end times. Even if the ball ended that day, the private rooms attached to the ballroom were often used until about eight in the morning, which had become an unspoken rule.  

So, there was nothing unusual about the man catching Iliana’s attention. He wasn’t causing a commotion or breaking any etiquette.  

Yet, his presence stood out.  

The man’s steps seemed somewhat anxious. With his black hair, dark as obsidian, fluttering as he strode in, he drew everyone’s gaze as he looked around.  

Is he here to fetch a runaway lover?  

Wondering if this would make the front page of the capital’s papers tomorrow, Iliana tilted her head. The Countess, looking bored, closed her eyes.  

“There are always vulgar people at these balls.”  

“Indeed. What’s the story this time? An affair?”  

“Noble marriages are often mismatched, so adultery is always a possibility. But no, that’s not it. Such flaws wouldn’t make someone roam the ballroom, glaring around like that. It must be a lover’s quarrel.”  

Isn’t that essentially the same thing? 

Iliana gave the Countess a disapproving look for her trivial wordplay, but the Countess scolded her for her half-lidded gaze.  

Honestly, whoever it was, Iliana felt sorry for them. 

Who would like someone so obsessive? No matter how much they liked the person, such behavior was off-putting. Trying to bind someone like that… If that man were Lucian… Hmm, that might be nice?  

But that was impossible. He wasn’t in the capital.  

I wish time would pass quickly.  

A wave of melancholy washed over her. Iliana found herself staring blankly at the man who was drawing everyone’s attention.  

He has long legs. He looks like Lucian. His black hair, his green eyes—they resemble him. Oh, even the way he smiles with his mouth slightly curved looks a bit like him.  

“Huh…?”  

He looks too much like him.  

…No, really, he looks too much like him.  

A sudden sense of foreboding struck her. Leaving the Countess behind, who was suggesting she mingle more, Iliana melted into the wall and moved toward the man.  

It can’t be.  

Her heart was pounding noisily. She had no intention of talking to him, yet it beat so loudly for no reason.  

Hiding behind a pillar closest to where the man stood, Iliana clenched her fists and strained her ears. She filtered out the meaningless chatter around her and focused on the man.  

“Apologies. I’m here to find someone. Please save a dance for next time, my lady.”  

A sigh of disappointment reached her ears. Cold sweat ran down Iliana’s back.  

It’s him. Lucian Declan!  

The familiar voice, accent, and the distinct mannerisms of someone from the outskirts confirmed it for her.  

Why is he here all of a sudden? He clearly said he wasn’t coming to the capital. Is he really looking for someone? Then who could it be?  

Iliana, who had never imagined he might be looking for her, bit her nails nervously. 

Why on earth is he here? This is a marriage market! Lucian Declan, you’re not even planning to get married!  

Her emotions were a whirlwind of confusion, joy, and embarrassment. 

Could he be here for Lady Hariel? 

Then again, Nea Hariel wasn’t on the guest list for this ball, so her hopes rose.  

Even though the host of this ball was related to the Hariel family, Lucian wasn’t the type to go out of his way to impress relatives.  

Then again, who knows? Love changes people…  

As she wrestled with conflicting emotions, Iliana followed Lucian discreetly, trying to gather clues. Though she stayed hidden behind walls to avoid being seen, Lucian was not an easy person to tail.  

“Apologies. I’m looking for someone.”  

How unyielding he was—those were the only words she could catch.  

It was fortunate that her lack of presence had kept her from being discovered so far, but on the other hand, if Lucian kept parroting the phrase ‘I’m looking for someone,’ this pursuit would become a meaningless endeavor.  

If only the person he was so desperately looking for was her, she would have thrown off her shoes and run to him.  

“…Huh?”  

Lost in her own thoughts, Iliana suddenly realized she could no longer see Lucian’s back. She frantically glanced around.  

Was it a mirage? Have I finally gone mad?  

Iliana wandered around, searching for him. After a long while, she finally spotted Lucian entering the balcony with a wine glass in hand, and only then did she let out a sigh of relief.  

Phew, so I wasn’t imagining things. That’s definitely Lucian, right? Yes, even the back of his head is the same. And the way he holds his wine glass…  

“Wine?”  

As soon as she realized it, an unexplainable tension rushed over her, and Iliana’s movements became hurried. 

That’s alcohol Lucian Declan is holding, isn’t it? After all the trouble I went through to him, and now he’s drinking? He’s not drunk, is he?!  

Covering her lips with both hands, Iliana quickly headed toward the balcony where Lucian had gone. Forget giving up on her unrequited love. Right now, she couldn’t let her childhood friend’s dangerous… drinking habits be exposed to the world. A mix of loyalty and possessiveness, stemming from her cursed affection, drove her feet forward.