Selenia sat with her breath held, her shoulders trembling.

From the moment the music began and the lights came on, she realized she had chosen the wrong place to be. Everyone aboard Le Pah had gathered here. If they noticed her presence, she would be pointed at, whispered about.

Just imagining it made every hair on her body stand on end. She had already endured more humiliation than anyone should have to. The rumor that Selenia had been sold for money and become the bride of the Bernawood brute had spread far and wide through high society.

Some mocked her fate. Others pitied her.

Everyone knew what kind of man Rosend—the man who had become her husband—was.

Friends who had once been close to Selenia sent her letters of consolation.

“Selenia, please accept my deepest sympathies. Still, among the nobility, who truly marries as they wish? I believe you’ll manage somehow.”
“The Count must have made his choice out of love for you. You’ll live a wealthy life now, won’t you? And you’ve inherited a title—at least you’ll never have to worry about money again.”

Not a single word brought Selenia any comfort.

The first day she met Rosend, the doll-like man had looked her over as though appraising a mare at a horse market, then tossed out his words carelessly.

“Hmm… not bad to look at. But, my lady, I absolutely hate boredom. How could anyone live on nothing but grass? Do you have any particular s*xual preferences?”

How could she ever forget the vulgarity of that moment—him smacking his lips, eyes crawling over her with crude hunger?

“You do know I have several mistresses, don’t you? They couldn’t become my wife because they lack a title. In that sense, you should consider yourself honored. You possess a document my mistresses could never obtain, no matter how badly they wanted it.”

Her unhappiness had been predetermined.

Selenia had to face the truth: there was no hope waiting for her.

It felt as though her soul were being shattered—broken down into countless tiny fragments and scattered to the winds of the world. Who could ever understand the depth of Selenia’s helplessness?

After her father’s death, Rosend would inherit Selenia’s title and become a count. In anticipation of that future, he had agreed to repay all of her father’s debts.

It wasn’t as though she hadn’t resisted.

She had tried to run.

She had never wanted that paltry title to begin with, so fleeing hadn’t been difficult. What dragged her back by the hair was her youngest brother.

Gripping Selenia’s hair as she struggled, Kasin barked at her furiously.

“All you have to do is endure it, yet you insist on making things so difficult. We all have to survive, don’t we? I truly don’t understand why you’re so selfish, Sister!”

Who, truly, was the selfish one?

She no longer knew.

Selenia had made her wishes clear to Rosend as well.

“I don’t want to live a humiliating married life. At the very least, I don’t want anyone else in our bed—”

“Boring. And tedious.”

She could never forget the way his expression had gone cold—no, worse, as though he were the one being insulted.

“With that attitude, we can hardly maintain a happy marriage.”

Selenia was dismissed. Trampled underfoot.

Late at night, aside from Revia—who would crawl into her bed and burst into tears—there was no one who truly saw her. Revia, born a twin alongside Kasin, had always been especially attached to Selenia.

Selenia bit down on her nails, gnawing at them until the taste of blood spread through her mouth.

Just as she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to bury her face between her knees—

“My lady.”

“…….”

He couldn’t possibly be calling her. Who would come looking in a corner like this…?

“My lady.”

The man crouched down and called to Selenia again. Only then did she realize that the voice was, indeed, directed at her.

Selenia lifted her head and looked at him.

Even in the darkness, he stood out.

No matter how far removed from high society Selenia had lived, there was no way she wouldn’t recognize that face.

“Grand Duke Daniel Libertás…”

She murmured the name in shock. How could she not know him, when his face had dominated daily papers, weekly journals, and every kind of gossip magazine for an entire month?

When she’d heard that, shortly after her engagement, she would be boarding Le Pah—partly as a commemorative trip, partly for Rosend’s business—how much envy had that drawn? Even the friends who had been consoling her had praised Rosend in that very moment.

So it was only natural that Selenia recognized Daniel.

“You know who I am.”

Daniel smiled crookedly. A throbbing headache had been irritating him relentlessly, yet the instant his eyes met hers, everything scattered and vanished.

It’s her.

Daniel narrowed his eyes. She was unmistakably the woman he’d run into earlier—the one who had collided with him and fallen.

Daniel extended his hand.

She’d run away before, but this time, she wouldn’t be able to.

“I don’t know why you’re in such a state—no. I don’t know what led you to be like this, but… would you take my hand and come out?”

“M-me…?”

Selenia murmured, her face pale with fear. She could feel all kinds of gazes converging on her. It was only natural—the host of this party was paying her personal attention. She didn’t even want to imagine what the people hiding their faces behind fans might be whispering about.

Selenia trembled.

“I—I…”

“Don’t be afraid. I’m only trying to help.”

Daniel gestured behind him. Antoni, quick to read the situation, brought over a lady’s shawl. Daniel draped it gently over Selenia’s shoulders.

Selenia blinked, her eyes shimmering with moisture. The warmth settling around her shoulders was, for this moment, everything she had.

She swallowed thickly.

“Will you take my hand now?”

Selenia glanced toward the man standing behind Daniel—the aide who was often photographed at his side. The man gave a small nod, as if to say it was all right. His expression seemed to declare, ‘We don’t let just anyone get bitten.’

After a moment’s hesitation, Selenia reached out her trembling hand.

If she stood up on her own here, it would only give rise to even more gossip. In that case, it was better to take Daniel’s hand and rise with him now.