Chapter 1 – If Not the Protagonist

Chapter 1.1

A ball is a fitting backdrop for the protagonist of a romance novel to blossom their love. A beautiful man with a radiant smile would naturally suit the role of the male lead.  

Thus, the handsome gentleman with golden hair, Edgar Wharton, was undoubtedly the protagonist.  

The fact that Edgar Wharton’s partner was an unknown young lady piqued people’s curiosity. The young lady with light brown hair, which gave her a gentle impression, couldn’t take her eyes off Mr. Wharton.  

Everyone who saw the two was convinced of the lovely young lady’s feelings.  

She’s completely in love.  

They assumed that Edgar Wharton, a man who could make anyone fall in love, had stolen yet another heart.  

When the lips of the man and woman exchanging affectionate gazes met, the onlookers sighed.  

A kiss under the dazzling chandelier between a beautiful man and a young lady—it was truly romantic.  

However, the onlookers’ assumptions were wrong.  

Natalie pushed away the man who had ruthlessly stolen her first kiss. Edgar Wharton, stepping back, silently gazed down at her. His blue eyes were calm. His expression was cold, devoid of love or even kindness.  

Natalie’s eyes grew hot as she noticed the stark difference between her own ragged breathing and his indifferent demeanor.  

“What do you like so much about me?”  

She recalled the words Mr. Wharton had asked her. A man who received an overflow of love seemed indifferent, as if unrequited love was nothing but a bore to him.  

Tears streamed down Natalie’s face as she shouted,  

“I don’t like you, Mr. Wharton!”  

The fact that her first kiss in life was with someone she didn’t love filled her with sorrow. It was the worst, most irreversible first kiss.  

Natalie realized she wasn’t the protagonist. At least, she wasn’t the protagonist of a romantic love story.  

***

Children grow up believing they are the protagonists of their own stories. This is especially true for children who love books.  

However, as they grow older, they come to realize they are not the protagonists of the story. Adults, accustomed to lives that lack drama, let go of the stories in books.  

Natalie was no exception. The window she had left open in hopes that a flying boy would visit was now closed. She no longer ventured into rabbit holes in search of strange lands.  

Yet, she still couldn’t let go of the world within books. Natalie continued to love stories of brave adventures and triumphant love, even if they weren’t her own.  

The two sisters of the Maron family were like a mismatched pair of socks—always together but completely different. For Natalie, who loved solitude, her younger sister was her only friend. For Sally, who had countless friends, her elder sister was her most precious companion.  

As the days of spending every moment together passed, the sisters’ lives diverged significantly.  

While Sally dreamed of how handsome her first partner at the ball would be, Natalie dreamed of how dashing the protagonist in the next chapter of her book would be.  

Finally, romance found Sally. Just as she had dreamed, she fell in love at first sight with the man who was her first partner.  

“Sister! I’ve fallen in love! He’s such a wonderful gentleman. When he smiles, it feels like the whole world lights up.”  

But love, like an arrow without feathers, often misses its mark. Sally fell ill with the fever of unrequited love.  

Natalie wanted to help her sister. She wished she could shoot Cupid’s arrow into the heart of the indifferent man, but Natalie had no such arrow.  

What she had instead was paper and a pen.  

Natalie decided to write a letter, in her sister’s name.  

Dear Mr. Salinger,  

Recalling Sally’s words and the fact that Mr. Salinger liked plays, she filled the letter.  

When we met at the ball, you mentioned that you enjoyed plays. I didn’t get the chance to ask you all the questions I had.  

What is your favorite work? What passages do you hold dear?  

There’s so much I wish to know about you. What brings you joy? What do you cherish?  

I find joy in asking about your story. If you were to reply to me, I would treasure your letter.  

P.S. I love Macbeth. Are you fond of that wonderful play as well?  

From Sally Maron, who eagerly awaits the letter of a gentleman with exceptional taste in art.  

The arrow Natalie shot hit its mark.  

“Sister! Mr. Salinger sent a letter!”  

Sally, holding the reply that had arrived at their home, jumped with excitement like a child.  

“How delightful to meet someone who appreciates the beauty of Macbeth. I, too, love Macbeth. It brings me great joy to exchange letters with someone of such excellent taste. My goodness, what a kind letter this is!”  

Sally hugged Mr. Salinger’s letter as if it were a precious gift. Natalie found joy in seeing her sister’s radiant smile.  

But first loves, as passionate as they burn, often move on just as quickly. Sally’s heart shifted from the gentlemanly Mr. Salinger to a fiery man who kissed before writing letters.  

Even if Cupid’s letters couldn’t promise eternal love, Natalie’s talent had been recognized.  

Sally brought her friends suffering from unrequited love to her sister. The letters Natalie wrote never missed their mark, and the number of couples she brought together soon filled both hands.  

However, Lord Maron, unaware of the vital role his daughter was playing, grew increasingly worried about his daughter who never left her room.  

Eventually, Mrs. Mars, the Maron sisters’ chaperone, stepped in. Mrs. Mars especially pitied the eldest daughter, who seemed to lack prospects. Fortunately, the ball hosted by the Countess was a rare opportunity to find a match.  

“I’ll arrange for invitations. I think of the Maron sisters as if they were my own daughters.”  

Lord Maron, impressed by Mrs. Mars’ generosity, expressed his gratitude. Dinner, the only time the entire family gathered, was the perfect moment to share the good news.  

“This is a wonderful opportunity.”  

The eldest daughter, uninterested in the good news, kept her head down.  

“Mrs. Mars said she’ll find you a partner. You won’t have to worry about standing by the wall like last time….”  

When her father’s gaze turned to her, Natalie hid the book she had been holding under the table. Startled by the stern voice calling her name, she flinched.  

“Natalie, don’t you think it’s important to meet people rather than staying cooped up at home?”  

“…Yes, Father.”  

Natalie responded without thinking. She didn’t understand why her father smiled warmly at her agreement, but she smiled back anyway.  

When Sally came to her room, excitedly showing off the dress she would wear to the ball, it was too late to back out.  

Standing before the carriage in a dress that left her shoulders bare, Natalie already wanted to go home.  

Sally, walking briskly, grabbed her hesitant sister’s hand.  

“Sister, I have something to tell you. My friend has fallen for someone.”  

Sitting in the carriage, Natalie calmly looked at her sister, who leaned in with sparkling eyes. She quickly understood what Sally wanted.  

“You want me to write a letter?”  

“That’s right! But this time, the target isn’t easy. He must have received countless letters. But he never replies. Maybe he gets so many that he doesn’t even read them.”  

“Impressive.”  

Sally, noticing her sister’s lack of enthusiasm, scooted closer.  

“They say he’s incredibly handsome. When you see him, you can’t tell if it’s a dream or reality, whether he’s from this world or the next. Anyway, the most important thing is… he’ll be at the Countess’ ball tonight!”  

Sally exclaimed with a flushed face.  

“Surely Mrs. Mars didn’t pair you with Mr. Wharton, did she? If you end up dancing with the most handsome man in society, I might faint.”  

Natalie deduced that the “incredibly handsome” man must be Mr. Wharton.  

“Sally, that won’t happen.”  

“Just imagining it makes my heart race…. Want to hear it?”  

Sally hugged Natalie, trying to let her hear her heartbeat. Natalie laughed and said, “No, thanks.”  

Sally’s chatter filled the carriage. Watching her excited sister, Natalie occasionally smiled. Before they knew it, they had arrived at their destination.  

Who is this extraordinary Mr. Wharton?  

There was no need to look around. In the crowded hall stood a golden-haired man with proportions unlike anyone else. With his long legs and small face, he stood out like a quill among stubby pencils.  

Standing behind Natalie, Sally began her report on the target.  

“His name is Edgar Wharton. His strengths are being rich and handsome, and his weaknesses are being rich and handsome. He doesn’t stop anyone from approaching, nor does he hold onto anyone leaving. His rumored flings range from famous actresses to noble ladies.”  

While Sally explained like a curator at an art gallery, Mr. Wharton smiled at someone greeting him. It was a smile as perfect as a work of art.  

“If he doesn’t stop anyone from approaching, isn’t that a good thing?”  

“The problem is there are too many people approaching. This hall is filled with young ladies who lose sleep over that smile.”  

Sally looked at Natalie with eyes full of hope, expecting her Cupid to come up with a solution.  

“Well? Do you have any brilliant words to capture that arrogant man’s attention?”  

Looking at the extraordinary, dazzling man who kept young ladies awake at night, Natalie had only one thought.  

He’s pretty.  

But that was all.  

Natalie’s gaze passed over the beautiful man. Her eyes lingered on the neat gentleman standing beside Mr. Wharton.  

If she were to fall in love with someone, it would be with someone mature and admirable. Someone like the neat gentleman, Mr. Salinger.  

Mr. Wharton said something, and the people around him laughed. Mr. Salinger also laughed along.  

Leonard Salinger. The man who had once made Sally burn with fever was now the object of Natalie’s unrequited love.  

Her unrequited love began…  

When Mr. Salinger, seeing Natalie as a wallflower left alone, asked her to dance.  

“May I have this dance? If there’s still room for my name on your dance card, that is.”  

Natalie’s dance card had been empty. Surely, the gentleman had seen that, yet he had protected her feelings with a thoughtful lie.  

Natalie couldn’t tell anyone about her feelings. She didn’t even hope for her unrequited love to come true. It was enough to admire the wonderful gentleman who extended his hand first to the outcast.  

As she watched her unrequited love, Natalie unexpectedly locked eyes with someone.  

The clear blue eyes that met hers gazed at her quietly.  

The one she locked eyes with wasn’t her unrequited love but Mr. Wharton.  

Edgar Wharton’s lips curved into a slanted smile. The smile spreading across his beautiful face strangely felt like mockery. It was, truly, inexplicable.