As the Second Prince was not the official heir, he reportedly struggled to openly recruit supporters.

For this reason, he used Rubiette’s masquerade hall, which was always open, to send special invitations to those who had caught his eye.

Although she could feel countless pairs of eyes on her, she hid her face behind her mask and took a deep breath.

Cold sweat trickled down her skin.

‘I need to draw attention.’

To be honest, she was still afraid.

Cordelia had not yet completely shaken off the oppressive atmosphere of high society that had relentlessly made her feel worthless.

“Stupid Cordelia!”

“Are you not ashamed to bear the name Bluerose? Pfft. What do you think crying will accomplish? Are you going to run off and tell on us?”

“Think about that hideous face of yours. Shouldn’t you be ashamed even to speak to us? Honestly, it is truly unpleasant how you flaunt a childhood acquaintance and behave like some arrogant duke’s daughter.”

“Now that the handsome Julius von Kierre has become your fiancé, do you think that makes you somebody?”

The past surged over her like a flood, leaving her dizzy, but Cordelia gritted her teeth.

‘Straighten your shoulders, Cordelia von Bluerose. Nothing has happened to you yet.’

After taking a slow, steady breath, she followed the method Julius had told her would summon the master of this place

She approached the only red table among the white ones and placed the single playing card that she had secretly brought with her on top of it.

Such cards were usually only possessed by those chosen by the Second Prince, who knew about this method. However, given his arrogant nature, the Second Prince would surely be unable to contain his curiosity and would discover her identity.

After some time had passed—

At last, the fish took the bait.

“My lady, the master is waiting for you.”

Just as expected.

Cordelia smiled inwardly. Everything had gone smoothly so far.

She was confident that she could make the Second Prince an offer that would pique his interest.

Julius was one of the Second Prince’s most trusted aides, so she had a clear understanding of what the prince would want in the future.

Her plan was to earn the prince’s trust and use a deliberately orchestrated scandal to put an end to the marriage negotiations between the two families.

Everything was proceeding according to plan.

‘W-Why?’

However, there was one variable Cordelia had failed to anticipate.

‘Why is that man here……?’

Contrary to the future she knew, the master of this place was not the Second Prince.

***

Noel Rudel Etar Skia.

A nobleman whose illustrious name every aristocrat in the Skia Empire had heard at least once.

It belonged to the empire’s current Crown Prince—and to the man standing before Cordelia.

Clear, pale-blue eyes. Lustrous silver hair that seemed to gleam even in the darkness. Striking, exquisite features arranged with such flawless elegance that merely looking at him felt overwhelming.

Every detail matched what she had heard about the Crown Prince. Cordelia’s face turned ashen.

‘Good heavens. This place belonged to him?’

A staggering realization struck her.

‘Could it be……?’

After all, every account Cordelia had heard or read had ultimately been written by the victor. It would have been easy for the man who became emperor to claim the remnants left behind by the Crown Prince who had failed to ascend the throne and record them as his own achievements.

Cordelia had essentially brought an entire pack of wolves to drive away a single hunting dog.

‘What should I do? Should I withdraw now?’

She bit her lip.

There was no record of Cordelia of Bluerose ever visiting this place. Perhaps it would be wiser to escape while her identity was still concealed beneath the mask.

However, the man’s frost-like gaze pierced the darkness of the terrace, as though mocking her very thoughts.

“I happen to despise blue roses, so this is quite the coincidence. I never imagined that someone from that house would reach out to me in such a manner.”

Bluerose.

Her heart sank.

The man had already recognized her.

‘How in the world did he know?’

Despair was accompanied by confusion. Having yet to make her social debut, her quiet nature meant she was confined to the ducal estate, where she was constantly mistreated by her aunt. There had never been any meaningful interaction between the Bluerose duchy and the Imperial Family, either.

So how had he recognized her at first glance?

The man gave her no time to gather her thoughts, though.

“I would like to hear why you came here, my lady.”

Beneath his deliberately gentle and cordial tone lurked a hint of poison.

Although Cordelia had never met the Crown Prince in person, she knew exactly how terrifying he could be.

She also knew that of all the members of the Imperial Family, he was the last person she should approach for help in ending the marriage negotiations.

“You could not have simply lost your way. After all, you knew exactly how to find this place. I wonder how you learned of it.”

At that moment, the man stepped out of the darkness, a hint of irritation flashing across his perfectly handsome face.

“Why do you not answer when someone is speaking to you?”

“How irritating.”

Muttering under his breath, Crown Prince Noel swept his gaze over the frozen Cordelia from head to toe as though he were looking at something worthless. Then his elegant lips twisted.

“Ah, are you thinking of an excuse?”

“That is not it. I……”

“Yes. You?”

There was nowhere left for her to retreat to.

She had to capture his interest.

If she returned without having achieved anything, something even worse might happen.

She might lose all opportunity to approach the Imperial Family.

As the Crown Prince’s gaze grew colder with each passing moment of silence, Cordelia realized that time was running out.

Desperately, she searched through everything she knew about the future.

“I came here to ask Your Highness…”

She frantically recalled every description of the Crown Prince that she had ever heard or read.

“……for a deal.”

And with that, the deed was done.

The man’s brow lifted in puzzlement.

“A deal?”

“Yes. On the name of Bluerose.”

“Go ahead. I will at least hear you out.”

Cordelia steeled her gaze, hoping he would not notice how utterly terrified she was.

“I want the marriage talks with the County of Kierre to be called off. That is why I came to you, Your Highness.”

She had spoken with as much resolve as she could muster. However, she had not expected his response. After a very brief question, Crown Prince Noel tilted his head slightly.

“Is that all?”

“Pardon?”

“I do not know what sort of tawdry romance novel has become popular, but quite a few young ladies have been saying such things to me lately. Frankly, I am growing rather tired of hearing it.”

“Your Highness?”

“I am saying that I am disappointed, Lady Bluerose.”

The exceedingly elegant and aristocratic man tilted his head slightly, seemingly gathering his thoughts. Then he looked at Cordelia and spoke lightly.

“Leave.”

His voice was so warm and gentle that she did not immediately grasp his meaning.

“We will have no reason to meet again, so I would rather not waste any more of my time on you.”

It was an elegant way of telling her to get lost. His movement as he turned away was utterly decisive.

Staring at the Crown Prince’s broad, unadorned back, Cordelia drew in a breath.

‘He is telling me to leave just like that?’

She had no idea what he meant about tawdry romance novels, but why was he so disappointed?

“Your Highness!”

As the Crown Prince began to turn away completely, Cordelia raised her trembling voice.

“I have not even told you what I can offer in exchange for what I want.”

“And?”

“Pardon?”

“I believe I gave you more than enough opportunity and time.”

The Crown Prince reached into his coat, glanced at his pocket watch, then snapped it shut. Then, with a cold sneer, he spoke.

“I must commend your intelligence network. After all, you recognized me immediately, even though I never revealed my identity. But if you knew that much, you should also have known to fear the Imperial Family. Would you not agree, my lady?”

Had he misinterpreted her actions?

Cordelia bit her lip.

“I had no intention of showing you disrespect, Your Highness. It may sound like an excuse, but I came here because I was desperate.”

“Desperation?”

“Yes.”

“How amusing. The duchy may be in a precarious position these days, but do you really expect me to believe that you were desperate enough to take such a risk and come running to me?”

As she observed him, Cordelia suddenly realized that the Crown Prince was dressed in a way that exposed absolutely no skin, almost to the point of obsessiveness.