Chapter 3.6

How many hours passed like that?  

“Young Master Belif has arrived!”  

Only after the attendant spoke did Brienne finally look in the mirror. The result, after so many people’s efforts, was more amazing than she’d expected.  

“What time is it?”  

Brienne stood and checked the clock. The hour hand pointed exactly to the time Herace was supposed to arrive. Fortunately, she’d just made it on time.  

“Tell him I’ll be down soon.”  

“Yes!”  

The maids quickly straightened her dress. Brienne’s footsteps as she left the room were lighter than usual. For some reason, she had a feeling something good would happen today.  

But before long, she came to a sudden stop.  

Herace was standing in front of the entrance.  

With one hand in his pocket, leaning against the door, the man glanced down at his wristwatch with a blank expression. As if uncomfortable, he raised his hand, loosened the cravat around his neck, and let out a long breath.  

That stiff figure somehow felt unfamiliar.  

As Brienne hesitated and started down the stairs, Herace spotted her at the same time. His long, tense eyes softened.  

With a bright smile, Herace stepped toward the bottom of the stairs where she stood.  

“Brienne.”  

With each steady step, the half-cape draped over his shoulders fluttered gently. Maybe because she’d gotten used to seeing him in his nightgown these past few days, the white uniform-style suit caught Brienne’s eye.  

So, for that reason—  

Brienne couldn’t easily take Herace’s outstretched hand.  

She could feel the heat rising on her cheeks. Even without a mirror, she knew her face was flushed.  

“I’ve been waiting for you.”  

Brienne, unable to find anywhere else to look, just stared blankly at Herace’s face.

Her gaze slowly traveled down the man’s half-swept-back silver hair, his forehead, and sharp nose. Then to his lips, and back to his eyes.  

And again, to those beautiful lips.  

At that, a soft chuckle escaped from those lips.  

Brienne snapped out of it, reading the playful mischief on Herace’s face. He seemed like a completely different person compared to when they were alone together.  

“You were about to say it again, weren’t you…!”  

“…Say what?”  

“That thing, about how I look like a pervert… when I stare.”  

Her voice trailed off, expecting his reaction. But Herace didn’t laugh at all. He simply took Brienne’s hand, entwined his fingers with hers, and stepped up one stair.  

Because of that, their eyes were now on the same level. Herace, looking up at Brienne who was still only halfway down, spoke.  

“I was going to say you’re beautiful. So much so that none of the time I spent waiting feels wasted.”  

“…Just how long did you wait?”  

“Well, longer than you probably think.”  

Brienne, looking into those faintly shining eyes, held her breath for a moment.  

Truly, it was not a bad start.  

As if she were dreaming a sweet dream, enough to forget the sleepless night before.  

* * *

But why.  

The moment she entered the pre-ceremony party at the Bannon mansion, everyone’s eyes fell on her.  

Eyes widening in surprise, gazes sweeping her from head to toe, and then faces turning cold. And then…  

“I can’t believe she’s wearing the same white dress as Miss Bailey. What is that…!”  

“Isn’t she the one who had a scandal with Young Master Bannon?”  

“A scandal? Please. There isn’t a soul in the whole Rontiano capital who doesn’t know she likes Young Master Bannon.”  

Voices whispering without even trying to hide it.  

People’s eyes sparkled as if they’d found something amusing. Brienne felt suffocated. Grasping the situation, she quickly turned her head to the inside of the hall.  

Melosi Bailey was coming down the stairs, looking embarrassed. Dressed in a dazzlingly white dress.  

‘…I’ve been tricked.’  

Brienne soon spotted Kaiden Bannon behind Melosi. She’d been uncertain at first, but her downfall was trusting his note that told her not to doubt.  

Because it was Kaiden’s word, after all. More than just the man she had a crush on, he was her irreplaceable friend since childhood.  

So she believed him. Foolishly, she believed him.  

At that moment, Brienne unconsciously gripped Herace’s arm tightly.  

“Excuse me a moment.”  

Herace released Brienne’s hand and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. The crowd’s noise fell silent again at the natural gesture.  

“W-What are you doing?”  

“It’s a bit of misdirection.”  

When Brienne asked in a fluster, Herace whispered quietly. Then, from where his hand touched her, a blue light began to ripple out like waves.  

The white dress was instantly dyed a beautiful blue opal color. New voices broke out here and there.  

“…Is that, magic?”  

“Ah…! Now that I think about it, that’s Young Master Belif! I heard he graduated at the top of the academy, but with a wave of his hand, he can make such a beautiful color!”  

“My, I’ve heard plenty of praise for Young Master Belif’s appearance, but it’s certainly not an exaggeration. In fact, the rumors were understated…”  

People, surprised by the rare display of magic in Rontiano, finally noticed Herace’s presence. With a stern face, Herace led Brienne further inside.  

Brienne was dragged along by his long stride, which seemed a bit angry. For the first time, there was real strength in the hand holding her waist.  

And at the end of those steps stood Melosi Bailey and Kaiden Bannon.  

“…That was a bit much.”  

Herace smiled coldly.  

“So this is how the Bannon Dukedom treats guests they invited?”  

“W-Wait a minute!”  

Melosi, raising her voice, hurriedly blocked Herace Belif’s way, her face flustered. This was bad. Herace Belif? She’d never even imagined Brienne Ford and this man together.  

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. It shouldn’t have been like this. 

Melosi bit the inside of her cheek and barely managed to speak.  

“There must be… some misunderstanding. I was the one who requested Miss Ford as a bridesmaid and asked her to wear a white dress.”  

Herace, having read the thoughts reflected in those sky-blue eyes, looked down at her with an indifferent gaze. There was not a trace of warmth in his coldly set face.  

Melosi, startled by that chilling gaze, swallowed the excuse she’d prepared. In truth, since the invitation was proof, she hadn’t planned to deny it completely.  

She’d only planned to ask if Miss Ford hadn’t received the letter about the dress change, and then, as a favor, guide her to the powder room and offer her a new dress.  

Even if it was a petty act of revenge, so what? Give people a little gossip and they’ll spin the story however they please.  

But what had gone wrong?  

Melosi glanced at Brienne.  

Brienne Ford, in a dress with not a hint of exposure, looked elegant and beautiful. Compared to herself, who was showing off her neckline and shoulders, the woman exuded an almost ascetic charm that seemed even more attractive.  

And that wasn’t all. The trembling light green eyes in her pale face looked so wistful, they seemed almost pure. Unconsciously, Melosi checked Kaiden’s face, and saw his gaze fixed on Brienne Ford.  

“So?”  

Just as Melosi realized this, Herace tilted his head slightly. His icy dark gray eyes swept her from head to toe, as if evaluating her.  

“I thought a fiancée of Young Master Bannon would have the brains to match. Was I being too generous in my assessment, Kaiden?”  

At those words, Kaiden’s gaze finally left Brienne. Melosi looked at him desperately, pleading for help.  

“……”  

Unfortunately, in the wide hall, only their conversation echoed. The beautiful music had stopped the moment Brienne entered, and everyone was listening intently, as if watching a spectacle.  

“…How unpleasant.”  

Kaiden glanced around at the people, then extended his hand to Melosi. Yet the corners of his mouth seemed to curve up ever so slightly.  

‘What’s that about?’  

Only Brienne noticed the change. As she furrowed her brow, wondering if she’d imagined it, Melosi, looking like she might cry, accepted Kaiden’s escort.  

“Wait.”  

Then Herace let go of Brienne’s waist and stepped toward them. A beautiful smile appeared on his face.  

“I think you owe my partner for making things difficult for her.”  

At that moment, black stains began to appear, one by one, on Melosi’s white dress. Startled, Melosi let go of Kaiden’s hand and stepped back.  

“W-What is this…!”  

But since Herace hadn’t even touched her, the magic didn’t stop just because of that.  

The stain slowly spreading across her dress met and covered the entire fabric in black. Melosi’s face was colored with deep embarrassment. Her dress was no longer like the elegant, glossy black she had intended to wear, but had turned into a grimy, dull color.

Satisfied, Herace looked away from Melosi.  

“If you’re not a liar, then you must have just worn the wrong dress.”  

As soon as Herace finished speaking, laughter broke out somewhere in the hall. Anyone who had witnessed the scene could no longer pretend not to know that she had tried to embarrass Brienne Ford.

“That’s enough, Herace.”  

Only then did Kaiden step forward with a frown. Herace backed off as if in agreement, giving him a nod.  

“Sure, I won’t even wait for a thank you for clearing up your fiancée’s misunderstanding.”  

Brienne was quite flustered at the unbelievable scene she’d just witnessed. Herace’s words, his actions—everything was unexpected. No matter how much he said he liked her, she never imagined he’d go this far in front of everyone.  

The invitation from Melosi, which she had brought just in case, now seemed so insignificant.

Herace, coming right up to Brienne, bowed politely.  

“Shall we step outside? There’s nothing good in staying here and putting on a show.”  

Brienne looked at him and swallowed. With a trembling hand, she grabbed Herace’s, nodding in agreement.