| Chapter 37

The shoe was stained with blood. Having danced all night with feet that were a mess from a week of intense dance practice, with skin peeled off here and there, the condition was understandable. My ankles and calves were also swollen from forcibly stepping unfamiliar steps.

“Don’t make a fuss. I need to rest a bit.”

I waved my hand, stopping Maya who was about to call for other servants. With the tension released, my whole body felt as if it had been beaten, and I didn’t want to move at all.

“Let me support you to your room.”

“It’s alright. Could you just prepare some water to wash and some snacks? Oh, and things to treat the wounds.”

“Yes, I’ll bring them right away.”

Maya, who had been wearing an expression close to shock, quickly nodded and ran off. Left alone in the corridor, I leaned against the window frame for a moment. The lingering atmosphere of the not-yet-ended party was still transmitting through the walls.

The mood wasn’t bad. No, it could be said to have been quite successful. Administrative official Penu had invited me to a recitation gathering to be held next month. It seemed that mentioning I was reading ‘Highlund’ had won his favor.

The gazes of women hiding their mouths behind fans were piercing, but such things didn’t bother me. Their chatter, which was all they did, was just noise not even worth paying attention to.

I had also attracted more than enough attention from men. Having accomplished everything I had set out to do today, I took a moment to catch my breath and enjoy a sense of satisfaction.

I didn’t want to let go of the status of a noble lady that had accidentally fallen into my hands. I wanted to protect this status with all the effort I could muster. To do that, I had to create my own usefulness so that Kirhin couldn’t cast me aside. This debut was the place for that purpose.

As I closed my eyes for a moment, waiting for the stinging and throbbing pain in my feet to subside even a little, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze and raised my head, only to pause. A strange man was standing a couple of steps away.

I hadn’t heard him approach at all. I scrutinized his face carefully, but I couldn’t recognize who he was. In fact, with so many people around, I had only managed to remember the faces of the direct descendants of noble families.

His plain and neat attire looked so modest that he could have been from a declining family, but his narrow eyes exuded a strangely undeniable aura. His face, with long dark brown hair tied loosely, certainly reminded one of a benevolent literary figure, but strangely, it made my spine tighten.

“Are you lost? This isn’t a place where guests should be.”

A faint smile bloomed on the man’s impassive face. He bowed politely and said,

“I was wandering around admiring how magnificent the mansion is, and it seems I’ve been lucky. To encounter the talk of the town like this. It was truly an impressive debut, Miss Lucienne.”

“I don’t think we’ve been introduced. With whom did you come?”

“Oh my.”

I instinctively stepped back at the man’s sudden approach. He pointed to the floor with a grin.

“There are bloodstains on the floor.”

The corridor was rather dark, and such small bloodstains shouldn’t be visible at a glance. I instantly realized that he must have overheard the conversation between Maya and me. The man wore an expression of admiration.

“You have incredible patience at such a young age. When you were dancing like a butterfly, I never imagined your toenails were all crumbling like that.”

“I’m embarrassed. It’s only natural to make efforts as I have many shortcomings.”

“Like memorizing Cynthesi’s poem?”

I slowly raised my gaze to stare at him. The man was smiling as if it was no big deal, but why did his eyes feel as cold as a well-sharpened blade?

“I apologize again, but may I know your name?”

Perhaps sensing my wary gaze, the man leisurely stepped back a couple of paces.

“My status is too insignificant to dare reveal my name. Please think of me as just one of the many men who have come to admire Miss as of today. I’ll be cheering for your efforts from afar.”

Before I could say anything, he bowed politely and walked away. Although his stride wasn’t particularly wide, he disappeared around the corner in an instant. He was a person with movements as light as a feather.

Left alone again, I finally let out a sigh and leaned against the wall, staggering. Though it was just a moment, I felt as exhausted as if I had been dealing with people at the party for hours.

His claim of being lost was a lie. He showed no hesitation in choosing his direction. It was the gesture of someone who knew well where the paths led.

Who could he be?

Could he be someone related to what Kirhin and Damian were doing?

…Where on earth is that person now?

As I gathered my thoughts, I took a deep breath and walked to my room, holding my shoes in my hand. The shock seemed to have temporarily dulled the pain. Barely dragging my body that wanted to collapse right there, I pushed the door open with my shoulder and finally let out a sigh of relief.

A noble can’t say they’re more tired than a servant, but it’s certainly beyond imagination. With such thoughts, I turned my body sluggishly, focusing only on the movement of my feet, when suddenly all the nerves in my body stood on edge like a blade.

The window I had closed when I left was open. And the wind blowing in through that window carried an unfamiliar scent.

As if mocking my disbelief, I saw someone casually sitting on the sofa by the window.

As always, cloaked in darkness-like attire, he was, incredibly, reading a book. The moonlight and lamplight beautifully outlined his cool profile. He suddenly spoke while turning a page.

“If you’re bored, just read the part where Cayonbe travels with the sage Agnipha. It’s the most interesting part of this epic.”

Ah, this voice.

No matter how many times I had tried to recall it, the voice that had been gradually fading with time came back to life vividly, like a jewel wiped clean of old dust. Afraid he might disappear like an illusion if I said anything, I stared at him without moving a muscle. I couldn’t believe it.

As the silence continued, he frowned and turned his head. Those languid yet playful eyes, the high nose bridge revealing nobility, the clear lip line exuding elegant dignity, and those green eyes that would make even the most precious jewels hold their breath.

Everything was the same. It felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Seems like you enjoyed the party? You’re in a daze.”

He stood up abruptly. In an instant, it felt like everything in the room was under his control. He grinned as he held out the book in his hand.

“Have you lost interest in books now?”

It’s really him.

The living him.

The person whose life or death I couldn’t even confirm after a week, ten days, or two weeks.

“…Little one.”

Tears fell from my wide-open eyes. My vision blurred, but I had no presence of mind to wipe them away. I rushed towards him as he put the book down on the table with a surprised look. The shoes I was holding were thrown to the floor.

As I hugged him tightly with both arms, his solid body seemed to tell me he was alive. I held onto him with all my might as he stood awkwardly with his arms spread out, seemingly taken aback. Heat rushed to my face.

“I thought… I thought you were dead, thought you were…”

As I spoke, sobs burst out as if they had been waiting. While I cried loudly like a child without holding back, I heard him sigh briefly and laugh.

“Oh my. I can’t even say anything carelessly. I didn’t know you’d take a casual joke so seriously.”

His tone tried to brush it off as if it were nothing, but that’s not possible. If he knew how many nights I had spent sleepless, he wouldn’t be able to do that. I raised my head sharply, glaring at him.

“Brother said that he had to successfully complete the succession ceremony, so he sent you away and you stayed alone. I don’t know what the situation was, but it was dangerous, wasn’t it? You could have died!”

I was angry, feeling wronged for all the days I had worried. His hand, which was about to pat my back, stopped in mid-air at my fierce demeanor. He clicked his tongue and narrowed his brows slightly.

“If I had known Kirhin’s mouth was this loose, I wouldn’t have sent him back that day.”

Regardless of that. I hugged him tightly again with both arms. Perhaps my determination not to let go showed, as he let out a chuckle, saying he couldn’t breathe.

“It seems my death would be quite a big deal to you.”

“How can you say that…!”

As I glared at him, he took the opportunity to push my shoulders away and let out a deep breath. He easily caught me as I struggled to cling to him again, and tilted his head to look at me.

“For someone who thought that, you seem to have been doing quite well. Your cheeks have even filled out nicely.”

“They’re swollen. From crying every night.”

When I spoke in a choked voice, he looked taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter. His teeth showing like a boy’s refreshing smile made my tears dry up instantly. He poked my cheek with his finger and muttered.

“Well, I guess I didn’t live in vain if there’s someone who would cry so much for me, even with snot running.”

As I hurriedly wiped my nose in embarrassment, he chuckled and plopped back down on the sofa. While I limped towards him, he cleared his throat while glancing at me.

“I have something to apologize to you for.”

“What? For making me worry? For not leaving any trace of where to find you? Or for giving me a fake name?”