“Well, it’s not that it isn’t rude, but turning away someone who has made the effort to come out would be against decorum. But please understand if I can’t properly entertain you. I already have too many guests I’ve invited in my name.”

Isabel seemed quite generous for her usual self, suggesting the silk and pearls had worked. She nodded willingly.

“That’s exactly what I was hoping for. Please don’t worry about me.”

“Well then.”

Isabel, who had primly tilted her head, moved away with her maid. Having overcome one hurdle, she finally picked up a glass of wine and relaxed.

The champagne tasted quite good. She unconsciously tilted the glass and emptied it completely, when suddenly she noticed a man walking quickly toward her and almost choked.

“Lucy!”

The man who approached, calling out softly, was Chester Storms. It had been well over half a year since he had stopped visiting the Bickman house, so it had been quite a while. The neatly tailored, well-fitted navy jacket suited him very well.

“Sir Chester.”

He used to take her to hunting grounds or gardens, saying he wanted to cheer her up. At that time, nothing had any meaning to her, so it didn’t resonate, but looking back, he had been a kind person.

“How did you get here, what brings you so suddenly, no, is everything alright?”

The corners of her mouth, which she had been forcing up, naturally relaxed. She smiled faintly and answered:

“I’m fine and well. You also seem to be in good health, Sir Chester.”

He cleared his throat with an awkward expression.

“I was so surprised to see you at a place like this that I was taken aback. I apologize.”

“Not at all.”

As she curtsied to him as he bowed respectfully, a smile spread across his face as well.

“You’re still beautiful.”

She tried to brush off the compliment with a smile, but the sincerity in his eyes felt heavy, and she missed the timing to respond. While she hesitated, Chester carefully asked:

“What brings you here? Were you close to Isabel?”

“Ah, I felt I’ve been living too secluded lately. I thought it might be good to socialize with people now. I’m already past the marriageable age, so it’s not the time to be leisurely.”

Speaking self-deprecatingly, she cast her gaze far away, scanning the edges of the banquet hall, when she spotted a man sitting with hunched shoulders in a corner.

Though he seemed to have a small build, he didn’t look bad. She was about to put down her nearly empty champagne glass and greet Chester when he blocked her way.

“Could it be that you’re… considering marriage?”

At his lowered voice, she raised her head. Chester’s handsome face, with its manly strong lines, was strangely rigid. She looked straight at him and answered:

“Yes. Though not many people would want to form ties with the current Bickman family.”

Chester’s eyes widened. As she tried to brush past him with a “well,” Chester once again blocked her view.

“Lucy, just a little more conversation……”

“Sir Chester!”

A clear voice flew over the music that pleasantly filled the banquet hall. She could see a woman in a yellow dress full of frills approaching. It was Bianca Resti.

Tall and thin, she had decorated her flowing, voluminous red hair with sprinkled glitter like stars. And her gaze was glaring at her as if she wanted to devour her. Sensing troublesome matters ahead, she once again pulled the corners of her mouth like a wooden doll.

“When you arrived, you should have looked for me first. Me, Bianca Resti, your fiancée.”

Chester exhaled a faint sigh at her deliberately emphatic tone. Bianca looked her up and down and spoke in a pointed manner:

“Miss Lucienne. What brings you here? You couldn’t possibly have been invited.”

“I came to congratulate Lady Isabel on her engagement. Though late, congratulations on your engagement too, Lady Bianca.”

“A congratulation that’s months late doesn’t seem very sincere. I even sent you an invitation back then.”

“Bianca.”

Chester’s voice fell sternly. Seeing Bianca frowning with dissatisfaction, she pulled the corners of her mouth even longer.

“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. Still, the pair of blue birds I sent as a congratulatory gift were items I chose with great care. They were statues made of beautiful and noble jewels, after all.”

Bianca snorted but didn’t add anything further. She curtsied to Chester.

“Well, enjoy your time.”

Ignoring Chester, who tried to say something with an “ah,” she quickly walked toward the corner. He was certainly an overflowing marriage prospect, but their fate had already crossed past each other. He was a ship that had sailed away, so there was no need to create unnecessary discord now.

Picking up a new glass of champagne, she casually approached the man she had been eyeing. He was just emptying his glass and snatching a new glass of wine. He already seemed a bit drunk.

The clothing he wore was made of quite expensive material, but it was worn to the point where the seams at the edges were coming undone, and the color of his pants had faded somewhat. Though he had tried to be stylish with a scarf, judging from the cheap silk with uneven dyeing, whatever his past might have been, his pockets didn’t seem very full at present.

After observing cautiously, she lightly cleared her throat and sat down beside him. The man turned to her with a start. With dull curly hair and a mustache, though quite thin, he was surprisingly a handsome man with a gentle appearance.

“It’s hard to mix with people. I’m Lucienne.”

“……Burzan.”

He mumbled with unclear pronunciation. His gaze was unsteady, making it difficult to judge if he knew her.

Seemingly uninterested in conversation, he took a sip of wine and lowered his head. Noticing the watch peeking out between his vest pockets, she tried to smile more warmly and asked:

“That’s a nice watch. Could you show it to me?”

“This is not allowed!”

Burzan shouted sharply and twisted his body as if trying to hide the watch. Surprised by his exaggerated reaction, she blinked, and something fell to the floor with a clatter. It had popped out of his pants pocket.

Though Burzan hastily bent down and grabbed it, she had already seen what it was. She quietly stared at him as he hurriedly examined her expression. His eyes, the color of well-ripened chestnut shells, were trembling precariously.

“Y-you, perhaps……”

“Is something the matter?”

As Burzan leaned in close to her and spoke with a trembling voice, he flinched and hunched his shoulders at the butler’s polished voice. She calmly shook her head and stood up.

“It’s nothing. He’s had a bit too much to drink. Well then.”

Though Burzan’s gaze followed her, she walked nonchalantly toward the crowded area.

It seemed better to look for someone else as a marriage partner. A man who sits alone at such a gathering, drinking in melancholy, wouldn’t likely carry a folding dagger in his pocket to peel apples.

But wherever she went, no one wanted to talk to her. They only whispered or threw mocking words behind her back. Some men sent long, curious glances, but they tended to avoid eye contact when she looked at them.

Though considerable time had passed without finding a suitable person, she finally half-gave up and sat in a small chair at the corner of the banquet hall. Then she looked at her face reflected in the long mirror placed beside her.

Is it still not enough even with this beautiful hair ornament Maya made?

No, how could history be made in just one attempt? She needed to try more desperately. Even now, she could occasionally hear her name mentioned along with Count Balshwin’s.

Her face stiffened with goosebumps. As she unconsciously clenched her fists, applause sounded from behind.

“Now, I hereby announce to the world the engagement of the beautiful couple, Rupert Tohlris and Isabel Belzak. May all blessings and holiness accompany these two on their path ahead!”

Cheers erupted, and maids began to scatter flowers from baskets all at once. Through the mirror, she could see Isabel’s face smiling brightly. As she quietly watched, she suddenly noticed something in the mirror.

It was Burzan.

He was crouching among the people with his hand in his pocket. What caught her attention was his expression filled with killing intent. His gaze was fixed on Isabel, who was smiling broadly and responding to people’s congratulations.

Was that dagger meant for Isabel?

Isabel had been free-spirited in her love affairs, so she didn’t limit her partners to nobles only. Given Burzan’s neat appearance, it wasn’t an impossible story.

She sighed and turned her head. Burzan was watching for an opportunity and gradually moving forward. His distance from Isabel was getting closer. She really didn’t want to draw attention, but she couldn’t let Burzan swing his knife like this.

Her rush toward the crowded area and Burzan taking the dagger out of his pocket happened almost simultaneously. She threw herself forward and grabbed his arm.

“No!”

“Let go of me!”

As soon as he was caught, he howled and swung his arm. As she lost her balance and fell to the ground, people screamed. Isabel was already in Rupert’s arms. Burzan rolled his eyes with a desperate expression.

“Why, why on earth! Isabel!”

His anguished cry seemed to clearly indicate a story that anyone could see. At Rupert’s gaze, Isabel burrowed into his arms and whispered:

“He’s a man who liked me. I met him a few times to reject him because he kept sending gifts persistently, but it seems his mental illness has deepened.”

“Guards! Protect Lady Belzak immediately!”

At the command of Rupert’s father, the captain of the royal guard, the surrounding guards rushed toward Isabel. Burzan, who had been crying, laughed as if he had lost his mind. He quickly adjusted his grip on the dagger and turned his head. Still unable to get up, she met his eyes, which were twisted with resentment.

Cold sweat ran down her spine because she realized what he was trying to do.

“It’s all your fauuuult!”

The guards seemed intent on protecting only Isabel, and no one was closer to Burzan than she was. This meant that she would be stabbed before anyone could restrain him.