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(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 2/4 🎉)

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Henry and I arrived at the party a bit earlier than it started. When we entered the banquet hall, the staff were still busy with final preparations.

“Looks like we’re the only ones here.”

“Yes. We came early on purpose.”

“Why?”

“Because once the party starts, we won’t have time to greet people properly.”

What does he mean by that? While I was looking at Henry in confusion, someone suddenly called out cheerfully.

“Oh, my dear Henry, you’ve come.”

It was Duchess Arwen.

‘What an incredible beauty.’

She too possessed the sun-like golden hair symbolizing the imperial family and deep golden eyes. Her gentle smile resembled Henry’s.

‘Well, that makes sense. She is family with Henry after all.’

Not just anyone could become the queen of social circles. I was newly impressed by her natural nobility.

“Aunt, you’re so beautiful I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Oh, you. Such flattery won’t get you anything.”

She embraced Henry without reservation.

“You usually show up when things are ending, but today you’re early. The sun must be rising in the west tomorrow.”

Though her words were sharp, her eyes were dripping with honey – she clearly adored Henry.

“I brought company.”

Henry naturally gestured toward me. Duchess Arwen’s eyes widened when she saw me.

“I wanted to introduce her to you before the party started.”

“Ah, is this the young lady you mentioned?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I wondered if he had talked about me much.

Duchess Arwen seemed to already know about me.

‘Well, she did send a letter of comfort herself, showing how interested she is in her nephew’s love life.’

Either way, she was important to me too, so I needed to make a good impression.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duchess Arwen. I am Ariella Hayworth, daughter of Viscount Hayworth.”

I greeted Duchess Arwen very politely.

“As rumored, you’re dazzling. It’s a shame we’re having a masquerade ball.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Oh yes, Henry. Your uncle is upstairs. You should go say hello.”

Duchess Arwen naturally sent Henry up to the second floor.

“Now, since we have some time before the party starts, would Lady Hayworth keep me company for a while?”

And so she naturally led me to the drawing room.

***

It was already awkward being alone with a stranger, but especially so when that person was Duchess Arwen, famous as the queen bee of social circles.

‘Ugh, this is uncomfortable.’

It was a difficult situation. Feeling extremely tense, I could only sip at my tea nervously.

“Is the aroma to your liking?”

Perhaps noticing my discomfort, Duchess Arwen made light conversation.

“Ah, yes. It’s delicious. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I called you here to probe your true feelings.”

“…Pardon?”

“Don’t be surprised. I’m joking.”

When I opened my eyes wide, Duchess Arwen smiled mischievously.

‘It doesn’t seem like a joke at all.’

Come to think of it, it would be natural for anyone to be curious about why her nephew brought his former fiancée as his partner after breaking off their engagement.

Since I was already here, I decided to fully meet her expectations.

“If you ask, I’ll answer everything honestly.”

At my straightforward response, this time it was Duchess Arwen’s eyes that widened slightly.

“I thought you’d be flustered or embarrassed. I like how frank you are. I can see why Henry is so taken with you.”

She smiled faintly as she set down her teacup. The atmosphere had certainly become softer than before.

But I was still just as nervous. I decided to stay quiet until I was asked questions.

“Let me be honest. Until Henry broke off the engagement, I thought that engagement was just a formal arrangement.”

As I’d noticed before, Duchess Arwen was rather direct. Moreover, she seemed to have a quite accurate understanding of Henry’s and my relationship.

‘If I try to cover it up with clumsy lies, I’ll end up worse off.’

I swallowed hard.

“Yes, what you said is correct. That’s why I was also quite surprised when His Highness suddenly acted this way.”

“Lady Hayworth.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you break off the engagement with Henry?”

“May I be honest with you as well?”

“By all means.”

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat.

“I no longer wanted to live as His Highness’s puppet fiancée. While he may have had his position to consider, my life was more important to me.”

“I see.”

Though seemingly surprised by my bold statement, Duchess Arwen nodded slowly as if she didn’t disagree.

“But it seems there are things you don’t know yet.”

“What things?”

“Members of the imperial family must become accustomed to hiding their true feelings. The imperial court is a place of intertwined interests, so it’s inevitable. The same goes for Henry.”

“Even to his fiancée?”

“Haha, yes. It’s rather cruel, isn’t it?”

She gestured for the maid serving tea to leave. Once only the two of us remained in the drawing room, she pulled her chair closer.

“His Majesty the Emperor has no heir, and whenever he needs to control the nobles, he plays the ‘Rose Maze’ card. As this accumulates, it becomes a sort of opportunity for Henry.”

Indeed. While one might tremble and be cautious at first, when such things repeat and fatigue builds up, people naturally become weary of it.

The imperial family needs a new heir, and in this situation, there’s no one more legitimate than Henry.

“So, His Highness no longer needs a ‘puppet fiancée,’ is that right?”

“Yes.”

Duchess Arwen didn’t bother denying it.

I had vaguely known this.

I was also curious why he was so insistent on me when this could be an opportunity to win the nobles’ hearts.

“So I recommended another engagement opportunity to Henry. It’s with one of Arwen’s vassal families, so even His Majesty couldn’t interfere carelessly. But he refused.”

Henry refusing another ‘meaningful engagement’ was news to me.

‘An alliance with Arwen’s vassal family would mean the Duchess herself would support him.’

This was an incredible opportunity for Henry.

‘Even considering his pride, to ignore the best move available just to protect me?’

Seeing my bewildered expression, she continued with determination.

“Henry is a shrewd child. You can tell by how he’s survived until now. That’s why I want to trust his choice.”

She seemed to believe Henry had his reasons for choosing me.

‘He told me he didn’t want his former fiancée as his aunt, using the honor of the imperial family as an excuse.’

If she knew about such an absurd excuse Henry gave me, would she still cover for him and trust him like this?

I really couldn’t understand Henry’s true intentions.

“From what I can see, Lady Hayworth isn’t to be underestimated either.”

“Pardon?”

“You freed yourself from being a puppet. No wonder Henry is so anxious.”

Duchess Arwen smiled at me knowingly. I nodded glumly.

“I hope we can meet often from now on.”

What could Henry’s real intentions be? My thoughts became increasingly complicated.

***

Finally, the masquerade ball began. As it was customary to dance the first dance with one’s partner, I was dancing with Henry.

His beautiful eyes, visible through the golden mask, curved gently.

“How did you manage to win her over?”

“What?”

“My aunt. She says she likes you.”

When I asked back, Henry drew closer and I whispered.

“I just told her honestly that I didn’t want to live as a puppet anymore.”

“The direct approach, huh?”

His face was too close, so I answered while looking down.

Whether he noticed my embarrassment or not, Henry smiled faintly, unbothered.

“Could you move back a little?”

“I’m worried you won’t hear me.”

“I can hear just fine. I have good ears.”

“Alright, Nuna.”

Henry obligingly released me.

“Let me ask again. Do you like me?”

“Why do you think that?”

“I heard you gave up a better engagement because of me.”

“Well, whatever it might look like to you, I’m not weak enough to need to rely on an engagement. I promise you that.”

If he was a strong heir candidate, then the choice would rightfully be Henry’s, not the nobles’.

But that wasn’t my concern.

What if Henry liked me and rushed to the ending before Oscar was fully grown?

Just imagining a berserk ending was terrifying. So, I had to be clear about this.

“Don’t like me. It’ll be tiresome for both of us.”

“Why not?”

I didn’t want to go this far, but I had no choice. I squeezed my eyes shut and dropped the bomb.

“I was vague before, but I should be clear now.”

“About what?”

“You might have noticed, but Oscar is my child.”

“……”

Henry was silent for a moment.

It was a deliberately high-impact statement from the start.

‘Yes. After saying this much, he should lose all interest.’

I had entered into an engagement while having a child and then blamed Henry for the broken engagement despite my own sins.

Any normal person, even Henry, should be angry.

But what was this? He let out a hollow laugh.

“Well, thanks for being honest. Our engagement was three years ago, so you had the child before that?”

To Henry’s request for confirmation, I decided to drive the final nail in.

“Yes. I’m trash. I entered a meaningless engagement to hide my child. Even someone like me couldn’t bear the guilt anymore and left, so please, just abandon me.”

“I don’t mind.”

“What?”

“I love children. Especially if it’s Nuna’s child.”

Henry smiled brightly at me.

‘What? WHAT?? This is insane!’