As the ornate carriage, engraved with a valiant golden lion, came to a halt, Benjamin, the butler of the Marquis of Olsen’s household, who had been waiting in advance, bowed respectfully toward Cornelia.

“You have arrived, my lady.”

“Where is my mother?”

“My lady has stepped out for a while.”

“She went out?”

“Yes. She was invited by the Marchioness of Blyza.”

Ah, come to think of it…

Was that gathering today?

“Why don’t you come with me this time? It’s about time you stepped forward, Cori.”

Cornelia vaguely recalled her mother’s previous suggestion to accompany her.

The salon hosted by the Marchioness of Blyza was, on the surface, a social gathering for the aristocracy. In reality, however, it served as a meeting to discuss the financial affairs that sustained the noble faction.

The true leader of that salon was not the official hostess but Cornelia’s mother, the Marchioness of Olsen.

She had been worried about being questioned for staying out overnight upon returning home.

Fortunately, her mother was absent.

Once the family was all gathered again, she would have to face their overwhelming concern, but for now, at least, she was spared.

Letting out a barely audible sigh, Cornelia tried to shake off the lingering anxiety.

“Ben, I want to rest for a while. Don’t let anyone in.”

“Understood.”

Normally, she would have exchanged a few more words.

But after receiving his response, Cornelia simply walked past Benjamin.

Her characteristic grace and elegance remained unchanged, yet something about her presence felt strangely subdued.

“Lia. You must realize it too. The pull between us… it’s not something that ends after just once.”

The darkness had long faded, and the bright sun had risen, yet the lingering sensations of the previous night still bound Cornelia’s body and mind.

She could still feel Carlisle’s hands as they softly traced over her skin.

His desire had been laid bare—seeking more, even when they were already connected. His whispered words had been as sweet and intoxicating as champagne infused with ripe fruit.

When she closed her eyes, the deep, woody scent of Carlisle became even more vivid, making her heart ache in an unfamiliar way.

‘Stop thinking about it!’

She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again, forcing herself to think of anything else.

But her mind refused to cooperate.

Perhaps it was only natural—after all, it had been her first time.

And on top of that…

“You and I. Let’s meet ten times. Then you can decide—whether having me as your lover is reasonable or not.”

She had never imagined Carlisle would make such a proposal.

It had been a fleeting indulgence, an escape under the excuse of alcohol.

A moment that should never be repeated.

Especially considering the circumstances surrounding them.

“Just once, trust me and take my hand.”

As the memory of Carlisle’s lingering presence flickered in her mind and his deep voice echoed in her ears, Cornelia instinctively gripped the banister.

“…Damn it.”

Pausing on the staircase, she let out a deep sigh and pressed a hand to her smooth, rounded forehead.

Just as Carlisle had said—she was undeniably drawn to him.

It was absurd.

They had spent only one night together.

“We will seek each other out again.”

No.

That wouldn’t happen.

It mustn’t happen.

Cornelia reaffirmed her resolve, lifting her head with determination.

She clenched her jaw, took a deep breath, and steadied herself.

She had already left Carlisle’s space, rejecting his proposition.

Whether or not it was the right decision, she didn’t know.

She had walked away without hesitation, but she wasn’t entirely sure she could resist him the next time they met.

If she was being honest, she was already wavering.

But Carlisle was a dangerous man to give in to such impulses for.

Their circumstances were mismatched—both as lovers and as potential spouses.

Cornelia had always prioritized her family’s standing over her own emotions.

And this time was no different.

She had hesitated and agonized over the temptation that was Carlisle, but in the end, her choice remained the same as always.

No matter how enticing he was.

No matter how intoxicating that night had been.

She could not afford to bear the possible consequences for herself and her family.

“Cori?”

She had climbed the grand staircase—worthy of comparison to the Imperial Palace itself—and passed through the lavishly decorated hallway when she suddenly heard a voice.

“…Brother?”

Cornelia inhaled sharply at the familiar voice—one belonging to someone who should not be here at this hour.

Why was he here…?

Adrian always left home early in the morning.

She never expected him to remain at the estate instead of heading to the palace.

As he straightened from where he had been leaning against the door, the shadows that had partially concealed his figure faded, revealing him entirely.

She knew from Carlisle that the palace had contacted the estate the previous night.

But knowing that didn’t make her any less nervous.

Her throat went dry as guilt weighed down on her.

Cornelia quickly composed herself, releasing the hem of her dress from her clenched fingers.

Then, she swiftly donned the well-practiced mask she had perfected over the years.

She wasn’t sure how effective it would be, but she tried to maintain an air of composure, offering her usual serene smile.

“What brings you here at this hour? Shouldn’t you be at the palace?”

Adrian Olsen—head of the Imperial Treasury, heir to the Marquisate of Olsen, and the designated future leader of the noble faction—had already closed the distance between them.

“Do I really need to answer that myself?”

“Why are you so sharp today?”

“Wouldn’t it be stranger if I weren’t?”

“Brother—”

“I couldn’t sleep at all, thanks to my reckless little sister staying out overnight.”

Adrian shrugged.

Now that she looked closely, faint shadows of exhaustion lingered beneath his eyes.

But Carlisle had assured her that he had smoothed things over…

So why was Adrian reacting this way?

This was bad.

Terribly bad.

Cornelia opened her mouth, then closed it, hesitating for a moment before forcing a slight upward curve to her lips.

Feigning ignorance would only put her at a disadvantage.

After all, no matter how gruff his words sounded, Adrian’s reputation as a devoted brother wasn’t entirely unwarranted.

“Sorry.”

“You said you spent the night resting at the Imperial Palace?”

“I happened to meet my old academy friend, Evelyn. You know her, right? We had a lot to catch up on, and I guess I ended up drinking more wine than I expected, so I asked for a room at the palace.”

Thankfully, her excuse was at least somewhat grounded in reality, making it easier to say.

If it had been a complete lie, she might have struggled more while making it up.

Adrian would surely verify her words, but since the Imperial Palace was Carlisle’s domain, that sharp-witted man would find a way to smooth things over.

As for Evelyn, Cornelia just needed to make sure she kept her mouth shut.

While she tried to gauge Adrian’s reaction, he remained unconvinced.

“You’ve attended countless tea parties and social gatherings, but you’ve never spent the night out before. And now I’m supposed to believe this?”

‘Damn it, I’ve got no more excuses left…’

Guilt pricked at her heart as she met his piercing blue eyes—so much like their father’s. But before he could press further, she decisively drew a line.

“Cornelia.”

“It’s the truth. There’s no other reason.”

As Cornelia firmly shut her lips, Adrian ran a hand through his thick gray hair, blinking slowly his keen blue eyes.

It was a habit of his whenever he found something displeasing.

With his sharp intellect, meticulous nature, and unparalleled judgment, Adrian was considered the finest heir the Olsen family had ever produced.

Some even claimed that he was the only one who could rival Carlisle, who was widely regarded as the greatest talent in the imperial family’s history.

Perhaps because of their unique connection, Adrian especially despised Carlisle.

“Monsters recognize their own kind,” he once said.

If he ever discovered that his beloved sister had spent the night with Carlisle…

Cornelia’s peaceful life would be over.

No—worse than that.

It might just spark an all-out war.

“Brother, I understand that you’re upset about me staying out, but can’t we talk later? I’m really exhausted right now.”

“Then why did you do something you’ve never done before?”

Cornelia nodded slightly, conceding the point.

“I know, right? But after spending a night at the palace, I realized something—it’s just not for me. The bed, too…”

“The bed?”

“Oh, I mean… it was uncomfortable.”

“……”

“It wasn’t my own room, so I couldn’t sleep properly.”

Though the reason for her exhaustion was quite different from what Adrian assumed, it was still true that she was completely drained.

Adrian’s sharp blue gaze flickered as he noticed the deep fatigue in Cornelia’s brown eyes. Rubbing his furrowed brow, he finally spoke.

“Fine. Looking at your skin, I can tell you didn’t rest well.”

Cornelia flinched.

Avoiding his gaze, she stared at his chest.

The weight of his narrowed blue eyes pressed down on her, but thankfully, her exhaustion had made her excuse more convincing.

“Exactly. So just let it go this time.”

She coaxed him gently.

“It won’t happen again. I promise.”

Adrian remained expressionless as he crossed his arms.

An academy friend?

Too much wine, so she asked for a room at the palace?

It sounded plausible, but he didn’t believe her. His instincts told him that his dear little sister was hiding something.

But for now, he decided to play along.

“Alright.”

“Hmm?”

“If you say so, then I’ll believe you.”

He wouldn’t press the issue. Whatever the truth was, he would uncover it on his own.

Of course, before that, he needed to make sure his reckless little sister understood the consequences of her actions.

“Your words.”

“….”

“I’ll trust them.”

As the daughter of the aristocratic faction’s leader and the imperial family’s bloodline, Cornelia was a prime target for countless opportunists.

There was no room for complacency.