‘Yes, yes. You’ve said it so often it’s practically nailed into my ears.’

Vivian couldn’t hide her gloomy expression as she put on the beautiful green dress prepared for the all-night ball on December 31st. The price of the dress she wore exceeded 3 dions.

Considering that an ordinary commoner’s annual living expenses minus rent ranged between 10-20 dions, she had spent about three months’ worth of a commoner’s living expenses on a dress she would wear for just one day. Yet since yesterday, her partner had been fixed as Luciel Evanhart.

‘Why did I change my mind? If I had donated this money to an orphanage instead, Naren would have been more pleased……’

If it was Naren’s care that had brought her back to the past, she desperately needed that care at this moment too. Sighing heavily didn’t change anything.

Unlike the depressed Vivian, Count and Countess Raine were immensely proud of their daughter. She had always been known throughout the capital for her intelligence, but Madame Clognac had praised her so much for her perfect posture and dancing skills, mastered in just two months, that the couple’s shoulders swelled with pride.

Moreover, after seeing Luciel yesterday, Selena had come to believe that Vivian’s past cries of “Down with Luciel” had been an immature girl’s way of expressing a crush.

That alone was adorably amusing, but goodness, the young man and Vivian had become fixed partners from the very first day of the Grand Fête. Every time Selena recalled this fact, she had to struggle to suppress her laughter, her lips quivering.

“Luciel will be captivated at first sight when he sees you today. You’re truly beautiful.”

Despite her mother’s compliments, Vivian’s expression remained downcast.

‘No matter how beautifully I dress up, next to that angel-faced man, I’ll be nothing but a backdrop.’

Like a cow being led to sl*ughter, Vivian reluctantly went downstairs and boarded the carriage heading to the imperial palace.

She had fervently prayed that yesterday’s events would end as a mere incident and that Luciel wouldn’t seek her out today, but as if to say that returning her from death to the past was already enough, Naren did not answer her prayers.

She had thought it would be harder for him to find her today with everyone wearing deep, vibrant colored dresses, but somehow Luciel walked straight toward where Vivian was without hesitation. The crowd parted to make way for his steps, a sight that further irritated Vivian.

‘Well, well, the great one has arrived. Do none of you have any pride? I can understand the girls being blind to him, but why do the boys grovel like that?’

Vivian gathered her complaints as she watched Luciel approaching her with a cold gaze.

“You look truly beautiful, Miss Raine. You must be the most dazzling lady here tonight.”

“Don’t say such nonsense, Sir. Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highnesses the Princesses are right over there.”

“When a man is blinded by his lady, even if the goddess of beauty herself descended, he wouldn’t notice.”

“Oh, yes, yes. Of course you would say that. I would have been happier if your eyes were so blind you couldn’t find me.”

“You seem embarrassed by compliments. How pure, just like a ‘child.'”

Despite Vivian’s low spirits causing her words to come out harshly, Luciel countered with practiced composure. That made him all the more irritating.

Though Vivian had ordered her dress two months before the Grand Fête and hoped he would recognize her unusually splendid appearance wasn’t for him, she couldn’t shake the suspicion that the clothes he wore seemed deliberately chosen to torment her.

Yesterday’s navy blue coat embroidered with silver thread had complemented his silver hair well, but today he was dressed entirely in black except for his shirt, making him breathtakingly captivating.

Of course, Vivian thought, ‘All black, just like a real demon,’ but to onlookers, his presence was surely so commanding that any woman beside him would be practically invisible.

Not only young women but even young men couldn’t take their eyes off him. Standing beside him gave her a strange sense of defeat. Fearing another rush of memories from her past life, Vivian hurriedly gulped down her champagne.

‘Put on an act, just act. Like everyone else, with a bright smile. This guy isn’t important to me at all. I just need to play along with him.’

Though it wounded her pride, hadn’t she already suffered this in her past life? It was a battle she couldn’t win by confrontation. Vivian swallowed the anger that rose within her.

The ball had started at 8 PM, but the most important event was the all-night ball timed to the clock striking midnight. Everyone was busy seeking partners for that midnight dance.

Just then, a young girl bravely approached Luciel.

“Good evening, Sir Luciel Evanhart. I am Eloise Knight. Um…… how do you feel about a lady requesting a dance first?”

Vivian, who had been grabbing handfuls of grapes from a fruit platter on the table and popping them into her mouth one by one, watched her with interest.

Eloise Knight. Praised for her moon-like beauty since entering the Academy, now sixteen years old. Perhaps her youth made her more courageous, breaking the implicit rule that men should ask women to dance by approaching Luciel herself.

Vivian felt sympathy for women who cast aside outdated etiquette and traditionally encouraged female roles.

“I find it brave, and I’m grateful. But Miss Raine here has already asked me to be her partner throughout this Grand Fête. She’s truly remarkable.”

Vivian, who had been planning to simply enjoy watching others’ romances, was suddenly struck by lightning. With one hand full of grapes and the other holding one halfway to her mouth, she froze in that position.

And Luciel had somehow already placed his hand around Vivian’s waist, ostentatiously emphasizing their partnership. Naturally, Eloise’s blue eyes trembled as if about to crumble.

‘Ah……! He planned to use me as a shield!’

Vivian felt a stinging sensation at the back of her head with this lightning realization. Come to think of it, despite his abnormally high popularity, Luciel had abnormally few scandals.

She didn’t know how he had avoided the women who pursued him before, but it seemed he planned to use her as a shield during this Grand Fête. Using her to prevent his own unnecessary scandals while ruining her chances at romance—though they were enemies, he was certainly clever.

Eloise withdrew, apologizing for not knowing he already had a partner. But Vivian clearly saw the young lady’s pure eyes growing moist.

Now Eloise would surely run tearfully to her friends and complain about what happened, probably adding embellishments. Vivian could foresee that when the Academy reopened for the spring semester, she would be ostracized even more thoroughly than in the past.

‘What on earth did I do wrong that this guy is so desperate to devour me?’

After witnessing Eloise approach Luciel only to be driven away, other women didn’t dare come near, and no man had the courage to approach Vivian while she was in Luciel’s arms.

Luciel literally used Vivian as a shield as he moved around the banquet hall. Though Vivian felt wronged and furious, she worried about how he might counterattack if she provoked him with harsh words, so she racked her brain for a way to escape this situation.

Dong- Dong- Dong- Dong-

As the long-awaited midnight bells rang, the hall fell silent as if doused with water. But as soon as the last bell faded, everyone erupted in cheers and began exchanging New Year’s greetings.

“Happy New Year!”

“May Naren’s blessing be with you!”

Everyone laughed and cheered at the joyful greetings bursting forth everywhere. But at the sound of a glass bell that followed, everyone straightened their posture, turned toward the imperial family, bowed deeply, and paid their respects.

“May Naren’s blessing be with the imperial family! Long live and prosper!”

The Emperor nodded with a warm smile at this first New Year’s greeting.

“The Imperial Year 452 has passed without incident, and we welcome 453 without worry, all thanks to our loyal subjects. Enjoy yourselves fully tonight.”

With the Emperor’s permission, the orchestra, noticeably larger than yesterday, played a magnificent New Year’s dance tune. All couples clasped hands, pressed their bodies together, and began to sway. Vivian too had to dance unwillingly, held by Luciel’s hand.

“May the goddess Naren’s blessing be with you in the new year as well.”

Luciel bent his head and offered New Year’s greetings near Vivian’s ear. His voice, sweet as chocolate yet somehow intimate, tickled her ear, causing her to involuntarily shrink her neck.

Even amid the strong perfume scents of those around them, she could smell his subtle musk. While other young nobles hadn’t even thought to shed their awkwardness, he was already perfect in even the smallest details.

“Yes. May Naren’s blessing be with you too, Sir. Though you already seem to receive more of the goddess’s love than anyone else in the Empire.”

Luciel chuckled with amusement at Vivian’s words, which had grown more sarcastic due to her twisted feelings.

It was an unspoken rule to continue dancing for at least 10 minutes after the Emperor’s command.

Since the Emperor had essentially ordered everyone to enjoy themselves fully, the hall shouldn’t empty too quickly. After dancing those 10 minutes trapped with Luciel, Vivian already felt her energy depleting.

The dance itself wasn’t strenuous. In fact, their steps harmonized astonishingly well. However, Luciel’s lead was clearly more perfect, seeming natural and ingrained compared to Vivian’s two months of intensive lessons.