1.3

Ellen repeated the man’s name several times in her mind.  

With his dark black hair and golden eyes, he could be describe, in a way, a man of noble and upright character.  

She had been fond of him ever since their first meeting at the debutante ball two years ago. However, her feelings for him were nothing more than a one-sided crush.  

When they met for the second time, he couldn’t even remember her name, let alone her face. Although she hadn’t confessed, Ellen realized she had already been rejected. The shock of that realization led her to return to the Novary family before the social season ended.  

She knew it was a love that could never come true, so she decided to cherish the feelings on her own and gradually let them go. She thought that if she didn’t see him anymore, her feelings would fade.  

But Ellen couldn’t do that. Even now, two years later, she still had lingering feelings for him. That’s why she had been hearing about him from Donna, the daughter of the Countess of Courtney and Ellen’s cousin.  

Every time she heard that he still didn’t have a lover or any engagement plans, she couldn’t help but wonder if she might one day become his lover. She had even allowed herself to indulge in such fantasies.  

By imagining him without seeing him, her feelings only grew stronger. Even though she knew the chances of being with him were slim, she continued to hold onto her emotions.  

She had considered visiting him several times. But knowing she would only get hurt, she couldn’t summon the courage.  

At one point, she thought she might never see her first love again.  

But now, the situation had changed. She couldn’t bring herself to marry another man while still holding feelings for someone else.  

Just once… just one last time, she wanted to see his face.  

As she resolved to marry a man she didn’t love, Ellen suddenly found herself wanting to see him one last time before the wedding.  

Thinking it would be her last chance gave her a courage she had never felt before. That’s why she impulsively decided to visit Melchia and see her first love’s face.  

She thought that by realizing, once again, that he was someone she could never have, she would finally be able to let go of her feelings for him completely.  

“This will be my last trip. After this, I’ll let go of him without any regrets!”  

Ellen got up from her bed and headed to her dressing room. She needed to pack what she would need for her departure tomorrow.  

The thought of seeing Guilford again made her hum to herself, and her heart began to pound excitedly.  

Choosing which dresses to bring took a long time. Most of her dresses were outdated, but she tried to pick the ones that would make her look as pretty as possible, which took some time.  

Although he wouldn’t care about her attire, she still wanted to make an effort. It was, after all, just for her own satisfaction.  

* * *  

“It’s been a while. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”  

“Ellen, welcome!”  

Having already received news of Ellen’s visit through a letter, the Countess of Courtney and Donna greeted her warmly.  

“It’s been a while, Aunt. Have you been well? Donna, how about you?”  

“Of course. We’ve been doing well, but we’ve been worried about you. I heard you’re getting married soon—should I be congratulating you? The decision by Viscount Novary to marry you off so quickly, without giving you more time in society, seems rash. It seems he doesn’t understand much, living in the countryside. To marry you off to such an old man just for money….”  

“Yes, it’s too much!”  

As soon as the warm greetings ended, the Countess brought up Ellen’s marriage. Both the Countess and Donna seemed displeased with Ellen’s upcoming wedding.  

“There’s no helping it.”  

At that moment, the excitement she had felt disappeared. Though they spoke out of concern, it felt as though they had forcibly brought back memories she wanted to forget, even if only for a little while.  

But it was the truth, so Ellen could only respond with a bitter smile.  

“It was a good decision to come to Melchia. There are many young and handsome men here. Who knows? You might find your true love here.”  

“What?”  

The Countess’s unexpected words left Ellen at a loss. She hadn’t come to find love; she had come to let go of it.  

She had come to move on from her unrequited love, but now she was being told to find her true love….  

“If you happen to meet a man you like, don’t hesitate to pursue him. If such a man appears, I might even be able to help cancel your marriage to Baron Aran. Or maybe, if he falls for you deeply enough, that wonderful man will resolve the situation for you.”  

Ellen lacked the courage to pursue a man, as the Countess suggested.  

She had been taught that ladies should conduct themselves with decorum and never express their feelings too openly. Such behavior was considered improper.  

So, Ellen couldn’t immediately agree to the Countess’s suggestion, which went against everything she had been taught.  

“Nowadays, the trends in society are changing, and noblewomen’s thoughts are changing as well. While arranged marriages between families are still common, many now prefer to marry someone they love. Everyone dreams of a happy life after marriage.”  

As if reading her thoughts, the Countess explained how society was changing.  

For Ellen, who lived far from the capital in the countryside, this was shocking news. Her eyes widened as she listened to the Countess.  

“Thank you for telling me.”  

She quickly regained her composure and expressed her gratitude.  

She had come to Melchia with the sole purpose of seeing her first love one last time. She had no expectations of being with him, knowing such fortune wouldn’t come her way.  

So, the trends the Countess spoke of seemed irrelevant to her. Still, the Countess’s words brought Ellen comfort, offering her a brief escape from reality.  

Spending a month indulging in a sweet dream… didn’t seem like such a bad idea.  

* * *  

“This dress won’t do.”  

“What about this one?”  

“This one won’t work either.”  

The day after Ellen arrived at the Countess’s residence, a ball was to be held. Donna, who had come to help Ellen choose a dress, let out a deep sigh.  

All the dresses Ellen had brought were long out of fashion.  

This was Ellen’s second time participating in society since her debutante ball. Her first attempt had been a failure, and her first love hadn’t worked out either. Donna hoped that this time, Ellen would find a good man.  

But with her current dresses, she would only face ridicule.  

“No matter what I wear, I’ll look out of place.”  

Ellen sighed deeply, feeling resigned. Donna tried to help, but Ellen thought it was futile.  

Standing next to the glamorous city women, Ellen knew she would look plain no matter how much effort she put in. She had learned this painful truth two years ago when she was repeatedly called unsophisticated.  

Even now, nothing seemed to have changed. Standing next to Donna in front of the mirror, Ellen clearly looked like someone from the countryside.  

“No, don’t put yourself down, Ellen. You’re beautiful and kind-hearted, so be confident. You were just too nervous last time, which is why you made mistakes.”  

Ellen’s lack of confidence stemmed from what had happened during her debutante ball two years ago.