2.5

“Ah!”  

Startled, Ellen tried to step away quickly, but her foot caught on a tree root she hadn’t noticed. As her body wobbled, a firm arm supported her.  

“Are you alright? I didn’t mean to startle you.”  

When she looked up, Ellen froze. The man, with black hair that shimmered as if crafted by moonlight and golden eyes, smiled at her.  

He seemed both cold and gentle, resembling the moon.  

“Were you mocking me just now?”  

Ellen asked, her face flushed.  

“Not at all. Your dance moves were beautiful, but you looked so nervous that I couldn’t help but smile.”  

Isn’t that the same as mocking?  

Thinking she had escaped people only to be ridiculed here as well, Ellen felt embarrassed and tried to leave quickly.  

“Wait.”  

A man’s voice called out from behind her.  

“Yes?”  

“I think I can help you.”  

“….”  

She thought he was teasing her and was about to refuse, but at that moment, the man extended his hand. It was a graceful and dignified gesture.  

Drawn by his elegance and poise, Ellen instinctively reached out her hand. The man took hold of her waist and assumed a dancing posture.  

“As you can see, I’m not good at dancing. I step on my partner’s feet and even trip.”  

“There’s no need to feel embarrassed. Dancing is about the harmony between two people. If you tripped, it might have been because the man leading you wasn’t skilled either. I’m confident I can lead you to dance well.”  

The man began to move, and Ellen followed his lead.  

His movements were smooth and elegant. As she mirrored him, her previously stiff body seemed to loosen.  

Moreover, she didn’t step on his feet. She began to believe that her earlier mistakes weren’t entirely her fault but rather due to her partner’s poor lead.  

What had almost become a traumatic experience at her debutante ball was no longer an issue. She had even forgotten about the events in the ballroom.  

Instead, she felt joy. Even the cold night air seemed gentle. This moment felt like a memory she could cherish forever as a happy dance.  

“Thank you.”  

“You’re welcome. Do you feel more confident now? From what I see, you could go back right now and dance with a partner without any issue.”  

Hearing his words of praise, Ellen’s cheeks blushed deeply.  

She wished this moment with him could last forever. But, regrettably, the enchanting time ended as soon as the dance did.  

“Thanks to you, I’ve gained confidence. Thank you. May I ask… your name?”  

Ellen asked for his name, but she never heard it from his lips. As soon as the dance ended, several women approached him and began speaking.  

“Sir Leon Guilford, there you are. We’ve been looking for you.”  

“Why are you dancing here? Come back to the ballroom and dance with me.”  

Through their conversation, Ellen learned that the man’s name was Sir Leon Guilford.  

Leon bid Ellen farewell and entered the ballroom with the women.  

Ah… If only I could have spoken with him a little longer.  

Feeling regretful, Ellen also returned to the ballroom and soon spotted Donna and the Courtney couple.  

“My goodness. You came to the debutante ball dressed like that?”  

Skipping over Donna’s reaction to her rustic appearance, Ellen asked her about Leon.  

“I’ve already been mocked for my outfit, so please don’t comment. Instead, can you tell me about Sir Leon Guilford?”  

“Ellen, your standards are unexpectedly high. He’s famous, you know.”  

According to Donna, Leon was polite, came from a good family, and was so handsome that he had captured the hearts of many women.  

In particular, his reserved and disciplined demeanor drove many women to despair. However, he never allowed any woman to get too close, leaving them frustrated.  

So he’s someone I can’t even dream of.  

Ellen had vaguely sensed this, but hearing it from Donna made the distance between her and Leon feel even greater.  

She hadn’t seriously thought about pursuing him, but she couldn’t help being drawn to him.

The next day, despite Donna’s criticism of her outdated dress, Ellen attended the ball again with Donna’s help, dressed in a slightly better style.  

As soon as she arrived, Ellen searched for Leon. Even if she couldn’t dance with him, she wanted to at least greet him.  

“Sir, you’re here again today. Thank you for yesterday.”  

She greeted him warmly as soon as she found him, but…  

“Pardon me… Who are you?”  

“…Ah.”  

His response was cold.  

The man, who asked cautiously, didn’t even remember who she was. This, despite the joyful dance they had shared just the day before.  

To him, Ellen was just one of the many women he had danced with.  

Come to think of it, she realized he hadn’t even asked for her name. She was the only one who had been excited and happy, fumbling to ask for his name.  

“Oh, I’m sorry. I must have mistaken you for someone else.”  

In the end, Ellen pretended she had made a mistake, forcing herself to act nonchalant. Then, she observed Leon from a distance for a while.  

The rumors were true. He seemed kind to everyone but maintained a certain distance.  

He’s not someone I can reach.  

Ellen was deeply shaken. It felt like being rejected before she even confessed. The excitement of the previous night had been nothing more than her own delusion.  

The man she thought was kind turned out to be indifferent. Her initial impression of him resembling the moon had been correct. Now, he seemed as cold as the moon bathed in the night’s chill.  

“I’m sorry. I must have been rude.”  

Leon eventually apologized, looking genuinely sorry for embarrassing her. But Ellen, already hurt, no longer wanted to stay there.  

Even though the social season had more events left, she immediately returned to the Novary estate.  

Donna tried to persuade her to stay longer, but Ellen, unable to face Leon again, declined.  

Afterward, she tried to forget the first love that had caused her so much pain, but she couldn’t. 

The memory of their first meeting and her initial impression of him lingered in her mind. He had boosted her self-esteem when it was at its lowest.  

But now, the man who had once left her humiliated and hurt two years ago was giving her similar pain again.  

I really need to let go of these feelings now….  

Reflecting on her past memories and the bitter emotions she felt now, Ellen tried to force herself to let go of her feelings for Leon.  

But letting go of a one-sided love wasn’t easy, especially since her feelings hadn’t faded.  

Then, she suddenly felt reluctant to end things this way. 

I’ll let go tomorrow, but for today, I want to do something memorable.  

Can I hold his hand one last time?  

Unlike the careful touch during an escort, she wanted to intertwine her fingers with his, even if just once. Since they had already kissed, she felt tempted to indulge a little more.  

Coincidentally, Leon wasn’t wearing gloves. That meant she could feel his warmth.  

The indifferent man, who was walking slowly to match her pace, didn’t look back even once.  

Earlier, his lack of attention had upset her, but now it didn’t. Instead, it felt like an opportunity to approach him.  

Since we’re technically a couple, he won’t refuse, right? Or will he make an excuse to turn me down?  

Her heart began to race. She could even feel its pulse at her fingertips.  

Ellen swallowed nervously and cautiously approached Leon. Then, she gently took his hand.  

That was the moment.