Chapter 6 – Part 3

“The broken engagement with His Highness was indeed difficult, but…”

Eliana lowered her gaze for a moment before lifting it again.

“I’ve decided to show that I’m recovering quickly for the sake of my family. So there’s no need to worry. His Highness and I have already made peace, so please don’t be concerned.”

“Really? That’s a very wise stance, Eliana.”

The Marchioness smiled fondly and lightly embraced her.

“You haven’t failed.”

Her whisper carried weight.

“There will be other chances, so don’t lose heart.”

Eliana felt the same. Paul and Sylvia, who had followed her in, also greeted the Marquis couple. Afterward, they quickly distanced themselves from Eliana.

With a drink in hand, Eliana surveyed the party. It seemed almost twice the size of the one hosted by the Lequizet family.

‘It feels like I’m a magnet drawing all the attention.’

The curious and astonished gazes of the nobles clung to her relentlessly.

Even the young unmarried noblemen were no different. Their stares were less subtle, some filled with blatant interest, others condescending. It was a kind of attention she hadn’t experienced before, back when she was engaged.

‘Strange, yet intriguing.’

As they watched her, Eliana watched them right back, allowing her emotions to freely show in her gaze.

‘What exactly are you looking at?’

Eliana lifted her chin slightly, accepting the men’s stares.

‘If you have something to say, come and say it.’

She stared back with the same boldness. Some of them turned away, while others blushed.

‘What is this?’

One approached her but suddenly hesitated as a commotion broke out near the entrance.

The magnitude of the disturbance made it clear who had arrived. Cedric and Elesio entered from the side where Eliana was standing.

The nobles greeted them, and they accepted the greetings. Everything resembled the party at the Lequizet family’s residence, except for the drastically changed relationship between Eliana and Cedric. Cedric, receiving the nobles’ greetings with an arrogant smile, suddenly locked eyes with Eliana.

“…!”

He was clearly surprised to see Eliana at the party so soon but acted as if he wasn’t. Eliana calmly gazed at him as she had with the noblemen earlier. She no longer initiated greetings.

‘Didn’t we agree to act like we don’t know each other?’

There was no reason for them to approach one another.

In her blue dress, Eliana was a stark contrast to the last time Cedric had seen her at the temple. Back then, she looked as simple as a priestess, but now, she was dazzling from head to toe, as if she were radiating light. Even a slight smile was on her lips as if she were satisfied with something.

‘Smiling?’

Cedric thought to himself. Naturally, he hadn’t expected to see her in his vicinity again. But this encounter had come much sooner than expected.

The surprise of this broken prediction was evident in Cedric’s frozen steps.

‘So what? She no longer matters to me.’

Cedric had been happy knowing he wouldn’t have to see her after their broken engagement.

‘There’s no reason for Eliana to ruin my happiness just because she’s parading around in front of me, all dressed up.’

Without realizing that needing to consciously remind himself of this meant there was a slight crack in his “perfect“ happiness, Cedric ignored Eliana and walked past her.

“You look beautiful today, Lady Eliana of the Leiberte family. You look so different I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Elesio, who followed behind, greeted Eliana. Though she thought he was only conversing politely, Elesio wasn’t simply being courteous.

She stood out. The beautiful young noblewomen were always Elesio’s most significant interest. In his barren, harsh life, socializing was the only thing that gave him some form of happiness.

Elesio craved interactions with those outside the royal family. That’s why he was always kind to others, and they, in turn, treated him well. It made him feel as though he could finally breathe.

“You could be called the finest in the social scene.”

Elesio added his admiration.

“Your Highness, it’s nice to see you again. I’ll take that as a compliment.“

“Of course, it’s a compliment. It seems you prepared extensively for this party. You’re shining more brightly than anyone I encountered on my way here.”

Elesio continued to praise her, his gaze unwavering.

“Yes, since it’s been a while since I was invited to a place I wanted to attend, I put in some effort. It’s nice to hear compliments.”

Eliana smiled leisurely.

“That smile suits you much better.”

Eliana chuckled softly.

“Why? Do you think I’m lying?”

“No, not at all.“

“That day, you looked utterly exhausted and miserable. The only rumors I heard afterward were all dreadful ones.“

“...”

“Seeing my brother’s delight, I worried you might be dying inside.“

Elesio mentioned Cedric, hinting at his dissatisfaction with his brother’s attitude. He often tried to show Eliana that he held views opposite to Cedric’s.

‘Is he trying to form an alliance with me, or is this just another of those common social niceties…?‘

“I have no reason to die. If anything, I have more reasons to live.“

“You’re stronger than people think, Lady Eliana. Much stronger.”

Elesio remarked.

“That’s true.”

Eliana willingly agreed.

“After everything I’ve been through, I had no choice but to find my way. You could say I’ve discovered a breakthrough.“

“I like that word, ‘breakthrough.‘”

“Do you?“

“Yes, it makes me wish I could be one of those breakthroughs for you.”

As he said this, Elesio’s eyes briefly lowered and then returned to meet hers, his green eyes gleaming with a peculiar light.

“Enjoy the party. Let’s talk again if the opportunity arises later.“

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Elesio leisurely walked away, following in the direction Cedric had gone. Just before entering the room with the stage, he paused and looked back. He caught sight of Eliana’s perfectly poised figure.

‘She’s attending despite it being such an uncomfortable event. It’s definitely intentional.’

Just as she had said, she had no reason to die, and instead, she seemed to exude a vitality that hadn’t been there before.

‘She’s a much more interesting woman than I thought.’

He wondered why he hadn’t noticed this strength in her before. At the same time, he felt that she wouldn’t just quietly sit through the event today.

There was a good chance she would do something to provoke Cedric. A new point of interest had been added to the party.

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.