Chapter 6 – Part 5

“Are you insane? Talking to me like that….”

“Who else would I say it to? The betrayer is none other than you, Rachel.”

Eliana pointed her finger directly at Rachel. Even if Rachel tried to deny it, she couldn’t fully erase the sense of guilt gnawing at her, and her heart raced.

“It’s not an affair. It’s real love!”

At Rachel’s words, Eliana let out a bitter laugh. Rachel was clearly flustered; she hadn’t expected such a direct attack.

“You probably thought that as long as you achieved your happiness and goals, it didn’t matter whether you got hurt. How convenient for you.”

“Trying to avoid criticism after what you did… don’t you think that’s a bit shameless?”

“…!”

Rachel wanted to slap Eliana across the face. She felt that she wouldn’t be able to hold herself together if she didn’t. But she couldn’t. She had important things on the line, while Eliana had lost everything and had nothing left. And Rachel had been the one to take it all away.

“Beware of those who have nothing to lose, Rachel.”

Her father, Baron Slonian, had once said as he stroked her hair. The best action with someone crazy was to avoid them, not confront them. For a moment, Rachel thought about walking away, but if she went back to the party now, it would look like Eliana had humiliated her.

“What you should do is go home and repent. You and your family’s fallen honor….”

Rachel stubbornly maintained her high-handed stance.

“Says the one who had an affair with her friend’s fiancé. Your lack of conscience is far more shameful than my broken engagement. I doubt Baron Slonian would be proud of your actions. Don’t you agree?”

“…!”

“Knowing Baron Slonian’s upright character, I’m sure he’s deeply ashamed of what you’ve done. So, the one who should be repenting is you.”

Eliana’s piercing blue eyes hit Rachel, where it hurt the most.

And it was true. Slonian and Sarah couldn’t hide their discomfort with the whole situation. Even on this day, as Rachel wore the dress Cedric had gifted her to attend the party, her father’s unease hadn’t entirely disappeared.

“Perhaps you should consider taking a break from parties until word from the palace, Rachel.”

“Why? Please, don’t say things like that.”

Rachel felt trapped by her parents’ lack of full support. And Eliana had accurately pointed it out.

Rachel bit her lip. She couldn’t lose this. And she definitely didn’t want to show any sign of conceding.

“No! Get out of this party before you lose even the last bit of sympathy the nobles have for you.”

Rachel’s words echoed the same logic Cedric had used and matched Matilda’s sentiments, too. She was trying to justify eliminating Eliana’s presence from the event.

“Why is it that those who torment me are always so alike?”

“No. You should be the one to repent. That’s what you need.”

Eliana answered calmly. As if to show her resolve, she lightly grasped the hem of her dress and, without hesitation, turned and headed toward the party hall.

‘I need to enter first.’

Rachel thought, but Eliana was walking faster.

Rachel warned her that something catastrophic would happen if Eliana crossed that threshold, but Eliana paid no heed and kept walking.

Eliana vanished from Rachel’s sight. Just moments ago, Rachel had been filled with excitement, but now it felt like her hair had been yanked, leaving her dazed and shaken.

‘She’s just acting out because she’s jealous….’

Rachel steeled her resolve. No man would ever want a woman like her. Meanwhile, she had received a sign from God. Her prayers had been answered, and the broken engagement was proof of that.

‘Once I gain recognition from the royal family, I won’t let you off so easily, Eliana. I’ll make sure you never even step outside your house again.’

Rachel’s prayers weren’t only about breaking off her engagement. She also wished for Eliana to disappear entirely from sight.

***

Everyone was in groups of two, three, or six, but Eliana was alone.

– The Crown Prince’s former fiancée attending the Madrino party alone: What’s her intention?-

She could almost write the headline for tomorrow’s newspaper herself. Eliana chose the table next to where Bonita, Janice, and Maria were seated. They were busy exchanging glances with the young noblemen when they spotted Eliana.

“Oh my, she really came, Eliana?”

Bonita’s expression was one of genuine surprise. But there was another reason for her shock beyond Eliana’s mere attendance. Eliana looked stunning. As she drew nearer, her harmonious features shone, even in Bonita’s reluctant eyes, despite her having no desire to compliment her.

“Hello, Bonita. Janice. Maria.” Eliana greeted them politely.

“To come here alone without any company… that’s bold,” Janice responded, skipping any pleasantries and revealing her true thoughts.

“I told you I would come. Promises are meant to be kept,” Eliana said calmly.

“I wonder which young nobleman will ask you for a dance,” Janice sneered.

“Oh yes, I wonder too,” Bonita chimed in.

“Unless they’re thoroughly drunk, I doubt anyone will.” Janice cackled, and Bonita joined in. Their behavior was transparent: they implied that, with Eliana’s tarnished reputation, no one would ask her to dance.

In a noble society, receiving a dance invitation at a party was significant for women. If a prominent young noble asked you to dance, you became the envy and object of admiration. Who asked you to dance determined your social standing, and a woman who received no invitations was seen as unpopular, diminishing her confidence.

‘With Crown Prince Cedric here, who would dare ask Eliana to dance? They might appear to be meddling in a barely cooled scandal.’

With that thought, Bonita openly mocked Eliana.

“I’ll bet no one will ask her for a dance,” Bonita said, raising her hand to make a bet without prompting.

“Not this again,” Maria sighed, placing her hand over Bonita’s and pushing it down.

“You bet whether she’d come to the party, and now this? Give it a rest already.”

“Oh, come on, it’s fun!” Bonita brushed Maria’s hand away.

“I’m betting no one will ask Eliana for a dance. What about you guys?”

Bonita looked around at her friends playfully before returning to Eliana.

“Let’s just dance and enjoy ourselves. Stop teasing Eliana,”

Maria pleaded, trying to intervene. But Bonita’s eyes glimmered mischievously, like a tiny devil. Eliana stared directly at her, meeting her gaze. It was a silent game of who would look away first. Bonita looked like she would hold the stare forever.

“…!”

Suddenly, Bonita lowered her hand, which she had raised to place the bet.

‘What’s going on?’

Eliana found Bonita’s sudden change in attitude odd. But it didn’t stop there. Bonita’s expression softened into something almost gentle, like a lamb.

“Huh…”

She let out a nervous sigh.

“…?”

It didn’t take long for the reason to become apparent.

“Oh my, look over there,” Janice said with exaggerated excitement.

‘Look where?’ Eliana turned around to see what had captured everyone’s attention. A figure was walking toward them, backlit by the glow of the chandeliers.

‘Who is that?’

“It’s the Duke of Vartica, and he’s heading this way! He must be coming to ask one of us for a dance!”

Janice exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. Janice, Bonita, Maria, and even the other noblewomen nearby began to stir, focusing entirely on the approaching figure.

“A…”

Anticipation and nerves. Bonita’s attitude had shifted because of the hope that Duke Calix Vartica might ask her to dance. The mocking expression she had worn moments ago had vanished without a trace.

Bonita quickly adjusted her posture, smoothing her clothes and tucking her hair behind her ear. Her hands were folded neatly in front of her.

Calix was indeed walking toward them. Every noblewoman around fixated on him, each secretly hoping he would extend his hand to them.

The next moment, Calix strode directly to Eliana’s table, where she sat alone.

‘Calix…’

Calix Vartica, with his neatly styled black hair, looked especially perfect today. His tall, broad frame and muscular build were accentuated by his uniform, which fit impeccably. His dark hair contrasted against his sharp, red eyes and high, sculpted nose, creating a flawless image. Even without knowing he was the wealthy Duke of Vartica, anyone would have been drawn to his striking appearance.

Before exchanging words, Calix lowered himself and extended his large hand toward Eliana.

“Eliana Leiberte,” he said as if addressing a stranger, using her full name.

“Huh…?”

Eliana found herself gazing into his crimson eyes, caught off guard. His posture lowered before her, leaving no doubt that he was asking her for a dance. The surrounding guests gasped.

‘Out of all these noblewomen… me?’

Before she could even finish the thought, Calix spoke again.

“Will you dance with me?”

His red eyes were fixed solely on Eliana, disregarding the stares and whispers around them. He waited for her answer, indifferent to the audience.

‘But…’

Eliana was slightly stunned. It wasn’t that the taunts about no one asking her to dance had shaken her because she knew the likelihood was slim given her current circumstances. But Calix had shattered that expectation.

“You’re asking me to dance?”

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