Selena chewed over the memory of that fateful ball — the one that changed everything.

***

“A royal prince at the Bloodyfield ball? Now that’s something you don’t see every day.”

That evening, the ballroom buzzed with unusual excitement after word spread that the Third Prince himself would be attending.

If they’d been in Gnotician, seeing a member of the imperial family wouldn’t have caused such a stir. But this was Bloodyfield, a remote province where even high-ranking nobles rarely had the chance to meet royalty.

“I heard he’s childhood friends with Lord Blackwood.”

“Really? If they were that close, why didn’t he ever mention it?”

“He’s not one to reveal much about his personal life. Honestly, if not for that funeral, we’d have never known.”

“Oh, that’s right! Lady May, you met him already, didn’t you? You were at the funeral!”

One young lady’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as she turned to Selena, referring to the recent funeral of the late Marquis and Marchioness Sopore.

“Just exchanged brief greetings,” Selena replied politely, careful not to sound arrogant.

“Wow! What was he like? They say the Third Prince is incredibly handsome!”

“Yes! I’ve only seen his sketch in the paper, and my heart fluttered! They say he believes in free love — oh, if only he’d meet me once…”

The ladies surrounding her chattered excitedly, each adding to the giddy noise.

‘…Pathetic,’ Selena thought, masking her disdain with a practiced smile.

“He was kind,” she said simply — deliberately avoiding any mention of his looks.

 Selena never stooped to praise someone’s appearance.

The other girls, aware of this, dropped the subject and instead turned their gazes toward the entrance. After all, they’d soon see the prince with their own eyes.

“Oh, honestly! They said his carriage had already arrived. What’s taking so long?”

The same girl who had swooned over “free love” grumbled impatiently.

Just then, a loud announcement echoed across the hall:

“His Highness the Third Prince and Lady Hereidin have arrived!”

“Lady Hereidin?”

The name sent a ripple of murmurs through the crowd — and then the pair appeared.

Katrina Rubelline, second daughter of Count Hereidin, is said to be studying abroad in the Empire of Calveroit.

“Wow…”

Mouths fell open.

And not just because of the prince’s presence. Most were stunned by Katrina herself, whom none had seen since childhood.

She wore a surprisingly modest dress — a simple dark green silk gown, unadorned with even a single jewel.

And yet, she shone.

Her deep red hair, like a blooming rose, cascaded down to her waist. Her flawless, almost translucent skin made her dark eyes and crimson lips even more striking.

“Is that… really Katrina?”

“She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen…”

Even the girls who’d been eager to see the prince couldn’t take their eyes off her.

Selena, however, felt her stomach twist. It was bad enough that this unfamiliar face appeared out of nowhere — but to show up with the prince?

‘How clever. Desperate for attention, aren’t we?’

At the time, that irritation was all she felt.

But when Daniel, who had never shown interest in anyone, began to look at Katrina with warmth, that irritation curdled into fury.

“Lady Hereidin.”

It was right after Katrina had finished her first dance with the prince.

While the other young men hesitated to approach her, Daniel stepped forward without a moment’s pause and extended his hand.

Startled, Katrina blinked her large eyes. The prince, meanwhile, watched his friend’s sudden boldness with an unreadable expression.

“Would you grant me the honor of the next dance?” Daniel asked politely.

Katrina seemed surprised — but then smiled radiantly and nodded.

“Oh my, isn’t that Lord Blackwood?”

“How cruel! Lady Selena is right here!”

Two of the same young women whispered among themselves, but Selena merely smiled, composed as ever.

“We’re just friends,” she said lightly. 

“He’s been so down lately — it’s nice to see him smile again.”

At the time, they were already broken off. Daniel had expressed his intent to end their engagement the year before.

Proud as she was, Selena had pretended to agree with perfect grace.

She claimed she, too, didn’t believe in a loveless marriage — that they were only childhood friends, nothing more.

She even added a few magnanimous words about being thankful he spoke up first, since she hadn’t known how to bring it up herself.

That was who Selena was — always pretending to be composed, generous, and above it all.

But beneath that polished mask, she was boiling.

Other men would do anything for her attention — and yet he dared to end things first?

She hadn’t truly loved Daniel, but her pride could not forgive such an insult.

“And what’s the prince’s relationship with Lady Hereidin, anyway?”

The girls’ attention turned again to the dance floor, where Katrina and Daniel moved together.

“Look at her smile, even while he’s that close. Doesn’t seem like they’re involved.”

“You never know — the prince is a believer in free love.”

“But look — I’ve never seen Lord Blackwood smile like that before.”

“Me neither. He looks like a completely different person. Then again, Katrina’s always had that effect, even as a child.”

One of the young ladies, remembering Katrina’s childhood charm, smiled faintly — and Selena’s eyelashes trembled.

The man who had never once smiled warmly at her was now grinning like a fool at that woman.

He was the first to ask her to dance, couldn’t take his eyes off her, and even glanced — repeatedly — at her lips.

Was that really the Daniel Blackwood she knew?

But a few minutes later, Selena’s fury melted away like snow.

Because the Third Prince himself came to ask her for a dance.

***

“Of course, if Daniel were ever to become a Grand Duke someday… that would be another matter entirely.”

Selena reminisced about that fateful ball as she added those words.

At that, the Duchess of Luminous frowned deeply.

The Roxbeth Empire had never once granted the title of Grand Duke to any noble — it was a position that existed only in name.

And Daniel Blackwood as a Grand Duke? That was precisely what she least wanted to see happen.

It was bad enough that a mere marquis strutted around with such influence — if he were to be granted a title never before bestowed in Roxbeth’s history…

“That will never happen, Selena,” the Duchess said firmly, unable to hide her hostility.

Selena only smiled.

“Well, who knows? My father never dreamed he’d be given charge of imperial territories either. If it’s Daniel, I think it’s possible. He is close to His Highness, after all.”

Her calm, serene expression showed no trace of worry. In fact, she almost seemed to hope Daniel would rise that high.

And the way she said “Daniel” — so naturally — would have made any outsider think she was his wife.

“As expected of Lady May,” one young lady gushed. “You never resent the Marquis. You always speak so kindly of him.”

“Truly. If the two of you had married, you’d have been such a happy couple.”

The other noble ladies looked at her with admiration — the only woman present who could call the Marquis by his first name.

All except for Alice.

“There’s nothing to resent. We’re friends, after all,” Selena said with a graceful smile.

But behind that dazzling beauty and air of confidence lurked jealousy — and something darker.

Only Alice, watching her quietly, sensed the suppressed bitterness hidden beneath her charm.

***

The next morning.

The Sopore Marquisate was its usual, bustling self. Near the second-floor bedchamber, three people sat side by side on a grand sofa.

“I came here because I was anxious — and now I’m even more anxious! How much longer are we supposed to wait?”

A handsome young man stood abruptly. It was Nick, Daniel’s personal aide.

The two women beside him, however, were calm as ever.

After all, unlike Nick — who was only on his third day of personally escorting his superior to work — they had seen this play out countless times.

“Let’s give him a little longer,” said the butler, Irene. 

“He’s not one to skip work without notice.”

“Indeed,” added Ginger, the head maid. 

“And the Marchioness can be just as stubborn, you know.”

Both spoke with leisurely familiarity.

But Nick, who’d endured several close calls with Daniel’s tardiness at meetings, could barely hide his frustration.

“Honestly, that’s the problem! He never misses work, but he cuts it so close every time it’s nerve-racking.”

“Can’t you just trust him?”

“I’m here because I can’t! He refuses to hurry even when he’s running late. He never lets the driver speed when he’s in that black carriage!”

“Why not?”