Chapter 61

At the commemorative banquet, Louis’s face remained dark throughout. Louis wouldn’t have shown up if Laila hadn’t continuously urged him to attend.

He had been educated as the heir of the Count of Winsley and knew that he shouldn’t reveal his emotions.

However, he was also a teenage boy who found it difficult to accept the fact that he had been carefree and happy while his beloved family was in danger.

“Louis, it’s not your fault.”

While Louis’s face was clouded with guilt, Nife was anxious. Laila had told Nife to receive an escort from Louis at this banquet, but that no longer seemed appropriate. The escort wasn’t the important thing right now. Nife found it unbearable to see Louis in distress.

Louis sighed, rubbing his forehead.

“My sister must not trust me.”

“Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, cherishes you a lot.”

But Nife knew as well. Cherishing someone and relying on them were very different things. Nife wanted to be someone Louis could depend on, too, but he always treated her like a child, handing her a handful of candy.

Louis shook his head. His face was filled with self-reproach and resentment.

“If she had asked me for help, I would have gladly assisted.“

“The Grand Duchess values you, Louis. And because you’re the heir of the Winsley family, she probably didn’t want to complicate things.”

Listening to Nife’s words, Louis suddenly raised his head. He looked at her. Her clear eyes were staring back at him.

Louis cherished Nife deeply. There was no way he could dislike the cute little girl who had followed him around since childhood.

But he couldn’t tell if that affection was for a sibling or something more. So, Louis had always kept a proper distance. He believed that it was best for them to remain as friendly siblings.

“…Nife, you’re right.”

But upon reflection, that was only possible in their younger years. Now, Louis and Nife stood on the threshold of adulthood.

“I am the heir of the Winsley family, and you are the only daughter of the Count of Sasha.”

“Louis?“

Nife’s voice trembled with anxiety. She had always hoped Louis would respond to her feelings, but not like this. Louis gently removed her hand from his arm and stood up straight.

“Lady Sasha.”

Just by that title, tears welled up in Nife’s eyes. It was rare for Louis to address her as “Lady Sasha“ like this.

“No!”

Nife shook her head, and her face became more drenched with tears with each movement. However, Louis seemed determined to say what he needed to.

“Considering the position of our families, let’s end our connection here. I deeply appreciate the kindness you’ve shown me.”

Louis bowed his head and turned away from Nife. Nife sobbed and cried out.

“I wasn’t just being kind to you! I was being sincere!”

Her voice was frail and sorrowful but full of determination. Louis’s steps hesitated for a moment before he walked on.

Nife stood there, covering her face with her sleeves, crying uncontrollably. Passersby began to glance curiously at them, wondering what was happening.

“You’re horrible! Louis, you’re the worst villain in the world!”

Nife yelled, not caring about the people watching. Yet, the fact that she couldn’t stop him felt unbearably pathetic.

At that moment,

“Aaahhh!”

A sharp scream echoed.

Someone shouted urgently while looking out the window of the banquet hall.

“Catch him! An assassin!”

The banquet hall erupted into chaos in an instant.

“The Grand Duchess has been attacked!”

Nife immediately stopped crying and looked out the window. Instinctively, she started running.

“La-Laila, sister!”

The thought that Laila might be in danger made her heart pound. Tears began to flow for a different reason, yet she kept running, clutching her dress.

Blindly sprinting forward, she eventually tripped and fell. But more than embarrassment, urgency consumed her mind. As she struggled to get up, a hand reached out in front of her.

With a tear-streaked face, Nife looked up to see who the hand belonged to.

“Lo… Louis…”

“Hold on, let’s hurry.“

“O-okay!”

Nife grabbed Louis’s hand, and they started running together. Though her vision was still blurred with tears, she felt reassured knowing someone was leading the way, so she didn’t worry about tripping.

‘Louis is such a fool! Even in moments like this, he confuses a girl!’

Nife couldn’t stop crying.***

Ari Eriant’s light brown hair wasn’t scarce. It was so common that even peasants often had the same color.

Yet, Ari stood out wherever she went. Her porcelain-like skin, flawless eyes, and curvaceous yet graceful figure made her seem surreal and elegant.

Ari was unlike any enchantress. She carried herself with such dignity that one could believe she was born to be Empress. Every man begged for her attention, and every woman envied her.

So when Ari went missing, the social circles were thrown into chaos. Many suspected a kidnapper or even a murderer with twisted desires. Some speculated that a deranged artist, mesmerized by her beauty, had taken her to preserve her as a work of art.

There were even rumors that a cult, worshipping her as a goddess, had abducted her.

However, Ari’s whereabouts were connected to a much more common and sordid reality. People thought she would never return to society.

She didn’t even appear at the party hosted by me, the Grand Duchess of Zan, who had saved her.

Yet here she was now, making a grand entrance. She wore the most dazzling dress, proudly showing off her beautiful face.

Ari smiled brightly at the curious greetings directed at her.

From a distance, I watched her from my wheelchair. Ari seemed entirely at ease with the social scene. She didn’t mind the stares; she blended into the setting naturally.

It made sense that she would be here, considering her brother, Shuan, was attending the hunting tournament.

But why hadn’t she shown up at the tournament itself if that was the case? If she had been in the viewing stands, it would have caused quite a stir.

Suddenly, as she mingled with the crowd, Ari lifted her head. Her gaze landed on me without context. It was a direct, unhesitant look as if she had been thinking about me all along.

Though startled, I calmly nodded in greeting. Ari gave me a meaningful smile.

What does that mean? As I wondered, Ari turned and began walking somewhere. I watched her actions momentarily, and then she turned back to look at me. Then,

She nodded.

It was an unmistakable signal. She was telling me to follow her.

I glanced around and gestured to Anna, signaling to follow Ari. But then, I grabbed Anna’s hand, stopping her from pushing my wheelchair.

‘Laila, I want to be someone more valuable to you.’

Her honest words whispered without hiding her disappointment, came to mind.

I didn’t know why Ari was calling me. Maybe she just wanted to have a quick conversation, or perhaps she intended to harm me. It could be something important or something irrelevant. Normally, I wouldn’t have hesitated to follow her.

But now, I gripped the handles of my wheelchair tightly. Ari had left the ballroom and entered the corridor, disappearing from sight. She was probably waiting for me to show up.

I decided not to follow her. If I had discussed this with Julian, he would have warned me against meeting Ari, but I still wanted to consult him.

Maybe Julian would come up with a safer way to meet Ari. And… I wanted to earn his trust.

I instructed Anna to turn my wheelchair opposite from where Ari had gone. We headed toward the barracks.

A strange feeling crept over me as we passed by the guards stationed at the banquet hall and entered the dark path leading to the barracks.

“Something’s wrong.”

It was too quiet. Even though everyone was engrossed in the banquet, someone would have sneaked out to return to the barracks, yet no one was around. Staring at the brightly lit banquet hall, I urged Anna to move faster.

And at that moment,

‘Clang!’

The sharp sound of clashing swords rang out. I quickly looked up. There, a man in black was locked in combat with a man I recognized.

“Lord Eriant!“

“Please, get to safety!”

I wanted to help Shuan, but I was injured and unarmed. Yet I couldn’t just run away and do nothing. I screamed with all my might.

“Aaahhh!”

Someone must have heard my scream because a voice called out from the banquet hall through the window.

“Catch him! An assassin! The Grand Duchess has been attacked!”

At the shout, the assassin forcefully shoved Shuan aside and began to flee. Hearing the commotion, knights rushed out of the banquet hall and started chasing the assassin.

The rapid sequence of events left my head throbbing. Shuan approached me and asked,

“Your Grace, are you alright?“

“I’m fine. Thank you for saving me.”

I sincerely expressed my gratitude, calming my startled heart. But Shuan’s expression remained complicated despite my thanks. Seeing his face, a cold chill ran through me. I was certain.

“…Lord Eriant, you knew I was going to be attacked, didn’t you?”

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