As the birthday banquet for Amelia began, the estate’s servants began to bustle around even more frantically.

Assigned to the banquet hall, Bella carried half-eaten dishes and stacks of used plates back and forth to the kitchen with the others.

When the head maid handed her the formal uniform for the occasion, Bella hesitated for a moment. This was the first time she had been assigned to work in the banquet hall.

The dowager disliked crowded gatherings and lively parties, and whenever a banquet was held at the Count’s estate in the past, Bella had always been shut away in a storage room instead.

‘Will I be able to do this?’

Still feeling uneasy, she stepped into the banquet hall. The sheer splendor of the room took her breath away for a moment.

The vast room was adorned with fresh floral arrangements that the maids had tended throughout the night, and their delicate fragrance drifted beneath the magnificent chandeliers’ glow. Off to one side, a five-tiered cake had been prepared for Miss Amelia and was surrounded by piles of gifts, displayed like prized treasures.

Amidst the brilliance and celebration, the servants moved quietly through the hall like shadows, doing their utmost to remain unseen.

“Take this as well.”

As Bella carefully made her way through the elegantly dressed guests dancing in the middle of the ballroom, she felt a gloved hand extend towards her.

Quickly slipping the cloth she had been holding into her pocket, she reached out to take the glass from the noblewoman.

At that very moment, slender fingers rose to lift her chin.

“My dear, have we met somewhere before?”

“No, this is our first meeting.”

“Oh, is that so? You looked familiar. I must be mistaken. You must be busy—my apologies for disturbing you.”

Her red-painted lips curved into a graceful smile.

Caught off guard by the unexpected apology, Bella lowered her gaze, unable to respond.

At that moment, a familiar voice sounded from behind her.

“Is something the matter, Lady Risely? Has our maid committed some offense?”

Amelia approached with elegant steps, positioning herself in front of Bella as she faced Lady Risely.

“No, nothing at all. She simply looked familiar. I thought she might be someone I knew, but it seems I was mistaken.”

“Is that so? She has lived at my grandmother’s residence since childhood, so she has never been to the capital…”

“Then I must have been mistaken. It has been quite some time since I’ve seen the person I was thinking of.”

“I understand. Sometimes you encounter someone who looks exactly like another person. Almost like a twin.”

Amelia laughed brightly and lightly nudged Bella aside, as though she were in the way.

“By the way, my brother invited a famous magician from the capital just for today. Come watch with me!”

With that, she slipped her arm through Lady Risely’s as if they were old friends and led her towards the stage.

Lady Risely obediently followed Amelia, but after a few steps, she glanced back.

At the end of her line of sight, Bella could be seen clearing the table.

‘She said she stayed at the count’s estate for a week. Then they must have crossed paths.’

Even the sight of her long, neatly tied hair from behind stirred memories of someone she missed, and she thought of her cousin.

He was a pitiful man who pretended to have overcome everything yet could still not escape the lingering shadows of the past.

Just then, the doors of the banquet hall opened.

The music and murmur of voices that had filled the hall fell silent.

Nobles and servants alike turned their attention towards the entrance in unison.

“His Grace, Duke Logan Fraser, and Young Master Vincent of the Everett count’s family.”

The two gentlemen entered the room together.

Even a plain black suit looked striking on his tall frame, and his posture was impeccable. With each step they took, an invisible tension seemed to settle over the hall.

Like countless others, Bella found herself looking at them.

At that moment, the man sweeping his gaze across the room locked eyes with her.

‘Again.’

The moment their eyes met, she almost dropped the glass she was holding. Her heart pounded wildly, and her legs felt frozen to the spot.

Logan kept his gaze fixed on her as he approached.

The closer he came, the louder her heartbeat seemed to become. Fearing he might hear it, she quickly lowered her head.

“Your Grace.”

But the man who had been walking straight toward her passed by without so much as a nod.

“I apologize for being late.”

“Thank you for attending, even if you are late, Your Grace.”

Logan had stopped before Amelia.

***

The arrival of the Duke of Fraser, who could be considered the other host of the evening, brought new life to the banquet.

To the lively rhythm of the music, gentlemen with flushed faces raised their glasses while young ladies danced across the floor.

However, the most conspicuous sight of all was the long line of nobles waiting to greet the Duke of Fraser.

“I never imagined I would see Your Grace here in Rosedale.”

“I have a business proposal I would like to discuss…”

“It is an hon—honor to meet the Empire’s greatest businessman!!!”

Logan accepted each greeting with a faint, practiced smile. Even amid the crowd’s eager excitement, he remained perfectly composed. He addressed everyone with equal courtesy, yet whenever a conversation began to drag on, he ended it smoothly without causing offence.

“Would you mind releasing my fiancé now?”

Amelia’s voice rang out clearly as she gracefully emerged from the crowd gathered around Logan and stepped to his side.

Dressed in a voluminous, jewel-adorned gown, she looked breathtaking. Even standing beside Logan Fraser — the duke renowned not only for his wealth and power, but also for his striking appearance — she did not pale in comparison.

“May I have this dance, Your Grace?”

A perfect gentleman. A dazzling young lady.

The lady extended her hand, and the gentleman answered her invitation.

Envious and admiring gazes fixed upon the couple of the century.

‘After today, no one will dare doubt us.’

Holding onto Logan’s strong arm, Amelia reveled in the attention. Not only was it her birthday, but it was also the day she would etch into everyone’s memory the fact that she was with such a perfect man.

The crowd slowly parted to reveal a path to the center of the hall. As the two of them stepped forward, the first notes of a waltz began to play.

Their bodies drew close. Moving as one to the sweeping melody, their steps were effortless and precise. Each time Amelia turned, the jewels adorning her gown caught the light and shimmered brilliantly.

“Was everything in Bellington resolved?”

Resting her face lightly against Logan’s chest, Amelia asked.

“It will be in tomorrow morning’s paper.”

“You can speak more casually. It’s just the two of us right now.”

In response to her teasing complaint, Logan offered only a faint smile. He kept his arm around her waist, but his gaze wandered.

Meanwhile, a maid moved tirelessly through the hall, entering and exiting as she carried dishes. Under the dazzling lights, Logan, accustomed to being the center of attention, found himself drawn to the maid instead. She moved like a shadow, suppressing her presence.

He should have been looking only at his fiancée, playing the role of a devoted partner.

But his focus kept slipping.

A dangerous pull stirred within him, leaving him unsettled.

“Thank you for arriving before the banquet ended. I truly appreciate it.”

When the music stopped, Amelia suddenly embraced him.

A murmur of envious admiration rippled through the guests around them and Bella’s attention shifted towards them briefly.

The heavy scent of perfume pricked his nose. When he looked down, Amelia lifted her face and smiled up at him, her eyes like crescents.

“Vincent insisted we come back today. That’s the only reason I hurried back.”

For a moment, Logan’s breath caught. Then, without changing his expression, he gently took his arms from around her.

He lifted his head and searched the crowd for the maid.

But in that fleeting moment, she had already disappeared.