Chapter 1.2

“Miss, Miss Claire!”

At the sound of someone calling her, Claire came to her senses.

The cold night air brushed her cheek, and the scent of fragrant flowers tickled her nose, so it seemed she was still in the garden.

As Claire slowly opened her eyes, the person before her was her personal maid, Mary.

“Oh my, Miss! You’ve finally woken up.”

“How did you get here?”

Since she had told Mary to wait by the carriage, there was no reason for Mary to suddenly appear where she had collapsed. Had someone told her?

“The Earl was worried that you were nowhere to be seen, so I came to look for you and found you collapsed on a bench. I’m so glad you woke up right away.”

She found me collapsed…?

“Was there anyone else here besides you?”

“Who?”

Claire hurriedly tried to rise, but her head spun, so she held her head and exhaled slowly.

“Miss! Please lie down a bit longer.”

“No, it’s not good to stay out in the cold air for too long. I should head back. But before that…”

Claire slowly looked around. She wanted to find any sign of the man who had helped her. But no matter how much she searched, there was no trace of him anywhere.

He said to wait a moment, didn’t he? Did he not come back after that?

After calming her breath, Claire got up and approached a patrolling royal guard.

“Have you been patrolling this area the whole time?”

“Yes. I’ve only been around here.”

“By any chance, did you see a man with dark gray hair passing by? I received help, and I’d like to thank him, but I couldn’t see his face clearly, so I’m not sure exactly who helped me.”

“I’m not sure.”

The guard tilted his head at her words, furrowing his brow in thought, then suddenly his eyes widened as if he remembered something.

“Ah, I think someone did pass by. It was dark and I only saw his back, but I believe it was the person you’re talking about.”

“Could you tell me his name?”

“It was Secretary Helion Radner.”

Secretary Helion Radner…? Was it really him who saved me?

At hearing the name, Claire’s eyes grew wide.

She wasn’t personally acquainted with him, but he was so famous that Claire knew who he was. Also, he was a man admired by many women.

She slowly recalled Helion’s appearance. Then she realized he resembled the man she’d glimpsed from behind. He also had dark gray hair.

Ah, come to think of it, his voice sounded similar too. Yes. It must have been him.

The more she thought about him, her doubts turned into certainty.

He saved my life, so he must be as kind as the rumors say!

Claire covered her mouth with both hands, feeling as if her heart would burst with emotion.

She hadn’t always liked Helion. She only knew his name and face, and had never even danced with him. But now that she thought he had saved her life, it felt like fate.

Once she became aware of him, every time she saw him in the palace corridors, her gaze naturally followed him, and she looked for opportunities to speak.

She had no ulterior motives. She simply wanted to thank him, but every chance slipped away.

When they met in the hallway, she hesitated and couldn’t say anything, and at the banquet hall, he was always surrounded by other young ladies, so she had no chance to approach.

Wouldn’t there be a chance to at least say a word to him?

Unable to even express her thanks, Claire grew increasingly anxious, and her feelings for Helion grew stronger.

Once her feelings started to grow, they became impossible to control. Just like now, she found herself hoping to run into him by chance every time she walked through the palace corridors.

I ran into him—today must be a lucky day!

After bumping into him again today, Claire’s steps were light as she headed back to the office after delivering the stack of papers as ordered.

* * *

“What, are you still in love with him?”

On her day off, Claire attended a tea gathering hosted by Rona. All the young ladies gathered there seemed curious about how Claire’s crush was going.

Since all of them were already engaged except for her, it was only natural that everyone’s attention was focused on the only one without a fiancé.

“I haven’t had a chance to get close…”

Claire mumbled as she stared at the teacup in front of her.

“If you’re satisfied with just seeing him from afar, when will you ever get close?”

“If I can’t get closer, I guess I’ll have to give up.”

There was nothing she could do in her current situation, so she looked disappointed.

“Still no reply to your letter?”

“…Yeah.”

The Earl of Mansfield had personally sent a letter to the Radner family suggesting a marriage alliance for Claire, but there had been no response. As time went by, Claire’s confidence kept dropping.

“Want me to create an opportunity for you?”

At that, Rona made an enticing suggestion.

“How?”

Claire asked, her eyes wide.

“I’ll arrange a chance for you to dance with him at the banquet. My fiancé recently became friends with the Young Lord Radner, so I got introduced as well. I’ll introduce you to him as my friend.”

“Really?”

At that moment, Claire’s eyes sparkled. She had always thought her crush would never come true, but now she saw a glimmer of hope.

“Of course. Leave it to me.”

“Thank you!”

Claire got up and went over to Rona, grabbing both her hands. Her deep brown eyes sparkled as if filled with stars.

“I hope it goes well.”

Rona smiled gently at her, looking at her fondly.

“I’ll introduce you at the banquet tonight. You’re coming, right?”

“Of course I am.”

Claire clenched her fists, showing her determination to attend no matter what.

That evening, at the Imperial Banquet Hall hosted by the Imperial Family.

When she arrived at the banquet hall, Rona, who had arrived earlier, introduced her to Helion.

“This is my friend, Claire Mansfield, the young lady of the Mansfield Earldom.”

Do you remember me?

She desperately wanted to ask as soon as she saw his face, but Claire held herself back and greeted him first.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Claire Mansfield.”

It was her first time seeing his smile up close, and she was so moved that she felt tears prick her eyes.

“I’m Helion Radner. I think we’ve run into each other in the palace corridors a few times. How about greeting each other more warmly from now on?”

“…Yes.”

She wanted to answer cheerfully as usual, but she was so nervous that her voice barely came out. Seeing her like that, Helion gave her a fresh smile.

“Which department do you work in? I’m a secretary in the Ministry of State.”

“….”

“I think I saw you heading toward the Ministry of Finance when we met. Is that right?”

“…Yes.”

She wanted to answer warmly, like, “I know, of course I do,” but despite her intentions, Claire couldn’t even have a normal conversation with Helion. She had so much to say, but her voice wouldn’t come out, and all she could manage was a faint “Yes.”

What should I do! 

Not knowing what to do, Claire shuffled her feet under her voluminous skirt and cleared her throat, but her voice was still stuck.

“How about a dance with Claire?”

Just as Claire worried their conversation would end like this, Rona came to her rescue.

Naturally suggesting that Helion dance with her, Rona winked, and Claire nodded.