“What did you say to her that made her stop coming?”

“She was someone who smiled brightly even without Your Excellency’s attention. How hurt must she have been…?”

The knights, who had watched Roeni being ignored by Diart, felt their hearts ache at the thought of her being hurt by his words.

“These guys, what are they saying to His Excellency? Everyone’s gone crazy! Do you want to go around the training ground?”

Lambert also had a reproachful look in his eyes as he turned to leave with the knights.

In the end, Diart, who stood alone against everyone, narrowed his eyes.

Though he had only scolded them with words, the knights were energized knowing that Lambert stood on their side. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t have dared to resent Diart, but now they couldn’t help but see Roeni, burying her face in her hands and shaking with tears.

How much must she be hurting…

Yes, what’s the big deal about doing 100 laps around the training ground!

“Please treat the mistress with kindness.”

“If Your Excellency treats her a little better, she will be incredibly happy.”

“I’m telling you to be good to her when she’s sleeping. You won’t regret it later.”

Diart, who had been listening quietly, let out a bitter laugh. The knights flinched a bit, but because of the crowd mentality and their own spirits being high as knights, they continued to praise Roeni and flatter Diart.

“Your Excellency doesn’t know how wonderful the madam is.”

“Yes! There are rumors circulating in the capital about how amazing the madam is.”

Rumors? It was a word that didn’t fit with Roeni more than anything else. Before Diart could question it, Milto looked down at the gloves he was wearing and spoke up.

“She even gave us such thoughtful gifts… She is truly kind-hearted.”

Diart followed Milto’s gaze.

The gloves he was wearing looked different from the ones the knights usually used for training. Instead of covering the entire fingers like the usual ones, they only covered the back of the hand.

“She gave them as a gift, saying she didn’t know when or in what situation they might be urgently needed. The weather has been getting hotter, and when I wore them, it felt really refreshing. She must have hoped that we, who have been enduring difficult training, could find some comfort.”

Milto gently stroked the gloves with gratitude in his eyes. He still didn’t fully understand what ‘first aid kit’ meant, but he was certain that it held deep meaning.

Not only Milto, but other knights also cherished their gloves. Lambert was no exception.

“Your Excellency must have also received…….”

Naturally, Milto’s mouth shut when he turned his gaze, thinking that Diart would also be wearing the back-of-hand gloves. But he was wearing leather gloves that covered his fingertips in this heat.

He wondered if he had refused, but based on his expression as he stared at the knights as they looked at their own gloves, he could tell that he hadn’t received anything at all.

“Ah…”

The knights nodded in understanding as they recalled his past behavior of ignoring the lady. There was a mixture of guilt in their expressions.

Finding the knights’ faces looking at him unsettling, Diary spoke lowly without realizing it.

“I received one.”

‘You’re lying!’

The knights were certain.

Despite making excuses that sounded like lies, Diart spoke lowly, knowing that the knights didn’t believe her at all.

“Lambert.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Lambert, who had been observing the knights from a distance and listening to their reproaches, approached Diart.

“Looking at them talking leisurely, it seems like they lack training.”

“Yes. I’ll have them return to the training grounds.”

The knights already had expressions that showed they were prepared for it. Their bodies would be exhausted, but their spirits were refreshed.

“It’s been a while since we’ve practiced Plan D.”

“Gasp!”

When Diart mentioned the most challenging training course, the knights’ faces turned pensive.

“Understood.”

“You too, participate.”

Diart raised an eyebrow when he saw Lambert, who had been chuckling and turning his head slightly when the knights crowded around him. Lambert backed away.

“Yes, we will start right away…”

* * *

Let’s see. Perfect hairstyle. Perfect dress. I made sure to bring a fan to cover my mouth. Now, all that’s left is to enter.

“Madam, are you really okay going alone?”

Lily asked anxiously. She believed that I was infiltrating the masquerade for the sake of a friend.

Seeing her innocent gaze that looked straight at me, my conscience pricked and I quickly picked up a mask. I stepped down from the small carriage, partially covering my face with a fancy mask adorned with lilies and cubic zirconia.

Intentionally, I chose an ordinary carriage without the Duchy of Wheaton emblem on it. Even though the people knew who I was, I wasn’t bold enough to ride in a family carriage like those who boldly entered the hall.

“Now that I’m actually going in, I’m a little nervous.”

I took a deep breath and walked slowly.

As I entered the hall where the masquerade was being held, I covered my open mouth with a fan.

‘Wow!’

The ballroom was just like in the movies. The sparkling decorations here and there were more luxurious than I had imagined.

It seemed like I arrived late, because inside the brightly lit hall, men and women were already mingling, dancing, or chatting in groups.

The jewels reflected by the chandeliers shone brilliantly, showing off how elaborately everyone had dressed up. Lily was worried that my dress was too plain, but here, I felt like I wouldn’t stand out at all.

‘Great.’

Since I had planned to quietly scope out the men, I intentionally wore something more inconspicuous. As a result, a satisfied smile naturally appeared on my face.

I walked slowly into the crowd, listening to the soft melody of the music. Holding a champagne glass on a tray carried by a waiter, I looked around.

‘Damn it. How am I supposed to flirt if I can’t see anyone’s face?’

It was a flaw that while my mask concealed my identity, it also prevented me from seeing other people’s faces. If I just approached anyone without knowing who they were and then took off my mask, it would be a disaster if I couldn’t control my expression.

And what if I ran into someone who recognized me?

I shook my head vigorously and strained my eyes. All I had to rely on was my aesthetic sense. I peered through my mask, hoping to catch a glimpse of the hidden faces.

Of course, no matter how hard I strained my eyes, I couldn’t see their faces, but I could observe their actions instead.

That person was stumbling as they walked. That person kept sighing. That man couldn’t take his eyes off every passing woman, undoubtedly driven by lust. That man’s laughter sounded too frivolous.

Whether it was my fault for being too picky or something else, I couldn’t find a man who appealed to me no matter how much I looked around. It was at that moment, when I sighed in disappointment.

“Oh, that man looks fine.”

I opened my eyes wide as I saw a man entering the hall.

Tall stature, broad shoulders, a sleek figure with an elegant gait, and a leisurely look as he glanced around. The somewhat modest black suit made the man even more noticeable.

Moreover, there was a dignified and imposing atmosphere unique to the upper-class nobility that surrounded the man. It was clear that he was extraordinarily handsome.

I wasn’t the only one thinking this, as the gazes of the women in the hall all turned towards him.

‘Of course, the atmosphere in the hall changed as soon as he appeared.’

Although he was a man who captured everyone’s attention in the hall, I turned my head without any lingering feelings. I didn’t want to get entangled with someone so noticeable and attract everyone’s attention.

Moreover, it bothered me how much he resembled Diart in demeanor. He had black hair, so it couldn’t be Diart.

“Let’s not be too quick to judge, I’ll just start a conversation with someone.”

As I made up my mind and was about to take a step forward,

“My lady, are you alone?”

A thick shadow covered my line of sight, and a large palm reached out towards me. When I raised my eyes, there was a somewhat shady man standing there with a sly smile.

Despite my decision not to be easily swayed, I didn’t want to engage with someone who reeked of strong alcohol every time they opened their mouth. I also hesitated because the eyes behind the mask seemed to have a sinister look.

Before I could reject him,

“What business do you have with my partner?”

Someone warmly wrapped their arm around my shoulder.