“Are you asking me that now?”

“He must be quite famous, huh?”

As Fedric’s eyes narrowed in irritation, Karas blinked blankly.

“I told you a few days ago. Where do you even listen to my words?”

“So, who is he?”

“He’s the fiancée of the Duke of Xavier’s daughter. He was granted the title of Baron by His Majesty last month!”

“The Duke of Xavier’s daughter?”

Karas suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at Fedric. Fedric’s face twisted in disbelief.

“Are you doing this on purpose? You’re only now surprised to hear that the Duke of Xavier’s daughter is engaged?”

“Ah, no, that’s not it. I understand now.”

Karas exhaled a lazy breath and resumed walking. Fedric’s eyes glinted with intrigue.

‘It’s been years since I’ve seen him this surprised.’

Soon, Fedric grinned and caught up to Karas.

“Are you going straight to the count’s place?”

“No.”

“Then where are you going?”

Karas glanced around. At that moment, he made eye contact with a woman who had been sending him subtle, enticing glances. He chose her, who was giving him a flirtatious smile.

“I have another appointment.”

Karas casually smiled as if to shake off the uncomfortable feeling creeping over him.

He preferred encounters where there was no responsibility, just pleasure.

***

The moment Yelodia stepped out of the lounge, she started looking around for Edward.

To her surprise, the grand banquet hall was so large that she couldn’t find her fiancée right away.

Yelodia slowly walked through the crowd of nobles, hoping that she might spot him after circling the hall once.

But she was underestimating the emperor’s lavish party.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Xavier of the Duke of Xavier’s family. I am Lady Welson.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I am Alex Vio, the Baron.”

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am…”

At first, Yelodia greeted them politely, but the number of people surrounding her kept growing.

Before she realized it, she was surrounded by a crowd, like a swarm of clouds.

A sudden sense of danger washed over her.

“Excuse me for a moment. My brother is looking for me.”

Yelodia had no choice but to make a swift escape.

Sigh… Where am I?

Despite her careful observations, she couldn’t figure out where she was.

Seeing a few nobles wandering about, it didn’t seem like she had completely left the banquet hall, but she still didn’t have the courage to ask a stranger for directions.

Suddenly, Yelodia’s eyes fell on thick velvet curtains.

The structure suggested that beyond the curtains, there was a terrace.

Should I rest for a bit?

The decision didn’t take long.

She gently parted the curtains, revealing a dark terrace. Thankfully, there was no sign of anyone nearby.

Yelodia took a quiet breath and carefully stepped out.

In that moment, a large hand grabbed her wrist.

“Ah…!”

“Shh, don’t make a sound or we’ll be caught.”

It was the voice of a man she had never heard before. With a light laugh, he pulled Yelodia closer.

“What… Let go of me!”

“You like it rough, huh? Well, I suppose that’s fun too.”

The man muttered as he pulled Yelodia closer, almost causing their bodies to collide.

Thud!

A loud sound echoed as the man jerked his head away.

“What’s this?”

The man frowned and touched his cheek and lips.

Yelodia, filled with rage, trembled all over.

“How dare you, what are you doing?”

“You’re the one asking me what I’m doing?”

At that moment, the curtains parted with a soft rustling, and a woman in a magnificent dress walked onto the terrace.

As both Yelodia and the man turned their heads, the woman tilted her head in confusion.

“Oh my, did you have an appointment already? I thought you were signaling me. Should I leave now?”

“…”

“…”

Realizing what had happened, Yelodia tightly gripped her dress. Her body shook with fury.

Karas still looked dazed and speechless.

Not hearing a word from either of them, the woman called the man again.

“Karas?”

Yelodia spoke first.

“Unless you want to spread rumors all over high society, come in quickly and shut the curtains. I’m leaving, so you two can enjoy yourselves!”

After giving the man a sharp glare, Yelodia spun around and turned her back on them.

It was only then that Karas realized there had been a misunderstanding, and he furrowed his brow. He quickly stepped ahead of her, blocking her way.

“I made a mistake. I apologize for my rudeness.”

“…Move.”

“If you go now, it seems I’ll be committing a grave sin. Please, forgive my impudent disrespect, my lady.”

“I have no intention of forgiving you. If you’re done speaking, can you leave now?”

“…”

Karas raised an eyebrow just slightly, as if taken aback by her unexpected reaction.

Yelodia looked up at him with a look of disdain and spoke.

“You don’t even seem to think you did anything wrong. So why are you asking for forgiveness? To ease your own conscience? Or because you dislike being caught in some ridiculous gossip?”

“…”

Karas, now looking genuinely surprised, stared down at Yelodia.

Her eyes, illuminated by the lights passing through the window, were as cold as ice.

“If you’re done, move aside. Or should I scream now, the scream I should have let out earlier?”

Karas suddenly furrowed his brow.

In that moment, he realized that wanting to know the color of her eyes in this situation was a sign that he had completely lost his mind.

“At the very least, would you tell me your name, my lady? I would like to apologize again later.”

“I have no name to teach someone like you. We didn’t meet today, so let’s pretend we don’t know each other’s name.”

Yelodia stood expressionless, staring intently at the window where the light was coming through. She made it clear that she wouldn’t speak, no matter what he said.

With that cutting resolve, Karas had no choice but to step back. The woman who had entered the terrace after him also stepped back in confusion, clearing the way.

When Yelodia disappeared beyond the curtains, an eerie silence filled the terrace.

“……”

Jonas, who had tried to seduce Karas into spending a passionate night with her, let out a breathless laugh as she looked at him. Having lost her husband at an early age, Jonas sometimes found the exaggerated sense of propriety among noblewomen laughable.

“It seems there was some misunderstanding. It doesn’t look like anything happened that would tarnish the reputation of a virtuous lady, but she’s certainly an audacious young woman.”

“Also, she’s got quite sharp eyes. She instantly realized that I didn’t feel even the slightest bit sorry.”

It seemed that Karas didn’t expect Jonas to be so straightforward, and his expression shifted in surprise.

“By the way, what on earth were you thinking? How could you not recognize the star of the banquet?”

“You know who she is, right?”

At Karas’s confused question, Jonas burst into laughter.

“Oh my, you really didn’t know? She’s the Duke of Xavier’s daughter, Karas. It seems you truly have no interest in high society, just like the rumors say.”

“The Duke of Xavier’s daughter…”

Karas’s eyes widened in realization.

***

Despite walking diligently around the grand banquet hall, finding Edward among the nobles was no easy task.

Her legs were aching, and her feet were sore. The nobles who persistently clung to her still made it hard to breathe.

Just when she felt like giving up the search, Yelodia spotted the back of a tall man, as if by miracle.

“Baron…”

It felt like finding a ray of light in the pitch-black darkness.

However, Yelodia quickly closed her mouth, stunned. Edward was surrounded by elegantly dressed ladies.

“…Huh?”

A noblewoman dressed in emerald satin and adorned with jewels was holding a silk fan, speaking to Edward.

Edward was listening attentively to her, his face expressionless.

What’s this?

Yelodia narrowed her eyes.

Among the women, the Viscountess of Dallas stood there, blushing and staring at Edward with a strangely intense gaze.

Her chest sank with a feeling of dread.

At that moment, Edward, who had been scanning the crowd, spotted Yelodia.

“Yelodia.”

His eyes, when he turned to look at her, were filled with relief and warmth.

“Baron.”

Yelodia cautiously approached Edward.