Raian ran a hand through his hair after hearing my demand.

It was a habit of his whenever he was angry or irritated.

“I’m serious right now. I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

A joke?

I had lost what mattered most.

“I’m answering seriously as well.”

If it were possible, I would sell my soul to the devil just to bring Jave back.

“Other than that… is there anything I can do?”

Even now, the way he asked me to come back was typical of him.

He twisted what I wanted to suit him — it was unmistakable. I could recognize him even if he were covered from head to toe.

“No. There isn’t.”

The corner of his lips trembled faintly.

“Do you know what that woman said to me yesterday? She said if I didn’t marry her, she’d go to that bastard Hilbardo. Claimed she had built a connection with one of the prince’s knights.”

So that was why they had fought all night.

If it was the prince’s knight, he must be referring to Sir Ohil.

The reason he was telling me this… was probably to drive a wedge between Hilbardo and me.

“I was played by her. I realized it far too late. Come back, Violetta. As long as it’s not bringing the dead child back to life, I’ll do anything.”

Listening to his nonsense made my head start to throb.

I lifted the corner of my lips and said,

“Can you exile Lady Rose from the Barnes Empire? Can you give all your wealth to me?”

“I’ll consider it seriously.”

He clenched his fist tightly. Despite his words, his eyes made it clear he would never accept it.

“I know you well. You won’t do any of it.”

I forced down the emotions threatening to spill out and continued,

“I don’t care that you were played by that woman. I don’t care what you talked about last night. So don’t take out your emotions on me. I endured it for three years as well.”

Now, visibly furious, Raian tore off his mask.

Grinding his teeth, he continued,

“You seem awfully confident now that you have that man by your side. But men are all the same: they act like they’ll give you everything, but then turn their backs the moment they’ve had you. Do you think he’s any different?”

A pitiful man—thinking every man in the world was just like him.

“Don’t insult him.”

“Hah. It hasn’t even been long since the divorce, and you’re already defending another man.”

Raian laughed out loud.

People’s gazes began to turn toward us.

“Do you even know why we divorced? It was because Pardia handed over its wealth to the emperor in exchange. That means you’ve become nothing but a noble in name—someone with nothing.”

His finger pointed straight at my face.

“Don’t come crawling back to me later, begging to be taken in again after suffering through everything. You’re the one who threw this chance away.”

At some point, I could no longer hear the music.

It felt as though everyone in the banquet hall was focused on our conversation.

“Choose your words carefully. The reason we divorced is because of you.”

I stood up from my chair.

I didn’t want him looking down at me.

“You protected another woman while still married to me. You slept with her—and then shamelessly came to me as if nothing had happened…”

My emotions surged and I couldn’t carry on.

Raian glanced around sharply, sensing the stinging gazes. People quickly pretended to mind their own business and resumed their chatter.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

My throat tightened, but I was determined to say everything I needed to say.

“Duke of Stroud. I truly hope you live happily ever after with that woman. Ah, didn’t you say she’s seeing another man as well?”

Raian kicked the table.

Gasps of “Oh my!” rang out around us.

“Shut your mouth, Violetta.”

His clenched jaw and the way he spat out the command made his expression utterly vile.

There was no point in staying here any longer.

I would only witness something worse.

It would be better to return to the estate.

At that moment—

“Duke of Stroud. You must have a death wish.”

Hilbardo’s voice came from behind me.

At the same time, his large hand closed around mine.

“No wonder I can’t take my eyes off you.”

The name masquerade felt meaningless—his presence was more overwhelming than anyone else’s.

Hilbardo wore a mask like a lion’s mane, the same shade of red as my dress.

Like a predator returning victorious, drenched in blood after defeating its rival.

“Come here, Violetta!”

Raian grabbed my arm and shouted. Then, without caring about the stares around us, he said,

“Is it me, or him? Choose.”

I blinked several times.

Was he really asking that?

It wasn’t worth answering.

I shook off his arm forcefully.

He froze in place, as though he had turned to ice.

“No matter who you put in front of me, it will never be you.”

I couldn’t even bring myself to laugh.

I just wanted to get his face out of my sight.

***

I moved to a lounge outside the banquet hall and drank the cold water Hilbardo handed me in one long gulp.

My throat had been parched, so it was a relief.

“I thought you wouldn’t come since you said you’d be late.”

“I thought you might wait.”

“Didn’t the viscount pass along my message? I told him I wouldn’t wait.”

Viscount Tibel wasn’t the kind of person to miss something like that.

Hilbardo looked at me silently for a moment before speaking.

“The thought of you being alone in a den of beasts… I couldn’t bear it.”

I only blinked, not quite understanding what he meant. He cleared his throat a couple of times, as if trying to hide his embarrassment, and added,

“Since it’s a masquerade, there are plenty of men looking to take advantage of the night.”

“Ah.”

“You may not have noticed, but quite a few were waiting for your conversation with the duke to end.”

“So did you deal with all of them?”

I asked half in jest, but he nodded.

“Not all. Just the biggest one.”

With his finger, Hilbardo traced the shape of the Duke of Stroud’s mask.

Even though I had been in a bad mood, being with him eased me enough that I found myself smiling.

“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

Gently brushing the mane attached to his mask, I said,

“If you’re sorry, will you answer one question for me?”

“Anything.”

I had come here to avoid Raian, but his words kept echoing in my mind.

“Do you even know why we divorced? Pardia handed over its wealth to the emperor in exchange.”

I had suspected there was something between my parents and the emperor. I had even thought about investigating it myself.

“Is it true that the emperor ordered my divorce from the Duke of Stroud because my parents handed over the family’s wealth to the imperial house?”

Hilbardo’s expression hardened instantly.

Seeing that, the strength drained from my shoulders.

I hadn’t expected that everyone knew—except me.

“How… how much?”

The shock made it difficult to form words.

“The Count did it so that you wouldn’t have to endure such treatment in Stroud. Wealth can be regained, but time can never be returned.”

Realizing that my happiness had been built on my parents’ sacrifice filled me with guilt.

Thinking of the vast fields I had once run through, and of the precious people of my village being trampled underfoot by the emperor’s greed, darkened my vision.

Then I suddenly remembered that my father was still managing the mines and fields.

Suspecting it might be a façade, I grabbed Hilbardo’s collar and asked him about it. He gave a faint smile and replied,

“Johann has already taken measures so that it can all be reclaimed at any time.”

As I listened to his explanation, I realized just how many people had been working for my happiness.

Even the crown prince—someone I had barely even met—had lent his strength to ensure Pardia would not fall to the emperor’s greed.

The thought made my chest tighten.

“I… miss my parents tonight.”

“They’re probably sleeping peacefully by now.”

Imagining my parents lying side by side on a large bed, snoring loudly, made me smile.

“No matter what I try to do, Your Highness always acts one step ahead of me.”

“If you tell me not to, I won’t.”

I shook my head.

“That’s not it. I’m just being careful… in case I end up relying on you too much.”

Hilbardo lightly tapped my mask and asked,

“Is that why you wore a different mask instead of the one I sent?”

“Something like that.”

“It suits you. You look beautiful.”

He brushed the edge of my mask with his fingers.

Even though our bodies hadn’t touched, my heart began to race.

His hand slowly moved down to caress my cheek.

I couldn’t control my reaction; I was completely captivated by his touch.

Then, the tips of his fingers, which had been tracing my face, reached my lips.

As he gently brushed them, he looked at me, and I could smell a scent reminiscent of a spring river.

“I…”

His hand stilled against my lips.

“This is why I prepared a mask that covers my entire face.”

He slowly leaned closer.

Within his deep, vivid blue eyes, I saw myself reflected.