“Whatever you wish for, I will grant you one thing. This is Kalschmitz’s reward.”

“Thank you, but I believe I have already received a reward beyond what I deserve. The poverty relief activities imbued with Your Highness’s deep intentions are enough. So.”

“Hmm.”

Glancing up at his nasal sound, I saw that his eyes, which had been quite gentle until just now, had turned cold. I rolled my eyes once and changed my words.

“So please give me some time to think about it, Your Highness.”

“Of course.”

“Then.”

I lifted the hem of my dress and bent my knee in greeting. As I was about to descend from the platform, he called me to a halt again.

“Lady.”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

Why! Again why!

With an artificial smile on my face that differed from my inner feelings, I turned around and saw his hand extended before me.

“Would you dance with me?”

He had risen at some point and was asking me to dance.

Ba-bam-

Simultaneously, magnificent music began to echo through the hall. It was the band’s amazing reflexes.

After briefly staring at his firm and straight hand, I placed my hand on his with a wry smile.

“Gladly.”

***

Thump thump thump thump-

“Argh- The Grand Duke must be crazy!”

“My lady, please calm down……”

Irena tried to restrain me as I beat the pillow in frustration. At the same time, she looked around cautiously in case someone might have heard.

“No. Why does he throw someone’s head on the floor, then call my name, and even dance with me? Isn’t the Grand Duke supposed to never dance with anyone?”

As soon as I came down after dancing with the Grand Duke, piercing gazes dug into me.

They were the envious glances of young ladies aiming for the position of Grand Duchess.

Normally, the Grand Duke wouldn’t show his face in the social scene from the second day of the opening ceremony. So I, who had dared to dance with the Grand Duke on the first day, was definitely the prey of this social season.

“Ah! Really, Kalschmitz!”

I screamed and tore at the blanket.

It was now the third day since I had been abusing innocent pillows.

The light from the splendid chandelier brightly illuminated the dance hall.

I stared at the face of the man who shone brighter than the chandelier, not hiding the deep sigh that escaped.

“Your Highness. Why are you doing this?”

“What do you mean?”

Whirl-

He twirled me around once, curling the corners of his eyes. Sweet music enveloped my ears, and cool gazes flew toward me and stuck. They were the sharp gazes of young ladies, piercing enough to cut through me.

“I heard that Your Highness only shows your face on the first day of the social season.”

“That’s correct.”

“And I heard that you don’t dance with any young lady.”

He smiled gently.

“Now that rumor will change.”

A vein popped on my forehead.

So why, of all people, change that rumor with me? With so many young ladies standing there, desperately tearing at their handkerchiefs and earnestly desiring the Grand Duke!

For three days already, he had been appearing at the party and dancing with me. His actions, breaking all his previous patterns, only fueled rumors. For example, that the Grand Duke had fallen for me.

But his eyes were absolutely not those of a man in love. Also, the Grand Duke did not actively court me or protect me. After dancing, he would vanish somewhere suddenly.

“It was a pleasure, Lady Epine.”

“Ye-es. It was veery enjoyable for me too, Your Highness.”

Just like now.

Such an ambiguous attitude, as expected, made me the number one prey in the social scene.

As I turned my head toward the spacious hall, imagining kicking his broad back as he turned away without hesitation, I saw young ladies stealthily approaching me again today without fail.

Once the Duke had completely disappeared, that’s when the attacks directed at me began.

Young ladies would approach and pretend to accidentally spill drinks on me or trip me, while ladies and gentlemen would excitedly watch these young ladies’ fights – this had become the main event of this social season.

“Oh, I made a mistake.”

“My, she dodged that.”

“How quick she is.”

Hahaha.

Hohohohoho.

I had been dodging these for three days already.

How many dresses had I discarded? My patience was reaching its limit.

“Oh my, a mistake,”

Snap-

Sighing deeply, I caught the wrist that was just about to spill wine on my dress. I smiled toward Demian and Irena, who were twitching in a corner, poised to rush out at any moment. As usual, they sighed, holding their heads.

The young lady whose arm I had caught opened her eyes wide and shouted sharply.

“Ah! What are you doing?”

“What am I doing?”

Exhaling a thin sigh, I looked around once with a contemptuous gaze at the young lady in front of me and the others who were preparing to pounce like hyenas. Some avoided my eyes, while others sneered.

I looked again at the young lady in front of me who was trying with all her might to pull her arm free.

“Let go!”

“Alright.”

Snap-

As I took the glass from her hand and released her without hesitation, she staggered.

“Kyaa!”

“Oh no, Lady. What are you doing now? If you let go of her arm so suddenly, Lady Demira will fall!”

The young ladies chimed in one by one as if they had been waiting for this moment. Ignoring them, I opened my mouth toward the young lady who was glaring at me after barely regaining her balance.

“A handsome, rich, and powerful man looks attractive, doesn’t he?”

“What did you say?”

“You’re right. He is attractive.”

“What are you talking about?”

“But for a marriage partner, look for someone kind who will treat you well.”

A weak-minded man like that was out. As I raised the glass that the young lady had tried to spill on me and took a sip, a voice like rolling jade beads came from somewhere.

“That’s a rude thing to say, Lady Epine.”

Taking the glass from my lips and turning my gaze, I saw someone who appeared to be of the highest rank gracefully walking toward me.

Without hiding my expression of utter weariness, I watched as the young ladies parted like the Red Sea in Moses’ miracle.

Eventually, a cold but pure young lady with golden hair as splendid as mine, twisted up elegantly, stood before me.

And she opened her picture-perfect lips.

“It would be better to be careful, as it might sound as if Lady Demira deliberately spilled the wine glass because of His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Only they themselves know the truth, don’t they, Lady Demira?”

Lady Demira, with a face turned bright red, began to mumble something toward me.

“Ha, really……”

I opened my mouth with an even more indifferent expression.

“And let me make it clear, I have no interest in His Highness.”

At this, the young ladies’ eyes widened.

And the young lady standing in front of me with a cold expression opened her mouth.

“Lady Epine. I hope those words are sincere.”

“Of course. But, my lady.”

“Speak.”

“I didn’t catch your introduction. Are the social etiquette rules of the north and the capital slightly different?”

“……I am Miella Deswin. I apologize for the late introduction due to my haste. I’m sorry.”

She hesitated before apologizing with a smile. However, her eyes looked as if they had already torn me to pieces. I faced her and curved my eyes.

“Fine. Please be more careful in the future.”

As I lowered my gaze, I could see Lady Deswin’s hand tightly clenched, hidden in the folds of her dress.

After staring at that, I raised my eyes and scanned the young ladies once.

Yes. Life is tiring either way. Let’s not appear easy to push around.

Having made my decision, I continued.

“Ah, and if anyone tries childish tricks like tripping me or spilling drinks on me in the future.”