“It seems the Grand Duchess’s eyesight has suddenly deteriorated.”

“Hoho.”

The princess laughed unpleasantly as she approached Elisia, cutting through the crowd. Elisia maintained her smile.

“I received your gift last time.”

Gift? Had Elisia ever given her a gift?

Not wanting to show her confusion, Elisia smiled gently.

‘Perhaps Elisia and the princess had a special relationship?’

But from the princess’s next words, Elisia immediately realized her guess was completely wrong.

“So I wanted to give you something in return.”

“…”

“Would you come over here for a moment?”

The princess beckoned cutely with a face as bright as sunshine.

Something felt off, but it wasn’t a situation she could refuse, so Elisia walked toward her with slow steps.

“Could you lower your head for a moment?”

“…My head?”

“It’ll only take a second. Please?”

Her instincts were sounding alarm bells.

‘Manners aside, I know this is a trap, yet I’m walking right into it.’

Elisia stopped in her tracks, gently lifted her skirt, and took a step back.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I’ll pass on your return gift.”

All eyes turned toward them. Elisia secretly clenched and unclenched her fist.

‘If something happens here, I’ll truly be ruined.’

As Elisia retreated, the princess’s face instantly contorted. She seemed unable to contain her anger.

“Your Highness. I apologize, but I should be going now.”

“…”

“Thank you for inviting me to the party.”

The moment she turned to hurriedly leave the palace, a piercing voice cut through her ears.

“Stop!”

The sharp voice was hysterical. Though startled into stopping abruptly, she never lost her smile.

If she appeared relaxed and calm, it would only make the other person more furious.

Just as she turned her head toward the princess with a light smile.

Splash-

Something cold and sticky engulfed her face.

‘What is… this?’

A reddish liquid dripping from her hair.

Elisia looked at the liquid on her hands and smelled it. Judging from the alcoholic scent, it seemed to be wine.

The princess placed her hands on her hips and declared proudly:

“This is my return gift.”

“…”

“Last time, didn’t the Grand Duchess say, ‘How dare an uncivilized human step on my dress?'”

“…”

“As an apology, this uncivilized human is returning the favor.”

The princess approached closely and whispered like a mischievous troublemaker.

“After all, since the Grand Duchess has lost her memories, you can’t say or do anything.”

Elisia inhaled sharply at the unexpected words.

‘This princess knows I’ve lost my memories.’

They say news travels fast without feet. In such a short time, rumors had already reached the imperial family.

‘Perhaps this is actually a good thing?’

It was a perfect opportunity to clear the evil reputation.

Taking a deep breath, Elisia tried to think as rationally as possible while controlling her surging emotions.

‘Stay calm. It’s nothing.’

She recalled her past experiences dealing with difficult customers. Compared to those, the princess’s behavior was almost adorable.

“I see.”

The wine poured over her head made her sticky and wet. Yet Elisia never lost her smile.

“I hope you enjoy the rest of your time.”

Responding calmly like an adult dealing with a child, Elisia asked a servant for a handkerchief.

She looked around the banquet hall but couldn’t see even a strand of Derick’s hair.

‘I want to go home now. Where is that man and what is he doing?’

The stares directed at her were uncomfortable, but she pretended not to notice. Feeling somewhat tired, Elisia let out a deep sigh.

“Haaah… I want to go home.”

As she stared at the tips of her shoes, waiting like a lost child for someone to take her home:

“Can’t stay out of trouble for even a day, can you?”

A deep, weighty voice.

Elisia snapped her head up as if she’d been waiting for it. Derick clicked his tongue at her disheveled appearance.

“You have a unique way of drinking wine, I see.”

“Does this look like I was drinking to you?”

“What else?”

“Well… never mind.”

Elisia pushed herself off the wall and stretched lightly.

“Shall we go back?”

“You smell of alcohol.”

“Can’t be helped.”

She never expected to be slapped with wine instead of a hand. The thought somehow made her laugh.

Looking at her with disbelief, Derick tilted his head as if telling her to follow. Elisia thought about resisting but quietly followed behind him.

Throughout their walk across the banquet hall, whispers reached her ears. One topic was whether the Grand Duchess had truly lost her memories as rumored.

‘Good. Spread far and wide, rumors.’

As if mocking her thoughts, Derick’s words flew in.

“I thought I told you to behave.”

“I was quiet. Really.”

“Then what’s with that appearance?”

“This is the princess’s welcome greeting…”

As she answered his question while descending the palace stairs, the heel of her shoe caught on the edge of a step.

‘Whoa…!’

As her body wobbled and began to fall backward, someone grabbed her sharply, making her look up in surprise.

‘Goodness!’

Filling her widened pupils was Derick. Having gone down the stairs ahead of her, he was looking down at her expressionlessly.

“If you’re drunk, say so beforehand. Don’t cause trouble.”

“I’m not drunk.”

But contrary to her words, Elisia’s body was swaying again with the wind.

‘This useless body.’

A sip of wine upon arriving at the banquet, another sip while putting on airs in front of the princess, and even having wine poured all over her.

She was definitely drunk.

‘No wonder my face feels hot.’

She covered one side of her face with her free hand. Then she met the emotionless red eyes looking at her.

“Really…”

Derick stopped without finishing his sentence. Eventually, he frowned and swallowed whatever he was about to say.

She was curious about what he had intended to say. But Elisia didn’t ask. It would have been nothing but criticism anyway.

He released the arm he was holding as if telling her to follow and moved on. Watching him grow more distant, Elisia quietly followed.

‘Ugh. This feels gross. I want to wash up quickly.’

Her silver hair, soaked in wine, hung limply. Looking like a drenched mouse, she was a complete mess.

To make matters worse, her dress was beige, making the red wine stains even more prominent.

‘Still, that man isn’t nagging as much as I expected?’

The distance between her and Derick was growing. Thinking she shouldn’t let the gap widen too much, she hurried to catch up.

Just then, someone patted her back.

It happened in an instant. With a slippery sensation, her body tilted forward.

“…!”

Terrified, Elisia squeezed her eyes shut. She was certain her face would collide with the stairs this time.

‘Who pushed me!’

But no matter how much time passed, she didn’t feel that impact. Her head had buried itself in something firm, but it wasn’t the terrible pain she had expected.

‘What…?’

When she opened her eyes, she saw a broad embrace. Her heart sank for a moment. Could it be…

Slowly raising her head, she saw Derick looking down at her as if asking what she was doing.

“S-sorry.”

She flinched in surprise and hurriedly tried to stand up. She attempted to escape from his embrace.

‘Huh?’

But Derick’s hand gripping her arm was firm. He didn’t seem to have any intention of letting her go.

“Um…”

The deep eyes, whose thoughts were impossible to read, flashed for a moment.

And at that moment.

“…Ah!”

As if possessed by something, Derick tightly embraced Elisia.

Strangely, the man’s embrace felt cool yet somehow hot at the same time.

This contradictory sensation filled her mind.

At first she was bewildered, but soon realized.

‘His magic is stirring.’

If that was the case, just holding hands would have been enough, so why did he embrace her?

Just as her thoughts were deepening, she felt the gaze of curious onlookers gathering.

Among them, feeling an intense and uncomfortable stare, Elisia turned her head.

‘Who is it?’

But she only saw a blonde woman quickly entering the palace.

Being at the bottom of the stairs, she could only see the woman’s long hair and the hem of her dress. It was difficult even to guess who it might be.

Then her eyes met with a man’s. He was looking at them with considerable interest, making Elisia’s shoulders twitch.

“Um, Your Grace. Please let me go now. People are watching.”

“…”

“I said let me go?”

From a distance close enough to feel his breath, Derick stared quietly at Elisia.

After a moment, focus returned to his dreamy eyes.

“What did I…”

Muttering, Derick seemed to come to his senses and frowned as he looked at Elisia in his arms.