The man with the fresh voice seemed to enjoy the attention directed at him.

Janet, knowing that Rihanel wasn’t the type to enjoy this kind of attention, looked at the unfamiliar scene with puzzlement.

Rihanel ignored Janet’s gaze and continued.

“I don’t think the ladies and gentlemen who’ve stayed until this hour want to just dance elegantly. How about creating more special connections?”

“What do you mean?”

“We’ll randomly determine partners and escort each other until leaving the hall. You can dance with your partner, go to the terrace or garden together. Behind drawn curtains, no one should mind what you do.”

No one should mind what you do? People exchanged glances. Even dancing three times in a row causes gossip, but staying together until the end? At this late hour?

But… with the night atmosphere and rising intoxication, his proposal was quite attractive. Just thinking about it made everyone feel excited and heated.

Almost four hours since the ball began, the newly debuted youngsters had gone home, leaving only those mature enough to truly enjoy a ball.

One might be paired with someone they couldn’t even ask to dance due to social constraints. Or spend time with someone whose appearance they liked but couldn’t approach due to considerations of family or wealth.

Moreover, even if rumors spread… the game provided a perfect excuse that they had no choice but to be together as a result of the game.

Eventually, with eyes full of interest, everyone nodded.

“Hmm… should we draw lots or something?”

“That would be boring. The men will place their personal items where the ladies can’t see, and the ladies will choose an item and become partners with its owner. How about that?”

In an instant, the women scanned the men from head to toe. The men straightened their posture and cleared their throats unnecessarily.

One of them glanced at Janet and asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously,

“But Duke Rihanel, is it alright for your fiancée to become a fateful partner with another man?”

Fateful partner? Rihanel’s expression hardened momentarily. As the man who asked the question fumbled awkwardly, wondering if he’d said something wrong, Rihanel smiled brightly as if nothing had happened and said,

“Of course.”

Rihanel reached out to Janet and tucked her fallen hair behind her ear. It was an incredibly affectionate gesture.

“My fiancée hasn’t known any man but me until now. It might be good for her to experience other men on this occasion.”

The atmosphere heated up even more at his words.

Weren’t they just discussing the rumor that Janet Wilton had set fire to the cathedral to hide her secret meeting with a man?

And Rihanel surely knew about that rumor.

“But I hope you’ll choose me, Janet. We trust each other, don’t we?”

Rihanel stared directly at Janet. People watched them with eyes gleaming with interest.

Honestly, it was hard to believe that Janet Wilton alone would know any of Rihanel Reynes’ personal items.

Even though he had just returned, hadn’t he abandoned her alone for nearly four hours? And as soon as he returned, his proposal was to randomly choose partners.

This game was clearly designed by Rihanel to humiliate Janet.

And this game wasn’t just entertaining for those watching the two of them.

What if Janet chose an item that wasn’t Rihanel’s?

Janet Wilton was someone they might want to converse with or share a drink with, but wouldn’t want to get deeply involved with. This was a chance to face her in such a momentary amusement.

For the women, this was also an opportunity. To break the seemingly fragile relationship between Rihanel and Janet, and create a chance to become Rihanel’s companion.

“Bring the screen.”

Rihanel’s proposal delighted the party’s host, the daughter of Marquis Greyden. When her tall, handsome male servants brought out the screen, the atmosphere heated up even more.

The men entered behind the screen and placed their items. They racked their brains about what might be their most valuable possession. Something expensive, something Rihanel might own.

The women peered at the screen while hiding their faces behind fans. Pretending not to be too interested, they focused all their attention there.

The men who had placed their items dispersed throughout the hall. Among them, some unnecessarily raised and lowered their hands, having placed obvious items like gloves, while for many others, it was impossible to tell what they had placed.

Then it was Rihanel Reynes’ turn. This time, everyone stared at him intently without hiding it.

But it was impossible to even guess what Rihanel Reynes had placed.

It seemed it wasn’t an obvious item. Not a single woman had succeeded in finding the difference in the picture until he went out to the terrace.

And Janet also failed to identify Rihanel’s item.

‘He could have given a hint…’

Janet looked at the terrace with resigned eyes.

It was natural that she didn’t know Rihanel’s item. He probably proposed this game thinking exactly that. And then he says they trust each other?

She knew better than anyone here that he didn’t trust her.

“It’s done! Ladies, please come forward in the order you drew!”

While the men placed their items, the women headed to the screen in the predetermined order. Among about twenty women, Janet was ninth.

The expressions on the women’s faces showed excitement when entering the screen, and joy or disappointment when coming out.

Janet also unconsciously craned her neck to watch who became partners with whom.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the women who went before her didn’t find Rihanel’s item either.

Anxiety rose as she realized she wouldn’t even have the excuse that someone else had already taken it. But at the same time, she felt relieved that he had no partner yet, making Janet think her mind was confused.

“Janet.”

Just then, someone whispered to her.

It was Theo.

“I’m sorry about earlier. My item is an ivory brooch with a rose engraved on it. If you’re okay with it, how about spending time with me?”

He really did look sorry. Even though he hadn’t done anything wrong and didn’t need to invest such emotion…

Still, it was quite a good proposal for Janet. Choosing Theo’s item would lead to a relatively comfortable time.

“…I’ll think about it.”

“I’ll wait.”

Janet headed behind the screen.

On the table were various items, cufflinks, brooches, gloves, and even sleeve garters. The ivory brooch Theo had mentioned was there too.

And the next moment.

Janet’s eyes caught a small, yet distinctly prominent item. She stared blankly, alternating between the brooch and that item.

Finally, Janet picked up one item.

The servant checked the item and guided her somewhere. It was in the direction where Theo Randipel was. Janet’s steps met Theo’s hopeful eyes.

Rihanel Reynes, standing on the terrace behind a translucent curtain, watched the scene with coldly frozen eyes.

To be honest, he had expected her to come here. But as time passed, he strangely became more anxious.

And now, why was she exchanging glances with some other bastard?

Especially that guy, who had been with her on the terrace earlier. He had also quietly whispered something to Janet as she went to choose an item.

What did he say? That he would always make her smile if she chose his item? That they should go to the pergola behind the garden for an intimate time?

“Damn it.”

It was difficult to lift his coldly frozen expression again. Fortunately, because it was bright inside and dark outside, he could see inside through the translucent curtain, but from where Rihanel stood, only silhouettes were visible.

The reason for his bad mood was easy to find.

Because that woman was trying to betray him again.

This time too, just like then.

Even though he said he trusted her. Even though he gave her a choice.

At that moment, Theo Randipel, who had made eye contact with Janet, lowered his head dejectedly.

Step after step.

Janet passed by where Theo was and headed to the terrace. Where Rihanel was.

Rihanel’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. The glass door leading to the terrace opened and the curtain was drawn back.

“Rihanel.”

Janet Wilton appeared.

“Janet! I knew you’d come here.”

Rihanel welcomed her warmly. When his bright voice was heard, people exhaled breaths of surprise or disappointment.

The servant carefully drew the curtains and closed the door. Now it was their private space.

Then Rihanel’s expression instantly turned cold. He roughly snatched the item from Janet’s hand. Janet, with trembling eyes and an expression of incomprehension, asked,

“What’s going on?”

“What is this?”

It was a thin thread ring.

The one Janet had dropped in the river a few days ago.

And the one Nel Siphren had given to Janet Wilton, worn and aged beyond measure.

***

At the early hour when the ball had just begun.

Rihanel’s carriage arrived at the Greyden Marquis’s residence.

His steps toward the mansion were heavily laden with irritation. He was already tired imagining the gazes he would receive when standing in the ballroom with Janet Wilton.

I’ll just dance once, respond to people appropriately, and leave. She’ll probably be grateful for that too. She wouldn’t enjoy such gatherings anyway.

The first dance was usually a waltz. Imagining Janet Wilton dancing with elegant movements made his stomach churn.

That lofty woman would have a dry expression even during the first dance. It would be fortunate if she didn’t criticize Rihanel’s movements after the dance ended. That annoying…

“…What’s this.”

Rihanel, who had been inwardly cursing Janet, stopped in his tracks.

He blinked quietly. A radiant woman standing on the terrace. She was clearly Janet Wilton. But…

Why does she have a different aura than usual? Because of her half-up hairstyle? Because of the elaborate accessories?

Ah.

Janet Wilton was smiling. Brightly folding her eyes, lifting the corners of her mouth, so very radiantly.

Since she always had a dry expression when with him, he had forgotten that she could make such expressions.

And at the end of her gaze…

Rihanel’s eyebrows rose.

In front of her stood some lanky, provincial-looking bastard, smiling with her.

The feeling was unpleasant and dirty.

Wasn’t that kind of expression something she only showed to Nel Siphren in the past? Ah, was it a loose smile she also showed to the guy she was with when setting the fire, and to the prison guards?