Chapter 1.5

After Erden left, Cielie was dragged to her father’s study.  

Fortunately, her father’s nagging about the tree-climbing incident ended after just one round.  

“I heard that the person who came from the Association today, Erden, went to the same academy as you?”  

“Well, yes…”  

“I’ve also heard rumors that you two fought physically every day. But judging by how close you seemed, I suppose they were exaggerated.”  

She hadn’t expected to meet her father’s sparkling, curious gaze.  

Instead of responding, she took a sip of her tea.  

‘Let’s change the subject.’  

Hearing the word “friend” after so long made her feel strange, and she didn’t want to talk about Erden.  

She calmly set down her teacup.  

“So, is this what you wanted to talk to me about?”  

“Oh, right. I almost forgot what I wanted to say. Cielie.”  

“…….”  

“I haven’t had the chance to talk to you properly since your body recovered, but I’m glad we can talk like this now.”  

Her father let out his usual warm laugh.  

For the first time, she noticed that her father’s face looked older than before.  

She hadn’t paid much attention to her family while struggling with her own emotions, so it had been a long time since she sat down for tea like this.  

The realization made her eyes sting slightly.  

Until she saw the invitation her father held out.  

‘That… Could it be?’  

“I originally intended to take Yurien with me, but even if he wakes up before then, it seems better for him to rest for now.”  

Her budding tears instantly dried up.  

“Catherine mentioned that you seem a bit different lately. And you’re at the age where you should start making appearances in society, aren’t you?”  

She had merely woken up earlier than usual and refrained from visiting the Duke’s household as she typically did. What was her mother even talking about…?  

Suppressing a bitter laugh, she glanced down at the pure white invitation.  

On the invitation was a distinct black rose emblem.  

It was undoubtedly from the Winter Ducal Household.  

Which meant…  

“You haven’t been looking for Dietrian these past few days, have you?”  

The original male lead, Dietrian Winter, and his family.  

He had been the object of her desperate, pitiful one-sided love—so much so that anyone who saw her would feel sorry for her.  

But back then, she had been completely blind, unable to read the hatred in his eyes.  

Until just a few days ago.  

As she recalled those painful times, she barely managed to suppress a sigh.  

“……Have you started sorting out your feelings?”  

Her father’s cautious voice finally made her sigh escape and scatter into the air.  

‘This is the first time he’s said something like this.’  

Her lack of communication with her family wasn’t due to a typical adolescent rebellion.  

‘I was truly struggling, feeling as if my world was collapsing.’  

To the point where her outlet was an obsessive one-sided love.  

After receiving the rank evaluation that deemed her no different from a commoner, she had grown sick of the pitying gazes directed at her.  

She had even preferred Dietrian’s cold stare and the occasional disdainful looks from others, thinking they were easier to bear.  

Various thoughts swirled through her mind.  

The emotions she had suppressed for so long surged forward like a wave.  

She took another sip of tea, swallowing both the tea and the rising emotions.  

‘Even though my feelings are still complicated….’  

Remembering her past life hadn’t changed her heart overnight. But it had given her a reason to pull herself together.  

After all, she wanted to live.  

That alone was reason enough to stop wandering aimlessly.  

Finally, she nodded and answered her father’s question.  

“……I’ve found something I want to do.”  

Her father’s eyes reddened.  

‘He had struggled alongside me.’  

She let out a soft laugh, awkwardly smiling.  

“That’s good to hear. If you ever need help, just let me know.”  

“Yes.”  

“Oh, this is an annual charity party hosted by the Duke’s Household. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you?”  

She nodded slightly at his words.  

She remembered that there was always a charity party around this time of year.  

“I plan to go this weekend, so keep that in mind.”  

The thought of not going briefly crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.  

She wasn’t the same Cielie Ronenfeld as before.  

‘…Though my priorities have shifted a bit.’  

Instead of blindly following the original story, it seemed better to twist things in some way.  

The first step was breaking away from the settings of her one-sided love.  

Her father’s next words made her relax her stiff expression and smile slightly.  

“Yes, I’ll do that, Father.”  

Honestly, wasn’t it a good thing?  

The charity party was the perfect place to officially end her one-sided love.  

Since it was hosted by the Duke’s Household, there would be plenty of people…  

‘And the seven famous young ladies always attend this event.’  

The thought brought a natural smile to her lips.  

“I’m really looking forward to it.”  

***

Dietrian was currently in a very foul mood.  

The recent flood of tasks had left him utterly exhausted, and just a few days ago, Cielie had come to the Ducal Manor under a ridiculous pretext, only to get caught up in the Rampage Incident.  

Handling that incident had left him unable to count the number of nights he hadn’t slept properly.  

On top of dealing with such a major event, he still had to host the annual charity party.  

‘Thankfully, Mother has taken care of most of the arrangements, so that’s one less thing to worry about.’  

Dietrian was highly irritable due to his accumulated fatigue, ready to snap at the slightest provocation.  

And the cause of this was undoubtedly—  

‘Cielie Ronenfeld.’  

The person who always managed to turn parties into complete disasters.  

‘At the last birthday banquet, she flipped the dinner table. Before that, during the welcoming ceremony, she threw herself into the small lake.’  

Dietrian’s gaze grew colder and more distant as he recalled those incidents.  

He had always hated being the center of attention.  

But as the son of a Duke, attention was unavoidable.  

‘And it’s only gotten worse because of Cielie Ronenfeld.’  

Thinking of her made his head throb, and he pressed his temples firmly.  

Cielie Ronenfeld.  

Once the center of attention, she had been deemed powerless and lost her rank.  

‘…That’s when it started.’  

When she began following him around.  

Dietrian thought of Cielie, who had always chased after him. Today, she would be attending the party in place of the Marchioness and her friend.  

“I hope… it ends quietly this time.”  

Dietrian clicked his tongue once and muttered softly.  

Though his low murmur reached his partner’s ears, she simply stood there with an unreadable expression.  

Meanwhile, unlike his calm partner, one side of the banquet hall was buzzing with activity.  

The young ladies, soon to debut in society, were busy showing off their beauty and chatting endlessly.  

The Seven Famous Young Ladies.  

Known for attending major events and spreading gossip, they were infamous for their antics.  

Though their influence wasn’t significant yet due to their pre-debut status, their rumors often made it into gossip magazines, leading many to believe they would soon wield great power in society.  

There was even a joke that if you wanted to spread a rumor, you should tell them.  

Today, as always, they gathered in small groups, chatting away.  

“The Duke’s Household is doing great work again this year.”  

“Indeed. By the way, I heard the Duke’s health has worsened recently. He hasn’t made an appearance today.”  

“Oh my—haven’t you heard!? There’s a rumor going around that the Young Duke will soon take over the title.”  

“If his health has deteriorated further, then surely the rumor—”  

As the young ladies whispered behind their feather fans, one of them, with a youthful bob haircut, spoke enviously.  

“But… Don’t you think the Young Duke and Lady Yuria make a truly perfect pair?”  

“That’s true. Compared to…”  

“Cielie Ronenfeld and the Young Duke…”  

“They’re absolutely mismatched!”  

Before long, the topic shifted to Cielie Ronenfeld.  

‘Before she started chasing after Dietrian and causing scandals, she was truly a lovely person.’  

All seven of them thought so.  

Her dazzling appearance and charming aura had once made her the object of admiration for countless people.

Although her eccentric actions had caused most admirers to disappear, there were still quite a few people—like the Seven Famous Young Ladies—who showed interest in her.  

Even those who mocked her often changed their minds when faced with her unparalleled aura and beauty.  

‘Just like now.’  

As they recalled the past, their thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the freckled, bob-haired young lady.  

“Indeed, Lady Cielie is…”  

“Yes, she looks great with Sir Erden!”  

“I was firmly on Team Cielie and Erden!”  

One of them nodded enthusiastically, pointing out the pair with her finger.  

“Look at those two. Their faces together are just… perfect. Wait, hold on!”  

“Could it be—”  

“How long has it been since those two stood in the same place?”  

Although they weren’t technically standing close to each other, one young lady formed a rectangle with her hands.  

She gazed fondly at the pair framed within her makeshift rectangle…  

“Lady Cielie Ronenfeld…?”  

“Is she walking toward us?!”  

Cielie’s sharp, cat-like gaze landed on them.  

Then, she began to approach—slowly but surely.  

Her stunning appearance, like a painting come to life, and the dazzling necklace adorning her slender neck captivated them.  

The group quickly dismantled their hand-made rectangle.  

‘Lady Cielie used to dislike being associated with Sir Erden.’  

Their eyes trembled nervously.  

Please don’t let her have seen us.  

They prayed desperately, but their wish went unanswered. Cielie was already standing right before them.  

She stared at the suddenly silent group with an unreadable expression and slowly opened her mouth.  

“Just now…”  

“Lady Cielie, we’re sorry! We just thought you and Sir Erden look so good together…”  

Before she could finish her sentence, they hastily apologized, assuming she was about to scold them.  

The Seven Famous Young Ladies’ creed:  

Never do anything that might offend others. If you do, apologize immediately.  

Cielie looked at them silently for a moment, then tilted her head slightly.  

“What dessert were you just eating?”  

Her unexpected question left them staring blankly at her.  

At the same time, they sensed something was off.  

Why was the Young Duke, who normally avoided Cielie like the plague, staring at her absentmindedly?  

And why was Cielie, who usually acted like she would die for the Young Duke, now showing no interest in him?  

‘This…’  

‘Isn’t something strange?’  

‘A love quarrel?’  

They began exchanging glances, their eyes sparkling with newfound curiosity.  

Something interesting was bound to happen today.