Chapter 22

‘Ah, my choice was perfect as always.’  

Sabrina smiled in satisfaction as she watched Chase step out through the door.  

Standing before her, Chase adjusted his attire and asked,  

“Is this too flashy?”  

“Not at all.”  

This must be what people mean when they say someone’s face outshines their outfit.  

The ivory base with gold accents was a bold choice that most people would struggle to pull off. But on Chase, it looked effortlessly elegant without being overdone.  

Dressed impeccably for the banquet, Chase was truly dazzling.  

‘No matter what he wears, he shines. It’s so rewarding to pick out clothes for someone like this!’  

Job satisfaction: 100%.  

Sabrina felt a renewed sense of pride in her past decision to become Chase’s aide.  

As Sabrina rose to accompany him to the banquet hall, Chase’s gaze lingered on her for a moment. The vibrant red dress she wore, more ornate than usual, caught his attention.  

Holding the door open for her, Chase remarked,  

“Bright colors suit you well.”  

“Ah, thank you.”  

Sabrina smiled warmly and matched her pace to his.  

“The speech…”  

Sabrina handed Chase a simple draft of the greeting he would deliver at the banquet. Skimming through it, Chase glanced back at her with a smile.  

“We don’t need anything too elaborate today, right?”  

“Of course. Simple is best.”  

“Then I’ll just use this as a reference.”  

Folding the note, Chase slipped it into his pocket and stood before the closed doors.  

“His Majesty, the Emperor, enters!”  

As the grand anthem played, the heavy doors slowly opened. Light from the banquet hall spilled out, and Chase stepped forward into the brilliance.  

Sabrina followed at a slight distance. The high ceiling of the hall allowed her to take in the entire gathering at a glance.  

While Chase declared the beginning of the banquet with a brief speech, Sabrina scanned the crowd of nobles filling the hall. Suddenly, her eyes widened in surprise.  

‘Huh…’

At the center of the hall, in the most conspicuous spot, Sabrina saw faces all too familiar to her.  

The Viscount of Wintlet, his face stiff with tension. Beside him were her three older brothers—Archer, Frederick, and even Jonathan.  

‘…They all came?’  

Sabrina’s face hardened.  

Even Jonathan, who usually avoided events like this, had made an appearance. There could only be one reason for such a deliberate move.  

A warning directed at her.  

“Let’s see how well you’re doing now. You’ll regret it soon enough.”  

“I’ll make sure you come crawling back, begging for forgiveness.”  

The words they had thrown at her just days ago, as she left the Wintlet estate in disgrace, echoed in her mind.  

‘What on earth are they thinking?’  

Thump, thump, thump, thump.  

A sense of foreboding crept over her, making her heart pound faster and harder. It felt as though she couldn’t breathe.  

“Isn’t family supposed to help each other during tough times? If you have any useful information, share it so we can all do well together.”

“Then at least help Frederick and Jonathan find jobs. Surely, you can manage that much?” 

The conversations they had over the dinner table just days ago flashed through her mind like a montage. The memory of her family trying to exploit her connection with Chase made her feel dizzy.  

If her father or brothers approached Chase and tried to strike up a conversation…  

She wouldn’t be able to face Chase ever again.  

“Well then, I hope everyone enjoys themselves.”  

Just as Chase finished his greeting, he turned toward Sabrina and gestured to her with his eyes.  

Sabrina forced herself to tear her gaze away from her family and smiled at Chase. This was still work time, after all. She needed to focus solely on him.  

“Shall we go?”  

Standing at the top of the stairs, Chase extended his arm.  

“Yes, let’s go.”  

Sabrina smiled faintly and lightly took his arm.  

As they descended the spiral staircase, Chase leaned in slightly and spoke in a low voice.  

“I noticed the Viscount of Wintlet earlier. His sons, too. Did you know they’d be here?”  

Ah, so Chase had seen them too.  

Sabrina was momentarily at a loss for words.  

Publicly, the Viscount always maintained the appearance of being a good father, so very few people knew about the tension between him and Sabrina.  

‘What if he suggests greeting them?’  

Since she had never shared details about her family with Chase, Sabrina suddenly felt uneasy.  

“…No, I wasn’t informed.”  

“I just wanted to check. It seemed like the situation might be uncomfortable for you. Your expression was a little different.”  

“…!”  

But Chase was far more perceptive than she had anticipated. He continued speaking calmly.  

“There must be a reason you feel so uneasy around them.”  

“…”  

“I’ll handle it however you wish. Whether we quietly send them away or arrange a separate meeting, it’s all within my authority. What would you prefer?”  

Chase slowed his pace and looked directly at her. His composed expression stirred something deep within her.  

The fact that he had noticed her discomfort before she even said a word. The fact that he trusted her completely without needing further explanation.  

Sabrina was deeply moved by Chase’s thoughtfulness. The tension that had gripped her chest suddenly melted away, and tears welled up in her eyes.  

‘Thank goodness.’  

Biting her lip to steady herself, Sabrina whispered softly,  

“If my father asks to speak with you, please don’t agree to it.”  

Chase nodded without hesitation.  

“Alright, I won’t.”  

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”  

At Sabrina’s polite bow, Chase let out a small laugh. In a light-hearted tone, as if to ease the mood, he said,  

“You don’t have to be so formal about something like this, Sabrina. I’m willing to give you far more than you think.”  

Tap.  

Chase, who had descended the stairs one step ahead of her, turned back to look at her and said,  

“You’re my person, after all.”  

***

“Ahem! Ahem!”  

Throughout the banquet, the Viscount of Wintlet persistently hovered around Chase, looking for an opportunity to strike up a conversation.  

Clearing his throat loudly to draw attention, he circled Chase like a satellite, attempting to engage him subtly.  

‘Just as I expected.’  

Sabrina let out a sigh of relief. If it weren’t for Chase, the situation would have been unbearably humiliating.  

“Your Majesty, may I…”  

“Sabrina, shall we step aside for a moment?”  

“Yes, of course.”  

But Chase was an impenetrable fortress. He left the scene as naturally as if he hadn’t even noticed the Viscount’s presence.  

And, of course, he made sure to take care of Sabrina as well.  

‘Truly, I’ll be loyal to him forever!’  

As Sabrina’s heart swelled with renewed loyalty toward Chase, a new voice interrupted her thoughts.  

“Your Majesty, hello.”  

“…Lady Evenheim?”  

“May I have a moment of your time?”  

Something intriguing was about to unfold.  

***

“Your Majesty, hello.”  

Chase’s eyes widened slightly at Elena’s sudden appearance.  

“…Lady Evenheim?”  

“May I have a moment of your time?”  

Elena, dressed in an angelic white gown and blushing shyly, looked absolutely stunning.  

“With me?”  

Chase tilted his head in curiosity. Elena nodded softly and replied,  

“Yes, it’ll only take a moment.”  

Her shoulders hunched slightly with tension as she looked up at Chase with wide, round eyes.  

“Would that… be difficult?”  

Standing beside Chase, Sabrina instinctively clamped her mouth shut.  

‘Oh no, she’s too adorable!’  

With her sparkling eyes and bashful demeanor, Elena was irresistibly charming, even to another woman. Just looking at her was enough to melt anyone’s heart.  

“Ah.”  

But Chase’s expression remained unchanged. He seemed more puzzled than anything by Elena’s sudden request. Turning to Sabrina, he asked silently for her input.  

Caught off guard, Sabrina quickly adjusted her expression, wiping away the fond smile that had crept onto her face.  

“Right now…”  

Chase trailed off, glancing at Sabrina.  

In that moment, Sabrina realized what was on his mind.  

‘Ah, he’s worried I’ll be left alone to deal with my family.’  

She was touched, deeply so. How could she not adore Chase?  

‘But I can’t stand in the way of his happiness!’  

Taking a step closer to Chase, Sabrina whispered just loud enough for him to hear,  

“Lady Evenheim seems to have something important to discuss. Perhaps you could spare a moment…”  

“Really?”  

At Sabrina’s suggestion, Chase crossed his arms and pondered for a moment before nodding at Elena.  

“Alright, let’s move somewhere quieter.”  

Elena’s face lit up with joy.  

“Oh, yes!”  

“The terrace might not be ideal. How about the hallway?”  

“Yes, anywhere is fine!”  

After exchanging a brief glance with Sabrina, Chase walked away with Elena.  

The light from the grand chandelier reflected off their outfits, making them sparkle. With their bright attire, the two of them walking side by side looked like a picture-perfect scene.  

‘They’re glowing.’  

Visually, they were an impeccable match. It couldn’t get any better.  

As for their chemistry… well, that remained to be seen. But sparks often flew between men and women in the most unexpected moments. If they kept crossing paths and finding reasons to meet, who could say what might happen?  

‘Maybe they really are destined for each other.’  

Yes, destiny wasn’t something that could be severed so easily.  

Even though Elena’s rejection at the interview had seemed to end things, their connection was showing signs of revival.  

Perhaps destiny always finds a way, no matter how the circumstances change.  

‘The original story must be stronger than I thought.’  

Watching their retreating figures, Sabrina nodded to herself.  

‘I just hope Chase finds true happiness.’