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The chandelier sparkled, skirts of elegant dresses fluttered, the scent of fragrant perfumes lingered, and radiant makeup adorned faces. Equally magnificent were the formal suits. The banquet hall, seemingly a collection of all things glamorous and beautiful, was lively and bustling even late into the night.  

To the pleasant tunes of the orchestra, couples danced in pairs or sipped light drinks while discreetly observing one another. The men and women in attendance were busy searching for their match, whether for tonight or for the future.  

Amid this ongoing battle of glances, one corner of the banquet hall—more precisely, the entrance—suddenly fell silent. That silence slowly but surely spread throughout the entire hall. As the hall grew quieter, all eyes turned toward the entrance.  

Then, someone let out a small gasp.  

“Am I seeing things right now?”  

“My goodness, isn’t that Sir Pavel Ainsley?”  

“The leader of the ‘Monastic Knights’ is here?”  

As quickly as the silence had fallen, the hall was filled with murmurs.  

The person who had drawn everyone’s attention and sparked all the chatter seemed entirely indifferent to their interest.  

Indeed, the man who had just entered was someone who could easily capture everyone’s gaze. His appearance alone was enough. His jet-black hair, faintly tinged with blue, resembled the night sky. Beneath his sharp brows were deep, dark green eyes that seemed to hold a mesmerizing glow. His high-bridged nose and perfectly sculpted lips completed his face, which looked as though it had been carved from stone.  

Moreover, his tall stature, broad shoulders, and robust chest—far more imposing than those of an average knight—made him stand out even more.  

Draped over his upright and muscular frame was an outfit far more ornate than usual—though, compared to the other men in the hall, it was still relatively modest. Yet, even in this suit, he managed to command everyone’s attention.  

The fact that this man, rarely seen at such gatherings, had appeared in the banquet hall made everyone present keenly observe his every move.  

This man, Pavel Ainsley, was truly someone who had nothing to do with banquets. His nickname alone, “Leader of the Monastic Knights,” made that clear.  

Pavel was typically seen only in his knightly domain, the ducal residence, or occasionally at the church. To spot him at a banquet was almost unthinkable—so much so that the odds of seeing him in such a setting were practically zero.  

Yet here he was, stepping into a small banquet hosted by an Earl—not a royal New Year’s banquet, where attendance by all nobles was mandatory, but a modest gathering. Naturally, everyone was curious about his reasons for being there.  

While others were busy speculating about his unexpected appearance, Pavel carefully scanned the interior of the banquet hall.  

Soon, the host of the event, Earl Drummond, approached him with his wife. Beside them stood their unmarried daughter, who seemed eager to make an impression during this rare opportunity.  

“Lord Ainsley, I thought you wouldn’t attend since we received no reply to our invitation! Welcome, welcome! On behalf of the Drummond family, I extend our heartfelt greetings!”  

“Thank you, Earl Drummond.”  

Even as Pavel exchanged greetings with Earl Drummond, his eyes darted around the room. Regardless, the Earl quickly positioned his wife and daughter in front of him.  

Standing before Pavel, the daughter of Earl Drummond shyly twisted her body and tucked her hair behind her ear as she greeted him.  

“It’s an honor to meet you like this, Your Grace. My name is Elina Drummond.”  

“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Hmm, well…”  

Pavel exchanged polite greetings with Elina Drummond, but soon his gaze began wandering around again. At this, Countess Drummond’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.  

“Would you like to take a look around the banquet hall? Our Elina worked so hard to decorate it.”  

The Countess’s subtle attempt to emphasize that her daughter was a “prepared bride” unfortunately did not have the desired effect. Pavel’s attention was entirely elsewhere, so her words barely registered.  

“I appreciate the suggestion, but it’s fine. I think I’ll take my time looking around on my own.”  

“Ha ha, I see. Ah, but since you’re here, how about a dance? It just so happens that my daughter’s partner…”  

This time, the Earl himself tried to make another attempt. However, Pavel gently declined.  

“I’m sorry. I don’t think my dancing skills are good enough to take Miss Drummond’s hand and step into the spotlight…”  

As he spoke, Pavel’s eyes stopped at a certain spot. He smiled politely and gave the Drummond family a small bow.  

“Excuse me for a moment.”  

“Lord Ainsley, please wait just a moment…”  

“Well, well, you can talk to him later.”  

Earl Drummond, quick to read the room, pulled his wife back before she could insist further. The Countess reluctantly stepped back, her face full of disappointment, and gave a slight bow.  

Though they hadn’t managed to get him to dance with their daughter, the mere fact that he had attended this banquet was enough to raise Elina’s value to an unmatched level.  

After briefly acknowledging the Drummond family, Pavel began walking toward a specific direction in the banquet hall. Those dancing in the center and others chatting here and there all turned to look at him, some even trying to greet him or strike up a conversation.  

Pavel returned their greetings as courteously and quickly as possible, but he didn’t stop walking. He seemed to have a clear goal in mind, and it was evident that he had no time for anything else. Finally, he stopped in front of a group of young ladies gathered together.  

The realization that Pavel Ainsley had approached them made the young ladies’ faces flush red. 

Could it be? Did he come here because of me? 

Their eyes sparkled with anticipation, each wondering if she was the reason for his presence. As they hesitated, unsure who should speak first, Pavel let out a small sigh.  

“Ah…”  

A quiet sigh escaped Pavel’s lips. He scanned the five or six young ladies before him, then abruptly turned his head.  

She wasn’t there. When he entered the banquet hall earlier, she had been here.  

Though he could have simply turned and left, Pavel bowed his head slightly in greeting. The young ladies, who had hoped he was there for them, tried to hide their disappointment as they returned his bow.  

As Pavel walked away, the group collectively let out a sigh. One of the young ladies pouted and muttered under her breath.  

“Still, to leave without saying a single word…”  

“Well, I guess it’s because he hasn’t found the person he’s looking for.”  

At these words from one young lady, another standing beside her widened her eyes in surprise and asked, 

“What? Do you know who he’s looking for?”  

“Isn’t it obvious?”  

Her gaze followed Pavel’s retreating figure. He was striding determinedly toward the partially open balcony doors. She knew exactly who was beyond those doors.  

It had to be the person who had just been with them a little while ago—the one who had left shortly after Pavel entered, saying, ‘I’ll just step out for some fresh air.’ 

Pavel Ainsley is just like any other man.

She grumbled inwardly.  

Meanwhile, Pavel, who had now fallen into the category of “just like any other man,” firmly closed the balcony door behind him as soon as he entered.  

The person he had been searching for was there. He didn’t want anyone else interrupting their conversation, nor did he want anyone overhearing what he had to say. So, he had no choice but to shut the door tightly.  

Standing against the backdrop of the night sky, a woman stood with her back to the door. Her shimmering silver-white hair was elegantly pinned up, revealing her slender neck and delicate shoulders. She looked like a single lily in full bloom.  

The soft silver-gray dress she wore blended perfectly with the night sky, enhancing her mysterious aura.  

Noticing the sound of his presence, the woman turned slightly. Her face, framed by her graceful features, was breathtakingly beautiful—so much so that it could take one’s breath away. Her deep, ocean-like blue eyes briefly wavered as they met the intruder’s, before returning to their calm, rounded state.  

She slowly turned her body to face him completely. Her lips, painted a vibrant red, curved into a gentle smile as she spoke. Her voice, flowing from her lips, was as enchanting as a siren’s song from legend.  

Her tongue elegantly formed his name.  

“Oh my, Lord Pavel. I didn’t expect to see you in a place like this.”  

“It’s been a while, Miss Lochrain.”  

“Oh dear, calling me that feels a bit cold… It makes us seem so distant, doesn’t it?”  

The barely audible words, “between us,” that she added made Pavel feel the back of his neck stiffen.  

“…Lady Larisa.”  

Just saying her name made his entire body feel as though it were burning. He bit his tongue lightly to regain his composure and cleared his throat.  

“I’d like to speak with you for a moment. Would that be alright?”  

“Is it urgent? Ah, well…”  

As Larisa took a step forward, Pavel almost instinctively stepped back. But he managed to hold his ground. It was still incredibly difficult for him to endure her coming closer.  

If she knew how I felt, how would she react? Would she hate me? Despise me? Or perhaps…  

But his thoughts didn’t go any further.  

“If it wasn’t something urgent, Lord Pavel, you wouldn’t have come to a banquet, would you? Isn’t that right?”  

“Not attending banquets is… well…”  

“Hmm, why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind first?”  

Pavel, who had been about to stammer out an excuse, snapped back to his senses at Larisa’s prompting. This wasn’t the time to waste on excuses or explanations.  

He couldn’t forget the moment when he first heard “that story”—how his mind had gone blank, as if struck by lightning. There was no time to wait for an official audience to meet Larisa. He had to tell her quickly.  

The fastest way to meet her was to attend a banquet. Even though he considered attending such events a waste of time.  

Because Larisa was the Queen of the social scene.