Chapter 49
The princess and Ares began to dance, and soon others paired up and joined in.
While watching the couples move gracefully, Bern bent at the waist beside Lucia and offered his hand.
“My lady, may I have this dance?”
Lucia couldn’t help but laugh when she saw his sly tone and crescent-shaped eyes gleaming behind his glasses.
“I’d be delighted.”
Taking his hand, Lucia stepped lightly onto the dance floor. Bern placed one hand at her waist, and she naturally matched his rhythm.
As they let the music guide them, Lucia’s eyes unconsciously drifted through the crowd—then she saw Herwin.
Unlike everyone else who was simply watching the dancers, his gaze was fixed solely on her.
Realizing that Herwin was staring, the anxiety and tension she’d forced down began to rise again.
Her breathing faltered, and Bern gently pulled her a little closer by the waist.
“Lucia, look only at me.”
Just as he had when she was panicking before, his eyes met hers warmly—as if telling her not to think about anything else. Lucia followed his lead as though under a spell.
The heavy weight in her steps began to fade, and the pressure of the onlookers’ gazes stopped bothering her.
“Feeling better now?”
“Yes. Thanks to you. You’re quite perceptive, Bern. I didn’t even say anything, yet you helped me right away.”
“If you look closely, your face always shows a bit of what you’re feeling. But since you rarely show your true thoughts, I can only act based on what I sense.”
“Am I really that easy to read?”
“Haha, I told you—you have to look closely. How should I put it… there’s a subtle emotion that shows through. Hard to describe.”
Following the rhythm, Bern lifted Lucia lightly and spun her around.
“And, when I first met your friends—”
Lucia’s smile stiffened for a moment. Bern caught it and his own expression softened, turning serious.
“You seemed uncomfortable. Was I right?”
“That’s…”
She shouldn’t have let herself get flustered—but she had. She’d been so conscious of Herwin that day that anyone could have seen her discomfort.
Even so, she couldn’t bring herself to answer.
Who could admit that they’d acted awkwardly because of a man they’d loved for over ten years?
Seeing her troubled face, Bern exhaled lightly.
“If you don’t want to say, you don’t have to. I only wanted you to know that if you ever need help, you can always ask me.”
Lucia’s blue eyes wavered. Bern nodded slightly, as if to say he understood everything.
“…Why?”
A faint sigh escaped her lips.
He surely knew the rumors about her—and perhaps, from seeing her with Herwin, he had already guessed the situation. So why didn’t he ask anything?
At first, she thought it was out of kindness. But now, she wasn’t sure.
“Why did you choose me?”
Her words came out quietly, but they carried her genuine curiosity.
Bern’s expression grew thoughtful, then solemn.
“Because you’re very much like me… That’s why I chose you.”
Lucia didn’t understand what he meant. But as she looked into his golden eyes, she saw a reflection of herself there.
They stood silently, gazing at each other until the music ended.
“Does that answer your question?”
As they returned to the edge of the floor amid the sound of applause, Bern smiled gently as always.
“Half of it. I’m still curious about the other half, but I won’t ask. If you don’t want to say, you don’t have to.”
“…Thank you.”
Bern smiled faintly, almost wistfully. She finally understood why he had never pressed her with questions—he didn’t want to push someone who was already struggling. Unless it was something unforgivable, it didn’t matter for the future they might share.
“Lucia.”
The low, familiar voice froze her in place. The one calling her was none other than Herwin.
Bern’s eyes sharpened.
“Next dance—dance with me.”
Herwin, as if nothing had happened, extended his hand toward her. Normally, they would share at least one dance at every party, so it wasn’t strange—but tonight, she wanted to avoid him more than anything.
As Lucia hesitated, staring at his outstretched hand, Bern stepped forward.
“Bern?”
“Pardon me, but Lady Lucia doesn’t seem to be feeling well. Perhaps another time would be better.”
Herwin’s brow twitched. He glared at Bern, his eyes darkening, before turning to Lucia—his voice softening instantly.
“Are you really not feeling well?”
“I… um…”
Lucia glanced between Herwin and Bern.
Herwin waited patiently for her answer, while Bern silently mouthed, ‘I’ll help you.’
After a moment of hesitation, Lucia made her decision.
“I’m sorry, Herwin. I think I twisted my ankle a little during the last dance.”
The man she chose to stand beside was Bern. She knew she’d have to speak properly with Herwin someday—but not tonight.
Herwin’s expression darkened even more.
He looked like he wanted to say something but instead just patted her shoulder.
“I see. Then it can’t be helped. Did you hurt it badly? If so, I can—”
“I’ll take good care of her.”
Bern cut in politely but firmly, keeping his pleasant smile as he stepped between them.
Herwin’s frown deepened.
“Then, may we be excused?”
Still shielding Lucia, Bern led her away. She felt grateful for his quiet, tactful protection.
Herwin said nothing, simply watching Lucia behind Bern’s shoulder as they walked off.
“Alright. Lucia, let’s talk later.”
“Okay. Thank you for understanding.”
Leaning slightly on Bern’s arm, Lucia pretended to limp.
Just as she turned to glance back, Bern whispered quickly—
“He’s still watching. Let’s head to the garden.”
Lucia nodded, following his lead.
Meanwhile, Herwin stood alone, staring after her as she disappeared.
It felt as though she was slipping beyond his reach—and the feeling was far from pleasant.
“Bern Casper, Marquis of Casper…”
They had met through an arranged meeting, if he recalled correctly. He didn’t know the man well, only that he had a decent reputation.
“Then why does he irritate me so much?”
Was it because Bern had stepped between them?
He only wanted to ask what had happened during the month she’d been in the North—so why did Bern block him as though he were some kind of threat?
“Right. That must be it.”
Now he understood why Bern’s presence bothered him so much.
Still, why was Lucia avoiding him?
“Even going so far as to lie right to my face…”
He knew perfectly well she wasn’t injured.
He had seen her take Bern’s hand—and chose to ignore it.
Remembering how she had leaned on Bern, an unpleasant tightness coiled in his chest. Something hot and wild was bubbling up inside, a feeling he couldn’t name.
Was it because the friend he trusted and believed was on his side had chosen someone else?
The more he thought about it, the deeper the confusion grew. Herwin frowned, then finally lifted his gaze toward the direction where Lucia and Bern had gone.
He had to talk to her—at least for a moment.
They stopped only once they had reached the quiet, secluded part of the garden where few people ever came.
“This should be far enough.”
Bern looked back to make sure Herwin hadn’t followed, then walked toward a fountain nearby.
“You didn’t really hurt your ankle, did you?”
He gestured to her right foot as he helped her sit at the fountain’s edge.
Lucia’s eyes widened and she quickly shook her head.
“No, not at all. I just said that to keep up the act.”
“Really? You were limping so convincingly that I almost believed it.”
“I thought I’d better act a little if we wanted to fool Herwin.”
Scratching her cheek awkwardly, Lucia smiled, and Bern laughed softly. Then his expression grew thoughtful as he remembered Herwin’s piercing glare.
“I hope I didn’t overstep. It just looked like you wanted to avoid Lord Peneus, so I intervened. Was I right?”
Lucia nodded honestly.
Thankfully, he didn’t press her for more.
“Since we’re out here, let’s rest for a while. Are you thirsty?”
“A little… But if you’re only offering because of me, you don’t have to.”
“Nonsense. I’ll bring something to drink. Please rest here for a bit.”
Even when she tried to insist she was fine, Bern had already turned back toward the ballroom.
Lucia watched him go until he disappeared from sight. Only then did she finally let go of the smile she’d been holding and sigh softly.
Taking off her shoes, she rubbed her sore feet. The new heels had left her heels and toes raw and red.
Just like her battered feet trying to adapt to the new shoes, she felt frayed inside—as though wearing a life that didn’t quite fit her.
No matter how prepared she told herself she was, pretending to be fine in front of everyone was exhausting.
It wasn’t that she hated pretending to be Bern’s fiancée.
But she couldn’t help wondering—was this truly her path to happiness?
‘Herwin was acting strange today, too…’
She couldn’t deny that he had affected her mood.
Anyone would be surprised to learn their friend suddenly had a fiancé, yet Herwin’s reaction had been different—tinged with something like betrayal.
Looking down at her feet, Lucia gave a faint, helpless smile.
Had she really not let go yet?
Was it possible that Herwin’s reaction meant he had feelings for her?
She should have stopped hoping long ago, but those same fantasies she’d entertained for thirteen years kept surfacing no matter how hard she tried to suppress them.
Turning her gaze toward the fountain, she watched the cool water ripple and splash. Droplets scattered, distorting her reflection on the surface—just like her tangled emotions.
—Rustle.
She froze. Someone was there.
It was too soon for Bern to be back.
“Who’s—”
She turned, wary—and stopped dead. The other person did too.
As the figure emerged from the bushes, Lucia’s eyes widened in shock.
“…Bianca?”
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