CHAPTER 75………………………………………
The Count Perez’s daughter had come in wearing a mask from the start.
Her long, curly, voluminous brown hair nearly covered her whole face, making her look lovely and cute. With her head slightly lowered and speaking very little, she seemed shy and well-mannered.
“This way, please.”
Zikren immediately escorted her to the opposite corner. People’s eyes widened at the sight.
“Your Highness, the Second Prince?”
“Oh my! What is going on?”
No matter what people whispered, Zikren paid them no attention and chatted cozily with the Count’s daughter.
“Hahaha! I see some of you are already enjoying the ball!”
The head butler’s cheerful voice rang out.
“Now then, everyone! As you all know, the merchant vessel Havarion, left behind by the first head of House Rosen, will soon arrive at the lakeside. When it does, Lady Aristina’s successor qualification test will begin. Until then, please enjoy this special ball prepared by House Rosen!”
A grand orchestral sound followed. To my ears, it sounded like a loud Bang! — the starting signal of a race.
Alright. Quick and clean.
“My lady.”
“Lady Aristina.”
People called out from all directions, trying to offer formal greetings.
To avoid the hassle, I quickly picked up a mask and put it on, then looked around for Prince Istan.
In the distance, near a pillar, I saw another masked face looking around just like me.
There he is!
As I pushed through the crowd toward him, someone suddenly blocked my path. Another masked man.
Hm? Is this the prince?
I looked up — no. Black hair, and different clothes.
“Who are you?”
Just then—
“Lady Aristina!”
People who recognized me started approaching. The masked man quickly held out his hand.
“May I have this dance?”
Beneath his perfectly polite manner, there was a hint of urgency. He didn’t seem dangerous.
What is this?
When I offered my hand, he hesitated slightly, then clasped it firmly. Even through the glove, the sensation felt strangely familiar. I was sure this large hand had held mine like this before.
Then the memory surfaced.
The exhibition hall that day!
When I had suddenly appeared in the center of the curse-activated magic circle—
The moment when a clueless Ruelian wrapped me in his cloak to protect me.
This was definitely that same hand.
“Huh?”
Startled, I lowered my voice and asked as he pulled me along.
“What are you doing here?”
“Hmph.”
Ruelian answered bluntly.
“You drew such a firm line saying the prince wasn’t your type, but it looks like you’ve been completely charmed. Good thing I took the risk and came myself.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I came to tell you something important, but you were running toward the prince with your eyes sparkling. You even looked overly happy. Anyone would think you were in love.”
“Of course I’m excited and happy — it’s time to hunt! Acting smitten is just part of the performance.”
“Didn’t look like acting.”
People nearby were staring. We must have looked odd.
“Excuse us a moment.”
In step with the music, Ruelian pulled me closer. His tone was polite, but his grip was stronger than before.
“Just go along with it. I need to tell you this, even if you don’t like it.”
It wasn’t that I disliked it exactly…
As memories resurfaced, my body spun naturally with the dance. My dress flared like flower petals, scattering sparkling light.
It felt good to dance again after so long. My body was enjoying it — pleased with the quality of my partner.
Before I got too absorbed, I asked quickly,
“What’s the important thing you wanted to tell me?”
“I’ll say it once, so listen carefully.”
Drawing me in by the shoulder with the rhythm, Ruelian spoke quickly by my ear.
“I’ve continued tracking Eunice since that day. It looks like she prepared something extra to further provoke the Duke’s anger.”
I spun away and then back again.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know that much. Just don’t let your guard down because you have the real arrowhead. Stay careful to the very end.”
Just then, someone called from behind.
“My lady!”
Aldensis’s voice. Our dance stopped abruptly.
“Remember what I said.”
Ruelian squeezed my hand once, as if telling me to stay sharp, then released it.
“Thank you for the dance.”
He even added a regretful look, as though sorry it was only one dance — perfect ballroom manners that anyone would admire — then disappeared into the crowd like the wind.
“……”
I looked down at my empty hand.
Come to think of it…
It had all happened like a storm, and I hadn’t processed it — but the more I thought about it, the stranger it was.
A man like Ruelian dancing at a social event? Impossible.
As commander of the Holy Knights, he might perform a sword dance — but holding a partner and dancing in close contact like this at a ball? Normally unthinkable.
Was that really okay?
He must have been truly desperate.
Then again, it was my first time dancing at a ball too, wasn’t it?
While I was lost in scattered thoughts—
“My lady!”
Aldensis finally broke through the crowd and came up beside me. He frowned slightly, staring at the place where Ruelian had vanished.
“Who was that?”
“Who knows? I’m not sure either.”
Only after answering did I realize everyone was staring this way.
It was expected that Aristina danced well. And even if Ruelian lived far from ballroom life, as a duke’s heir he’d have learned the basics.
Our short dance must have drawn more attention than expected. Aldensis had clearly watched the whole thing too.
Too much attention right before a major event was troublesome.
I hurried to change the mood.
“Your Highness, are the ladies bothering you too much? Want me to chase them off while they’re running wild?”
I turned arrogantly — but Aldensis was gone.
Looking around, I saw him moving quickly in the direction Ruelian had disappeared.
Did he sense something suspicious? Maybe the curse he cast?
I needed to hurry.
“My lady.”
Turning down everyone trying to greet the host, I searched for Serene.
I spotted Zikren still deep in whispers with the Count Perez’s daughter.
And beyond them—
There.
Serene was already watching this way with hawk-like eyes.
When I gestured, she put on her mask and skillfully shook off others to follow me.
We slipped through the crowd and reached the pillar I had noticed earlier. The masked man waiting there approached me.
“My lady?”
“Prince!”
“I thought so. I’ve been looking for you.”
“People kept stopping me. Come on — before my father notices, let’s go to the balcony. I want to be alone with you.”
“Alright. Just follow me.”
Quite a few couples were already heading to balconies for private conversations.
Prince Istan blended in naturally and went up to the second floor. As I followed, I recalled Ruelian’s warning.
What exactly had Eunice prepared to provoke Duke Karnel further?
No matter how closely I examined the prince, nothing seemed different from before.
“This way.”
He opened a door in a quiet second-floor corridor — a small study. When he removed a landscape painting from the wall, a large wind-up handle was revealed behind it.
“What is that?”
“I found it by accident while exploring.”
He grinned and turned it. With a small sound, the wall split and slid open.
“There’s a secret garden here. A garden built off the balcony.”
Hmm?
According to my knowledge, secret gardens in noble residences weren’t unusual — practically basic architectural culture.
But after Ruelian’s warning, my guard was at its highest.
Is there a scheme here?
My gaze shifted to the painting he had removed.
Just an ordinary starry night sky.
But—
There was a signature at the bottom.
— Annelise.
My heart dropped.
No!
A warning bell rang, and the memory surfaced.
Annelise Rosen, Duchess — Karnel’s deceased first wife, and Aristina’s mother.
This secret garden had to be deeply connected to her. That’s why Eunice chose it as the stage — making it look like Aristina’s idea.
She’s insane. She’s trying to turn me into an unfilial daughter.
Duke Karnel loved his late wife so much he never looked at another woman his entire life.
And yet—
Just to secretly meet a man her father opposed, she brings him into her mother’s private space?
His fury would be unimaginable.
After all the effort it took to soften him even a little, she wanted me to destroy it myself.
No — beyond the Duke, this insults the dead. I absolutely can’t step into that garden.
The original plan — using the arrowhead quietly on the balcony — would have been simple. But now I had to change it.
It might cause some noise, but fortunately I had a very effective way to silence someone.
Didn’t expect to use this like this.
I touched the fan hidden deep in my pocket.
The prince kept talking, unaware.
“I’m sure it’s a beautiful garden. The perfect place to confess my true feelings to you.”
The door fully opened.
“Come in.”
He stepped inside first with a seductive smile.
At that moment—
I pulled out the fan.
“Fire!”
With the trigger word, a transparent magic bullet shot from the handle and struck the prince’s head.
Thwack!
With a crisp impact sound, he collapsed, briefly unconscious.
I was satisfied.
Preparation always pays off.
No time to waste. I hurried and cranked the mechanism back. It was stiff and heavy — I had to grit my teeth and use all my strength.
The wall began closing again.
As I approached the fallen prince, footsteps sounded in the quiet hallway outside.
I raised my voice loudly.
“Oh my, you drank too much!”
“It’s me.”
A small voice — Serene.
“It’s okay. No one’s here.”
“Ah…”
I opened the door like lightning and pulled her inside. She flinched at the sight of Prince Istan on the floor.
“Huh?”
“The plan changed a bit,” I said quickly. “But it’s nothing major. We proceed as planned.”
“Understood.”
We scanned the study.
Heavy floor-length curtains — good cover, leaving only an ambiguous silhouette.
“That spot works.”
“Yes!”
Serene hurried to hide there.
Just then—
“Mm…”
Prince Istan stirred. I took the heart-shaped arrowhead from my pocket and approached him.
“Prince…!”
