~Chapter 11~
Tiana felt like this moment was a dream.
Everyone was looking at her—not as Cecilia’s friend, but as Kaiden’s mistress.
She had never once in her life experienced such attention. Not since childhood. It made her feel, for the first time, like she was the protagonist of the world.
Maintaining as much elegance as she could, Tiana stepped forward and smiled brightly at Cecilia.
“Hello, Cecilia. I’m a bit nervous greeting you like this.”
“……”
“From today on, I’ll be introduced as Lord Hamilton’s mistress. Let’s get along.”
Cecilia made a strange expression. A faint, almost mocking smile crossed her lips, as if she found the situation absurd.
“…I know you must be confused. But we couldn’t hide it anymore. You must have already suspected something between His Excellency and me.”
At this point, Tiana decided she would no longer hide.
Kaiden’s true love was her.
They had loved each other long before Cecilia ever married him.
If anything, there was no reason for her to feel ashamed.
It wasn’t that she had interfered in their marriage—rather, Cecilia had been the one who came between them.
“Truth is… His Excellency and I have loved each other for a very long time. Now I intend to be honest about my feelings.”
Tiana extended her hand toward Cecilia, offering reconciliation.
As expected, Cecilia did not take it. She simply folded her arms and looked down at Tiana’s outstretched hand.
‘But still…’
Tiana’s eyes drifted toward Cecilia’s dress.
It wasn’t from Madame Charlotte. It was different from the gown Cecilia had originally ordered.
…Wait. I ordered mine from Charlotte too.
Why did she change dresses?
The black gown, adorned with shimmering jewels, suited Cecilia’s silver hair perfectly.
…It was beautiful. Where did she get that dress?
While Tiana narrowed her eyes in silent curiosity—
“Then congratulations,” Cecilia said calmly.
“…?”
Tiana tilted her head. That reaction was far too mild.
She had expected a slap at the very least. Was that it?
Cecilia glanced toward the central clock, as if waiting for something.
Something felt off.
The dress… her calm expression… everything felt strange.
And then—
“A new guest has arrived!”
The knight’s voice rang through the banquet hall.
The doors, which had been closed, swung open once again.
Strange. Normally, no one was allowed to enter after the banquet had begun.
Frowning, Tiana turned her head sharply toward the entrance.
She was irritated. If they were late, they should at least enter quietly…
Beyond the grand staircase, a figure stood at the open doorway.
A tall man bathed in light, almost as if the light itself was drawn to him. He wore a deep blue military uniform.
Then came his silver hair—gleaming, flawless.
And when his face was finally revealed—
‘That person…?’
Tiana’s eyes widened.
A face known to everyone in the banquet hall. A presence like something descended from the heavens.
“His Highness the Second Prince, Enrique Greenwood.”
“…!”
Gasps erupted throughout the hall.
From a distance, I watched Enrique descend the stairs.
Looking around, I saw every noble frozen with their mouths slightly open, unable to hide their shock. Kaiden and Tiana were no exception.
‘What a dramatic entrance.’
Somehow… I felt impressed.
In truth, Enrique wore nothing particularly different from other noblemen.
But he carried himself differently. Something about him was fundamentally distinct.
A presence that drew every gaze in the room without effort.
“Y-Your Highness the Second Prince!”
Nobles quickly bowed as Enrique reached the floor.
The crowd parted instinctively, making way for him.
One noble finally gathered courage to speak.
“Your Highness… may I ask what brings you here today?”
Everyone seemed confused as to why he had come to the Hamilton estate without any official connection.
Enrique answered calmly.
“I came to pick up someone for a date.”
“…Pardon? A date?”
Confused murmurs spread through the hall.
Ignoring them, Enrique scanned the room as if searching for someone—and then he smiled.
“Oh, there she is. My lady.”
“…?”
He strode forward with long steps, ascending the platform and approaching me.
I smiled and extended my hand as if I had been waiting. He gently kissed the back of it.
Gasps erupted from every direction.
What…?
Before anyone could recover, Enrique dropped a bombshell.
“I recently became the mistress of Lady Hamilton.”
“…!”
The beginning of chaos.
Silence fell over the banquet hall.
The nobles looked even more stunned than I had expected. Not a single whisper escaped their lips as they looked between us in disbelief.
“So… the two of you are… romantically involved?”
“Yes.”
Enrique nodded.
“I’ve come to love Cecilia. We began courting recently.”
Chins dropped further.
This was Enrique Greenwood—the Second Prince who had never once been involved in a scandal.
Despite countless women pursuing him, he had never taken a lover. Rumors had even spread that his preferences might be… unconventional.
And now, suddenly, he was the mistress of a duchess?
All eyes turned to me.
As planned, I smiled gently and addressed them loudly.
“Enrique is right.”
Using his name instead of his title was also part of our arrangement.
When I called him “Enrique,” the nobles visibly flinched.
“We began seeing each other recently. We’ve fallen deeply in love.”
“But… Lady Cecilia, you are still a married woman.”
The nobles, who had previously spoken casually, now addressed me formally.
“Are you saying you intend to divorce Lord Hamilton?”
“Well, I’ve simply taken a lover. Recently, my relationship with Kaiden has grown distant.”
I turned my head slightly.
Kaiden was watching me in silence.
Meeting his gaze, I smiled faintly.
“Kaiden also took a mistress, didn’t he? Then there’s no reason I can’t do the same.”
The hall plunged into suffocating silence.
It took a moment for everyone to process what they had just heard.
And then—
“—That’s impossible!”
Startled, I turned.
Tiana’s voice rang out sharply, trembling with disbelief as she looked between me and Enrique.
“What is all this?! Cecilia, is this true? Are you lying?”
“No, it’s true. Didn’t you hear everything I just said?”
“That’s impossible… How dare you—how could you be with His Highness the Second Prince—!”
Tiana trembled violently, her voice breaking.
…How exactly had she seen me all this time?
I tilted my head slightly, arms crossed.
“Then tell me,” I said coolly.
“What exactly are you, to be having an affair with my husband?”
