Chapter 103
“…I’ll help you. But in return, you’ll have to take care of something for me next time.”
Before Jared could even ask what he meant, William quickly descended from the platform and strode toward Iskan. Iskan, who had been about to move in Aisha’s direction, had no choice but to stop when it was none other than the Crown Prince himself who addressed him.
“Prince Iskan! How are you enjoying the banquet? I personally prepared this event for you and your people.”
“Ah, Crown Prince. This is truly the most splendid banquet I have ever attended. On behalf of my people, allow me to thank you.”
“Think nothing of it. More importantly, how is your father faring these days?”
Even though William was holding Iskan in conversation, Jared could not bring himself to move. Guilt gnawed at him—ever since introducing Helen to their father, he felt as though he had wronged Aisha, and now even showing his face to her felt shameful.
Noticing his younger brother standing frozen like a statue, William’s brow twitched in frustration. Without letting Iskan and his entourage notice, he slightly turned his head and mouthed toward Jared:
“Go already, you idiot!”
While three men’s intense stares bore down on her, Aisha herself remained oblivious. Or rather, she had noticed Ian’s piercing gaze long ago—but she deliberately chose to ignore it.
Fortunately, she was too busy to dwell on him. Perhaps it was because the mood of the evening had shifted, but Aisha received nearly three times as many greetings as usual.
“Lady Aisha, a pleasure to meet you. I am Harrison Iloen of the Iloen County. I work in the same government office as your brother, Lord Edward.”
Most of those who greeted her were from families connected to the Pardons, but occasionally, young men with no ties to her at all also came forward. Edward frowned disapprovingly at these men, finding their excuses to greet his sister flimsy at best. Daniel, however, unlike his older brother, welcomed them with a bright grin. And as soon as their parents left the hall, he dragged over several of his knightly companions—all of them good-looking and of respectable reputation. Young ladies nearby couldn’t help but cast envious glances in their direction.
“…Daniel. What do you think you’re doing? What if this gives Aisha a bad reputation?”
“Oh, come on. I’m just letting them greet her while we’re standing right here. And besides, women should meet many men. Otherwise, they might end up clutching some worthless shard of glass, thinking it’s a jewel.”
“You—how can you even say that…?”
“Ah, don’t be such an old man, brother. Who knows? Maybe Aisha will throw away that shard she’s holding and pick one of these. Anyway, the guys I brought here are all decent enough.”
Aisha had no idea, but she was especially popular among the younger knights. Her pale skin, sky-blue eyes, and slender yet distinctly feminine figure made her a picture-perfect heroine, the kind they often imagined from novels.
Moreover, while Daniel was infamous among the Imperial Knights for his foul temper, Aisha always treated him warmly. Because of this, the knights held not the slightest doubt about her character.
“Lady Aisha, I’m Norman Green, of the Imperial Knights with Daniel.”
“A pleasure. I am Amin Hall, also of the Imperial Knights. We’ve crossed paths once before…”
“Lady, I am…”
One after another, the young knights introduced themselves. To her surprise, Aisha found mingling in such a setting far more enjoyable than she had ever expected. At past banquets, she had rarely spoken to anyone outside of her family or close female friends. She had especially avoided unfamiliar young men, worried about upsetting Ian, and had believed that was the proper thing to do.
“…This isn’t so bad.”
It felt like finally stretching her shoulders after fifteen years of keeping them hunched. Reflecting her brighter mood, Aisha laughed freely as she chatted. Hearing her cheerful laughter, her friends—Evelyn, Viola, and others—soon joined her. Before long, a lively circle of young men and women had formed, and Aisha found herself enjoying the banquet wholeheartedly.
The sight of young nobles mingling in good spirits even drew smiles from the usually uptight older aristocrats. Partly it was due to the bright, welcoming atmosphere of the banquet, and partly because the conversations seemed wholesome and proper.
Still, there were whispers.
“Look at Lady Aisha. She was never particularly active in society, always pretending to be so reserved—and now she abandons her fiancé and throws herself into a crowd of men?”
“Exactly. She clearly enjoys being surrounded by them. I wonder how she’s managed to hide it until now.”
Some sneered, especially among the old nobility hostile to the rising families. They called her behavior improper, whispering behind their fans.
…Well, what did I expect? I knew this would happen when I decided not to attend with Ian.
Aisha could sense the sharp gazes stabbing at her and roughly guessed what they were saying. But since she had anticipated this backlash when she rejected Ian’s offer to partner her, she was not wounded by it. With calm composure, she simply endured the gossip.
“Tsk, just look at her.”
Among those criticizing her was, unsurprisingly, a group clustered around Helen. Surrounded by her admirers, Helen scowled at Aisha’s circle before spitting venom.
“Such shameless behavior. Even with her family here, she dares to mingle with so many men? I’m disappointed in you, Lady Aisha.”
“She’s right. It’s not a good look at all.”
“Doesn’t she feel any shame?”
Helen’s new followers parroted her words like obedient birds. Yet the flickers of envy in their eyes did not escape Helen’s notice.
Light-footed fools.
Grinding her teeth in irritation, she bit her nails, forgetting her surroundings. Then her gaze landed on one girl at the edge of her group. Unlike the others, this girl showed no envy—her eyes brimmed with murderous hatred, directed at someone in Aisha’s circle.
Helen quickly recalled her name. Approaching, she spoke.
“Lady Sarah, you agree it’s disgraceful, don’t you?”
“…Pardon?”
“I mean Lady Aisha. For a noblewoman to behave like that—so improper, isn’t it?”
“Y-yes. Such shameful conduct.”
Startled but secretly pleased that Helen had addressed her, the girl struggled to hide her excitement. Like Helen, she was a noble illegitimate child, forced to live under scorn. Unlike the others, she genuinely admired Helen, who despite being a bastard had gained the Emperor’s recognition.
“Mm… I think you and I would get along well, Lady Sarah. Why don’t we step aside and chat privately?”
Overwhelmed, Sarah’s eyes welled with tears at being singled out. Helen found her expression amusing—after all, she only intended to use her for the moment—but being looked up to was not unpleasant. With her chin lifted proudly, Helen guided Sarah toward a lounge at the corner of the hall.
Damn it.
Like Helen, another person glared at Aisha’s circle with sharp eyes—none other than Ian. His gaze was even fiercer than Helen’s, fixed squarely on the men surrounding Aisha. His hostility was so blatant that Sophia, embarrassed, slipped away to join a group of ladies she barely knew.
From the moment Aisha entered the hall, Ian had not taken his eyes off her. He had promised himself that after she rejected him as a partner, he would act indifferent. But when she appeared, radiant and carefree, he found himself unable to look away.
…Aisha.
The more he watched, the more parched and restless his heart grew. She greeted others with a brightness he had never seen before, chatting merrily, her circle of admirers growing with every passing minute. Each time another man stepped closer to her, Ian’s fists clenched until his veins stood out. Yet Aisha never spared him so much as a glance.
…I’m your fiancé, Aisha.
Clinging to that one remaining justification, Ian finally stepped forward. Edward and Daniel stood beside her, but if he asked for a word alone, surely Aisha would let her brothers step aside. And if not—then he would simply drag her away himself. He was resolved.
Taller than most men, with golden hair that shone even from afar and strikingly sharp features, Ian naturally drew eyes as he moved closer. At last, even Aisha noticed him.
Don’t come.
The moment their eyes met, Aisha’s face cooled into an icy mask, and she silently, but firmly, mouthed the words. Though there was still some distance, Ian, who was watching her intently, read her lips at once and froze on the spot.
She glared at him, as if signaling once again: Do not approach. Then she turned away without hesitation.
Ian’s hand trembled as his expression went blank. His determination to confront her shattered instantly beneath that single glance of rejection.
Had she truly come to despise him so much? She had never been this cold before. Why now…?
No… If she really hated me, she would have broken the engagement long ago. She must still be angry… And Daniel and Edward are right there. She’s just putting on a show for their sake.
Dizzy with denial, Ian lowered his head, trying desperately to believe it. At that very moment, a man pushed through the crowd and appeared before Aisha.
“Your Highness.”
It was a red-haired man—Jared. Everyone in the hall recognized him immediately. At his arrival, Aisha and her circle bowed politely. Jared’s gaze swept over the group before fixing firmly on Aisha. With a slight bow, he extended his hand toward her.
“Lady Aisha. It has been too long. Will you grant me this dance?”
