Chapter : 66
Shirinyu showed no expression, and Noel was smiling, yet the atmosphere felt increasingly tense.
“Who said we’d only dance the first one together?”
“Your Highness, this is a formal event.”
Noel’s low reprimand came in response to Shirinyu’s curt words.
I swallowed hard. Please tell me this isn’t about to turn into some royal insult incident…
I quickly glanced around to see if anyone had overheard.
Luckily, Noel’s smiling expression didn’t waver, so it didn’t seem like they would make a fuss.
‘Do they usually talk to each other like this?’
But now that I thought about it, it was ridiculous.
I was the one who had to dance twice, yet why were these two causing a scene?
“The decision on who you dance with is up to Miss Selene, after all.”
As soon as Noel finished speaking, both of them looked at me at the same time.
‘That’s true, but… you expect me to choose while they’re both standing right there?’
I barely managed to stop my frown.
If I accepted Noel’s request, I’d end up dancing consecutively with the two most noticeable people in the hall.
But refusing the dance wasn’t really an option… could I? Refusing the crown prince’s invitation might get me into serious trouble.
‘I usually enjoy watching handsome men from a comfy bed… maybe I should just go home.’
…Of course, I couldn’t say that.
While I hesitated to respond, the noisy hall suddenly fell silent.
Looking around, I saw that everyone’s gaze was fixed on one spot.
A woman was walking toward us.
‘Huh… who’s that?’
She looked familiar, so I took a closer look.
Her golden hair shone brilliantly, cascading in soft curls. Her large, sea-blue eyes stood out against her pale skin.
The lower half of her face was covered with a sheer fabric, adding to her air of mystery.
Her pink dress was beautifully full, with plenty of shirring on the skirt, and embedded with tiny jewels that sparkled with every step.
She looked every bit like a heroine—or a villainess—in a story.
‘Totally different from me.’
It wasn’t just her appearance; she seemed to relish being the center of attention.
Even with all eyes on her, she wasn’t at all intimidated. She even gave playful smiles to those watching.
As she walked closer, I could hear the soft rustle of fanned whispers spreading through the crowd.
Everyone seemed curious, but I felt I knew who she was.
I glanced at Noel.
‘That’s… Noel’s secret girlfriend.’
I wasn’t sure whether her identity was still a secret or if she had hidden it to attend the party.
She seemed to approach Noel, but strangely, her gaze was on me.
‘Hmm?’
I instinctively looked back.
But in that fleeting glance, I definitely sensed hostility.
What…? I just met her today… did I do something wrong?
Could it be because Noel had been holding my hand just now?
But that was just a polite gesture… wasn’t it?
While I was lost in thought, I heard Noel’s voice.
“Why are you out here already?”
Noel, usually unflappable, had a noticeably startled expression.
So she had brought her secretly. Interesting.
I tried not to look too interested as I quietly observed the two.
The woman shrugged as if Noel’s reaction didn’t matter.
“I got bored waiting.”
A clear voice came from beneath the veil covering her face.
“….”
Noel seemed momentarily lost for words, staring at her.
The woman squinted her eyes with a smile and spoke again.
“There’s nowhere I couldn’t come, right? Please introduce me.”
Noel raised his eyebrows slightly and pointed to her.
“This is Princess Elizabeth of a distant allied nation.”
Elizabeth looked at me with a haughty gaze.
Noel gestured toward us and said,
“And these are Grand Duke Rifrix of the Empire and Miss Weden, daughter of the Count of Weden.”
After the introduction, I held my dress and greeted her.
“I’m Selene Weden.”
“Hm.”
Elizabeth gave a nonchalant nod to my greeting.
She scanned me from head to toe, then shifted her gaze to Shirinyu.
I blinked, alternating my glance between Noel and Elizabeth.
Noel smiled calmly, but the slight lift of his eyebrows betrayed his embarrassment.
A princess from a distant allied nation—so that’s why he’d been meeting her in secret.
They were close enough that an engagement wouldn’t have been surprising. Was there a hidden story here?
Since she was from an allied nation and acted so confidently, she probably wasn’t a hostage.
A princess sneaking out at night to meet the crown prince probably wouldn’t get any praise.
‘That’s why she hid it.’
While I thought this, Elizabeth studied Shirinyu carefully.
Her wide eyes curved instantly, and I could see her lips smiling beneath the sheer fabric.
“You’re Grand Duke Rifrix?”
She spoke in a cute, coquettish tone.
Following her gaze, I saw Shirinyu staring at Elizabeth with an expressionless face.
“Y-yes.”
Good grief…
It was so cold that anyone watching would feel awkward.
But Elizabeth didn’t stop smiling and continued talking.
“It’s an honor to meet you. Your name? This is my first time here. I hope to have many conversations with you in the future.”
“Well…”
Shirinyu’s response was just an arm gesture toward me.
‘She asked for your name!’
Did he really think that counted as an answer? There’s a limit to how socially awkward you can be…
Perhaps being cold was better, since he wasn’t Noel’s fiancé.
I, unable to reason normally about Shirinyu, quickly studied Elizabeth.
I saw her eyebrows furrow slightly.
‘Ah, she’s suspicious.’
I ignored Shirinyu’s outstretched arm. I wasn’t confident at small talk, but I hated awkward atmospheres even more.
“Princess Elizabeth, have you come to the Empire for the party?”
“….”
Elizabeth glanced at Shirinyu’s arm, then at me.
After looking between us again, she spoke in a low voice.
“You just rolled in…”
Her eyes sharpened, filled with disdain.
“Excuse me?”
I, startled by Elizabeth’s sudden words, unconsciously looked at Noel.
He quickly blinked and interrupted her.
“Princess, you’ll have plenty of time to talk later. Please greet the others as well.”
“….”
Elizabeth erased the anger from her face and smiled again.
‘Rolled in…?’
Thinking carefully, I came to one conclusion.
Elizabeth was clearly upset because she saw Noel holding my hand.
‘She’s… a boyfriend protector.’
I’ve met people who couldn’t stand their boyfriend being in the same space with another woman.
Good grief.
Yet she had just smiled at Shirinyu’s face…
If I do it, it’s romance. If someone else does it, it’s adultery? Ridiculous, but I couldn’t confront someone of much higher status, nor did I have the courage.
I quietly bowed my head, waiting for a chance to leave.
But life wasn’t that easy.
“Excuse me, Elene… Miss?”
“Ah, me?”
“Then is there another Miss Elene besides you?”
Her clear voice rang out.
“…Selene Weden.”
I carefully corrected my name, not wanting to provoke an already jealous boyfriend.
Elizabeth shrugged and muttered in a small voice,
“Whatever, whatever.”
No, this is too much overreaction for a polite handshake.
If a stranger dislikes you without reason, it’s natural to give them a reason… but I was too timid for that.
‘Do it well, Zina. Why all this fuss over me?’
I muttered in my mind as Elizabeth spoke again.
“Anyway, Miss Selene?”
Suddenly, the crowd’s gaze, who had gathered to see Elizabeth up close, focused entirely on me.
“Yes.”
I didn’t bother correcting the wrong name this time.
Trying not to notice the stares, I answered.
Elizabeth crossed her arms, lifted her chin slightly, and said,
“I’ll be staying in the Bradford Empire for a while to learn about the Empire’s culture.”
“Yes.”
I nodded, trying not to show my thoughts.
Elizabeth’s expression subtly shifted to one of superiority as she watched me.
Leaning close to my ear, I could hear Elizabeth’s voice.
