Chapter 35
“Is that so.”
Watching that handsome face lose even its faint smile and sink into a somewhat sullen expression, I suddenly felt like I should apologize—though I hadn’t done anything wrong.
At that moment, the second song began to play. It was slower and gentler than the earlier waltz, filling the ballroom with a calm melody.
The nobles, who had been blatantly or covertly staring at us, finally began to look away and turn to each other again.
As if the halted party had just resumed, Rixion Luhanes glanced once more around the hall. Then, lowering his gaze back to me, he spoke again in that incongruously gentle tone of his.
“Since we’ve already become the evening’s spectacle, shall we make things even more entertaining?”
What was that supposed to mean?
Before I could even make sense of it, his hand was once again extended toward me—just like déjà vu.
Huh?
I stared at his hand as if asking, What on earth are you doing?
Don’t tell me he’s asking me to dance again?
In the noble society of the Kaiden Empire, it was an unspoken rule that one could only dance once with someone other than one’s husband.
The only exception was for engaged couples who were soon to marry.
So, for Rixion Luhanes to extend his hand toward me again in front of everyone—was practically declaring to the entire hall that there was something between us.
The whispers spread, growing louder and louder until the ballroom hummed with gossip.
From afar, I heard hurried footsteps approaching—my brother Michael’s.
I stared down at Rixion Luhanes’s outstretched hand, then slowly lifted my gaze to meet his.
When our eyes locked, mine filled with pure irritation.
“Duke Luhanes.”
A poised, dignified voice—firm yet graceful—called out to the rude man.
The voice belonged to none other than Serena, the Empress, and Rixion’s elder sister.
I had no idea when she’d left the emperor’s side to come this far, but her timing was… rather impeccable.
As soon as the Empress revealed herself, the surrounding nobles lowered their heads. I too quickly bowed in accordance with imperial etiquette.
Serena gave me a kind, benevolent smile, then turned her attention to her brother.
“Let’s have a word, shall we?”
Even with his sister suddenly appearing, Rixion didn’t seem the least bit surprised.
For a fleeting moment, a trace of irritation flickered in his blue eyes—but it vanished as quickly as it came. With practiced ease, he smiled and replied.
“Of course.”
Thanks to the Empress, I was finally free from that man. The tension that had been coiled tight in my shoulders began to ease.
Serena turned first and walked away. Rixion followed, but not before tossing one last line over his shoulder.
“It seems we’re always being interrupted when I’m with you, my lady.”
…Fake-out.
He still had the audacity to address me unnecessarily, as if he couldn’t resist getting in one last word.
“I enjoyed myself today.”
He took a step closer, lifted my hand, and pressed a light kiss to it.
It was a polite farewell gesture, nothing more—but I could already imagine how the other nobles were interpreting it. The thought made me sick to my stomach.
I did my best to keep my face neutral, but who knew how convincing that was to everyone watching?
“Regrettably, then—until next time.”
Rixion Luhanes truly was a master actor. Even to my eyes, he looked genuinely reluctant to part ways.
He turned away, still looking back at me with eyes full of false longing.
Even when he released my hand, he did it deliberately slowly, as if to create some sort of “meaningful” atmosphere.
Good grief. I could only laugh in disbelief as I watched his back recede into the crowd.
Thinking back on everything he’d done to me tonight made my blood boil.
I irritably brushed back my neatly tied hair and glanced around, hoping to find Michael so I could tell him I’d return to the carriage first.
But my brother was nowhere in sight.
Instead, all I saw were the weighty, prying gazes of the nobles who had witnessed the entire scene.
Their mouths hung open, eyes darting between Rixion’s retreating figure and me.
Among them were the young lady who’d bumped into me earlier and her friends, all of whom were now staring at me with blatant curiosity instead of fear.
Ah, this doesn’t feel good.
Even though Rixion was gone, the subtle movements of people beginning to edge closer to me were terrifying.
“Come here, Liz.”
A large hand suddenly reached out from the side and pulled my arm. It was Michael.
Relieved by the familiar voice and touch, I obediently let him lead me away—though I couldn’t help one last bitter glare at Rixion’s back.
That lunatic… I swear I’ll get revenge for this someday.
When you lose your mind over Ji Eun-ha, I’ll appear right in front of you.
Even if it costs me my neck, I’ll confess everything you did to me—one by one—in front of her.
How you asked me to dance twice, how you called my name in that syrupy voice, how you stared at me with that suggestive look before kissing my hand.
I’ll tell her everything.
And when Ji Eun-ha learns that you behaved that way with another woman, she’ll be hurt—and she’ll distance herself from you.
They say that when a person gets truly angry, they can’t see straight. I ground my teeth, already mapping out my revenge plan in my head.
Then, as if he somehow knew, Rixion Luhanes turned his head.
Our eyes met. His blue irises curved, his lips curled into that long, slanted smile—
It was the exact same expression he’d worn back at Zremian Restaurant, during our first blind date.
That amused, delighted grin that said this is all far too fun to stop.
My eyes went wide as the thought struck me.
Is that bastard… enjoying this?
A string of curses surged up my throat—but I swallowed them down.
By then, he’d already disappeared completely into the crowd.
Now that I think about it… he was clearly disgusted with me at first. But once he realized how oddly I was reacting, he got interested.
If it’s Rixion Luhanes, it wouldn’t have been hard for him to learn about all my past blind dates—or how I’d behaved and spoken during them.
So if he already knew I hated him, that I wanted to avoid him at all costs…
Then maybe, in this dull world where Ji Eun-ha hasn’t yet descended, he’s just found himself a new, mildly entertaining toy.
“I enjoyed myself today.”
Those words he’d said before leaving echoed in my head.
He’d said he enjoyed himself. Enjoyed it.
Ha!
It felt like being smacked in the back of the head.
I snorted harshly, fuming.
You… you—
Rixion Luhanes, you psychopathic bastard!
Under the dark navy night sky, a pair of eyes—colored like ink—looked down from the terrace railing.
Even from afar, the figure striding away briskly looked quite spirited… though, admittedly, rather furious.
Despite the late hour and the distance, he could still see her clearly.
“I don’t like playing games. I like being alone.”
“Brats are such a nuisance. Can’t they do anything without someone else?”
Perhaps it had always been that way.
In a world washed in gray, she alone had burst into color—filling his vision completely.
He couldn’t look away. His gaze followed her; his hand reached out before he even realized it.
And before long, he couldn’t stand the thought of her being anywhere but within his grasp.
Rixion hated that. Even as a boy, and still now, long after his coming-of-age ceremony—he despised being swayed by unfamiliar emotions, by a single person.
So he’d tried to look away. Tried to distance himself, to keep her out of his sight.
Back then, and even now… it seems I’ve failed.
From the upper terrace overlooking the ballroom, Rixion quietly watched as Elizabeth left with her brother, Michael Christener.
A faint smile touched his lips.
He realized he was smiling—and though it still felt somewhat unpleasant, it was no longer unfamiliar.
He accepted it.
“Rixion.”
At last, Serena’s deliberately stern voice called him back.
Her worried eyes regarded him reproachfully—an expression he’d known since childhood.
The look of an elder sister who’d spent her life worrying about her foolish, reckless younger brother.
“Are you reflecting on what you’ve done?”
Even though her question was vague, Rixion understood what she meant.
She was scolding him for his rude behavior toward Elizabeth Christener at the ball.
Rixion’s blue eyes curved, his lips forming a slow, teasing answer.
“Nope.”
