Chapter : 02
The Grand Hall of the imperial palace, where the Attribute Harmony Party was being held.
The hall was filled with the sound of people talking. On the surface, it looked like everyone was laughing and socializing happily, but in reality, it was nothing like that.
They were strictly grouped only with others of the same attribute.
This was because, in the Astel Empire, it had become culture for same-attribute groups to form alliances while keeping other attributes in check.
Valley Priatin was a 5th-grade attribute even within her own water-attribute family, so even her relatives kept a step away from her.
She was so used to this loneliness that she no longer cared and was casually observing her surroundings.
Then suddenly, a hand pinched the back of her hand.
Frowning, she turned her head toward the opposite direction.
“Can’t you stay still? If your vulgar behavior shows, what do you think will happen?”
It was her mother, speaking in a voice only Valley could hear.
“Don’t draw attention to yourself. Just stay still. That way you’ll at least look somewhat normal.”
She was treated like a completely broken tool. In her past life, she would have blamed herself and endured it quietly, but not anymore.
“Everyone already knows I’m a 5th-grade in the water-attribute family.”
“Do you have no intention of making even the slightest effort? Honestly, I can’t believe you have no thought of improving your parents’ reputation. Tsk.”
Her mother narrowed her eyes and glared at Valley. Valley met her gaze without flinching.
“What can I do? I got this mindset from you.”
“What… what did you just say? How dare you blame me?!”
Her mother’s face flushed red as her voice rose. The sound drew the attention of people nearby.
Feeling the stares, Rina quickly approached them while maintaining her composure.
“Mother, people are watching. Sister, how can you speak like that to Mother? Apologize immediately.”
“Hah, as expected of Rina. Only you understand me.”
“Your face is very red from anger. Let’s go outside for a moment and get some air. Sister, stay here.”
Rina wrapped her arm around their mother’s shoulders and led her away. Of course, she didn’t forget to shoot Valley a sharp glare as she left.
With no time to care about that look, Valley finally took the opportunity to look around freely.
What mattered most to her right now was finding Wayne Biterad.
He was the only surviving fire attribute in the Astel Empire.
Hundreds of years ago, people of the fire attribute began suffering from an incurable condition where their magical power became uncontrollable. Because of this, some began dying from magical overloads, and the number of deaths rapidly increased.
The Empire had tried to find a cure, but still failed—and in the end, only Wayne remained.
She clearly remembered that he had attended this party today as the sole representative of the fire attribute.
Her blue eyes quickly scanned the hall.
“There he is.”
Far away, near an artificial fountain, she saw Wayne standing alone.
Ash-gray hair that barely covered his ears. Crimson eyes that looked like burning flames even from a distance. A sharp gaze that made it feel hard to breathe if it met yours.
Wayne seemed completely uninterested in the party. With a lazy expression, he quickly downed a glass full of iced whiskey and set it down.
Even his outfit stood out. He wore a thin white silk shirt that clearly revealed his well-defined body lines, with the top two buttons undone, exposing part of his chest.
A navy jacket was draped over his shoulders, but it did nothing to hide his strong physique.
In a place where everyone else was dressed formally, his appearance was shockingly bold. So much so that people kept glancing at him while pretending not to look.
While Wayne ignored those stares and finished his third glass of whiskey, someone approached him.
“How many drinks is that already?”
It was David Rodrigo, heir of the earth attribute family, with soft brown eyes, fair skin, and neatly styled blond hair. He was also well known as the commander of the special unit Zero.
As David approached, Wayne frowned deeply as if annoyed.
“Get lost. It’s hot.”
“You’re only hotter because you’re drinking. And can you do something about your clothes? People are staring.”
“I don’t care.”
Valley was too far away to hear their conversation. After a bit more exchange, Wayne took off the jacket he had been wearing and walked away.
Afraid of losing sight of him, Valley quickly followed him with her blue eyes fixed on his back.
He strode forward with long steps and arrived at the terrace of the hall.
Apparently not wanting to see others, he even closed the curtains and isolated himself. Feeling this might be her only chance to speak with him alone, Valley hurried after him.
She squeezed through the crowd when—
“Oh…!”
She almost bumped into a noble lady but quickly twisted her body just in time.
The woman she nearly touched was a noble from the Light attribute family, wearing a moon-shaped brooch.
She covered her shoulder and stepped back a few paces.
“Please be more careful.”
“…I’m sorry.”
The noblewoman frowned in clear displeasure before turning away, smiling brightly only at people of her own attribute.
This was the culture of Astel—coldness toward other attributes was the norm.
Valley already feared how Wayne would treat her, but she clenched her fists and hurried forward.
* * *
“U-um… excuse me…”
Carefully pulling aside the curtain, Valley entered the terrace.
There, she saw a broad back leaning against the railing, looking up at the night sky.
But that back was completely bare.
Wayne was not only without his jacket, but also without his shirt.
Her eyes shook violently at the unexpected sight.
Wayne, who had been looking at the sky, turned his head toward her.
Now facing him directly, his body was even more striking.
His shoulders, chest, and abdomen—all perfectly sculpted. Not a single part looked untrained. Valley froze, unable to speak, staring blankly.
“What are you looking at?”
Wayne ran a hand through his ash-gray hair as he looked at her. Even that simple motion emphasized his muscles.
Valley was so frozen she couldn’t even blink.
On her first night, she had been forced to sleep alone because her “new husband” needed to intimidate her. So this was the first time she had ever seen a man’s bare body properly.
Flustered, she quickly looked away.
“W-why are you undressed?! Y-you can’t be outside like that!”
She crossed her arms over her body as if she were the one exposed.
“Normally people cover their eyes, though.”
Realizing her mistake, she slowly lifted her hands and covered her eyes instead.
“Now get out.”
“W-wait! I’m Valley Priatin. Didn’t you receive my letters?”
“Valley Priatin?”
Wayne repeated her name slowly, then seemed to remember.
“The one sending letters to the estate?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
Since the day she had returned to life, she had sent him multiple letters asking for a chance to meet him directly. But he had never once replied.
“I sent so many letters, but you never responded, so I came myself.”
“Tch.”
He clicked his tongue loudly.
“I’m not going to reply. I have no intention of it.”
Still covering her eyes, Valley slowly lowered her hands and looked at him. Wayne showed no attempt to hide his annoyance.
“I’m not planning to get married, so stop wasting paper.”
It was a warning tone. He gestured for her to leave.
But if she were going to back down this easily, she wouldn’t have come in the first place.
“I think you didn’t read my letter properly.”
“It was probably something obvious.”
“I never once mentioned marriage in my letters.”
Wayne raised one eyebrow.
“I know you don’t intend to get married. It’s because you don’t want your child to live the same life, right?”
“How… do you know that?”
His expression darkened further as he stepped closer. His intimidating presence made it hard to breathe, but Valley forced herself to stay calm.
She knew he would die in a month after this party.
The last flame of the fire attribute would be extinguished, and all the newspapers in the empire would report his death.
The palace had once suggested he marry someone—even a commoner or another attribute—to continue his bloodline.
But he had refused, saying he would not pass on the same fate to a child.
After his death, details of his personal life had been revealed, and newspapers had covered him extensively for a long time. Valley remembered it clearly.
“The Harmony Party is also for finding a marriage partner. The fact that you’re alone on the terrace says enough.”
“So you’re threatening me with some marriage refusal reason you dug up?”
Now he was right in front of her, his eyes sharp enough to cut. If she didn’t answer properly, she felt like she might be crushed.
She clenched her fists tightly.
“No. I sent you letters asking to be hired as a gardener for your estate.”
