ISMFF 78

CHAPTER 78…………………………………….

After Temia fainted in a corner of the ballroom, a small commotion broke out.

When her partner, Rio, lifted her up and hurriedly carried her away, the people nearby only murmured for a brief moment before returning to their conversations — offering nothing more than the usual polite concern.

At parties like this, young ladies fainting from tight corsets were hardly unusual. Since someone had rushed forward to tend to the fallen lady, there seemed to be no cause for alarm.

“Well, if it comes to that, I’m sure they’ll call for a physician.”
“Indeed. It can’t be anything serious, surely. Ho ho.”

To others, it was nothing more than a passing incident.
Had it ended there, everyone would have forgotten it before the night was over.

That is, until—

“Where did that person go just now?”

The man in the black mask, who had been commanding everyone’s attention at the center of the ballroom, suddenly stepped forward and spoke.

“Pardon me… what do you mean?”
“I asked where the lady who fainted just now was taken. You don’t know?”
“Ah, well, I imagine she only felt a little dizzy… Perhaps she went to the powder room? The gentleman she was with carried her off in quite a hurry.”
“…‘Another gentleman,’ you say? So, you don’t know for certain where she went.”

Before anyone could recover from his abrupt, sharp tone, the man turned on his heel as though the matter no longer concerned him.
The lack of even a perfunctory “thank you” stood in stark contrast to the polished, gentlemanly demeanor he had shown moments ago.

Wasn’t he acting so courteous before?
Indeed. Has he suddenly become a different man?

Just as someone was about to comment on his rudeness, another man stepped in to block his path.

“Isn’t it a little too late to go looking for her now, magician?”

A tense silence filled the space between them.

“Ha… so it was you? The ‘other gentleman,’ then?”

Sparks seemed to fly between their gazes from behind their masks.
Though their faces were partially hidden, they clearly recognized each other — the faint trace of magical energy leaking from both made it impossible not to.

Rio, the one who had spoken first, stared at the man before him with a crooked, dissatisfied smile. The black-masked man, Lowell, met his gaze coldly — his earlier social charm completely gone.

Rio broke the silence first.

“Fancy meeting you here. I thought you were too important to show up at such places — you move around more easily than I expected.”

His voice was smooth, but the words were barbed.
A chill swept between them. Then, from Lowell’s side, came a sudden laugh — hollow, humorless.

“Ha. I was hoping you wouldn’t recognize me. Guess you’re sharper than I gave you credit for. Or should I say it’s the benefit of age and experience?”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. And for the record, I had no intention of revealing any connection between us — but you seemed a little too interested in my partner.”

Rio stepped slightly to block the ballroom exit.
Lowell frowned, irritation flashing behind his mask.

“What do you think you’re doing? Move.”
“Temia is resting safely. No need to disturb her — unless you want to cause a scene.”
“Ha. You were the one who brought her here, weren’t you? Dragging someone with frail health into a place like this — what were you thinking?”
“What’s the problem? I asked for her consent, and she agreed. There was nothing forced about it. In fact, she seemed pleased by the invitation.”
“That’s not the point! I’m saying she shouldn’t have been here at all. You must understand that much!”

Lowell’s sharp eyes glared at Rio accusingly — but before he could say more, a woman approached them.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going all of a sudden? You were supposed to stay by my side and play your part!”

It was Kylie, speaking in a harsh whisper.

Hearing her, Lowell seemed to remember the “role” he was meant to be playing.
Kylie sighed, seeing him bite his lip.

“Magician, I’d appreciate it if you remembered that you’re here as my fiancé. We both need to hold up our ends of the deal.”
“…Sorry. Something important came up.”
“More important than me? What could possibly—? And who is this?”
“Someone I know. He’s also… Temia’s partner tonight.”

At that name, Kylie’s eyes widened.

“Wait, she’s here…?”

Rio cut in before Lowell could respond.

“She suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed after seeing you two together. She’s resting now.”

“W-What?! Oh no… She’s always been frail since childhood! Where is she now?!”

“There was no proper place, so I laid her down in an empty powder room — left a maid to watch over her.”

Before he could finish, Kylie lifted her skirts and ran off.
She was gone before Rio could stop her.

There’s nothing good to come of her going there… but I can’t stop her either.

He hesitated, but as a gentleman, he couldn’t follow her into a lady’s resting room.
Given the way Kylie had spoken, the two seemed close — perhaps it was better to leave her to it.

Only Rio and Lowell remained.
Their gazes met — cold and accusing.

Rio’s eyes were especially sharp. He had tracked Lowell precisely to draw Temia into this situation, but he hadn’t expected such an open confrontation.

So the magician had feelings for Temia after all… or maybe not?

Even his supposed partner, Kylie, seemed to know Temia.
He decided to be blunt.

“So you’re two-timing now, magician? Didn’t take you for that type.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Surely you’re not going to deny it?”
“There are circumstances… but I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“I’m not interested in your story. But Temia might be.”
“…Ha.”
“Private or not, deception looks the same to those who care. Remember that.”

Lowell pressed a hand to his temple, his voice tightening.

Meanwhile, Kylie ran frantically through the hall in the direction Rio had indicated.

What if her illness has returned? She’s always been weak… Should I contact her family?

Even if she had seemed healthier lately, Kylie’s memories of Temia were of a small, delicate girl — always pale, always in pain.

She must’ve seen me with the magician and been shocked… It must’ve looked bad. What if the shock made her sick again?

Keeping secrets had been a mistake.
She regretted not telling Temia the truth — no matter that it was Lowell himself who had suggested secrecy in the first place.

She remembered the day she received the engagement proposal.
At first, she hadn’t recognized the name. But when she saw his face, she knew — the smooth-talking man who had once commissioned her to brew a love potion for the man she loved.
And now, that very man sat across from her as her supposed fiancé.

At first she’d laughed bitterly at the absurdity of it. Then came the cold anger — knowing he had joined the arranged marriage meeting despite knowing full well her situation.

But Lowell had made an offer:

Let’s just agree to end it mutually. No feelings involved. In return, I’ll help you with your love — no matter the cost.

He’d added one condition:

“Are you good at lying?”
“If I have to be.”
“Even to people close to you?”
“That’s… harder.”
“So you’re saying no. Then this deal stays just between us.”
“You mean a secret? Well, it’s not like I’d go around telling everyone, but…”
“Is that going to be a problem?”

Kylie had hesitated before asking:

“What about Temia? What will you tell her?”
“What are you talking about? Temia doesn’t ever need to know. This is between you and me — we’ll take care of it quietly and move on.”
“Wh-What? Isn’t that a bit extreme? If she finds out we’ve been plotting behind her back—”
“The arrangement was made between our families, not us. Let’s just act like it never happened. Besides, I don’t want her knowing my family name.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s a house full of greedy social climbers. I want Temia to know me — not the Van Trea name.”
“Still… she might be hurt if she finds out later.”
“We’ll deal with that then. It can’t be helped.”

Kylie had shuddered at his cold reasoning.