Chapter 22 — Full English Translation
Surrounded by a constant flow of people trying to speak with him, Logan suddenly glanced around mid-conversation. Many were waiting to talk to him, but among the crowd, Eleanor was nowhere to be seen.
“Please excuse me for a moment.”
Aside from Usher, Logan hardly knew anyone at this gathering. Admitting to himself that he had been neglectful of his partner, he politely excused himself from the clingers and left in search of Eleanor.
Yet, she was nowhere to be found within the ballroom. The powder room was unlikely, as it was already crowded. Though he didn’t know her well, he was certain she wouldn’t choose to stay somewhere swarming with chattering young ladies.
“Logan?”
He had just reached the hallway when someone called out. It was Princess Daphne, her cheeks flushed from drink.
“Your Highness, Princess Daphne.”
“No need for formality now.”
She scolded him with a pout, clearly recalling his earlier rejection and taking offense once more.
“Once again, congratulations on your engagement.”
“Well, how generous of you.”
Her sarcasm was cutting. The words were a mockery rather than a blessing.
“So, where’s the lady you came with? You’re wandering alone.”
“I’m looking for her.”
“You really are an indifferent man.”
Princess Daphne clicked her tongue. Logan had always attended social gatherings alone unless protocol demanded otherwise. When he did bring a partner, it was always someone from a prestigious family, tied to him through business.
But Eleanor, who accompanied him today, was from a modest family most nobles in the capital didn’t even know. Was Logan sincerely trying to introduce someone special for once? The idea irritated Daphne.
“She might dump you, you know.”
Logan opened his mouth to say that Eleanor and he weren’t in that kind of relationship but closed it again. If both the princess and the king misunderstood, that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.
“She’s wearing an expensive dress and jewelry, you doted on her in the ballroom, and now imagine getting dumped by that girl. Wouldn’t that make the Duke of Claven look foolish?”
“……”
“That’s something I’d like to see.”
She let out a mocking laugh. But then she noticed something. Logan’s expression was so calm, it was practically blank. Curious, Daphne tilted her head.
“Do you look so calm because you think that’ll never happen?”
Her blue eyes gleamed with curiosity as she searched his face.
“Or are you just too dumb to realize you actually like that girl, even with that stupid expression on your face?”
Logan didn’t answer. He felt the question didn’t deserve one.
“No way… really?”
Princess Daphne covered her mouth, bursting into laughter.
“Logan, you should’ve seen your face when you danced with her.”
Her laughter echoed through the empty corridor. The warm breeze carried it gently around them.
“Like a lovesick idiot, completely entranced, unable to take your eyes off her.”
“……”
“She was beautiful, wasn’t she? So beautiful you couldn’t see anything else.”
Still laughing softly, Daphne whispered. Logan pressed his lips together. He couldn’t deny it.
“Most people call that love, Logan.”
She whispered like a witch casting a spell. Logan had no defense against the sudden blow.
“This is entertaining. I hope you get dumped by your first love, Duke of Claven.”
She gave a light tap to his chest and left, chuckling. While Logan remained frozen like a statue, Lord Felice managed to find the princess and led her back inside.
“……”
It took Logan a while to come to his senses. That he had found Eleanor beautiful—he couldn’t deny. Anyone would be moved by a well-dressed lady. That didn’t mean it was anything special, or that it could be called love.
“Don’t let nonsense shake you, Logan Claven.”
With a small sigh, Logan resumed walking.
‘She said she hopes you get dumped by your first love.’
Damn woman. Daphne’s words clung to him like sticky residue, souring his mood.
At that moment, he heard the trickle of water and the faint sound of voices. This wasn’t the kind of place people casually lingered—usually reserved for secret lovers. But Daphne’s words had thrown him off, and he hadn’t considered that.
“I didn’t want everyone thinking Eleanor was your partner and leaving her in that ballroom.”
“……”
“I was a little upset that I wasn’t your partner tonight—or your first dance.”
Passing through the trimmed hedges, he saw Usher and Eleanor sitting near a fountain. Eleanor sat on Usher’s jacket, while he spoke with open jealousy—something that felt unfamiliar from their usual dynamic. Until now, Usher had cautiously expressed himself, and Eleanor had reluctantly accepted it.
But when had they grown this close?
“I was going to stay near and wait for you to come to me naturally… but it’s harder than I thought, Eleanor.”
Usher said, awkwardly wetting his lips. Logan could guess what would come next. He knew it wasn’t right to keep watching, but his feet refused to move.
“If you’ll just accept me, I’ll take care of everything. I can do it.”
Usher promised he could overcome even familial objections, ready to marry her if she let him.
“I mean it. I promise.”
And Eleanor wavered.
“Why… Why are you doing this for me?”
Tears welled in her eyes as she asked, perhaps testing the sincerity of his heart. Usher looked at her like she was adorable.
“Because I love you.”
“……”
“I love you, Eleanor.”
His confession was pure and honest. Eleanor’s tear-filled gray eyes sparkled under the moonlight. Logan couldn’t tear his eyes away from them—eyes that now lit up with joy in response to another man’s love. It was beyond his control.
And at the same time, he felt as if his heart had plummeted to the floor. That moment, when you can’t take your eyes off someone… when you stop hearing or seeing anything else… when your entire focus is pulled to that one person—
Love.
‘Most people call that love, Logan.’
In truth, there had been many signs he simply didn’t notice.
The first dinner they shared, with sunlight falling only on her hair. The moment he encountered her in the garden and saw a glow gentler than the sun, softer than gold, yet dazzling. When he placed the necklace on her neck and his fingers brushed her skin—it had burned like a flame.
And when he danced with her and saw her smiling… his world had felt like it was shattering. That violent, vivid sensation—
“I… I…”
“I’m okay.”
As Eleanor choked on her words, unable to respond, Usher gently comforted her. Finally, Eleanor clung to his neck and cried like a child. It was an odd reaction for a woman just confessed to, but Usher found even that adorable, embracing her and stroking her back with a tender smile.
Logan understood that smile. The joy of finally holding someone precious in your arms.
Eleanor and Usher had just become a beautiful couple. But in that tragic moment, Logan realized his own feelings for Eleanor.
“……”
Who could he blame? It was all his fault. So many signs had tried to tell him it was love, and he was too blind to see it.
If he had known he’d realize it this late, it would’ve been better never to know at all. Especially when the woman he loved was now forever out of reach.
‘This is entertaining. I hope you get dumped by your first love, Duke of Claven.’
Like a curse, the witch’s wish came true. Logan had fallen in love for the first time, and the moment he realized it, he was perfectly rejected.
He had granted her wish. So… was she happy now? Logan chuckled bitterly.
“Eleanor, look at me.”
Lifting his head, Logan turned to the lawn. Usher gently wiped Eleanor’s tear-streaked face, kissing her softly again and again—forehead, cheeks… and finally her lips. The space between them vanished, every touch full of affection. Logan no longer had a place to step in.
Trying to ignore the ache in his chest, Logan turned his eyes to the sky. The stars above sparkled with cruel beauty, turning the moment even more tragic. A tepid breeze passed by. But it didn’t stir Eleanor’s hair, or Usher’s clothes, or even Daphne’s impulsive cruelty.
No—the only thing it stirred was the heart of a man who, in realizing his love, had already lost it.
Ouch. Yeah…thought that might happen