Chapter : 09
Haley’s ears flushed a deep crimson from embarrassment.
Given it was a royal banquet, she had expected the Prince to be there. However, when he failed to appear even after the first dance ended, she had just begun to think, ‘I should leave quickly before I run into him.’
Where on earth did he come from, and why was he asking her to dance the moment he arrived? Haley was utterly flustered. Every eye in the ballroom was fixed squarely on her.
‘What kind of madman asks a wallflower to dance!’
No matter how bold she was, refusing a dance from the Prince in a place like this felt too burdensome. Honestly, even after cursing at Axel and fleeing last time, she had been anxious that she might be hauled away for it.
“…Of all people, why me?”
“I told you. You are my ideal type.”
Axel leaned toward Haley’s ear, speaking in a low voice intended only for her.
Haley bit her lip hard, a scowl on her face that made it clear she’d rather die than dance, as she placed her hand atop the one the Prince offered.
‘If it weren’t for this guy, I’d be on my way home by now.’
Haley was a terrible dancer. When Marianne had received one-on-one etiquette lessons, Haley had only managed to catch glimpses over her shoulder. Furthermore, since the Baron and his wife had never given her a proper debut, this was her first ball despite being a noble lady.
“You’ll regret this. I might step on your feet.”
“As much as you like,” Axel replied languidly.
Axel, who had never shown interest in such banquets before, had requested the guest list from the secretariat for the first time in his life. He was looking for exactly one name.
‘Langston. Haley Langston.’
Her name had been on the very last page. Today, he had to change her mind somehow.
‘The Langston family is drowning in debt. Miss Haley’s reputation isn’t great either. Think about it, Your Highness. Imagine how much the Langstons will try to exploit you.’
Khalid had expressed concern, urging him to reconsider Haley Langston as a marriage prospect. But Axel didn’t care. The Langston family’s debt was none of his business. He had seen for himself that she wasn’t submissive or social, so it was only natural her reputation was poor.
And today, she didn’t disappoint.
‘Who is she dancing with now?’ ‘Well… they say Miss Haley is rejecting all proposals, claiming she has a child.’
Axel had burst into laughter. She truly was an unpredictable woman.
‘To handle the picky Duke of Winchester, she needs to be at least that much.’
Axel found himself liking her more and more. As he took Haley by the waist and stepped skillfully, her body was naturally drawn close to him. Being held by a man for the first time, Haley’s face burned bright red in panic.
“You really are bad at this.”
“I-I told you I couldn’t dance.”
Despite his personality, a prince was still a prince; Axel was skillful and perfect. He was so adept that he guided her steps to make even the stiff Haley look fluid. Axel moved close to the nape of her neck and then pulled away. He felt her flinch in surprise.
Looking down into her eyes, Axel asked, “Why did you run away that day?”
“Should I not have?”
“…It doesn’t matter. Marry me. Just for one year.”
“What kind of conversation is this?”
Because there were too many watching eyes, Haley used the most polite words possible instead of saying, ‘Are you insane?’
“Think about it again. I’ll give you a divorce after a year.”
“This room is overflowing with women who want to marry you, Your Highness.”
“The ones I want are you and your son.”
Haley cursed him with her eyes. Axel caught her honest expression and let the corners of his mouth curl into a smirk.
“Tell me whenever you change your mind.”
“Never.”
While Haley was busy dodging his words, the song ended. She hurriedly let go of his hand, gave a polite bow, and turned away sharply. She vowed never to face him again.
“What happened? Was the rumor about you and the Prince true?”
“It’s nothing like that. He said we should never see each other again.”
“But the atmosphere looked good?”
“I said it’s not! Let’s go home. I don’t want to be here.”
Ignoring the Baroness who called after her urgently, Haley quickly exited the ballroom. The Baroness tried to keep up with Haley’s long, brisk strides with her own short legs, but it was a losing battle.
As they left the Grand Ballroom and headed down the stairs to the central hall, the Baroness, exhausted from the chase, finally screamed in a voice full of rage.
“Haley Langston!”
Haley stopped with an annoyed look and turned around. The fuming Baroness, huffing and puffing, caught up to the step just above Haley and grabbed her hand firmly.
“Let’s go back inside at once. It’s not over yet.”
“I said no. This is enough.”
They had come here claiming they needed to find investors, but the Baroness had been too busy dragging Haley toward single noblemen to even attempt looking for one. From the start of the banquet, Haley had felt something was off.
“Then just two more songs—no, three—and then we’ll go.”
“What is wrong with you? You aren’t even looking for investors anyway.”
“W-we have to consider the Prince’s dignity. Do you have any idea how rude it is for you to just leave like this?”
“….”
“Come on.”
Suddenly, a chill ran down Haley’s spine. The anxiety and unease she had felt for days hit her all at once like a blow to the back of the head.
After the incident with the Count of Roman’s family, a rumor had spread through society that the unmarried daughter of Baron Langston had a child, causing the Baroness a great deal of embarrassment. Yet, Haley hadn’t been scolded. The Baron and his wife, who had sworn not to give her a single penny, had suddenly changed their tune and offered her money.
And today, despite needing investors, they were busy introducing her everywhere. The secret meeting between the Baroness and the Count of Roman’s servant in the hallway earlier. Above all, the Baroness’s strangely anxious expression.
Haley violently shook off her hand and looked down at the Baroness, who was much smaller despite being a step higher. Haley gripped the woman’s shoulder tightly with one hand.
“…Do I have to stay here?”
“W-what are you talking about? Let’s just go back in.”
“It’s not that I have to stay here… it’s that I can’t go home right now, isn’t it? Isn’t that right?”
“I said that’s not it!”
At that moment, the shawl draped over Haley’s shoulders slipped and fell to the floor. She had felt uneasy for days, but she had assumed her parents were simply making one last desperate attempt at selling her off in marriage. She knew they were bad people and intended to cut ties with them, but she hadn’t thought they were actual demons.
She realized her mistake now; she had been too naive. Beyond misery, a sense of self-loathing washed over her.
“…How? What did you do? My Theo… where is Theo…!”
“….”
“Answer me. Where is Theo? What did you do to him?”
“Stop talking nonsense and get back inside. When I think of everything you’ve ruined, my blood boils. Consider yourself lucky it’s only this much!”
The Baroness, who couldn’t even meet Haley’s eyes a moment ago, shifted her stance and snapped coldly. She had simply been buying time. The ‘investor’ story was a lie—it was nothing more than a perfect excuse to separate Haley from Theo.
Haley turned around, looking half-dazed. She had to get out of here and run to Theo immediately.
“It’s too late. If you don’t want things to get uglier, practice smiling for the man who will buy you for a high price.”
“….”
“My kindness was my sin. I should have abandoned that child long ago. Why did you protect him so fiercely?”
The Baroness’s sharp words pierced Haley’s back like thorns. Haley clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms, drawing blood.
“I was going to get rid of him anyway once I married you off. How could I keep a child of unknown origin?”
“….”
“Don’t you agree? Surely you didn’t plan on living with him forever?”
Haley felt her blood turn cold.
‘A child of unknown origin.’
It was a doubt Haley had harbored her entire life: was she perhaps not their biological daughter? Her hair and eye color were similar to the Baron’s, but unlike the Baron, the Baroness, or her sister Marianne, she was tall—taller than most men. Haley was distinctly different from them.
“If you had just cooperated, I might have allowed a final goodbye. You stupid girl.”
“….”
“In the end, you’ll be grateful to us. So stop making a scene over nothing and get back inside!”
End Of Chapter : 09
