Chapter 33
He had been the same that day as well.
At the mere age of twelve, Dandelion lost both of his parents.
For a child head of the family, there were enemies to face and responsibilities to shoulder.
He could not live as simply Dandelion anymore—he had to live as Lord Mont, Count Mont.
He could not afford to be looked down on, and indulgence was a luxury he wasn’t allowed.
His life was like a tree planted in sand by the shore—unable to sink its roots deeply anywhere.
At times, he wished the waves would simply sweep him away, yet he could never fully abandon himself.
Because his life was no longer his alone.
But the moment he heard Sienna say those words, it felt as though he could finally breathe.
The lightness of setting down everything tied around his ankles and running freely, if only for a moment.
That was how it felt.
She was a truly strange person.
So fragile she seemed as though she’d shatter at a touch—so delicate it made him afraid to even reach out.
And yet, without fear, she was the one who approached first.
No… she had.
At least, that’s what he thought.
Was I mistaken?
Dandelion was confused.
The princess’s long-standing unrequited love for Jad was something everyone in the know was aware of.
Earlier, he had felt irritated when Jad—who had left Sienna behind—went off with Lady Watson, the subject of all those rumors.
In a moment of impulse, he had stepped between them.
Only now did he begin to worry that he’d acted unnecessarily.
It felt like a place he had no right to step into.
More than anything, he didn’t want Sienna to dislike him.
“…Hah. I feel like an intruder.”
Jad was his precious friend, and Sienna was that friend’s fiancée.
Perhaps he should have acted more carefully.
Though regretting it now wouldn’t change anything.
“…What do I even want to do?”
He couldn’t sit still.
His chest felt tight, as though something were clogged inside, and his mouth tasted bitter.
Even he didn’t understand what this feeling was.
The night stretched on.
It felt like it would be a very, very long one.
The next day, Sienna went to the banquet hall as scheduled.
The earrings Dandelion had given her hung from her ears, and in her hand was an elegant lace fan.
Fans were practically a necessity for noblewomen.
There were countless kinds—ones adorned with extravagant feathers, painted by famous artists, or dazzling with gold leaf—but she chose something modest.
Standing out too much today would be troublesome.
Still, Sienna had already left a strong impression the night before.
After all, the biggest topic of the debutante’s first day was undoubtedly the love triangle involving Jad, Sienna, and a mysterious handsome man.
As she entered the hall, everyone greeted her with proper decorum.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Their expressions were itching with questions they wanted to ask.
With the king absent on the second day, the atmosphere was far more relaxed than yesterday.
The music was bright and lively, and groups who had already become acquainted gathered to share more private conversations.
Sienna returned greetings politely and headed for a corner.
“Why is she alone today?”
“Is the rumor about the engagement being broken really true?”
“I heard she’s a real femme fatale, nothing like how she looks.”
“No way. Jad said it himself yesterday—she was probably just trying to get her fiancé’s attention. How pitiful.”
She could hear the whispers behind her, but she ignored them.
Once Pierre arrived, everyone’s attention would shift anyway.
Most of the young ladies present were eager to dance with him.
She glanced around—neither of the people she was waiting for had arrived yet, and Anna had stepped away to the restroom.
For now, it was just Sienna and Shushu at the table.
Shushu, wearing a yellow ribbon to match Sienna’s dress, called out to her.
—Master.
—What is it?
Shushu’s black eyes swept over her.
Though it didn’t physically move, Sienna distinctly felt the gaze.
—Shushu wants to wear a dress too.
It seemed today’s yellow dress had truly caught its fancy.
—Just wait a little. Madame will be bringing your clothes soon.
—And that ring too…
—This? What kind of rabbit wears a ring? Do you even have fingers to put it on?
—Hey now. That’s prejudice.
—I’ll give you one of my rings once we get back to the room. For now, endure it. I don’t want more attention than I already have.
—Okaaay. Then please make it that big pink diamond we saw earlier.
It picked out the most expensive one without hesitation.
When Sienna narrowed her eyes, Shushu quickly changed the subject.
—But Master, it seems like you’re waiting for someone.
—Yeah. But neither of them is here yet.
—Is one of them the person you danced with yesterday?
—Yes. If you see him, let me know.
—Got it. Then who’s the other one?
—Ah…
One of the perks of talking with a spirit was being able to converse while doing something else.
She was about to answer while sipping a glass of the apricot juice she’d liked so much yesterday, when Jad suddenly cut in.
“Who are you looking for?”
He sat down beside Sienna, pushing Shushu aside.
“What’s this thing anyway? You’re not a child.”
Jad grabbed Shushu by the ears and shook it.
—Aaaah! Save me, Master! Can I bite him?!
—You don’t have teeth.
Delivering the unfortunate truth, Sienna rescued Shushu from him.
“Don’t touch my things without permission.”
She stroked the fuming Shushu’s back and shot Jad a glare.
Startled briefly by the unfamiliar coldness in her eyes, Jad nevertheless asked in his usual crooked tone,
“Don’t tell me you’re waiting for Dan.”
“So what if I am?”
Her sharp reply made something well up in his chest.
“Since when did the two of you get so close?”
“And why would I have to tell you that?”
“Well, he is my close friend.”
It sounded like nonsense, but since she had nothing better to do, Sienna responded kindly.
“Then ask that close friend of yours. Problem solved.”
“What was your purpose in approaching my friend?”
“You seem to be mistaken. I only found out a few days ago that Dan was your friend.”
“A few days ago…?”
A sky-blue hem of a dress flashed through Jad’s mind.
“Don’t tell me… that time…”
The shy lady hiding behind Dandelion’s back had been Sienna.
That alone was shocking—but wait.
There was a word that grated horribly on his ears.
“Did you just call him ‘Dan’?”
Jad blurted out, forgetting himself.
“You’re close enough to call that Dandelion Mont ‘Dan’?”
At his reaction, Sienna’s shoulders lifted slightly without her realizing it.
She felt oddly proud—like her closeness with him had just been acknowledged.
Seeing that, Jad was dumbfounded.
“You seem awfully pleased.”
“What? No.”
She replied casually and turned her gaze back toward the entrance.
But Jad’s persistent stare forced her to look back again.
“Then why are you still here?”
“To dance with you.”
“…What?”
For a moment, she thought she’d misheard.
“Why are you so surprised?”
He rambled awkwardly at her reaction.
“You said it yourself yesterday—this is a place where you can dance with anyone. It’s a place made for dancing, so I figured I’d dance. Until you’re sick of it.”
“Well. That’s true.”
She nodded as if agreeing, then looked straight at him.
“But Jad. Refusing is also allowed, right?”
“…You’re not actually refusing, are you?”
Watching his face freeze in disbelief, Sienna smiled gently.
“Yeah. Sorry. I’ll have to decline, politely.”
She had no time to spare dancing with him.
She had far too much to do today.
While Jad stood there dumbfounded, the person Sienna had been waiting for finally arrived—Eleanor.
At the same time, Anna returned as well.
Sienna leaned in and whispered to Anna,
“Can you arrange things like I asked yesterday?”
After hurriedly sending Anna to the lounge, she picked up the fan she’d prepared.
She fanned herself elegantly like the other noblewomen, her gaze constantly following Eleanor.
The moment Eleanor appeared, she was immediately flooded with dance requests.
Fair-minded as she was, Eleanor accepted the very first one and headed to the center of the floor.
Eleanor was quite a good dancer—but that skill wasn’t something she’d been born with.
It was the result of relentless effort.
As a commoner in her childhood, Eleanor never had the chance to learn dancing like other noble ladies.
Awkwardness and clumsiness were only natural—but such excuses were not tolerated in a ducal household.
To reach her current level, she had endured endless humiliation from Duke Watson.
“You’re stiff as a log.”
“Tsk. Who would ever want to dance with someone like you?”
That truth was known only to Sienna.
Sienna openly fixed her gaze on Eleanor.
She had to make her look back.
Perhaps because of her keen senses honed through swordsmanship, Eleanor quickly noticed the attention directed at her.
After spinning once under her partner’s lead, Eleanor met Sienna’s eyes—and at that very moment, Sienna lightly traced the edge of her fan with her finger.
A discreet signal: I want to speak with you.
The music was nearing its climax.
Eleanor’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, then she nodded faintly and turned away.
The meeting was set.
Sienna briefly closed her eyes and recalled the original story.
Eleanor loved Pierre.
No—more precisely, she was destined to love him.
But not yet.
For now, Pierre was simply the ideal partner—someone who shared a subtle sense of kinship and could help her achieve her goals.
It can still be changed.
Her grip tightened around the fan.
The music soon came to an end.
The couple on the dance floor exchanged bows.
Sienna finished the rest of her juice and rose from her seat.
