Chapter 41
“Both of you have black hair. Nice. Let’s start with introductions.”
Before the Marquess could even process the situation, Alendo’s voice cut in smoothly.
“The second prince of the Empire—”
“No need for formalities. Sorry for showing up uninvited, Marquess.”
Alendo smiled leisurely and extended his hand.
“Not at all, Your Highness.”
The Marquess shook his hand and shook his head.
“The invitation was a bit pricey, you see.”
“Excuse me?”
“I asked for one, but I was turned down.”
Alendo pouted dramatically and glanced toward Bellia, who was standing beside the Marquess.
The Marquess silently mouthed, “Is that true?” to his daughter. Bellia, still dazed and staring at Carlton, stammered,
“But… you said you were busy, Your Highness…”
She furrowed her brows.
“I said I was busy, yes—but I also said I could come. I didn’t expect the lady to be so cold.”
“I didn’t mean to…”
Bellia began to respond as she normally would, then remembered where they were and forced a smile.
“I must have misunderstood something.”
“Well, that happens.”
The Marquess wiped sweat from his brow at the awkward exchange.
He’d heard that Bellia had grown closer to the prince, but never to the point where they’d casually meet at a ball. And now, standing with the prince and the Master of the Magic Tower?
“Speaking of which, this gentleman is…?”
“Oh, that’s the Tower Master.”
“Ah, yes…”
“He’s quite familiar with Lady Bellia as well. Isn’t that right?”
Alendo lightly nudged Carlton.
“…My daughter is acquainted with the Tower Master as well?”
The Marquess looked at Bellia, seeking confirmation.
“Well, that is…”
“Yes, she is,” Carlton and Bellia replied at the same time.
As the Marquess shook Carlton’s hand, he tried to conceal his surprise at the unexpected situation.
“Well then, please enjoy the ball at your leisure. Don’t worry about us, Marquess.”
“O-of course.”
“Now then, Lady Bellia?”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Could you introduce some of those items on display? They look rather fascinating.”
“Ah…”
“Given their connection to both the Marquess and the royal family, it would be an honor to hear about them directly from you.”
The Marquess gave Bellia a nod of permission.
She returned it and spoke.
“This way, please.”
Bellia led Alendo and Carlton across the hall.
“Everyone, please enjoy the ball freely!” Alendo called out.
Music and conversation, which had paused, resumed once more. Yet many eyes continued to follow Bellia’s group.
“Seems like you two have a lot to talk about.”
Alendo watched the man and woman who kept glancing at each other with a bored expression.
“By the way, why did you suddenly show up?”
Bellia asked as if she were introducing Bea, using the opportunity to question him. Since no one dared approach with the Tower Master and Crown Prince beside her, it was a rare chance to talk.
“I have something to discuss.”
Alendo replied quietly, scanning the crowd.
“About what?”
“Let’s finish the round first. It’s Bea’s debut ball, after all. We should at least act interested. Let people gossip about the Crown Prince and the Tower Master showing special interest. But actually, what I want to talk about isn’t with you.”
“Then with whom?”
“Canaria.”
“Canaria?”
Bellia tilted her head, surprised.
“Why? What is it? Couldn’t you have talked over a meal?”
They could meet Canaria every week if they wanted. So why come all the way here for it?
“Someone’s been stealing my lunch dates lately.”
“Then join the lunch and talk there.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“What’s it about?”
“You don’t need to know. But come on, aren’t you happy? I’m talking to Canaria, and you’ve got your own catching up to do.”
Alendo nudged Carlton.
“It’s the first time you’ve seen each other since that day. One of you came to me every day asking if the other was alive.”
Bellia averted her gaze and moved toward the next table where Bea was.
Alendo and Carlton followed behind.
“And one of you never replied to my letters—until I sent one under Bellia’s name.”
Carlton avoided Alendo’s eyes.
“So, what exactly are you talking to Canaria about?”
Bellia asked, clearing her throat to shift the mood.
“I’m not seeing her. Isn’t she here today?”
“She is. Over there.”
Bellia gestured in a certain direction.
“She’s probably on the balcony—the one with the red curtains.”
“Why is she out there?”
“She thinks people came here not to support her, but to size her up.”
“So she decided to isolate herself on the balcony?”
“I tried to stop her… but she said it was more comfortable that way.”
Bellia’s expression darkened.
Canaria had arrived much earlier than others—and her eyes were red.
When Bellia asked if something had happened, she had simply said, “It’s nothing,” but her voice trembled.
There was clearly something she wasn’t saying.
“I was going to check on her later… but Alendo, would you go instead?”
“She’s been there since the ball began?”
“Yeah.”
It was early summer, but the nights were still chilly. Alendo furrowed his brow, imagining her in a thin dress.
“I should go. But I can’t just barge in… Is that adjacent balcony connected?”
“You’re going to climb over? You might make headlines like: ‘Crown Prince injured in stunt.’”
“Carlton?”
Alendo turned to him.
“You can manage this with magic, right?”
Carlton nodded. Alendo looked back at Bellia with a satisfied grin.
“I’ll go through the balcony. Bea was the last table anyway. Everything looks great. Just lovely.”
Alendo clapped with a fake smile, putting on a show of admiration—one that made it look like he was impressed with Bea.
“Carlton, you should act impressed too.”
“Act impressed?”
“At least look like you’re amazed.”
At that, Carlton gave a few claps.
“You’re always so dull,” Alendo muttered, unimpressed with Carlton’s expressionless face.
“I think that’s enough. Before the crowd gathers, let’s take our drinks and head to the balcony.”
“All three of us?”
“I’ll talk to Canaria. You two do your own catching up. Got nothing to say?”
As Alendo asked, Bellia and Carlton glanced at each other at the same time.
“Shy after so long?”
The moment their eyes met, both turned away again. Alendo raised an eyebrow at the awkwardness.
“Let’s go. Looks like nobles are coming this way.”
Seeing a group approach from afar, Alendo grabbed a glass of red drink from the table.
“Well? Come on.”
“Ah, okay.”
Prompted by Alendo, Bellia also took a glass and followed.
So did Carlton.
As the three disappeared onto the balcony, the murmurs across the ballroom grew louder.
“She said she’d stay on the balcony?”
Bellia asked anxiously. Canaria forced a smile.
“Yeah.”
“Why? Did something happen?”
Canaria shook her head.
“No, nothing like that. I just… I didn’t want to deal with the mess of being here.”
“But it’s chilly tonight…”
“I’ll rest a bit and come out quietly once the ball gets going.”
She gave a soft smile.
“But your face—”
“Bellia!”
Someone called from inside. Bellia turned.
Seeing a group of noblewomen enter, Canaria gently pushed Bellia’s back.
“Go on. Okay?”
“Will you really be alright?”
“Of course. Don’t worry. It’s your big day. Go welcome guests and handle everything. Okay?”
“Then don’t stay too long. If the attention gets to you, just go to my room. See the maid at the door? Her name’s Su—she’s my personal attendant. I’ll let her know in advance, alright?”
“Yeah, got it.”
Canaria turned and stepped onto the balcony.
A chill swept in through the transparent glass doors.
She closed them behind her and drew the curtains.
“…Ha.”
And then she collapsed.
“Ah…”
Face buried in her hands, she recalled everything that had happened before arriving at Bellia’s estate.
“I can’t breathe.”
A father who only cared about making her Crown Princess. A stepmother doing everything to impress him.
It was all so revolting.
She thought she had endured well—but today was unbearable.
“…A tool.”
A bitter laugh escaped her lips as tears welled in her eyes.
Her younger half-brother, who had just begun his successor training, had been so bright.
“Dad said once he becomes the successor, you’ll be a great help.”
“How?”
“He said you’re going to be Crown Princess! That’s so cool! He said it’ll help a lot. But then he said something weird. He said even if you become Crown Princess, you’re still just a tool. I asked, ‘But won’t she be higher-ranked than me?’ and Dad said, ‘Nope.’”
She knew he wasn’t a kind child.
Raised under awful parents, how could he be?
But he was the only one in the family who’d ever shown her affection.
Unlike her father and stepmother, who treated her like nothing, he at least smiled at her.
She thought maybe they could be real siblings. She’d been wrong.
“He’s right.”
A slow clap broke her out of her thoughts.
It was her stepmother—who adored that son of hers.
If only it had ended there, she wouldn’t have cried like this.
