Chapter 13

“Your Highness… did you enjoy it as well?”+

The heavy words, whose burden she couldn’t even recall when she’d begun carrying, vanished into thin air.+

A tiny crack seemed to form on Leopold’s usual impassive expression. For the first time, his ever-composed eyes—always watching her with calm ease—showed an unfamiliar emotion.+

“…No.”+

At that quiet reply, Olivia closed her mouth. Today’s Leopold was truly unlike his usual self.+

He had directly called her his fiancée, used her pet name, and even asked her for the first dance.+

Could it be that Leopold’s sincerity had been hidden within those moments she’d assumed he’d taken her lightly?+

Though their engagement had begun as something she’d accepted out of necessity, perhaps Leopold had inwardly acknowledged her as his fiancée after all.+

Maybe, just maybe, Leopold had quietly opened his heart to her without even realizing it.+

Small hopes gathered one by one. Burdened by expectations built atop disappointment, Olivia slowly turned her gaze toward Leopold.+

Leopold’s eyes softened slightly, yet the deep blue irises within his gaze looked at her as if reproaching her. Olivia had a premonition—he would say something contrary to her hopes.+

“You dared treat me that way in front of all the nobles. To say you enjoyed it would be a lie.”+

A teasing coldness pressed down on Olivia. She found herself smiling bitterly without meaning to—if she didn’t bite her lip, a hollow sigh might slip out.+

“Thank Maria.”+

Leopold mentioned Maria’s name flatly, then gently tucked a strand of Olivia’s hair behind her ear. A faint scent of damp wood burning drifted from him as he leaned close. Before she could even cough, he whispered,+

“If Maria hadn’t worked so hard to soothe my mood, I truly would have been furious.”+

Of course. Leopold wouldn’t be like that.+

Forgetting even her cough, Olivia pulled her drifting mind back into focus. How foolish of her to have imagined otherwise. Leopold was still exactly the same.+

When would her hope—that if she gave her best, he’d finally look back at her—ever come true?+

The cruel awareness of reality crashed over Olivia. She barely managed to lift the corners of her lips.+

As new music began to play, Leopold’s hand settled on Olivia’s waist. The touch felt awkward against her skin.+

When Olivia trembled slightly, Leopold whispered as though she were his beloved fiancée,+

“If you’re clumsy, at least pretend to be skilled, my lady.”+

Those words pierced Olivia’s heart like a sharp awl.+

Olivia danced.+

For countless days, she had imagined this moment.+

Dancing together in matching attire, stepping in unison with Leopold.+

She had been certain that in the center of the dazzling ballroom, under everyone’s gaze, Leopold’s eyes would meet hers—and when he took her hand to dance, his eyes would surely be as gentle as a spring breeze.+

Reality, however, was neither sweet nor warm as she’d imagined.+

Though it was undoubtedly the same dance, Leopold’s lead drove Olivia relentlessly.+

She strained to keep up with his pace, moving her feet quickly for fear of stepping on his toes.+

Spinning round and round, floating up, then crashing down—this dance brought her no joy.+

Just as she felt a sharp twinge in her ankle, the waltz ended.+

Clap clap clap—thunderous applause erupted. Leopold, who had been watching her as if it were only natural, gave a small bow.+

The breath she’d held back while worrying about her foot now rose to her throat. Only then did Olivia finally gasp for air and bow toward Leopold.+

But the moment she lifted her head, Leopold had already turned away.+

Olivia realized he was walking toward Lady Etel, who stood in a pink dress.+

Suddenly, a thought struck her:+

Maria Etel must be far more familiar with Leopold’s front than his back.+

Even if he was a man who always showed her only his back.+

The throbbing pain in her foot grew stronger. Olivia composed her expression as if nothing were wrong, silently repeating to herself like a spell:+

It’s fine. It doesn’t matter. Really, it’s fine.+

Balancing on heels of dizzying height, Olivia gripped the hem of her dress. She had to remain in the ballroom until five more songs had passed.+

Seated at a table along the edge, Olivia focused on the music, hoping no noble would approach her—when she sensed someone nearby.+

“Congratulations on your first dance, my lady.”+

It was Maria Etel. This was the first time they’d spoken at a ball. The nobles’ attention instantly turned toward them.+

“…Thank you, my lady. How thoughtful of you to congratulate me on my first dance.”+

“Of course. You are the Crown Prince’s fiancée—I must show you the greatest interest.”+

Maria sat beside Olivia, feigning friendliness. Amidst Maria’s perfume, a faint trace of damp wood smoke lingered—the same cigar scent Olivia had noticed on Leopold.+

Olivia gave a small cough. Maria’s eyes widened in surprise, and she leaned back.+

“Oh, my apologies, my lady. I must have picked up the scent after stepping onto the terrace briefly.”+

Everyone knew the terrace, draped in thick silk curtains, was a lovers’ rendezvous. Maria smiled slyly.+

“As you know, His Highness insists only on this particular cigar. Oh dear—seeing you cough, perhaps your bronchi are delicate? Or…”+

Maria trailed off meaningfully.+

“…perhaps you rarely encounter cigar smoke.”+

Beneath her tone of feigned concern, subtle malice rose. Mockery glinted clearly in Maria Etel’s eyes, even as she tilted her head with an air of innocence.+

Olivia gave a pale smile.+

So this was why Maria Etel had gone out of her way to find her.+

Olivia gazed quietly at Maria Etel. Strangely enough, Maria truly was beautiful.+

Her golden hair, her lovely fair face, her confident posture facing forward, and her sparkling blue eyes—all radiated the grace of someone who’d known only love her whole life.+

Was that why Leopold couldn’t let go of Maria?+

“My lady?”+

Breaking the silence, Maria called Olivia warmly. Olivia swallowed words she couldn’t speak—the swallowed words shattered sharply inside her chest.+

Meeting Maria’s mocking gaze, Olivia deliberately smiled sweetly as she replied,+

“That’s right. His Highness usually doesn’t smoke cigars in front of me. You must be quite fortunate, my lady—your bronchi seem strong.”+

For an instant, Maria’s face twisted. As Maria fell silent, searching for words, Olivia added calmly,+

“Do you wish to become a mistress?”+

Maria froze. In the crowded hall, Olivia spoke in a voice neither loud nor soft.+

“In our Franz Empire, polygamy isn’t recognized, so the highest position you could possibly attain would be Countess of Lowaltz.”+

There were only two paths for a young noblewoman to become a mistress: either remain a lady indefinitely, or marry suitably and unofficially serve as a mistress under an unspoken agreement.+

“It’s been thirty years since the late Countess of Lowaltz passed away. That seems like a perfectly suitable opening, doesn’t it?”+

Of course, neither path was honorable.+

Maria abruptly stood, fury dawning belatedly on her face—as if she’d forgotten the nobles eavesdropping on their conversation.+

“How—how dare you say such a thing to me!”+

“If not that, then why do you keep flaunting your closeness to His Highness before me?”+

At Olivia’s quiet question, Maria’s lips trembled. Tears seemed to gather in her fragile blue eyes—then she suddenly ran off somewhere.+

Watching Maria’s retreating back, Olivia rose as well. But before she could take even a single step, a sharp pain shot through her foot.+

As she walked with a blank expression, young noblewomen swarmed around her.+

“My lady, you seem to be having such an interesting conversation—please let us join!”+

“Your first dance and second dance were both absolutely splendid!”+

“Now that I think of it, where did Lady Etel go?”+

Their gentle voices masked thinly veiled prying, filling the space around Olivia.+

Amid such obvious provocation, Olivia simply replied, “Indeed.” Her vague answer only made the nobles more desperate to press her further.+

How did she know the Duke? Why had Lady Etel stormed off? Why wasn’t the Crown Prince showing himself?+

Though their tone remained aristocratic, not a shred of true courtesy colored their words. Olivia offered a faint smile and bowed her head slightly.+

“As you’ve seen, there’s been so much happening. I’ll take my leave for today.”+

Sharp gossip poured out behind her—but she didn’t care.+

A burning pain spread through her foot. Olivia walked tall, scanning the ballroom—but the Duke was nowhere to be seen.+

Strangely, she felt disappointed. Olivia blinked—and then remembered.+

She hadn’t even mentioned the jeweled pin Essela had given her.+

The victory banquet would continue for several days; surely she’d meet the Duke at another one.+

When that time came, she could ask him to return the pin.+

For some reason, she felt certain he would.+

A faint smile touched Olivia’s lips.+

“Aaah!!”+

In the opulent princess’s chamber, Princess Reina screamed.+

Grinding the crushed bouquet beneath her feet, Reina clenched her teeth, her eyes filled with venom.+

Edwin Lowell Bicander—holding the title of Duke, yet merely called the “Butcher.”+

How dare he refuse to present me with his treasured sword, despite His Majesty’s boundless grace!+

It was true she’d initially hesitated because of rumors labeling him the “Butcher.”+

But seeing his dazzlingly handsome face as he strode in confidently, her heart had changed. Thinking, “With looks like that,” she’d even smiled at him first.+

Now the Duke’s image burned vividly before her eyes—turning away, ignoring the bouquet she’d held out. That the man who’d sworn fealty to none other than the shame of House Madelaine!+

Such humiliation—she’d never experienced anything like it in her life.+

How dare, how dare Olivia Madelaine dance with both the Duke and the Crown Prince in turn, as if she owned the ball!+

It was unbelievable. That place belonged to Reina Franz—hers by right!+

“Act like a princess, Reina. You carry nobler blood than anyone.”+

Only then did Reina lift her head. Her mother sat before her, radiating grace above all others.+

Her mother, the Empress, had always manipulated Olivia with a mere flick of her finger.+

Hearing those words from her mother, Reina felt a deep calm settle over her. Her angry, ragged breathing gradually steadied, and she continued thinking.+

As a princess, she must crush Olivia Madelaine’s insolence.+

Her tangled thoughts grew clear and cold.+

Now that she thought of it—didn’t the legitimate daughter of House Madelaine rather openly defend her elder sister? Alone in that foolish flower garden, knowing nothing at all.+

Reina’s blue eyes flashed. Seeing her daughter’s expression—as if a brilliant idea had struck—the Empress smiled deeply.+

The surroundings darkened. Beyond the carriage window, the mansion’s wall was already in view.+

The foot that had remained steady until she left the ballroom collapsed the moment she stepped into the carriage.+

Still, you held up well, Olivia.+

Suddenly, she recalled Essela’s request to hear about the ball.+

That the Duke had sworn fealty to her, that she’d finally shared her first dance, and that she’d warned Lady Etel.+

Aside from the first, those were secrets she could never speak of. Olivia sighed quietly as she pondered.+

It would have been nice if she could’ve said she’d seen Jade.+

Despite it being a victory banquet, Jade hadn’t appeared anywhere in the hall. Where could he be?+

The carriage stopped, and Olivia entered the mansion. The moment her foot touched the ground, accumulated pain surged through her.+

“You.”+

At the familiar voice, Olivia snapped her head up. The voice from the foot of the stairs was unmistakable.+

It was Jade.+

“Jade!”+

Overwhelmed with sudden joy, Olivia ran toward the stairs. The pain in her foot, the layers of resentment she’d gathered—all vanished at the sight of Jade, returned safe and sound.+

“I really waited for you!”+

“What kind of relationship do you have with that madman?”+

At the harsh, cutting tone, Olivia froze in place.+

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.+

In every fantasy of Jade’s return, she’d never imagined him glaring at her like this.+

Olivia stared at Jade, dumbfounded.+