Chapter 1
The blue sky was dotted with clouds drifting lazily, and the bright sunlight poured down on a fine day.
In a secluded corner of a grand mansion, a place where people rarely passed, a man and woman stood together.
The man was tall, towering above most, with jet-black hair that fell like silk and eyes as dark-red as blood.
His striking figure was enough to draw the gaze of any passerby. He leaned against the wall with a careless air, looking down at the person before him.
In front of him, a petite young woman fidgeted nervously with her hands.
Though not so dazzlingly beautiful as to steal glances like the man before her, she was still quite lovely. Her chestnut-brown hair and sky-blue eyes gave her a sweet, charming appearance.
Her face flushed red, she screwed her eyes shut and summoned all the courage she had.
“Herwin! I like you! Please go out with me!”
“I refuse.”
The man called Herwin rejected her bluntly, without a moment’s hesitation.
With an exasperated sigh, Herwin ran a hand through his hair.
“Lucia, just how many times has it been now? Don’t you ever get tired of this?”
Despite rejecting her, his tone carried a hint of familiarity.
Lucia peeked one eye open, her cheeks still burning as she gave an awkward smile.
“Hehe… ninety-eight times.”
“Only you would keep going even though you know my answer never changes.”
Herwin shook his head in disbelief, clearly weary of the situation.
Lucia, instead of being embarrassed, only laughed foolishly.
Glancing at her, Herwin sighed once more and pushed off the wall.
“You’d think you’d give up by now. Do you really like me that much? Even though I never accept your confessions?”
Lucia was quiet for a moment, then curved her eyes into a smile.
“Yeah. Of course, I’d love it if you accepted my feelings, but even if you can’t, I just want you to know how I feel. At least I don’t confess in front of everyone, right?”
“Ugh. Just try pulling another stunt like your sixteenth birthday confession. If you do, I won’t see you for a whole month.”
“No way!”
Lucia’s tone was playful but firm as she countered his light warning.
“I confess because I like you, that’s all. Don’t feel pressured.”
Her words, pure and guileless even at the age of twenty-one, only made Herwin frown.
“…Lucia Agnes. I like Arista.”
“……”
Herwin stated calmly the name of the woman in his heart, yet his eyes darted to Lucia, gauging her reaction.
A fleeting sadness crossed Lucia’s blue eyes.
“…I know.”
“Haah…”
Herwin let out a heavy sigh, his gaze flicking back to her.
“Let’s go. If we stay here too long, people might get the wrong idea.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t cause you trouble. Let’s go!”
Lucia bounced back to her usual bright demeanor, flashing her radiant smile.
Relieved, Herwin followed after her as she walked ahead.
For a girl who had just been rejected and a man who had rejected her so coldly, the two seemed oddly at ease with each other.
And with their departure, the strange atmosphere vanished, leaving only long shadows in the empty space.
“Ah, there they are.”
“You two were together? We were about to go looking for you since you’d been gone so long.”
“What’s this? Did you sneak away for a secret rendezvous?”
When Herwin and Lucia returned to the social gathering of friends, teasing remarks were tossed their way.
Herwin swatted away Ethan’s elbow poking at his side, scowling.
“It’s nothing like that, so quit spouting nonsense.”
“Well, of all people, you were with Lucia. Lucia!”
Ethan waggled his eyebrows knowingly, smirking.
“She’s liked you for years now. Don’t you think it’s about time you gave in?”
Again, Ethan prodded him, only for Herwin’s crimson eyes to narrow coldly.
The killing intent in that gaze froze Ethan in place. He broke out in a cold sweat and shut his mouth tight, finally understanding the unspoken command: Shut up.
“Well, Ethan isn’t entirely wrong. Everyone knows Lucia likes you.”
This time, it was Brian who spoke, sipping his tea. As he pushed his long hair back, nearby maids squealed and swooned.
Herwin clenched his teeth. “You too—shut it.”
But unlike Ethan, Brian only shrugged casually, ignoring the warning.
Herwin’s fist trembled, a vein bulging on his forehead.
“Really, must you all bring it up when Lucia’s right here? Pay them no mind, Lucia,” Christine finally interjected.
“Thanks, Christine. But it’s okay, I don’t mind.”
Lucia reassured her friend with a smile and sat down.
“So where did you two go, anyway?”
The question came from Arista, the very woman Herwin had confessed to liking. Her beauty was divine, with pale golden hair that shimmered like threads of spun sunlight, and eyes of mysterious violet beneath her long lashes.
Lucia waved her hands with a laugh.
“Oh, we just bumped into each other on the way here.”
“Yeah, nothing happened. Don’t get the wrong idea, Arista.”
Herwin quickly added.
Arista tilted her head but then smiled lightly. “If you both say so, then that’s that.”
Herwin exhaled a subtle sigh of relief, unnoticed by the others, and slid into the seat between Lucia and Arista.
Conversation flowed across the round table. Trivial chatter filled the air, and Lucia laughed brightly.
But when she stole a glance at Herwin, her smile faltered slightly. He too was smiling—warmly, kindly, so unlike his usual cold expression.
And that smile was directed not at her on his left, but at Arista on his right.
Lucia’s hand trembled, and she clenched it tightly beneath the tablecloth.
Arista laughed heartily at Ethan’s silly jokes, her laughter noble yet free-spirited. Even as a woman herself, Lucia found her dazzling.
How much more so must it be for Herwin, who loved her?
A dull ache throbbed in Lucia’s chest.
The dissonance she had long felt grated on her more than ever today.
For just a moment, she wished Herwin’s gaze would turn, even slightly, toward her.
But of course it won’t.
Realizing her hope was futile, she shook her head firmly. She wouldn’t ruin the reunion with her friends.
Determined to enjoy the evening, she ignored the thorn pricking at her heart and joined in the laughter.
To anyone watching, she fit in perfectly, as if she had no other thoughts at all.
“Phew… today was fun.”
The gathering ended late, and only after night had fallen did Lucia return home.
Though she’d had a good time, she couldn’t shake her fatigue. She rubbed her stiff shoulders as she handed her coat to the maids.
“Young lady, welcome home.”
At that moment, an elderly man with neatly combed white hair approached—the head butler, Aaron.
Lucia greeted him with a smile. “Yes, I’m a little late, aren’t I?”
“Not at all. You were meeting with old friends, after all.”
“Hehe, thank you for understanding.”
“The Count wishes to see you.”
Lucia froze. She had been about to head to her room but turned back in surprise.
“At this hour?”
Was she to be scolded for coming home late?
“Shall I take you to him now?” Aaron asked gently.
“Yes, please.”
Following him, she found herself not at the study as she expected, but the tearoom, where her parents often shared tea.
Lucia tilted her head in puzzlement as Aaron opened the door.
“…Mother as well?”
Both her father, Count Johan, and her mother, Julian, were inside. They greeted her solemnly.
“You’re finally here. Did you enjoy your time with your friends?”
“Yes… I suppose. But what are you both doing here so late? Were you waiting for me?”
Lucia sat beside her mother, holding her hand. Her father silently set down his teacup, his blue eyes unusually stern.
“I had something to tell you, so we waited.”
“…What is it?”
Lucia swallowed nervously, uncertain what to expect.
“You’re twenty-one now, long past the age of marriage.”
The word marriage made her body stiffen.
“I know you’ve had feelings for Young Lord Pheneus, so I’ve waited until now. But no longer.”
“…You don’t mean—”
“It’s time for you to meet a suitor, Lucia.”
Her eyes, the same clear blue as her father’s, widened in shock.
