101-31

chapter 31

“How did you get all the way here? I’m sure there was a ‘No Entry’ sign somewhere along the way.”

Only now did Arista notice the pink flower pinned to the woman’s chest—just like Bianca’s. She must have been one of the party organizers.

Arista couldn’t exactly say “I followed your friend and Bianca”, so she mumbled awkwardly instead.

“I was looking for the bathroom and got lost halfway. I’m actually terrible with directions.”

“Hm, even so… ending up here just looking for the bathroom… that’s strange.”

Her suspicious eyes made Arista swallow hard.

“You must really have no sense of direction.”

Phew—

Arista sighed in relief inwardly as the suspicion seemed to pass.

“Anyway, you shouldn’t be in here. Please be more careful next time.”

“Yeah, I will.”

When the woman offered to guide her to the restroom, Arista followed without protest—but glanced back over her shoulder.

The shadowy figures she had seen earlier in the dark thicket were gone, as if they had fled the moment their secret was about to be exposed. Arista narrowed her eyes.

“Your friends were doing something over there. What was that about?”

The woman, walking ahead, stopped in her tracks.

“In a bit, we’ll be setting off some fireworks to celebrate the birthday. They were probably preparing for that.”

“Oh…”

“Have all your questions been answered?”

When Arista stayed silent, the woman resumed walking.

‘…Maybe I really was overthinking.’

Something still itched at the back of her mind, but she had no choice except to follow.

After her dreamlike first dance with Herwin, Lucia danced once each with Lucas, Ethan, and Brian.

Four dances in, she was starting to tire.

Politely declining further invitations, she slipped away toward the corner of the hall.

Her friends were each dancing with new partners or chatting happily with others.

And Herwin… was across the floor, dancing with Christine.

Remembering his firm vow never to dance more than three times, Lucia chuckled quietly to herself.

Lucia…

A faint click of the tongue and her name brushed her ear.

“Lucia, over here!”

At the hall entrance, Bianca was beckoning. Lucia hurried to her.

“What is it? Did something happen?”

“Are you going to confess tonight?”

The sudden question hit like a bolt of lightning. Lucia’s lips parted soundlessly.

“Tell me quickly, so I know what to do.”

Bianca tapped her foot anxiously, glancing at the clock. When she had scouted this mansion a week ago, Lucia hadn’t given her a definite answer.

Truthfully, Lucia had no intention of confessing—at least, not until right before she came here. She had promised herself she wouldn’t…

But something about tonight felt different.

She had been Herwin’s first dance partner. He’d told her she was beautiful. She had seen his gentle smile.

It felt as if everything tonight was moving in her favor. Maybe—just maybe—Herwin might accept her feelings.

“Lucia, yes or no? Decide now.”

Pressed again, Lucia finally opened her firmly sealed lips.

“I will. I’ll confess.”

Bianca’s face lit up. She stomped her feet in excitement, then glanced around nervously in case someone overheard.

“Good choice. I knew it, so I already prepared the perfect spot.”

Following Bianca’s lead, Lucia arrived at the garden she had seen last time.

“Well? What do you think?”

Bianca pointed toward a white gazebo. Previously plain, it was now adorned with flowers and lights, looking absolutely beautiful.

“…It’s gorgeous.”

“Right? I worked hard on it. You have to succeed. Got it?”

“Why are you doing all this for me…?”

Bianca froze at the question. When she turned, she saw Lucia’s nose reddened, her face full of emotion.

“I’ve done so little for you, yet you’re giving me so much… it feels undeserved.”

Bianca fell silent for a moment, then gave a soft laugh.

“There’s no special reason. I just want you and Herwin to work out.”

“Bianca…”

Bianca hugged the sniffling Lucia tightly, patting her back.

“I’ll pray this becomes the best day of your life.”

Her smile shone brightly.

“Haa…”

Herwin let out a heavy sigh. He had resolved not to dance anymore after Christine, but people simply wouldn’t leave him alone.

So he escaped. Yet the suffocating blend of perfume and cosmetics still seemed to cling to him.

As his head began to ache, Herwin furrowed his brow and retreated somewhere empty.

“When does this even end?”

Bianca had warned it would last at least three hours…

Checking the time, he saw it was 9 o’clock. Almost an hour remained, and he groaned.

“…Maybe I should just run away.”

The rest of the evening’s program would go on fine without him. Did he really need to stay?

He was seriously considering escape when suddenly, the darkness around him lit up.

Thinking he had been caught, Herwin turned his head—only to see a familiar face.

“Oh… it’s you?”

“So this is where you were hiding.”

It was Bianca. Relieved, Herwin glanced around.

“If you don’t need me, please leave. If someone finds us here, it’ll be trouble.”

“You’re hiding from everyone, huh?”

Herwin gave a small nod, and Bianca burst into laughter.

“Pfft—hahaha. Sorry, sorry. It’s just so different from your usual image.”

Wiping a tear of laughter from her eye, Bianca grinned.

“If you really want to avoid people, should I take you somewhere else?”

“…Somewhere else?”

“Yeah. There’s exactly one spot that’s completely off-limits.”

Herwin hesitated, eyes flicking nervously as the sounds of people drew closer. At last, he nodded.

“Where is it?”

Lucia couldn’t calm herself.

With every passing second, her heart raced harder, nerves climbing higher.

Her lips trembled, her hands grew clammy. Why was she so nervous, when this wasn’t even her first confession?

“…It’s fine. It’ll be fine.”

Rustle—

Her eyes snapped open at the sound behind her.

Whipping around, she saw the person she had been waiting for.

“Huh? Lucia.”

“Herwin…”

“So you came here too, to get away from people?”

Looking around, Herwin quickly stepped toward her.

Though his tired expression made her falter, Lucia couldn’t waste such a perfect night.

As Herwin undid the top button of his neatly fastened shirt and ruffled his hair, Lucia carefully approached.

“Herwin.”

“Yeah?”

As his hair fell into disarray, a small gift box appeared before him.

Herwin blinked in surprise, then looked up at Lucia, who was holding it out with a flushed face.

“This is…”

“I saw it in town the other day and thought it’d suit you, so I… I bought it. I never gave you a present, remember?”

Head bowed, Lucia suddenly looked up again.

“I like you.”

Herwin’s expression hardened, as if about to brush it off.

“You’re even saying this now—”

“It’s not in the heat of the moment!”

Seeing him about to dismiss her like before, she hurriedly added,

“Once, I confessed because I couldn’t control my feelings. But not tonight.”

Despite trembling, her face held a determined seriousness.

“Since I was eight years old until now—not once have my feelings for you been a lie. I like you, Herwin.”

She bowed her head again, holding out the gift.

“Please… go out with me.”

Herwin was stunned.

His childhood friend was confessing again.

But this time was completely different. There was no lighthearted atmosphere, no hint of a joke. Lucia wasn’t speaking rashly.

It was the first time she had confessed so seriously.

His heart began to thump.

Though the night sky was dark, the scattered lights illuminated Lucia’s face clearly.

Her tightly shut eyelashes trembled, her lips were pressed together, and her outstretched hand shook violently.

Herwin opened his mouth, reaching for the gift with care.

“I…”

But just as he began to speak, blinding light flooded the garden.

Herwin winced, and so did Lucia.

Turning toward the source, Herwin felt his stomach drop.

“Well, well. So you two were secretly a thing?”

“My goodness. Pretending otherwise, only to sneak around like this?”

“And apparently it’s been going on forever. She said she’s liked him since they were eight.”

The harsh light poured from the grand hall.

A single glass door connected it to the garden, but all the hall’s windows had been curtained—so this place shouldn’t have been visible.

Yet now, as if on cue, every curtain was pulled wide open, exposing the garden and the gazebo where they stood.

And inside, every single person was staring at them.

“Pfft—puhahaha! Even if you’re childhood friends, know your place. Confessing to the Peneus heir? Doesn’t that sound ridiculous?”

One person’s laughter spread quickly, until the whole hall was mocking.

Lucia, confessing to Herwin, became the butt of the joke.

Herwin instantly realized—this had been orchestrated by someone.

“W-what is this…”

Lucia stared in shock and terror at the crowd inside.

“I knew it, from the moment you wouldn’t introduce us to Lord Peneus!”

“I thought you were sweet and innocent, but you’re just cunning.”

“Poor Lord Peneus. He must’ve felt trapped by a childhood friend he couldn’t reject.”

“Or maybe… she’s been after the Peneus family all along?”

Even though the hall was far, the malice in their words cut through clearly.

“I… I…”

Lucia stumbled back, trembling violently. The light faded from her blue eyes, despair flooding in.

Without thinking, Herwin reached for her.

“Lucia, you…”

When he called her name, his voice echoed around them.

Lucia whipped her head toward him, her face contorting.

Overwhelmed by the echoing jeers and laughter, she whispered so softly it was nearly drowned out:

“I’m sorry…”

Tears streamed from her blue eyes, and the gift slipped from her hands to the ground.

“Lucia!”

Someone screamed her name—but by then, she had already run off.