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chapter 49
Starting with the princess and Ares, couples began pairing off one by one to dance.
While Lucia was watching the dancers, Bern, who was beside her, bowed slightly and asked her to dance.
“Miss, would you like to dance a song with me?”
Lucia noticed the sly tone in his voice and the crescent-shaped eyes behind his glasses, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’d be delighted.”
Lucia took Bern’s hand and stepped lightly into the center of the hall. As Bern held her right hand and waist, she matched his movements and rhythm.
As she let the music guide her, she noticed Herwin among the crowd.
Unlike others who were merely enjoying the dancers, he was staring intently only at Lucia.
A creeping tension and unease returned as she realized Herwin was watching her.
As Lucia’s breathing grew unsteady, Bern gently drew her closer by the waist.
“Lucia, just look at me.”
He met her eyes kindly, just as he had helped her when she had panicked, as if to say: think of nothing but me. Spellbound, Lucia followed him willingly.
Her steps, once heavy as if weighed down by iron, grew light, and the prying gazes of others no longer bothered her.
“Feeling better now?”
“Yes. Thanks to you. Bern, you’re very perceptive. You helped without me even saying a word.”
“When you’re observed closely, emotions show on your face. But your true thoughts never appear, so I have to act based on what I notice.”
“Am I really that easy to read?”
“Haha, I told you—you have to look closely. Hmm… it’s hard to explain… I just see subtle emotions.”
Bern spun her lightly in his arms to the music.
“And, when I first met your friends…”
Lucia’s lips stiffened for a moment. Bern noticed and removed the smile from his face as he looked at her.
“You seemed a bit uncomfortable. Am I right?”
“Well…”
She knew she shouldn’t get flustered but ended up stumbling over her words. She had been overly conscious of Herwin, so anyone could see she was uneasy.
Even knowing this, she couldn’t respond to Bern.
Who could confess that they had behaved awkwardly because of a man they had loved for over ten years?
Seeing her hesitate, Bern exhaled softly.
“If you don’t want to say anything, that’s fine. I just wanted to let you know that you can ask for my help anytime you need it.”
Lucia’s gaze wavered, and Bern gave a small nod as if he understood everything.
“…Why?”
A small sigh escaped her lips.
He must have known the rumors about her, and perhaps even figured out what happened with Herwin, yet why hadn’t he asked anything?
At first, she thought it was mere consideration, but now doubt crept in.
“Why did you choose me?”
Though spoken lightly, the question carried pure sincerity.
Bern, sensing her genuine curiosity, stiffened his face. Lost in thought, he finally spoke.
“You and I are very similar… that’s why I chose you, Lucia.”
She couldn’t fully comprehend his words. But gazing into his golden eyes, she felt as though she could see herself reflected in him.
Silently staring at each other, they paused as the music ended.
“Did that answer your question?”
As they returned to the edge of the hall amid applause, Bern smiled warmly as usual and asked,
“…Halfway. The other half, I’m curious, but I won’t ask. If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine.”
“…Thank you.”
Bern gave a faint, wry smile. Now she understood why he hadn’t asked her questions before—he didn’t want to push her when he knew she’d feel uncomfortable.
If it wasn’t something that would affect the future they might share, there was no need to press.
“Lucia.”
Hearing the low, gentle tone calling her, she froze. It was Herwin.
Bern, standing beside her, quietly tensed.
“Dance with me next.”
Herwin requested a dance as if nothing had happened. While it wasn’t unusual to dance with him at every party, today, she wanted to avoid him.
As Lucia hesitated at his outstretched hand, Bern stepped forward.
“Bern?”
“Excuse me, but it seems Lucia isn’t feeling well. Perhaps it’s better to leave the next dance for later.”
Herwin’s eyebrows twitched. He shot Bern a sharp look but then softened his gaze when it returned to Lucia.
“Really… you’re not feeling well?”
“Well…”
Lucia looked back and forth between Herwin and Bern.
Herwin silently waited for her reply, while Bern silently indicated he would help whenever needed.
After a moment’s thought, she made her choice.
“Sorry, Herwin. I think I twisted my ankle during the last dance.”
She chose Bern. One day, she’d have to speak properly with Herwin, but today was not that day.
Herwin’s expression darkened further.
He seemed to want to speak, but instead only patted her shoulder.
“Alright, if that’s the case, I guess there’s no choice. Did you hurt it badly? If so, I could—”
“I’ll take care of it myself.”
With a firm, smiling expression, Bern positioned himself between Lucia and Herwin.
Herwin’s frown deepened even more.
“Then… shall we go?”
Bern continued shielding her, and Lucia felt grateful for his quiet assistance.
Herwin silently observed Lucia standing behind Bern, and eventually stepped back.
“Understood. Lucia, we’ll talk later.”
“Okay, thank you for understanding.”
Lucia leaned on Bern, pretending to limp slightly.
Thinking she had put some distance between herself and Herwin, she turned, but Bern whispered quickly:
“He’s still watching. Let’s head to the garden.”
Lucia nodded and followed him.
Alone, Herwin watched Lucia moving further away, feeling uneasy.
She seemed to be slipping out of his reach, and it didn’t feel good.
“Bern Casper… Marquis…”
She had met him through an arranged introduction. He seemed decent from what she heard.
“Then why does he bother me so?”
Was it because he blocked her path?
During her month in the north, she had wanted to ask about what happened, yet he had obstructed her as if some villain approached.
“Ah, that’s why I felt irritated.”
Finally, Herwin understood why Bern had annoyed him so much.
Even so, he didn’t understand why Lucia avoided him.
“Even while blatantly lying.”
He knew she wasn’t really hurt. She just held Bern’s hand and played along.
Recalling Lucia leaning on Bern, anger bubbled inside him. It was a new, confusing feeling.
Maybe it was betrayal—her friend, who he thought was on his side, choosing another’s hand.
The more he thought, the more tangled his thoughts became. He frowned, finally lifting his gaze to where Lucia and Bern were headed.
He felt he had to talk to Lucia, even briefly.
Bern stopped only after reaching a secluded part of the garden.
“This should be far enough.”
He looked around for Herwin and then led Lucia to a nearby fountain.
“You really didn’t hurt your ankle?”
He seated her at the fountain and carefully pointed to her “injured” foot.
Lucia shook her head, startled.
“No, it doesn’t hurt at all. I just said it to play along.”
“Really? I thought the limp might be real…”
“I thought I should act if I wanted to trick Herwin.”
Scratching her cheek awkwardly, Lucia made Bern smile. He remembered Herwin’s glaring eyes earlier.
“I hope I didn’t overstep. You seemed to want to avoid Prince Feneus, so I stepped in. Was I right?”
Lucia nodded obediently.
Fortunately, Bern didn’t ask further.
“While we’re here, let’s stay a little longer. Are you thirsty?”
“A little… but you don’t have to go out of your way for me.”
“No, I’ll get something to drink. Rest here for a moment.”
Despite her protests, Bern returned to the party.
Lucia watched him leave, finally letting out a sigh and relaxing her smile once he disappeared.
She took off her shoes, massaging her sore feet. The new shoes had left her heels and toes red.
Just like her battered feet adjusting to new shoes, she felt worn out in body and mind, as if her outfit didn’t fit her either.
No matter how determined she had been, pretending to be fine in front of others was harder than expected.
It wasn’t that she disliked acting as Bern’s fiancée—
She just wondered if this was truly her happiness.
‘Herwin acted strangely today too.’
He couldn’t be completely blamed for her wavering heart.
It was natural to be surprised when a friend suddenly brought a fiancé, yet Herwin’s reaction was unusually different.
‘Almost as if he felt betrayed…’
Lucia gazed at her feet, letting out a weak laugh.
Even after all these years, she couldn’t suppress the daydreams that kept popping up uncontrollably.
Turning her gaze to the fountain, the rippling water reflected her conflicted face.
Rustle—
She sensed someone behind her. It wasn’t Bern; it was too early for him to return.
“Who—”
She turned cautiously, and froze. The other person did too.
Seeing someone emerge from the bushes, her eyes widened.
“…Bianca?”
