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~Chapter 58~
“…This is the real me.”
I spoke coldly to Young Lord Hutton, who stared at me with such despair.
“I don’t know how you saw me, but I’m not kind enough to smile while forcing myself to endure something I hate.”
“That can’t be! You smiled at me—at the knight order, at the party too!”
Classic case of a gloomy man’s delusion.
No wonder I felt uneasy—he had mistaken my polite smile for special interest.
Thinking he’d understand if I explained was my mistake.
Now, I didn’t even feel pity. I was simply fed up.
“I never smiled at you, Young Lord Hutton. Stop saying nonsense.”
“It’s not nonsense! You looked at me and smiled. We kept meeting each other’s eyes!”
“Take one more step, and I’ll call the guards!”
He kept coming closer, emotions boiling over.
Unfortunately, the guards had gone off earlier to check a disturbance nearby. I had no way to stop him.
As I tried to figure out how to stall for time—
“No need for that.”
A low, firm voice cut through.
A tall figure stepped in front of me.
Even from the back, I knew instantly.
His golden hair glowed in the sunset breeze.
It was Richard.
“Your Highness Richard…”
“So I’ve now had to watch you be rejected twice.”
Richard walked slowly toward Young Lord Hutton until he stood right before him.
“Enough. Accept reality, Jayden Hutton. You’re not the kind of man who suits Amelie. She’s clever and kind—so she already turned you down gently.”
“Your Highness…! Even if you are close to Lady Amelie, don’t you think this is too much meddling?”
Hutton’s voice rose, anger leaking through. His patience had snapped from Richard’s blunt words.
Richard, unfazed, looked down at him with cold disdain.
“Be thankful you were born into House Hutton. Without that name, you’d already face a blade for insulting royalty—and spend your life in the dungeon. But don’t think you’ll escape punishment for frightening Amelie.”
Hutton’s eyes darted toward me.
I remembered how he had staggered toward me earlier like a madman and flinched.
The shock in his face only deepened.
“Get out of Amelie’s sight. No matter what happens, never appear before her again.”
With those cutting words, Hutton stumbled away like a defeated man.
“…Are you alright?”
The silence left behind was broken by Richard’s voice.
I nodded. My throat was dry with nerves, so it took a moment before I could answer.
“I’m fine. Just a little startled. But why are you here?”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My unruly heart was pounding again, acting like it owned me.
I wanted to smack it quiet, but Richard might be shocked, so I held back.
He studied my face briefly, then slowly held out a white box tied with a ribbon shaped like a flower.
“I came to apologize—for acting on impulse at the party.”
“Apologize?”
“My reckless behavior made you uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”
There was no excuse, no joke—just a plain, honest apology. Somehow, it tickled my ears.
Inside the box was a tea set wrapped in soft paper.
The glaze shone faintly, and hyacinths decorated the elegant rims. Even I, who handled Garnet merchant goods daily, had never seen such a design.
“Wow.”
The beauty of it slipped out of me before I could stop it.
It suited my tastes perfectly.
How did he know?
“It’s from a Western Kingdom delegation we allied with recently. I thought it was beautiful—and it reminded me of you. Since your family deals with so many items, I wasn’t sure what to gift… so I brought the same set for you.”
Richard covered his mouth awkwardly as he explained.
I didn’t know what to say.
I never knew he was so thoughtful. My chest tightened with unexpected warmth.
“Thank you. Really. I love it.”
My voice was so soft, I wasn’t sure he heard—but he gave a small nod.
“And I heard you’re attending the Imperial ball.”
“Yes. Lyssa asked me to go with her.”
“Most people no longer believe we’re lovers… but eyes will still follow you. Will you be alright?”
“It’ll be tiring, I guess.”
I shrugged.
“But Lyssa will be with me. And besides… it sounds fun. I want to see what a masquerade ball is like.”
After all, I’d only read about it in novels!
Glittering chandeliers, endless dances, ornate masks hiding faces, and love blossoming in secret!
I smiled at the thought. Richard’s eyes softened a little too.
“Then I’ll come escort you that night.”
“Escort me? Why?”
“You said you don’t have a partner. Someone should at least escort you.”
Why him of all people?
The question stuck in my throat.
I turned slightly to avoid his gaze.
Those playful, gentle eyes… I wanted to look away, but I also wanted to keep staring.
I had promised myself I’d keep distance, for Lyssa’s sake.
So this time only. Just this once, I’d let myself keep that look in my eyes.
But my heart kept thundering foolishly.
“See you at the palace.”
Time blurred, and before I knew it, Richard had left with a short farewell.
I stroked the ribbon on the gift box, promising myself—
“This feeling… I’ll end it at the masquerade.”
Time flew, and the day of the ball arrived.
I checked myself again in the mirror.
The ribbon was tied tight above my waist, and the empire dress’s pale pink skirt rippled lightly.
On my face, a half-mask dotted with pearls. Lyssa had picked it, calling it a “fairy” concept.
‘Am I too old to dress like a fairy…?’
Still, I kept my promise and wore everything Lyssa chose.
When I finished dressing, everyone clapped around me, which was so embarrassing.
Lyssa, meanwhile, wore a deep blue mermaid dress.
Of course, it matched her dark, blue-tinted hair perfectly, showing her graceful shoulders and radiating elegance.
As expected, my taste never fails.
It thrilled me to see the most beautiful Lyssa in the world.
“Nervous?”
“I’m not nervous! I’m just excited to come with you.”
Her bright smile was dazzling. My favorite, my heroine.
While I secretly gushed inside, the carriage slowed, and the Imperial Palace came into view.
Colorful lights sparkled in the night air, but more than that, one person caught my eyes.
The carriage stopped. The footman opened the door.
As I carefully stepped down, a hand reached out before me.
“Welcome.”
Among the lined-up knights, dressed in uniform, Richard stood in a white mask, his hand extended toward me.
