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~Chapter 60~
“W-Why are you looking at me like that?”
When had he started watching me?
It was normal to look into your partner’s eyes while dancing, but somehow it didn’t feel normal to me.
“Your expressions keep changing. It’s fun to watch.”
Richard smiled more beautifully as he said that.
I’m doomed. Completely doomed.
My heart pounded, leaping up to my throat, and I realized the truth.
I had suspected for a while, but now I couldn’t deny it.
I think… I’ve fallen for Richard.
With that cliff-edge feeling, the second song ended.
Even after I let go of his hand, the warmth stayed on my palm.
Suppressing the regret, I forced myself to speak calmly.
“If you only dance with me, people might spread rumors again. How about one dance with Lyssa too?”
Richard paused only briefly, then nodded.
As he walked toward Lyssa, people parted to make way.
The two spoke for a moment—he must have asked her for a dance.
“Why did you tell Richard to dance with Lyssa?”
Bastian appeared beside me, no trace of playfulness in his voice or eyes.
“It just felt like the right thing to do.”
I shrugged and looked back at the two in the center.
The music flowed, and the handsome man and beautiful woman began to dance.
Everyone in the ballroom, me included, admired the sight.
They really did look good together.
‘So why do I feel like this?’
At last, Richard and Lyssa were dancing as the true male and female leads—but instead of joy, jealousy, disappointment, and heavier feelings swelled inside me.
“Your face looks like a child who just had their candy taken away, Lady Amelie.”
He must have been watching me all along.
Candy? It was never mine to begin with.
I bit back at the cruel truth, realizing Bastian had noticed my feelings for Richard.
“Your Highness, why didn’t you ask her to be your partner first?”
I asked, a trace of resentment in my voice.
I only wanted to return the sting I had felt.
“I know the partner who couldn’t attend tonight isn’t the one you truly care for. Why didn’t you ask that person instead?”
“…Because I was afraid of being rejected.”
His words dropped hard from his lips.
“If she rejected me this time… it really would’ve been the end.”
He muttered, head lowered like a defeated man.
The sight made me angry—because his cowardice looked too much like mine.
“With feelings like that, what can you do? If your love is real, you shouldn’t act halfway.”
My words came fast, hot from inside.
You don’t even have a fixed ending like I do—
Jealousy and frustration made me lose control.
“How can she ever come to you? If you run away in fear first, what can you expect?”
Bastian stayed silent, listening until I finished venting—then gave a short laugh.
“Your judgment tonight is rather harsh, Lady Amelie.”
Only then did I realize how harshly I had spoken.
‘What am I doing—lashing out at someone who did nothing wrong?’
System
Arrow locked on target!
(∩๑•ㅂ•)⊃→
Would you like to become Bastian Biender’s Cupid?
Yes / No
Biting my lip with guilt, I suddenly saw a floating message that didn’t fit the situation.
“I-I’m sorry. I… I need some air.”
Without even thinking of pressing a button, I walked away.
Luckily, the terrace was empty.
As the door closed, the cold night air hit my face.
“I must be crazy.”
The chill cleared my mind, and I realized just how cruel my words to Bastian had been.
His hollow smile on that already thin face burned into my memory with guilt.
System
Arrow locked on target!
(∩๑•ㅂ•)⊃→
Would you like to become Bastian Biender’s Cupid?
Yes / No
Again, the window appeared.
Was this asking me to atone?
It hardly ever popped up twice unless I chose.
Feeling pressured, I reluctantly pressed Yes, then turned my eyes to the terrace view.
But as soon as I blinked, the ballroom scene returned to mind—
Lyssa’s blue skirt, the hidden masks, the perfect steps.
Richard and Lyssa, standing in the spotlight of the hall like a stage—
the exact “male and female lead’s ballroom” scene I’d only read about in novels.
It reminded me—I don’t belong here.
This world was only temporary, never truly mine.
My goal was to gain the reward and return to reality.
So if those two grew closer, that was a good thing.
They should feel something tonight. They would fall in love.
“That’s fine, then.”
What remained for me was to find and defeat the final villain.
That was my reason for being here—my role.
Whoooosh—
As I made that resolve, a strong wind blew.
“Achoo!” I sneezed, and suddenly something warm settled on my shoulders.
Soft fabric, gentle heat.
I turned in surprise. Richard, in his white mask, had appeared without me noticing.
“Why are you out here?”
His brows furrowed with disapproval.
“Where’s Lyssa?”
Instead of answering, I asked back.
Shouldn’t he be with her now?
“Lyssa?”
“You were just dancing with her. So where is she?”
“She’s my brother’s partner. So she must be with him.”
I let out a hollow laugh.
This foolish male lead… what is he even saying?
He’d thrown away a good chance with his own hands.
And yet—
why was I smiling?
‘Hopeless. I’m hopeless.’
I bit my lip, trying to hold back the rising laughter.
Richard, unaware of my inner mess, calmly straightened the edge of the cloak he had placed on me.
The simple movement hit my heart too strongly.
“How was your first ball?”
Leaning on the railing, moonlight outlining his sharp profile, he asked casually.
“…It was good.”
I answered firmly, though I’d been staring blankly at him.
“Wearing the mask was fun. And thanks to you, I even danced. I think I enjoyed it.”
“You’ll attend more balls in the future. Practice your dancing.”
“What?”
“You stepped on me so many times that I can’t feel my feet right now.”
“I didn’t step on you that much! Maybe once or twice!”
Still, I quickly checked his shoes.
They were spotless, shining like new.
He was exaggerating.
Even so, I couldn’t stop the silly smile tugging at my lips.
The wind lifted my cloak slightly, and Richard calmly smoothed it back again.
For a while, we stood in silence, gazing at the stars above.
Then, suddenly, I made up my mind.
“Thank you, Richard.”
It was finally time to sort out my feelings for real.
