AOL 16

Chapter 16

Britt Seiden let out a long sigh that seemed to rise from deep inside him.

He was standing guard in front of the terrace window where Lady Blisha, the count’s daughter, was staying. Recalling the storm-like events from a moment ago, he shook his head slowly.

It was far too difficult for Britt to drive away the swarm of young nobles who had rushed toward the count’s daughter.

He wiped his forehead. The sweat he had shed earlier in his embarrassment had cooled, leaving him feeling cold. Guilt weighed heavily on him—he had failed to properly carry out even one request from the vice commander.

“Isn’t this kind of thing normal at a banquet?”

Normal? There was no way it could be.

He didn’t say it directly to her, but even if it was her first appearance in society, the reaction was abnormally intense.

This made him understand why the vice commander had insisted so strongly on the request.

Britt frowned and looked toward the inner room where His Majesty the Emperor and the vice commander were speaking. Behind the thick curtain, not even a single sign of movement could be seen.

They should come out soon…

He glanced anxiously toward the terrace again.

He had heard before that Sir Leo had a younger sister. But this was the first time he had ever seen her in person.

It might not have reached Sir Leo’s ears, but there had once been rumors in society.

That the count’s daughter did not appear in society not because of health issues, but because she was supposedly hiding a hideous face.

Britt recalled the way she had politely refused the young nobles earlier.

She gave off a faint, fragile impression that made one feel she needed protection. Her extremely pale skin and thin wrists contributed to that feeling.

But Britt felt that this atmosphere did not come from appearance alone. Rather, it came from her gaze, which seemed to be looking far away, and the tightly closed line of her lips.

She looked like someone you would instinctively ask, “Are you alright?”

Yet even if someone asked, she would likely smile gently and say she was fine.

While lost in thought, someone approached Britt. He quickly raised his head—and upon seeing the face, his eyes widened.

“What are you? A knight?”

The owner of the arrogant voice and raised eyebrows was Cesare Lesian, the infamous troublemaker of the Lesian ducal family.

“Doesn’t matter. Move. I’m going in.”

He pointed toward the terrace with his chin and gave an order. But Britt answered firmly.

“No.”

“What?”

“Lady the count’s daughter is already there.”

“So what?”

Following someone who had already entered a terrace or disturbing them was basic social etiquette. But it seemed Cesare had no such understanding.

Britt swallowed nervously but did not move aside.

“Her ladyship does not wish to be disturbed. There are plenty of other empty terraces—please use those…”

“Ha. Are you trying to chase me away? A knight?”

Cesare looked Britt up and down and sneered.

“You know who I am, don’t you?”

“……”

“Move.”

He pushed Britt’s shoulder aside. Then he lifted the curtain and opened the terrace door. Before Britt could react, the door closed.

Britt froze for a moment, then hurried toward the inner room where Sir Leo was.

This situation was surely included in what he had called “any incident.”

Inside the terrace

The sound of music from the banquet hall briefly slipped through the open door, then faded completely as it closed behind him.

Cesare’s dark brown eyes glinted unpleasantly as he looked at Isel.

The moment their eyes met, it felt as if something heavy dropped deep into her chest. The refreshing air around her vanished, making it hard to breathe.

He had clearly followed her after seeing her come onto the terrace. He smiled casually and spoke.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

He greeted her as if she were an old friend.

Isel clenched her teeth. But it wasn’t out of anger.

Unpleasant memories she could not erase kept flooding her mind.

How many times had she told herself it was okay now?

That fragile belief she had built around herself collapsed like a sandcastle. Her pale fingertips trembled.

Seeing Isel remain silent, Cesare continued.

“You’ve changed a lot. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

As he said that, his gaze slid slowly over her exposed neck. Goosebumps rose along her arms.

He took another step closer.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you scared of me?”

“……”

“No matter how many marriage proposals I sent, you never even replied…”

His slow, sticky voice circled around her mind without fully sinking in.

“But this time, you won’t be able to refuse.”

With heated eyes, he slowly reached toward her neck.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her pulse roared in her ears, and the marble floor beneath her feet felt like it was collapsing.

The hand reaching toward her was stained with darkness.

She wanted to speak, or slap him, or run—but her body would not move.

It felt as if she were sinking into an invisible swamp.

Isel curled up tightly, lowering her head.

I have to scream. I have to call for help.

But no sound came out, as if her throat was blocked.

Just as the world in front of her was turning black—

“Isel?”

A low voice vibrated through her ears.

The swamp binding her disappeared like magic.

Slowly, very slowly, she lifted her head.

The terrace door was open.

The edge of the curtain fluttered in the wind.

Standing there, backlit by the chandelier’s light, was a tall man.

Isel stared at him with wide eyes.

Cesare muttered his name in confusion.

“Karnox… Grand Duke?”

Cesare frowned.

His father’s warning about the Grand Duke Karnox came to mind.

No matter what you do, stay away from anything involving Grand Duke Karnox.

But the fact that Karnox had entered while calling Isel’s name irritated Cesare.

How does he know her?

Karnox’s face had no smile. Cesare narrowed his eyes slightly.

“What is the meaning of this, Your Grace?”

“And what might you be doing here, young lord?”

“Pardon?”

“I have a prior engagement here.”

Cesare and Isel both slightly widened their eyes.

Karnox turned to Isel, his lips forming a gentle curve.

“Isn’t that right, Isel?”

Isel hesitated, then answered awkwardly.

“…Yes. That’s right.”

Karnox turned back to Cesare, his expression now cold.

“I have something important to discuss with her. Would you mind leaving us?”

“W-what?”

Though his tone sounded polite, it was clearly the speech of someone addressing a subordinate. Cesare’s face flushed in embarrassment.

“But—!”

Before he could finish, Karnox tilted his head slightly and repeated:

“But?”

Even in the dark, his golden eyes looked sharp and cold.

Cesare, unable to withstand the gaze, looked away.

“Ah… N-nothing.”

He quickly left the terrace, pale-faced.

Even as the door closed, his lingering gaze toward Isel remained obsessive.

Silence returned.

Karnox stood at a distance, quietly watching Isel. The sharpness from earlier had disappeared, replaced by a soft gaze.

A cold night breeze moved his red cloak.

Breaking the silence, he spoke.

“You seem to be acquainted with the young lord of Lesian.”

Isel quickly shook her head.

“No. That’s not true.”

“Is that so?”

His calm voice carried an unreadable depth.

Isel took a breath and stepped back.

“Thank you very much for earlier, Your Grace.”

Her polite distance made Karnox’s eyes widen slightly.

Her face was tense.

Before he could speak, Isel continued.

“I believe I may have been rude to you. Please forgive my discourtesy.”

Her tone was calm, but it felt like she was building a wall between them.

After silently looking at her for a moment, Karnox spoke.

“It seems I may have startled you unintentionally.”

Then he added, studying her face:

“Are you perhaps upset?”

Isel shook her head slowly.

“No. If anything, I should be the one apologizing for my behavior.”

She still could not meet his eyes.

Even though he had helped her, she could not look at him properly.

Too many questions filled her mind.

Why had he hidden his identity?

And why was he helping her so much?

She didn’t understand.

Looking at her guarded expression, Karnox’s eyes darkened.

“…I will forgive you.”

Isel exhaled in relief—but froze at his next words.

“However, there is a condition.”

“…?”

A condition?

Isel looked up at him in surprise.

Karnox slowly bent down slightly and extended his hand.

He gently asked:

“May I have this dance, Lady Isel?”