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CHAPTER 23
“Didn’t you see it, Lord Tower Master?”
“See what?”
As expected, Magnus looked completely clueless.
[Darling child. Swim with the blue whale in the sea, and the silver tiger will nuzzle your cheek.]
It was a line from a lullaby every citizen of the Empire would know.
The tiger mentioned in the song referred to the Earth divine beast—Eunho.
And since the Brimstone family was named after their contracted divine beast, the name “Brimstone” came from Eunho.
So that silver fluffball from earlier was…
“Why are you getting all spooky and hesitating? Did you see a ghost in broad daylight or something?”
“Well… I think I just saw Brimstone.”
“Right. That guy from earlier was the Duke of Brimstone. Isn’t that your mother’s side of the family?”
“Not the man. The divine beast.”
It was the kind of statement that could get her labeled insane.
Sure enough, Magnus gave her a serious look—as if considering that possibility.
“Did you hear it speak?”
“Yes.”
If anyone could diagnose this abnormality and offer a treatment, it would be Magnus.
Perhaps he’d say it was a form of psychosis.
“So that’s why you suddenly asked if that man was balding? What a mess this is.”
“Right? What do you think the issue is?”
“Linaria, are you thinking you’re not in your right mind?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Normally, a mad person doesn’t realize they’re mad, Linaria. You’re perfectly sane.”
She didn’t understand his logic, but if the longest-living and smartest man in the Empire said so, it probably wasn’t nonsense.
“Linaria! Didn’t I tell you before? There’s a rumor that time contractors can see other divine beasts! Looks like it wasn’t a rumor after all!”
His tone was brimming with excitement.
“So what did you think of Brimstone? If you can draw, I’d love a sketch of what you saw. No—just describe it, I’m confident I’ll understand!”
“…”
“First, the size! How big was it? Wait—was it really a silver-furred tiger? I’ve always suspected it might actually be a wolf!”
Magnus was, at his core, a scholar—no surprise he couldn’t hide his excitement at such a rare occurrence.
Divine beasts were fearsome, incomprehensible entities—objects of reverence.
The time divine beast was especially known for its eerie, monstrous form.
Brimstone was no exception in the records—enormous, terrifying, and revered.
But what Linaria had actually seen…
“A furball.”
“What?”
“A silver furball, about the size of a fist.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I swear.”
Magnus’s jaw dropped, as if it might fall off.
It was the first time Linaria had seen the arrogant Tower Master so dumbfounded.
***
“Just a little more hair styling, and we’re done!”
On the day of the ball celebrating the return of the Brimstone heir, Anna excitedly brushed Linaria’s hair.
She had been working for hours and showed no signs of fatigue—if anything, she looked more energized.
“But… why did you ask me to bring ointment and painkillers? Do people really need that at a ball?”
“Just in case. I might twist my ankle while dancing.”
“So noble balls are life-or-death situations too!”
“…Not quite that dangerous.”
Linaria brushed it off and put on the necklace her father had given her, standing up from her seat.
When she stepped outside to board the carriage, her father was there waiting for her.
“Lili.”
Without his usual pipe in hand, he blinked slowly, as if he couldn’t believe what he saw.
If he had been holding it, it surely would’ve dropped.
“You’re beautiful.”
With a tender smile, he spoke from the heart.
“I almost wish I could go with you. I’m really worried about letting you go alone like this…”
“You’re not strong enough yet to endure crowded places for long. Don’t worry about me—please just rest at home.”
Even now, his complexion was pale.
“I feel bad I didn’t help you prepare better for your first ball.”
Linaria shook her head.
When she first insisted on attending alone, some were concerned.
“Lili, I’m worried Lady Meril didn’t teach you properly. Especially since there will be dancing…”
“If there’s a knight who’s been through dance training, could you call them?”
“Why a knight all of a sudden?”
“To evaluate my dancing, I need a partner, right?”
Linaria already knew her dancing was flawless.
But since she couldn’t say that out loud, she chose to demonstrate it instead.
Ahem ahem.
Suddenly, her father cleared his throat.
Linaria, startled and worried he might be unwell again, realized it was just a fake cough.
He spoke, somewhat bashfully.
“Well, you have me.”
“You, Father?”
“Just for a bit. Don’t worry. It’s been nearly twenty years, but your mother once said she fell for me after dancing together, so I dare say I’ve still got it.”
In the end, Linaria took her father’s outstretched hand.
It was a simple dance, so she thought it’d be fine.
But—
“Father!”
While dancing, her father got a nosebleed—and chaos ensued.
When Magnus heard about it—
“You’ll probably get so many dance requests the ballroom will have a line around it, so take this with you.”
“…Where did you even get that ‘Closed for Business’ sign?”
“Found it on the way.”
“I keep telling you to return things you find. Besides, it’s my first ball—I highly doubt I’ll get that many offers.”
“That’s just your misunderstanding!”
And if she didn’t get requests, he grumbled that young men these days clearly had poor eyesight.
“Go and come back safely.”
Leaving her reluctant father behind, Linaria boarded the carriage.
‘It’s true the Obel family helped secure victory in the war, but technically I don’t need to attend this ball.’
Only the Emperor and the Duke of Brimstone knew about the Obel family’s strategic involvement.
Still, she had a reason to go.
The ball was hosted by the Imperial family—and he would be there.
When Linaria arrived at the ballroom, she immediately felt curious eyes on her. No one approached.
That was expected—she was still a social outsider—and she preferred it that way.
“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”
Soon the Emperor, Empress, and Maximilian appeared.
She quickly averted her gaze.
“I once dated the Emperor when I was young, you know. Could’ve been the Empress. Sigh.”
“Mom! Don’t joke like that!”
“I’m serious!”
A nearby mother and daughter whispered to each other.
In his youth, the Emperor was infamous for his romantic escapades with countless noble ladies.
After marrying the current Empress—Maximilian’s mother—he became known as a legendary romantic.
But Linaria had no interest in these sweet tales.
To her, they were objects of hatred.
Especially their son—Maximilian.
After the Imperial family sat, the guest of honor, Auguste Brimstone, entered.
It was Linaria’s first time seeing her cousin’s face, in either life.
He had the Brimstone family’s signature silver hair and dark eyes—spitting image of his father.
Yet his bold features resembled his mother more. Unlike the stoic Duke, he had a vibrant expression.
‘At least he’s not walking around with a furball on his head like the Duke.’
Linaria looked closely, wondering if she’d see a divine beast again—but their eyes suddenly met.
‘Must be my imagination.’
There were too many people for him to have noticed her.
She brushed it off and watched as the Emperor publicly praised Auguste’s achievements.
Once the formal ceremony ended, the room turned festive with dancing and chatter.
There had been a brief moment of attention when Linaria first entered, but it faded quickly.
She wasn’t the star tonight.
And that was just fine by her.
‘Time to make my move.’
She subtly began to slip out of the ballroom.
But—of all people—Auguste was approaching her.
‘Does he know someone near me?’
No. It was no mistake.
He stopped directly in front of her.
‘But I refused to be his partner—maybe he’s upset?’
He didn’t look angry, though.
With a cheerful smile, he spoke warmly.
“You’re Linaria, right? I knew it the moment I saw you—you look just like Aunt Margaret.”
His casual tone was unusually friendly for a cousin he’d never met.
“I heard my father asked you to be my partner. Do you already have someone else?”
“No.”
So maybe he was a little hurt she refused, even without another partner?
Linaria braced herself.
“Then…”
At that moment, the crowd buzzed.
A man approached them.
“Would you do me the honor of sharing the first dance?”
“Dance with me.”
Maximilian’s voice cut in over Auguste’s proposal.
The two most talked-about men of the evening had both invited Linaria to dance
