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Chapter 13
Get a grip! You have to stay strong. You can’t leave here yet—Anna is waiting for me. Yes, once today is over, I can finally escape this wretched hell!’
Lucy suddenly began glancing around as if looking for something. Her stomach, which had been empty all day, suddenly growled with unbearable hunger.
‘If I’m going to escape and board the ship today, I need to eat my fill first!’
As she scanned the room, her eyes landed on a long table in the corner of the banquet hall, piled high with food. Like a buffet, there was a dazzling variety of dishes arranged.
Without hesitation, Lucy headed straight for the table.
“Lucy? Where are you going?”
The Duke of Ballon called out to her, but Lucy ignored him and stood before the table.
After removing her bandages, even the slightest strain made her fingers ache. So, she set an empty plate on the table and began piling food onto it with her left hand.
Then, without even sitting down, she began shoveling food into her mouth with a fork.
“Yes, when you’re feeling down, something sweet is the best!”
She muttered to herself as she chewed. For this moment, both the wretched Edwin and the Duke of Ballon were gone from her mind.
She probably looked like a crazy woman right now. Lucy stifled a laugh. In fact, the Duke of Ballon seemed embarrassed by her behavior, keeping his distance.
As she hastily swallowed, the food caught in her throat. Lucy looked up, searching for something to drink.
Suddenly, a glass filled with a clear beverage appeared in front of her.
“Eating so quickly will make you choke. This is non-alcoholic champagne—please have some.”
She turned toward the source of the gentle, melodic voice.
“Gasp! Y-you are…”
She was so startled by the completely unexpected appearance that she inhaled sharply.
“A handsome—ah, no, the Grand Duke of Cretine?”
It was Lucas Cretine, the man she had met on the day of the hunting competition. He was smiling warmly at her.
“It’s good to see you again. I regretted that we didn’t get to say a proper farewell that day… Your hand still seems uncomfortable.”
Shocked by his sudden appearance, Lucy just stared at him. Lucas glanced at her hand, then held out the glass again.
“Ah, th-thank you…”
When she accepted it, Lucas’s smile brightened. Looking at his beautiful face, Lucy thought his smile was truly refreshing.
“At first, I didn’t realize you were a lady. You looked a bit uncomfortable, so I kept glancing your way. Then, when I saw you again, I was surprised—you seemed familiar.”
Lucas looked at her right hand.
“Yes, my hand is still a bit…”
Her voice trailed off, and Lucas’s brow furrowed slightly. Even that expression was so stunning that Lucy found herself staring blankly.
Glossy silver hair fell slightly over his mysterious blue-gray eyes. His pale complexion made the deep red of his lips stand out all the more, and Lucy swallowed without thinking.
Perhaps amused by her expression, Lucas chuckled softly when their eyes met.
“If it’s not too forward, may I finally learn your name?”
“Ah…”
He was asking about her family. This time, she should tell him. Lucy hesitated.
‘If he hears my surname… he’ll know who I am. Will he still smile at me like this?’
Hiding her bitter thoughts, Lucy met his gaze directly.
“I’m Lucy Diallo.”
“I see. Lady Lucy Diallo… Then I shall call you Lady Diallo from now on.”
Lucas nodded with a bright smile. It was Lucy, not him, who felt flustered at his unaffected reaction.
It was the first time someone had heard the name “Lucy Diallo” and still looked at her without a trace of change in their eyes. Lucas was the first.
“What? You… haven’t heard the rumors about me?”
The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she quickly covered her mouth.
‘Well, after today, he’ll hear the rumors about me one way or another. People are whispering about me even now.’
Lucy slowly scanned the room. Here and there, people were glancing her way and murmuring.
Lucas was watching her with curiosity, but Lucy decided she couldn’t afford to get distracted by him.
“I’ll enjoy the champagne. Thank you.”
Turning slightly away from him, she resumed eating what was left on her plate.
She could feel his eyes on her back. Lucy just wanted to finish the food quickly and leave.
Until now, she hadn’t cared about other people’s judgment of her. But for some reason, the thought of Lucas hearing those rumors felt unpleasant.
‘It must be because he’s ridiculously good-looking. I guess I really am a hopeless sucker for a handsome face.’
Smiling bitterly at her own thoughts, she swallowed the last bite and brushed off her hands.
‘I don’t want to go back to the Duke… Ugh, where should I go?’
A glance toward where the Duke of Ballon had been showed him deep in conversation with others.
Lucy decided to move somewhere else and look for a chance to leave. But just as she turned, Lucas caught her by the arm.
Startled, she looked at him. Realizing himself, Lucas quickly let go with an apologetic look.
“My apologies, my lady. Please forgive my rudeness.”
When she gave him a puzzled look, he hesitated before speaking.
“If it’s not too forward, would you honor me with a dance?”
“Ah… I’m sorry. The truth is, I’m hopeless at dancing.”
In fact, it wasn’t just that she was bad—she couldn’t dance at all. Naturally, Baron Diallo had never been affectionate enough to hire a dance instructor for the amnesiac Lucy.
At past parties, many men had asked her to dance, but she had always refused, never once stepping onto the floor.
And every time, her refusals earned her contempt: “A haughty woman with nothing but a pretty face.”
Lucy wondered if Lucas would be offended, and glanced at him.
“If that’s the reason, it’s fine. I’m quite good at dancing.”
For a moment, Lucy just blinked, not quite understanding, until she realized what he meant and shook her head.
Her reputation aside, escaping was more urgent than dancing.
“I actually suffered a severe fever, and my memory isn’t what it used to be. I’ve forgotten how to dance.”
Surely that would make him give up. What man would want to dance with a woman known for strange rumors and faulty memory? She even exposed something that could be seen as a flaw.
“Ah… I see. But really, you needn’t worry about that. Just leave everything to me. Oh—perfect timing, a lovely tune is starting.”
A flicker of regret crossed his face, but he quickly smiled and held out his hand.
While Lucy hesitated, the Duke of Ballon spotted them and began striding over, looking furious.
Seeing this, Lucy panicked and grabbed Lucas’s hand. She didn’t want to be near the Duke for even a second longer.
A soft melody played.
Lucas guided her gently, making it easy for her to follow. Instead of taking her injured right hand, he lightly held her wrist.
It was astonishing. For her first-ever dance, Lucy was managing to move as if she knew what she was doing.
Relaxing slightly, she looked around for the Duke of Ballon—and saw him glaring furiously at them from a distance.
She quickly turned her head away to avoid eye contact.
‘Wait… what did I just see?’
Something in her peripheral vision made her turn back toward the Duke.
Lucy could hardly believe her eyes. Near the Duke stood Edwin, glaring at her.
