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“Interior design?”
A buzz of murmuring arose.
Everyone seemed surprised by the unexpected statement.
“Yes. Calix just agreed to invest in my business. I think he shares my design philosophy.”
The Duke of Bloodstone investing in an interior design business?
A man who burned down his own castle and lives in a grim fortress of stone?
Someone who even has a hobby of destroying other people’s buildings?
It was as if their dropped jaws were voicing such disbelief.
“Yes, and while we were talking about interior design, we quickly hit it off. It felt like meeting an old friend.”
“……”
Calix neither confirmed nor denied Mari’s words.
But simply standing silently beside her without leaving said more than enough.
“In–Interior design… How surprising. I had no idea Lady Marianne had such talents.”
“…I’ve just been at home for so long, I never had a chance to show them off.”
People’s pale expressions didn’t fade easily.
They couldn’t believe how quickly Mari and Calix had become close.
But more than that, it was shocking that a woman who was said to be a recluse could speak so smoothly in public.
“I’m currently assembling a team, so I’m still preparing.”
“Oh, then may I help you?”
“…Excuse me?”
She couldn’t help but be flustered at Nox’s unexpected offer.
‘Does he mean to come along to meet suppliers and laborers?’
Considering Calix had asked Nox to introduce her to high society, the two must be close.
But wasn’t it unnecessary to accompany her for business meetings…?
Then Calix spoke.
“I refuse.”
Nox immediately reacted.
“Refuse? I asked Marianne. Why are you answering for her?”
“If she needs someone to accompany her, it should be me—the investor—not you.”
“Mari…? You’re already using pet names?”
“…Yes.”
Seriously?
“You can’t be!”
Nox’s face instantly drained of color.
Whatever he was imagining, his expression was ridiculously exaggerated.
“Oh my!”
“Did the Duke of Bloodstone fall in love with Lady Whitehouse at first sight?!”
“No doubt about it! He agreed to invest the moment they met—and now he’s calling her by nickname!”
As expected, the room erupted in whispers.
“Hah… ha…”
Mari forced a smile despite feeling bitter.
‘What’s with these men? Are they trying to make it look like they’re competing over me?’
In some ways, the reaction wasn’t bad.
After all, her goal in coming to the ball was to promote her interior business.
But she hadn’t expected even the Earl of Weatherwood to try to help her.
‘Ah!’
Then she remembered what Calix had said at the dress shop.
“If anything, wouldn’t a more dramatic performance be better?”
‘So that’s it!’
It had to be Calix who asked his friend Nox to act like this.
He wanted people to misunderstand—that both the Duke of Bloodstone and the Earl of Weatherwood were interested in her.
It was an effective way to grab attention, perhaps more than she ever imagined.
“Then I’ll be the one to dance the second round with Marianne. It’s improper for an unmarried man and woman to dance back-to-back.”
Nox said this to Calix as he asked Mari for a dance.
He clearly forgot he hadn’t asked her beforehand.
‘Wait a second…’
Just like that, Mari found herself sandwiched between two men.
And this was no longer just casual interest—the atmosphere was getting intense.
‘Aren’t they getting too into their roles…?’
When it comes to interior design, women’s opinions often matter a lot.
But judging by the expressions of the surrounding ladies, curiosity was turning into disdain.
One young woman in a dazzling diamond necklace looked ready to commit murder.
‘This is getting out of hand…’
“Shall we go?”
As new music began, Nox held out his hand to Mari.
The noblewomen shot her jealous glares.
‘At this rate, I won’t be noticed—I’ll be completely ostracized.’
But the die had already been cast.
Mari had no choice but to follow Nox onto the floor.
Calix watched from afar as the two danced.
“……”
He had long given up competing with Nox.
But the moment Nox eagerly stepped in to dance with Mari, he noticed it right away.
Nox wanted to compete again—for Mari.
That familiar competitive streak had returned.
‘Such provocation is ridiculous.’
Even between close friends, he couldn’t tolerate such a contest—especially over a woman.
‘To compete over a person, a woman no less…’
But the problem was that seeing Nox dancing with Mari made him deeply uncomfortable.
Nox was the kind of man who could easily win a woman’s heart.
And worst of all, the beautiful Mari and the handsome Nox looked perfect together.
‘No…’
There were plenty of women in society who adored Nox.
No need to invite unnecessary jealousy.
‘Getting close to Weatherwood won’t help the business anyway.’
Calix unknowingly nodded to himself.
He had finally understood the real reason for his discomfort.
‘Because I must protect my investment.’
Then, the surrounding whispers reached his ears again.
“…Looks like she’s trying to make money through interior design after her family went bankrupt and lost everything.”
“Hmph, like anyone would entrust work to a recluse. A pretty face stuck at home? Something must’ve been wrong with her.”
“…No noble would entrust anything to someone so unproven.”
Calix turned immediately.
“Gasp!”
The red fury visible through his mask slit instantly silenced the whisperers.
The foolish gossips remembered: the Duke of Bloodstone had invested in Lady Whitehouse.
“W–We’ll stop now…”
Afraid of offending the Duke and facing consequences, they hurriedly retreated.
“How thoughtless some people can be…”
Josh, who had been waiting nearby, stepped forward.
“To say Lady Whitehouse is unproven is absurd! It’s no different than doubting your judgment, my lord.”
“……”
“What should we do?”
Josh was clearly offended on his master’s behalf.
But unlike Josh, who clenched his fists in anger, Calix remained calm.
“This is something she must deal with herself. No one else can do it for her.”
—
Mari was exhausted.
She leaned back in the carriage seat, head resting.
By the time she returned from the ball, it was well past bedtime.
“So tired…”
Her first time at a social event had been anything but easy.
Just memorizing names and faces and introducing herself had drained her energy.
On top of that, thanks to Nox, she could feel the daggers from several noblewomen.
“Pretending to date Calix should’ve been enough—why create a love triangle too?”
As they passed the garden, the elegant Whitehouse mansion came into view.
Even in the dark, the many small chimneys and the soft gray rooftops were visible.
The white walls, studded with windows and statues in front, couldn’t be hidden.
“…No. If it’s to protect this house, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
When the carriage stopped, Mari pulled herself together.
Her body felt heavy, but her steps toward her home were light.
“Mildred’s probably asleep. I’ll go in quietly.”
As she opened the door, she spotted Mildred sitting on the central staircase.
“Young lady!”
“Mildred?”
She stood up quickly, clearly having waited for Mari.
“You’re back! Was everything alright today?”
“Of course. Nothing happened.”
Was she worried because it was Mari’s debut?
“Phew, that’s a relief. Oh…?”
Mildred’s face suddenly stiffened.
She noticed the dress had changed.
“You didn’t like the dress I prepared…?”
“This one? No, it’s not that.”
“No, you chose well. This dress is lovely.”
Mildred smiled awkwardly.
But her slumped shoulders betrayed her disappointment.
“The Duke of Bloodstone had all my outfits for the season tailored.”
“What? Then you won’t have to worry about clothes anymore?”
Beaming at the thought of fewer money troubles, Mildred paused again.
“Oh, this is…”
She realized the inner dress was the same, except for the open robe and the daisy boutonniere.
“The boutique prepared the outer robe for today. Thankfully, it matched perfectly with the inner dress you chose.”
“Ah! I’m so glad.”
Mildred’s smile became genuine.
“Mildred, thank you. Thanks to you, I really enjoyed the ball. Let me return this necklace.”
“Yes.”
Mildred took the blue glass necklace.
When she noticed Mari wearing pearl earrings and a new necklace, her joy deepened.
“You even got accessories! That’s a relief. I was
so worried someone might notice that this necklace was a fake.”
“I felt a bit bad using something your mother passed on to you.”
“Don’t be silly, my lady. It was my pleasure.”
Mari and Mildred walked up the stairs side by side.
“Young lady, did you get any interior design requests at the ball?”
